Meet The Pilates Center Staff

The Pilates Center is staffed with the most experienced and highly trained instructors in the Williamsburg area.

Even our out-of-town clients are amazed at the quality of our instructors and facility. Our clients tell us they feel they receive good value for their Pilates dollars because of our level of knowledge, service, and variety of equipment. Come see for yourself!


Mary-Jane Bell Amrein

Mary-Jane Bell Amrein

Founder

Mary-Jane began working in the fitness field in 1981 as a part-time evening aerobics instructor while serving as an Extension Agent for Virginia Tech. In 1986 she left Extension to devote all of her time and energy to fitness. She started Aerobics Plus, a full-service gym which she ran and expanded for 20 years. “Firsts” include introducing the Williamsburg area to step aerobics, water aerobics, spinning, and pilates. While owner of Aerobics Plus she was honored by the Williamsburg Area Chamber of Commerce as "Small Business Person of the Year".

Realizing the impact of pilates on her clients, in 2002 Mary-Jane decided to focus on this aspect of fitness, so she sold Aerobics Plus and started her next business, The Pilates Center for Fitness and Therapeutic Conditioning. Her certified pilates equipment started off with 2 Reformers and has since expanded to its 3200 square foot location with 10 Reformers, 4 Cadillacs and several other pieces of smaller pilates equipment to provide you with a complete pilates experience.

Certifications include:

  • Stott Certified Instructor
  • Muscle Activation Techniques Specialist
  • Personal Trainer Certification for Dr. Ken Cooper's Aerobic Institute of Research in Dallas Texas
  • American Council on Exercise (ACE), Gold Certified Aerobic Instructor
  • Medical Exercise Specialist Certification
  • B.S. and M.S. degrees from Virginia Tech

To receive trainings and certifications, Mary-Jane has traveled to California, Texas, Colorado, Toronto, Chicago, Boston, North Carolina, Washington D.C., and Virginia.


George Amrein

George Amrein

Instructor

GGeorge has been a Stott Pilates instructor since 2005 with advanced training in Injury and Special Populations, Rehabilitation, Balanced Body University Integrated Tower Pilates, and the Muscle Activation Techniques “Jump Start” Program. An avid golfer, George has helped several clients improve their golf game by understanding the movements of the game and the flexibility and strength it requires. He has also helped clients reduce pain and strengthen areas of the hip, knee, back, and core through the magic of pilates.

He has over 35 years of past experience in a traditional gym, making him an ideal instructor for those transitioning from gym to a core and spine-based pilates program.

George has a B.S. degree in Business from the University of Maryland. As a former McDonalds executive and then franchise owner, when asked about helping to make people fit instead of fat, of course he said “I’m loving it!”


Megan Bowman

Megan Bowman

Instructor

Megan began studying and teaching yoga in her early thirties. She is certified in Iyengar, Ashtanga and Kundalini styles of Yoga and taught for 8 years in Austin ,Texas. She moved to Kauai in1999 and studied a vast array of movement and healing arts; somatic movement awareness, continuum movement,chi gong, tai chi, Taoist energy medicine, Ayurvedic medicine, Lau lapaau (Hawaiian Herbology) Soundhealing, Lomi Lomi massage and Hula. Megan attended the University of Santa Monica in Spiritual Psychology. All of her background has created a holistic and comprehensive approach to fitness is holistic based on each individual 's fitness challenges, lifestyle and goals.

She moved to Williamsburg to be trained at The Pilates Center to provide equipment-based pilates helping clients with a variety of muscular issues.


Jo Chapman

Jo Chapman

Instructor

Jo has been a Pilates instructor and personal trainer since 2015, and taught in studios in Boston, New York, Arizona, Williamsburg, and virtually for students country wide. Jo has an extensive record of experience with injuries and athletes, including a sports focus on improving golfers’ game. As a cyclist, kitesurfer, paddle boarder, and wind surfer, she has a deep appreciation for the importance of a strong core in everything from sports to gardening.

Certifications include:

  • Endurance Classical Reformer
  • Endurance Classical Pilates Mat
  • Endurance Classical Barre
  • Endurance Classical Full Certification
  • Romana Full Intermediate training
  • National Academy of Sports Medicine personal training
  • National Academy of Sports Medicine Nutrition
  • 4 years of college nutrition from Cayuga College and UMass Boston