Home > At Your Service What is Pilates? F.A.Q. What Others Say Classes & Prices Schedule At Your Service Contact Us Privacy At Your Service   Charlotte van Bassen, B. Sc. Charlotte van Bassen is the owner and principal instructor at V.I. Pilates. Charlotte received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Victoria in 1981. She began taking Pilates as a student in 1985 and certified in the Pilates Method of Physical and Mental Conditioning at Pilates International (formerly The Pilates Centre) in London, UK. Charlotte has been teaching Pilates since 1991. Charlotte continues to enrich her knowledge through workshops with recognized industry experts such as Dianne Miller, Karen Carlson, Michelle Larson, Ron Fletcher and Marie-José Blom Lawrence. She has also received instruction on: Body Mind Centering with Jane Ellison; Anatomy Trains with Tom Myers; and Craniosacral therapy with Howard Jones and Michael Shea. Charlotte has also attended numerous physiotherapy workshops on posture and rehabilitation. Charlotte's clients also benefit from her twenty-plus years of experience as a fitness industry professional. In designing programs for her clients, the hallmark of her approach is to treat every person as an individual. Charlotte was a founding member of the Canadian Pilates Association and has coordinated the Association's continuing education program. For Charlotte, education on Pilates and related disciplines is a life-long enterprise. Charlotte opened Victoria's first Pilates studio in 1997. Paula Fiander Paula began her exploration of Pilates in 1997 and began training as a Pilates Instructor at V.I. Pilates in 1998. Paula has been teaching Pilates mat classes since 1999 and splits her time between V.I. Pilates and several local recreation centres. Paula is a member of the Canadian Pilates Association and continues her study of the Pilates Method through workshops and regular training. Paula's expertise and teaching style have earned her a loyal following amongst her clientele. Vanessa Lund Vanessa Lund is a graduate of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet with a dance background of 12 years. She started studying Pilates to help alleviate chronic back problems she developed from dance. Through the experience and knowledge of the body she gained from Pilates, she knew this was something she wanted to share with others. Vanessa completed her teacher's training through the Bodyworks Pilates Studio in Edmonton before moving to Victoria. Through a recommendation from Bodyworks, she joined VI Pilates and under the direction of Charlotte Van Bassen, has been teaching since the beginning of 2003. Vanessa is also studying the complimentary discipline of massage therapy at the West Coast College of Massage Therapy.  © 2007 V.I. Pilates Page Last Updated: 2007-01-01