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MEET THE TEAM

MELISSA LAING (Owner)
Melissa is the founder and director of MLP and one of Australia’s most experienced Pilates practitioners. With a background in dance and training under Alan Herdman in London (1994), Melissa established MLP in 1995 and has played a key role in shaping Pilates standards in Australia. Her expertise spans rehabilitation-focused Pilates, Gyrotonic, yoga, myofascial release, cranial sacral and visceral therapy, scoliosis, and complex injury management.

Melissa’s teaching style is breath-led, precise and deeply educational — she is passionate about helping clients understand how movement feels, how muscles work together, and how breath, centre, coordination and precision create lasting change.

SUMI
Sumi has been a long-standing and deeply valued member of the MLP team since 2015. A certified Modern Pilates International instructor and fully certified Gyrotonic teacher, she blends both methods seamlessly to create strong, intelligent and dynamic sessions. Drawing on her own experience with injury and postnatal recovery, Sumi brings insight, empathy and clarity to her teaching.

Her classes are purposeful and challenging — clients consistently feel well worked, supported and aligned. Sumi’s style emphasises flow, coordination, centre and strength, delivered with warmth, focus and quiet confidence.

NADA BESIR
Nada began her Pilates journey alongside a professional dance career with the English and Norwegian National Ballets. She completed a comprehensive 1700-hour Pilates training with the Pilates Foundation UK before teaching across London in studios and health clubs. After relocating to New York, Nada undertook advanced training in the GYROTONIC EXPANSION SYSTEM® and later became a Restorative Exercise Specialist™.

Nada is highly knowledgeable, calm and intuitive — known for her gentle presence, deep listening skills and ability to problem-solve complex bodies with care, precision and respect for sustainable movement.

JANE MILLER
Jane brings over two decades of experience and an exceptional depth of knowledge to MLP. She discovered Pilates during her training at the Australian Ballet School and later apprenticed clinically with Craig Phillips at Dance Medicine Australia. Jane has trained extensively with Alan Herdman, The Pilates Foundation and BASI, and spent 16 years running a Pilates studio in London.

Jane’s teaching is intelligent, creative and exacting — she keeps clients moving, adapting and improving while offering a steady, caring presence grounded in control, coordination and precision.

NADIA
Nadia is a former professional dancer who performed internationally with Sasha Waltz & Guests in Berlin. Certified with Peak PILATES® and as a Somatic Movement Educator, she also brings training in cranial sacral therapy and visual manipulation. Nadia’s global teaching experience informs her detailed, expressive and empowering approach to movement.

Her classes are passionate, energetic and precise — expect clarity, challenge and a little Italian flair. Nadia brings joy, rhythm and strong technical focus to control, coordination and flow.

BRITTNEY
Brittney joined MLP in early 2023 and brings vibrant energy, strong alignment skills and a sharp eye for detail to the team. Teaching Dance, Pilates and Fitness since 2006, she trained classically (RAD) and has taught across ballet, contemporary, afro, samba and ballroom.

Brittney’s classes are upbeat, thoughtful and engaging — she’s always refining what works best for the body in front of her. Her teaching emphasises breath, coordination and control, delivered with positivity, enthusiasm and momentum.