Owner/Instructor Trainer
307 Marine Ave. Suite 1 Balboa Island,
Newport Beach 92662 CA
Executive Profile
GERDA — FOUNDER & MASTER PILATES INSTRUCTOR
Gerda brings together the discipline of an elite athlete, decades of movement education, and more than 20 years of experience in Pilates instruction and teacher training.
Before beginning her career in Pilates, Gerda was a nationally recognized track and field athlete representing the Albanian National Team in international competitions throughout the Balkans and Europe. Specializing in the 400 meters and 400-meter hurdles, she broke eight Albanian national records during her competitive career and established a foundation of discipline, precision, and deep understanding of human movement that continues to shape her teaching today.
A graduate of the Sports Academy in Tirana, Albania, Gerda later moved to Istanbul, where she built her professional career in fitness, wellness, and movement education. She held management and specialist positions at prestigious organizations including Hillside Beach & City Club and Kemer Golf & Country Club before establishing her own Pilates practice in 2002.
A Career Dedicated to Pilates
Gerda has pursued extensive Pilates and movement education internationally, studying in New York, Europe, and Turkey with respected institutions and educators.
She became a fully certified STOTT Pilates Instructor and later completed comprehensive certification and Master Instructor education through Pilates Academy International in New York. Her continuing education includes Functional Anatomy for Movement & Injuries (FAMI), ActiveCore/Redcord, CoreAlign, Stretch-eze, Franklin Method, and advanced studies in functional anatomy, biomechanics, posture, special populations, osteoporosis, menopause, and movement-related conditions.
Her education has also included training with respected second-generation Pilates educators including Kimberly and Katherine Corp and Shari Berkowitz.
Most recently, Gerda continued her advanced professional education with the Franklin Method Institute in 2024 and Pilates Academy International in New York in 2026, further developing her expertise in Mat and Apparatus Pilates, osteoporosis, menopause, gluteal pain, and specialized movement education.
Educator, Mentor & Instructor Trainer
Gerda’s passion extends far beyond teaching individual Pilates sessions.
For more than two decades, she has educated and mentored Pilates professionals, helping nearly 700 students from different backgrounds and countries pursue their goal of becoming Certified Pilates Instructors.
Her approach combines classical Pilates principles with functional anatomy, biomechanics, posture, movement quality, and practical teaching experience. Her goal is not simply to certify instructors, but to develop knowledgeable, confident, observant, and responsible movement professionals.
Gerda also became widely recognized in Turkey through her live television Pilates appearances, where she introduced Pilates and healthy movement to a much broader audience.
Today, as Founder, Program Director, and Master Pilates Instructor at Gerda Pilates, she continues to teach clients and educate the next generation of Pilates professionals in California.
PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION & HIGHLIGHTS
2026 — Mat & All Apparatuses Master Pilates Instructor — Pilates Academy International, New York
2026 — Osteoporosis, Menopause & Gluteal Pain Workshop — Pilates Academy International, New York
2024 — Fascia Trainer for the Hip, Leg & Foot — Franklin Method Institute
2014 — Functional Anatomy & Pilates Applications — Shari Berkowitz / The Vertical Workshop, New York
2014 — Pilates Method Alliance Certified Instructor
2013 — CoreAlign Levels 2 & 3 — Balanced Body University
2012 — Stretch-eze Certified Instructor — Pilates on Fifth, New York
2010 — CoreAlign Level 1 — Balanced Body University, Germany
2009 — Extend Barre Method Certified Instructor — New York
2008 — ActiveCore (Redcord) Master Instructor — Pilates on Fifth, New York
2008 — FAMI Functional Anatomy Workshop — New York
2007 — Master Instructor — Pilates Academy International, New York
2006 — Fully Certified Pilates Instructor — Pilates Academy International, New York
2004 — STOTT Pilates Special Populations Certification — New York
2002 — Fully Certified STOTT Pilates Instructor — New York
2002 — Founder & Studio Owner
2002 — Wellness Manager & Pilates Instructor — Kemer Country & Golf Club
1991 — Fitness Manager & Instructor — Hillside City Club / Hillside Beach Club
1989 — Graduate, Sports Academy “Vojo Kushi,” Tirana, Albania
Elite Athletic Career — Albanian National Track & Field Team; eight national records
