Our Team

Meet The Founder -
Belinda Johnson

HEAD INSTRUCTOR

Wellness innovator and founder/owner/head instructor, Belinda Johnson established SMART Pilates based on her professional and individual sporting background and the enjoyment of helping others to be better versions of themselves.

Belinda is passionate about helping her clients improve their fitness and restore their body awareness.

As a lifelong athlete herself, performing at a professional level, she knows all too well how muscle tension, muscle recovery, soreness and injuries can affect our everyday life.

Her wellness journey began with her sporting involvement which naturally led her to the study of preventative and restorative measures to improve the body’s performance and recovery.

Belinda, as an allied health professional working nationally as a certified remedial massage therapist, boasts over 25 years of experience in helping to restore bodies that have endured sporting or work-related injuries. This added experience gives Belinda the ability to see clients’ bodies weaknesses, strengths or imbalances efficiently, allowing her to provide a full repertoire of measures to improve a client’s body physique through the instruction of Pilates.

Belinda’s instruction of Pilates has in mind a deep focus on each of her clients’ needs. Her constant evaluation of posture and movement patterns allows her to customise programs to suit each physique in her class, resulting in a finely tuned workout that focuses on lengthening, strengthening and alignment as well as fitness.

Her passion to provide a total wellness solution through the studio, an airy, bright custom-built studio built in 2020, creates a fitness boutique, bringing along the best in Pilates, rehabilitation solutions, fitness programs, to qualified nutrition, dietician and podiatry consultations and several other wellness solutions for her clients.

Certification & Training

Diploma of Remedial Massage

Studio Pilates Mat Work Certificate

Studio Pilates Reformer Certificate

Studio Pilates Ball, Band and Circle Certificate

Studio Pilates Wunda Chair Certificate

Studio Pilates Cadillac Certificate

Studio Pilates Small Ball Certificate

Studio Pilates Pregnancy Certificate

Level 1 Strength and conditioning

First Aid Certificate

Nicole Bann-Murray

INSTRUCTOR

Nicole, a Port Macquarie local, sports enthusiast and former small business owner of the popular Peloton Espresso Bar, began her Pilates journey in 2020. She has participated in a life of sport, with a passion for cycling, running, swimming and triathlon. Nicole describes herself as an “active person rather than a competitor”.

Nicole has lived and worked overseas as well as completing a Bachelor of Business at the UTS Sydney, whilst also instructing at various gyms throughout this time

Nicole’s vast personal experience in exercise and training gives her the ability to create an abundance of enthusiasm and fitness into each of her classes. Her recent study of remedial massage and breath work allows Nicole to understand more about how a body moves in order to better help her clients. This passion and knowledge of body, movement and breath allows clients to leave her classes feeling more grounded, confident and inspired to lead lives centred around movement.

Nicole’s mission is to apply Pilates into everyday activities and believes the workout doesn’t end in the studio, but is carried out into our everyday life.

Outside of teaching, Nicole is a keen runner and swimmer, enjoys traveling and spending time on her SUP with friends and family.

Qualifications & Credentials

Studio Pilates Mat Work Certificate
Studio Pilates Reformer Certificate
Studio Pilates Small Ball Certificate
Studio Pilates Ball, Band and Circle Certificate
Diploma of Remedial Massage
Studio Pilates Reformer Progressions Certificate
Advanced Oxygen, Breath Work & Nasal Breathing Certificate
First Aid Certificate

Jill Mckern

INSTRUCTOR

Jill’s interest in Pilates glimmered when she attended her first class at SMART Pilates in 2021. Inspired by the healthy, fun and experienced instructors and clients at SMART Pilates, Jill came to the studio looking to improve her posture, increase her overall strength and overcome injury. Jill’s belief is that “Pilates creates a body awareness that is essential to a healthier lifestyle”.

Jill became a certified instructor at SMART Pilates in 2022 and has never looked back, loving the mind and body connections that Pilates creates.

A Port Macquarie local, Food Coach and experienced Pilates Instructor, Jill is a valued member of the SMART Pilates team. With an array of experience in customer service, coupled with Jill’s vast knowledge in nutrition, creates that well rounded setting for our clients to link mind and body in a healing environment.

Jill is always striving to learn more about Pilates and her client’s goals, constantly inspired by the people around her, never tiring of instructing Pilates, as every person brings a new perspective to the studio. Jill is obsessed with the changes Pilates brings to the body so quickly and enjoys watching her clients find this too.

Jill’s enthusiastic and effervescent personality is evident in each of her sessions. The ability to bring a bit of fun, cardio, health and creativity is evident in every session bringing an upbeat energy into each of her client’s journeys to a happier and healthier self.

When Jill isn’t teaching classes, you can find her creating interesting healthy snacks and smoothies, hanging out with her young family and of course practicing Pilates.

Qualifications & Credentials

Barre Body Mat Work Certificate
Tensegrity Group Reformer Pilates
Tensegrity Wunda Chair Pilates
Certificate of Nutrition
Certificate in Food as Medicine
Certificate in Disability Support
Professional Certificate in Food & Nutrition Coaching
Infection Control Skill Set Certificate
First Aid Certificate

Alana McDonald

PILATES INSTRUCTOR

Alana's passion for movement began with her classical ballet training, where she developed a deep appreciation for the connection between body and mind. Her journey into Pilates was inspired by the desire to share the benefits of movement with everyone, regardless of age or ability. Alana believes that "Pilates is for everyone," and she strives to make each session an opportunity for clients to improve their posture, strength, and overall well-being.

Alana completed her Pilates instructor certification in 2024, combining her knowledge of dance, anatomy and rehabilitation to create tailored, effective workouts with a focus on evidence-based Pilates. She is passionate about helping clients achieve their goals, whether recovering from injury, increasing flexibility, or enhancing physical performance.

Alana loves nature and the outdoors, and is a calm and welcoming instructor with a holistic benefits of Pilates that go beyond the studio. She brings a nurturing, supportive environment to each session, focusing on mind-body awareness to promote long-term health and wellness.

When she’s not teaching Pilates, you can find Alana immersed in nature, continuing her own personal practice, or expanding her knowledge in the field of movement and anatomy.

Qualifications & Credentials

Diploma of Professional Pilates Instruction

First Aid and CPR Certified

Pilates Association Australia Member

Southern Federation of Dance Teaching Certificate

Working With Children Check

Ben Johnson - SMART Coaching

HEAD COACH

Ben is focused on your health, wellbeing, sporting and athletic goals through individual and group activities.

He is widely experienced as a sports fitness adviser and coach with a high level of technical knowledge.

Ben has successfully competed in Triathlon, Surf Club and Cycling competition.

During Ben’s professional Surf Life Saving training days, a fire was lit in his quest to understand more about human performance. It was this thirst for knowledge of the physiological needs of individual athletes that he enjoys sharing most with his athletes in his current coaching career.

These early life experiences of various sports have left Ben with a wealth of knowledge to call on for his coaching future.

Ben has recognised the importance of complementing “Strength and Conditioning” sessions into a person’s fitness routines whether that be endurance, cardiovascular or Pilates sessions.

The remedial benefits of Strength and Conditioning sessions are usually a very important part of a person’s recovery to everyday living and sporting activities.