Meet the Align Team
Our team of highly qualified and specialised staff offer a wide range of treatments that cater to all levels of health and wellbeing.
Kerry Etkin
BSc Physiotherapy, Post Grad Dip Upper Limb Injuries, MAPA
Kerry qualified as a physiotherapist in Johannesburg in 1994, there she worked in a private hospital where she ran the hand therapy unit until 1997.
She decided to further her education and immigrated to Perth where she completed a Post-Graduate Diploma in upper limb injuries and hand rehabilitation from Curtin University.
From there the bright lights of Sydney beckoned and she moved across where she developed an interest in Pilates.
Having completed her certification from Body, Arts and Science, Kerry began her own practice, combining both her Physiotherapy and Pilates knowledge, which enable her to offer a comprehensive rehabilitation option. She went on to complete an Advanced Diploma of Pilates Practice through Pilates International and her studio also is a mentoring studio for Pilates International students.
Kerry has been studying the Gyrotonic method for the last 4 years and has completed her level 1 certification as well as her certification for the Jump Stretch Board.
Kerry presents at Post Graduate Pilates courses nationally.
Sandy Smuskowitz
Pilates Instructor
Sandy originally studied fashion and spent a number of years in the fashion industry.
After having her second child Sandy experienced severe back pain and was advised to take up Pilates. Sandy has been practicing Pilates since 2004 and 2015 became a certified Pilates instructor. Sandy is inspired to help improve clients health through mobility and movement and impart the knowledge and wisdom gained by her over her Pilates journey.
Sandy has a Certificate IV Pilates Matwork as well as a Diploma in Studio Pilates from Pilates ITC in Australia. She is currently training to become a GYROTONIC Instructor to further help her clients reach their goals and maintain and improve their strength and mobility.
In her spare time Sandy likes to exercise and travel and loves spending time with family and friends.
Martin Canova
Chiropractor
Martin works closely with physiotherapy and Pilates Instructors to provide a holistic wellness-based care model which focused on the physical, emotional and biochemical systems of the body.
Coti Cibils
Pilates Instructor
Coti Cibils is passionate about movement and anatomy. She completed her Pilates teacher training in 2010 in Argentina and has been teaching ever since. As a hypermobile dancer with various injuries throughout her career, she studied and worked towards developing a safe and smart way to train bodies.
Her practice has been enriched by 14 years of studying and practising biomechanical stretching, an active and eccentric way to train our bodies. This technique allowed her to develop a deep knowledge of biomechanics and fascial work, helping to re-align our body and prevent and treat injuries, by developing amazing neuromuscular connections that will last a lifetime.
Coti has worked alongside numerous physiotherapists, gaining a deeper knowledge about how bodies work in a global way (tensegrity) and how the root of our injuries can be in different places, rather than where we feel the pain.
With a background in dance and acrobatics, as well as working with the general population with a huge variety of injuries, Coti has integrated all her knowledge from different techniques and her work experiences to create a tailored Pilates class where no matter your age, injury or main activity, you can get the most efficient training to reach your goals.
Kathryn O’Connor
BSc Physiotherapy, MAPA
Kat graduated with a degree in Physiotherapy from University College Dublin in 2009. During a student placement in Toronto, she was introduced to Pilates and fell in love with the method and how it could be used as an adjunct to Physiotherapy treatment.
She went on to complete her Matwork training with STOTT Pilates, and after moving to Australia, continued her education with further Studio training through APPI. For the past 10 years, Kat has been a member of the team at Align Physiotherapy and Pilates, where she does hands-on physiotherapy treatment and teaches Pilates classes.
Kat has completed continual professional development across a range of specialties including shoulder rehabilitation, the hip and pelvis, ribcage, spinal conditions, running retraining, and dry needling. She is also a certified Level 1 GYROTONIC® instructor and integrates this unique movement method into her clinical and teaching practice.
Kat has taught a wide variety of fitness, strength and conditioning classes throughout her time in Australia. She loves helping people move with confidence and strength so they can keep doing the things they love.
Ashlee Winmill
Pilates Instructor + Pysiotherapist
Ashlee found her love of movement from a young age, beginning her pilates journey during her full-time ballet training.
She travelled the globe performing on numerous Royal Caribbean cruise ships and high-kicking in various cabaret shows around Germany and Macau, before finally landing back home to begin a new career.
Ashlee has grown up teaching the next generation of ballet dancers, and in 2019 decided the next step would be to gain qualifications in Pilates instruction. Enrolling in PilatesITC she gained her Diploma of Pilates, and instantly fell in love with how teaching Pilates and teaching the principles of Pilates aligned with her previous dance knowledge.
Hungry for more, she gained entry into the Bachelor of Physiotherapy at Sydney University in 2022 and is currently on her way to gaining her degree.
Ashlee is passionate about helping her clients achieve their goals within health and movement, in order to lead a happy and healthy life.
Farryl Roth
Physiotherapist
Meet Farryl, a highly skilled and experienced physiotherapist with a focus on treating headaches, back and neck pain, and sports injuries. With years of experience in the field, Farryl has developed a deep understanding of the complexities of the human body and in identifying and treating the root causes of pain and discomfort.
