Testimonials

“I have suffered with lower back pain and nerve impingement through the hip and legs for many years and attended the full spectrum of health care professionals who failed to diagnose the root cause of the debilitating pain.

An orthopaedic surgeon had even wanted to perform a hip replacement despite only signs of mild to moderate osteoarthritis.

I was referred to Filippa through a work colleague and was immediately impressed with her understanding of the biomechanics of the body and the interconnectedness of muscle weakness/poor function and resultant pain. She has been able to identify areas of weakness and incorrect mechanics and develop a program of strengthening and rehabilitation which has had significant success.

She has been supportive, caring and passionate whilst applying her significant knowledge of Pilates to help me through this dark period.

I am forever grateful.

I have worked in the Health Care sector for many years and she is someone special.”

“After having completed 3 separate conventional rehabilitation programmes, without any resolution to my specific issues, I was blown away by Filippa’s approach.

Her breadth of knowledge, experience, attention to detail and her willingness to go the extra mile, is very impressive.

I highly recommend her to anyone who has struggled to find the right help they require.

Thank you Filippa!”

“I presented to Functional Pilates with Stenosis in the lower back, in daily pain. I did not want an operation and decided to try functional pilates on the advice provided by my osteopath.

It has been a revelation - within a short time I have learned how to engage my core muscles and am in the process of strengthening them all. I have learnt so much about the muscles I have forgotten to use - and I now have a lot less back pain.

Filippa is very knowledgeable, encouraging, humorous and helpful - I would highly recommend Functional Pilates to everyone, with our without pain to resolve.

I feel that at 62 I will be be in a much better position for my core strength and balance as I move more in to senior years. I intend to keep up attending the classes for a long time to come.

Thanks Filippa.”

“Filippa is an amazing pilates instructor. She assesses all aspects of your movements and functionality and tailors a program to fit. It is a friendly and motivating session, suitable for all levels, which has assisted in the rehab of a long term shoulder injury. I would highly recommend Filippa to anyone looking to improve posture, strength or mobility.”

“Filippa and Felicity are very experienced Pilates teachers and they have reshaped my body and taught me (and my muscles) how to move so that I am no longer in pain from weekdays of desk work or weekends of gardening!”

“Absolutely love Filippa and Liz. Lovely small classes and individualised. They really know what they are doing, listen to their customers and target any areas of pain. Totally recommend them”

“The wonderful Filippa has been my Pilates Instructor for the past 3 years. I have been to quite a few different pilates studios and been instructed by a variety of instructors and quite honestly can say that Filippa is by far the best.

Filippa takes a scientific approach (her background) to problem solving compromised body issues of which I have had many.

Her creative, tenacious and intelligent approach to ‘fixing my body’ is outstanding.”

“I have been involved with Pilates for many years and enjoyed my sessions. Diagnosed with Osteopenia, I am aware of strengthening exercises and their benefits.

My posture of round shoulders and stooping with the forward position of my head was extremely noticeable in photos not just the mirror. I put this down to age, computer work and comfortable bad habits in posture.

I transferred my evening class to an earlier time and this is where I met Filippa “The One”. My first class with Filippa was educational, my concerns were addressed and discussed and over time all has been reversed and yes as the Summer 2019 newsletter states: ‘Where I Stand, I Stand Tall’.

Filippa’s thinking is to determine the ‘Functional’ cause of problems and provides medial exercises with guidance adding descriptive analysis of viewing what your body is doing while exercising, feeling the muscles work, and seeing and feeling the benefits.

I have recommended Filippa to many of our clients, friends and family. My husband has just started with Filippa while still attending another Pilates studio. He has already noticed after just three sessions a difference between exercise and function.

I have confidence in recommending Filippa to anyone that may be thinking of taking up Pilates whether for strength training, posture correction, rehabilitation after surgery or just bad habits that have been collected to alleviate pain.

Thank you Filippa”

“The song ‘Bad Habits’ could be a description of my way of moving about in my PF (pre-Filippa) era, especially as I was not even on nodding terms with proprioception.

With Filippa as my Pilates specialist from my late 50’s to early 70’s my movement and general health is much improved.

I remain a work in progress but with Filippa’s expert guidance progress there is. Filippa’s ability to adapt long term plans to deal with any particular problems on the day is especially impressive.

