Joanne Chong – Singapore

Joanne Chong embarked on her Pilates journey in 2012, driven by the debilitating pain of plantar fasciitis. Seeking relief, she found herself at a Pilates studio, and within six months of bi-weekly sessions, she not only alleviated her foot condition but also discovered profound mental clarity and a renewed perspective on life.

After years of teaching, Joanne founded Altum Pilates with the goal of deepening the community’s engagement with Classical Pilates while adhering closely to the foundational teachings and intents of Joseph Pilates. A lifelong learner with a particular interest in mentoring the next generation of Pilates teachers, Joanne has studied and trained extensively around the world—from Zurich to Manila to Singapore—to hone and expand her Pilates education and practice.

A visit to the doctor for nagging hip pain led to an x-ray and the discovery that Joanne had developed functional scoliosis, which caused discomfort when executing original Pilates exercises. To better cope with her own discomfort, she pursued Scolio-Pilates education with Karena Thek and has now gained an understanding of people with scoliosis and their struggles in executing Pilates exercises that demand symmetry—what if they can’t be symmetrical because their spines are already asymmetrical? With this newfound compassion, Joanne now approaches her own practice and clients with a different perspective, using the Scolio-Pilates philosophy to help people move out of pain and fully express the original roots of Pilates exercises.