Whether you’re suffering from a persistent headache, a nagging back or neck pain, or an injury sustained during sports activities, Farryl has the expertise and tools to provide effective treatment and rehabilitation. His personalized treatment plans are tailored to each patient’s unique needs and goals, utilising a range of manual therapies, exercise programs, and other specialised techniques.
Farryl is passionate about helping his patients achieve optimal health and wellness, and he works closely with them to identify and address the underlying issues that contribute to their pain and discomfort. Farryl creates a supportive and welcoming environment that puts patients at ease and encourages them to take an active role in their recovery.
If you are struggling with headaches, back or neck pain, or a sports injury, Farryl is here to help you get back to feeling your best.
Contact him today to schedule an appointment and take the first step toward a pain-free and active life.
Fatima
Pilates Instructor
Fatima originally studied English and worked as an English teacher in Uruguay before moving to Australia in 2020.
Her Pilates journey began at 18 years old when she was introduced to it as a form of body conditioning while performing Aerial Silks in Uruguay.
After moving to Sydney, Fatima deepened her understanding of Pilates by completing her Diploma of Professional Pilates in 2022. Since then, she has been teaching full-time across Mat work, Reformer and Studio sessions and loving every minute of it! Her classes are designed to be challenging yet fun, with a unique flair inspired by her circus background.
Nowadays, she is completing her Advanced Diploma of the Pilates Method to deepen her knowledge of different conditions presented in the Pilates Studio.
Maria ‘Luz’ Perez
Reformer Pilates Instructor
Originally from Argentina, Luz is a professional dancer with more than 10 years of experience in over four companies around the world.
Maria has practiced Pilates throughout her career as a dancer, helping her to avoid injury and improve her strength and fitness. She has personal experience of how Pilates can be used for rehabilitation, successfully returning to dancing after a knee operation.
In 2019, she graduated as a Pilates instructor in Argentina, building a strong foundation in the method. Since 2021, she has been working full-time as a Pilates instructor in Sydney, refining her skills and working with a wide range of clients. In 2024, she joined Align as an instructor, expanding her experience in studio and clinical Pilates. She is currently completing a Diploma of Pilates with Pilates International Training Centre to further enhance her knowledge and obtain greater professional recognition in Australia.
Mirka
Pilates Instructor
Mirka is a passionate and dedicated Pilates Instructor who discovered Pilates while working at a physiotherapy clinic in the Eastern Suburbs. She quickly embraced its powerful benefits for strength, injury prevention, recovery and overall wellbeing.
She studied alongside physiotherapists and completed her formal training with the Australian Physiotherapy and Pilates Institute in 2014.
Mirka is particularly interested in helping clients strengthen their bodies from the inside out — beginning with stability, awareness and correct muscle activation before progressing to larger, more dynamic movements. Her approach is client-focused, warm and encouraging, with a strong emphasis on the subtle shifts that create meaningful, long-lasting change.
Her further training includes real-time ultrasound for core activation, pre- and post-natal Pilates, myofascial release techniques and personal training — giving her a well-rounded toolkit to support each client’s goals safely and effectively.
One of her favourite parts of teaching is hearing clients share how Pilates helps them feel stronger and move better in their daily lives.
Lily Barrett
Physiotherapist
Lily Barrett is a physiotherapist from Ireland with a passion for helping people move, feel and live better.
She graduated from the University of Limerick with a Bachelor’s degree in Sports and Exercise Science before completing a Master’s in Physiotherapy at University College Dublin in 2022. Growing up as a competitive swimmer and surf life saver, she alway understood the importance of exercise and movement on overall health.
Lily has experience working across a variety of clinical settings, including stroke rehabilitation, aged care, chronic pain and musculoskeletal conditions. She takes a holistic, whole-body approach to treatment, considering not just the site of pain but the movement patterns and nervous system strategies that may be contributing to it. She believes that through guided, purposeful movement, we can restore balance and build resilience.
She has continued to expand her skill set in Australia, completing further training in personal training, strength and conditioning, and Clinical Pilates through APPI.
Outside the clinic, Lily embraces the sunshine, beach and outdoor lifestyle that Sydney offers.
Jane
Physiotherapist
Jane graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Applied Science (Physiotherapy) and has developed an extensive range of skills over more than 30 years in practice. Her experience spans the treatment of elite athletes—including first-grade NRL players—through to recreational “weekend warriors.”
Jane is trained in APPI Clinical Mat Pilates, dry needling, and occupational and ergonomic rehabilitation. She is particularly known for her strong diagnostic ability and traditional hands-on physiotherapy approach, qualities frequently praised by her patients.
Jane’s philosophy is to identify the root cause of each patient’s issue and work collaboratively to achieve the best possible resolution or long-term management of their condition.
Outside of physiotherapy, Jane has represented Blacktown and Randwick in state-level netball and still proudly considers herself a netball “weekend warrior.” She is married, has three adult children and one very large dog. When she’s not at the clinic, you’ll likely find her on the coastal walk, in the water, or waiting in the coffee queue.
