Our bodies are designed to move. At Victoria Pilates we believe Pilates can improve lives by helping people actualize their fitness, health, and wellness goals. Our highly trained team will help you increase strength, improve mental acuity, and reach your full potential.

What is Pilates all about?

Pilates is a low-impact fitness system that promotes a mind-body connection. It was developed in the early 20th century by German-born Joseph Pilates, who believed that mental and physical health are interrelated.

Through precision movements, Pilates strengthens muscles while improving postural alignment and flexibility. Pilates emphasizes proper breathing to relieve stress, improve body awareness, and bring a natural rhythm to movement.

Pilates is highly adaptable. Different mat and equipment exercises can be combined and modified to create an exercise program suitable to anyone, from beginner to advanced. Intensity can be increase over time as the body conditions and adapts to the exercises. No muscle group is under or over trained.

Pilates Stretch

Who Can Benefit from Pilates?

Everyone can do Pilates, regardless of age, fitness level, or physical limitation. Our custom Pilates programs can be tailored to anyone, including people who:

  • are no longer content with the “gym scene”
  • are seeking a way to reduce mental and physical stress
  • are athletes wanting to improve performance
  • are pre- or post-natal
  • have a chronic health condition
  • are recovering from injuries and surgery
  • seeking effective physical rehabilitation
  • have never exercised before
Woman in Class
Strength Building

About Our Studio

For 20 years Victoria Pilates has been helping people reach their full potential. Our spacious studio is fully equipped with a mat room, Trapeze Tables (Cadillacs), Reformers, Springboards, a Ladder Barrel, Wunda and Split Chairs, a Ped-a-Pull, and more. We are fully accessible and have plenty of free parking.

Our studio and staff are proud to support the Pilates Method Alliance (PMA). Formed in 2001, the PMA is a not-for-profit professional association about setting standards for the Pilates industry. As members of this organization, our team is guided by a code of ethics and is committed to continuing education.

Increased Mobility

Our Team

Susan VanCadsand

Owner | Program Director | Instructor
M.Sc. Human Kinetics, Ph.D. Education

Susan was introduced to Pilates while dancing with the New York City Ballet. She first studied Pilates under Carola Trier, a long-time student of Joseph Pilates and master teacher of his method. She has also worked with first-generation teachers Kathleen Stanford-Grant, Eve Gentry, Romana Kryzanowska, Robert Fitzgerald and Ron Fletcher, and second-generation teachers Dianne Miller and Michele Larsson. Susan brought her love of dance and movement to her university studies, where she completed a master’s degree in human kinetics and a Ph.D. in education. Susan is a fully qualified Pilates teacher, and has developed a safe and successful regime of her own by incorporating her knowledge as a kinesiologist inter her practice.

Paula McFadyen

Pilates Instructor
M.Sc. Exercise Physiology, BCAK Registered Kinesiologist, CSEP Clinical Exercise Physiologist

Paula has worked in the fitness industry for more than 30 years doing research, fitness testing, and exercise prescription. Paula has worked with all abilities and skill levels, from members of the general public, to people undergoing rehabilitation, to national athletes. She has also taught Human Anatomy and Exercise Prescription at the University of Victoria. Paula has been a member of the Victoria Pilates studio since 2008, first as a student and now as an instructor. In her spare time, Paula loves to sail, hike, and cook.

Jessica Vitrouk

Pilates Instructor

Jessica is originally from Boston, Massachusetts, but has lived most of her adult life overseas. She fell in love with Pilates in 1998 in Zurich, Switzerland. Since then, each time she and her family move to a new country, the first order of business (after housing and a favourite coffee shop is secured) is finding a Pilates studio. Jessica has been lucky to take classes from wonderful teachers in Switzerland, the UK, Russia, Luxembourg, and now Canada. Jessica started her Pilates instructor training in 2012 with Balanced Body in Brussels, Belgium. She completed her training in 2020.

Prior to moving to Victoria, she taught Pilates at studios in Russia and Luxembourg. Before becoming a Pilates instructor, Jessica earned B.A. in Russian studies from Middlebury College and worked until 2012 as a tax consultant at Ernst & Young.

Maggie Hofman

Pilates Instructor

Maggie’s introduction to Pilates was through the Pilates mat repertoire, and her interest didn’t stop there. She was able to continue her exploration into Pilates through equipment classes at Victoria Pilates and ultimately did an internship at Victoria Pilates to become a Pilates instructor.

Maggie’s exploration of movement lead to a keen interest in rock climbing, which Pilates was a perfect complement to. After a hiatus from Victoria Pilates, Maggie returns with a renewed passion and is excited to continue her journey as a Pilates instructor.

Maggie understands first-hand how Pilates can help the body heal. The integration of Pilates into her active lifestyle has allowed Maggie to continue to pursue the activities she loves most: hiking with her dog and exploring the natural beauty of the West coast.

Catherine Jones

Office Manager

Catherine brings a unique combination of skills to the administrative side of Victoria Pilates. In addition to roles in the arts and not-for-profit industry, she’s been employed in corporate settings and been self-employed. Catherine regularly volunteers in her children’s school community and is all about an active lifestyle.

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