Stefan Knight, Proprietor
Vineyard Pilates Center

Certification: The Pilates Center, Boulder, CO; Massage Therapy Institute of Colorado; Rolf Institute, Boulder, CO
Years in practice: 10 Years
Modalities: Pilates , Rolfing , Massage

“My mission is to empower people to be in control of their own health and well-being through both the Pilates method of exercise and Rolfing Structural Integration.”

Martha's Vineyard Pilates Training, and Pilates in general
Perhaps the most highly functional and personalized forms of exercise available, the Pilates Method improves both strength and flexibility.

By focusing on “core” strengthening the Pilates Method first develops a strong center from which to move from rather than just making strong muscles stronger.

With careful instruction you’ll find new and stronger support for everyday movement.

The specialized equipment works by toning muscles as well as balancing muscular force at the joint level. It stimulates circulation through facilitating muscular flexibility, joint range of motion and proper musculoskeletal alignment.

In addition, it promotes new neuromuscular patterns, heightened body awareness, and more precise coordination.

All these things combine to help prevent future injury and reduce, or even eliminate chronic pain altogether.

Stefan Knight began his fitness career as a personal trainer in 1995 working in a small private health club with a physical therapist. He began his practice with traditional weight training and rehab exercises. Trying Yoga at the urging of a friend, he started to question the effectiveness of his work using "traditional" methods. Stefan was intrigued by a technique he learned about called Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation. Client response to the use of PNF stretching was overwhelmingly positive. These experiences inspired him to formally explore a new paradigm in fitness.

In 2000 he completed a 1060 hour program at the Massage Therapy Institute of Colorado in Denver studying Swedish, Deep Tissue, Myofascial, Neuromuscular and Reflex Therapies.

Jil Marie Matrisciano has been a teacher with the VPC since 2004. Her certification included training with Stefan Knight and Ben Basar, as well as with various teachers from The Pilates Center in Boulder. She is a member of the Pilates Method Alliance and will begin her Masters Program through The Pilates Center this fall. As Artistic Director of She-figured Dance, she has performed at The Yard 2006-2007, Choreographer’s Group 2004, TEN’S THE LIMIT 2003, SUNY Brockport 2003, The 2002 Cape & Islands Dance Festival, and Built On Stilts 2000-2007. A former member of NYC’s Wood Dance, Jil’s performing credits include Tribecca Performing Arts Center, Judson Church, St. Marks Church, The Yard, UC Berkeley, and SUNY Brockport. She has an AA in Dance and BS in Physical Education. In 2003, she received her MFA in Choreography and Performance from the State University of New York College at Brockport while on scholarship as a Teaching Assistant for the college’s dance department. Jil’s choreography has been recognized by The American Dance Festival, naming her the 1999 recipient of the Bessie Schöenberg Scholarship for Choreographic Potential, acknowledging her solo work, Her Last Breath. Other honors include The American College Dance Festival, SUNY College at Brockport, and Dean College. She has performed the work of choreographers, Shapiro & Smitth, Randy James, and Susannah Newman. In addition to managing her dance company, Jil taught as an adjunct instructor at Dean College, is a free-lance dance writer and currently continues to teach dance on Martha’s Vineyard.

Daryl Owens began practicing Pilates in 1994 when she was in high school at North Carolina School of the Arts studying dance. She danced and choreographed professionally in New York where she also became interested in movement therapies, yoga and developmental movement. She attended the Kripalu School of Massage where she trained in Swedish, Therapeutic and Deep Tissue massage. After Jil and Stefan rekindled her interest in Pilates, she began training at Vineyard Pilates and The Pilates Center in Boulder, CO to become a certified Pilates instructor. She aims to make movement and movement therapy study a lifetime occupation. This fall she will begin teaching dance at Rise Vineyard Performing Arts.

Jennifer (Sanders) Knight is a teacher by nature. She has been living on the Vineyard since she graduated college in 1994 and began a 10-year elementary school teaching career. In 2004, in the process of building her own home, she injured her back and began physical therapy. As a part of the recovery process, her physical therapist recommended that she try Pilates. After participating in her first three private sessions, she was hooked! After 2 years of Pilates sessions 5 days a week, Jennifer began her instructor training in Colorado at the Pilates Center and on Martha’s Vineyard at the Vineyard Pilates Center. She has been teaching at the Vineyard Pilates Center since June 2007.