Phoebe Higgins

Phoebe Higgins, PMA® Gold Certified, studied at the School of American Ballet and trained in various dance techniques including the Simonson technique and the Kevin Wynn Collection. She was first introduced to Romana Kryzanowska in 1967 and later resumed her Pilates studies with Romana at SUNY Purchase in 1976 to strengthen a spine weakened by scoliosis.

Phoebe worked at the original Pilates Studio under Romana’s guidance from 1980 until its closure in 1989, later contributing to the foundation of Power Pilates. She organized successful Pilates programs for professional students at both the School of American Ballet and Ballet Academy East.

Since 2006, Phoebe has worked independently, continuing to share her extensive knowledge through private sessions and workshops, with a vision of spreading the freedom of movement through Pilates worldwide.

Regina Altman

Regina Altmann is a Senior Pilates Trainer and Teacher Trainer at The Pilates Standard (TPS) with over 20 years of professional experience.Certified in 2000, she trained under masters including Sarah Pace, Bob Liekens, and Romana Kryzanowska.

Before founding First Class Pilates in 2014, Regina taught in Boston and London, working with clients ranging from young students to public figures and celebrities. A former professional ballerina trained at the prestigious Vaganova Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg, she also taught at the Royal Ballet School and Boston Conservatory.

Since 2023, Regina has been a certified Teacher Trainer for TPS, blending her classical Pilates expertise with deep knowledge of body mechanics to deliver high-level, holistic training.

Sandra Käfer

Sandra Käfer is a Teacher Trainer for The Pilates Standard Austria, owner of First Pilates Studio, and President of the Pilates Verband Austria.

With a background in ballet and fitness, she has been teaching classical Pilates since 2000 and educating instructors across Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. Sandra continues to inspire the Pilates community while running her studio in Mattersburg and balancing her passion for teaching with family life.

Susan Smith Burns

Susan Smith Burns discovered Pilates in 1999 while completing her Master’s degree in Health Fitness Management at American University. She earned her initial certifications through The PhysicalMind Institute and opened balance, Your Pilates, Yoga, & Gyrotonic Studio in the Washington, DC area in 2001.

Susan entered the classical Pilates world through Power Pilates in 2005, became a Teacher Trainer in 2010, and completed Bob Liekens’ LEAP program in 2018. Since 2019, she has proudly served as a Teacher Trainer for The Pilates Standard (TPS), offering teacher training and continuing education in the greater Washington, DC area.

Tony Rockoff

Tony Rockoff is a movement expert, Pilates teacher trainer, and part of the The Pilates Standard network and owner of the Pilates studio Powerhouse Hamburg. Dedicated to preserving Joseph Pilates' classical method, Tony was certified as a Teacher Trainer by Bob Liekens in New York in 2010.

With a background in sports, fitness, and natural movement training, he combines traditional Pilates with modern functional approaches to help students build authentic strength and resilience.

Tricia O'Donnell

Tricia O’Donnell, former Soloist with the Pennsylvania Ballet, was certified in 1997 by Romana Kryzanowska and Bob Liekens through Pilates Inc. in New York City. She is the owner of Pilates in Port on Long Island, NY, and has over 20 years of experience training dancers, athletes, Olympic figure skaters, and the general public.

A longtime student and friend of Bob Liekens, Tricia participated in The Pilates Standard’s LEAP program in 2018 and now brings her extensive expertise to the TPS Teacher Training Program and proudly continuing the classical Pilates legacy.

Vanessa Schiavi

Vanessa Schiavi is a lifelong educator, she discovered Pilates in 2003 in Bangkok and was immediately drawn to its transformative power. Her journey led from classical training in Italy to certification at Power Pilates in New York, where she taught diverse clients and studied under Bob Liekens.

After completing the LEAP program in 2023, she became a certified Teacher Trainer within The Pilates Standard. Today, she teaches in Mantova and preparing to open her own studio to honor and share Bob’s legacy.