Staff profile

Biography

Mariska is the founder of Washington, D.C.-based Fuse Pilates®, an award-winning creative director and writer, and a self-proclaimed “casual student” of medical neuroscience.

Mariska has been teaching Pilates since 2003, and developed her signature style, Fuse Pilates, as a mat class at a yoga studio in 2005. Over the years, the Fuse Pilates method has evolved to offer unique hybrid mat, tower, reformer, and chair classes, as well as private instruction. Her classes are heavily influenced by her background in Pilates, yoga, and barre, as well as a three-year mentorship with Julian Littleford. Fuse is a proud affiliate of Julian Littleford Pilates and was voted the Best Pilates studio in Washington, D.C. by Washingtonian Magazine.

In addition to her passion for creating fun and effective workouts for her group classes, Mariska is passionate about educating teachers and patients about exercise for neurological conditions. Her Pilates for MS™ Teacher Training incorporates the latest research into neuroplasticity and neurorehabilitation into a Pilates program design for multiple sclerosis, stroke, and other neurological conditions. It is core curriculum for Carolyne Anthony’s Center for Women’s Fitness’ Women’s Health Pilates Certificate. Mariska is a PMA@ Certified Pilates Teacher who completed her comprehensive training through BASI Pilates. She has additional training throughPower Pilates, Peak Pilates, Balance Body, and PureBarre, as well as several specialty certifications. She also studies regularly with friend and “spirit guide,” Jennifer Kries.

A frequent guest writer for fitness and lifestyle blogs, Mariska is currently writing a book on exercise for neurological conditions, developing additional training manuals for the Fuse method and for work with stroke and Parkinson's disease, teaching internationally, running a studio, and spending rare time off with her husband and their dog-child – a Basenji named Zoe.