For this senior she offers rehab with dignity and keeps me fit for cycling and table tennis and life in general. ”

“Filippa has been my pilates teacher for four years & she made me feel at ease from my very first class.

With Filippa’s constant support & enthusiasm (not to mention her patience & great sense of humour) my posture & flexibility have improved markedly.

She combines her extensive knowledge of how the body & mind works with individually tailored exercises that, in my case, help identify ‘bad habits’ accumulated over the years & work to correct them.

Over time my overall strength has increased & everything I learn in class has had a positive effect on my general well-being. Another huge benefit is I no longer need any physio or remedial massages.

I’m very glad I found Filippa & she’s one of the main reasons I enjoy pilates so much.”

“I had only done group Pilates classes at gym before starting sessions with Filippa and so assumed that it would be similar. It was totally different!

Apart from strengthening your core and maintaining a good fitness level, the essential difference is that you get to understand where your specific postural and functional difficulties are, how and where to address them (and why you should!) and how, over time and commitment, you really begin to appreciate the long term benefits of this sort of individualised attention to your body.

Thanks Filippa for your care and attention, and for guiding me on my wellness journey.”

“Hi Filippa
On behalf of all of us at The City of Stonnington a huge thank you again for the extremely informative presentation this week. Feedback from our seniors that attended ‘Table Talk’ was very positive. The information was clearly presented, up to date and relevant. You certainly keep everyone’s attention throughout the morning.

If the opportunity arises, we would like to invite you back in the next few months as a guest speaker at one of our senior citizens centre (same topic - Fall Prevention).”

“Filippa thank you for you patience, your constant encouragement and for teaching me so much about my body and movement.

I now feel so much better placed to prevent injury and to understand and correct recurrence of old injury inducing patterns that I occasionally fall back into.

I have so enjoyed my individual hour weekly classes with you over the last 3years. As I’m not keen on gym, they, walking daily and my home practice have been the cornerstone of my fantastic recovery from hip surgery. I can now do the long beach and bushwalking which I love, without pain.

I will miss you greatly and wish you well in the opening of your own studio Functional Pilates. ”

“Filippa’s science background, warmth, creativity & passion for results is a winning combination in the Pilates studio.  She applies great skill and care with all her teaching.  I could not more highly recommend Filippa as a consummate Pilates professional. ”

“Filippa has a unique perspective that allows her to achieve results that the vast majority of physiotherapists, chiropractors and osteopaths cannot match.

With Filippa’s help I was able to completely resolve chronic plantar fasciitis with a few basic leg exercises over a few months. Minimal maintenance has been required and there has been no recurrence.

After trying Chinese orthopaedics, physiotherapy, chiropractic and Feldenkrais, we are also overcoming a chronically painful shoulder - even the initial step of loosening three muscle groups identified by Filippa greatly diminishes the pain.

Additionally, we are resolving my aching feet - other basic leg strengthening exercises eliminate the pain.

Filippa also helps me to improve my biomechanics for ballroom dancing and we have just greatly increased the range of my leg movement - this range was previously impossible.

Filippa is a kind, patient, and fun teacher and I highly recommend her. ”

“I began pilates to regain muscle tone after a bad back episode, also to improve my posture and general fitness and flexibility.

I’ve been in Filippa’s class for nearly eight years, and am delighted with my progress in all these areas.

Filippa thinks scientifically about cause, effect and mechanism in the physical body, as well as the mental influence. She is very good at making up ways to illustrate the mechanism of a particular exercise so I can picture it, then apply it as I work it through.

I am a scientist myself, and really appreciate this method of visual application. She works in other ways with other students, being very adaptable.”

“For the last ten years, I’ve had the good fortune and privilege to be under the guidance of brilliant Pilates instructor Filippa Minnelli.

Her understanding of the physical body and her compassion for the emotional well-being of every client make for an extraordinary combination in the studio.

Without fail, she provides a safe space for her clients to express their concerns, whatever they may be.  

Filippa is universally loved and appreciated for her patience and encouragement.

I can’t imagine my week without her expert eye and welcoming smile. After all this time, I still look forward to every class.    ”

“I’ve suffered from bursitis and Gluteal tendonitis for many years. I’ve been working with Filippa doing Functional Pilates for the past 5 weeks and have already noticed a great relief of pain in these areas.”