About Us  
 


We are passionate about our work.




 
 
 

ROchendaMs. Howard received a B.A. in Physical Education from the University of Western Ontario and a B.Sc. in Physiotherapy from the University of Toronto. In 2001 she completed a M.Sc. Research degree in Rehabilitation Therapy (Motor Performance) from Queens University, Canada.

Ms. Howard practiced physiotherapy for several years in orthopaedic and neurological settings in Canada and briefly in New Zealand and Australia before moving to Hong Kong in 1993 and has since focused exclusively on the development of a PILATES–based Physiotherapy treatment system. In Hong Kong Rochenda had the privilege to work extensively with Julia Ellis (RBS (TTC), FISTD, ARAD), a gifted ballet teacher, choreographer and Pilates ‘guru’ and together they founded the successful B.E.T. Pilates Centre in 1994. They were the first to introduce PILATES exercise in Hong Kong and East Asia and the first in the region to offer an exclusively Pilates –based therapeutic exercise approach provided by Physiotherapists. The Hong Kong clinic continues to provide innovative leadership in the region and Rochenda worked as clinician and director until 2011 before returning to her native Toronto where she is establishing a BET Pilates Physiotherapy clinic. She continues as a partner in the Hong Kong clinic, involved in staff training and quality assurance activities.

 
     
 

Rochenda has a special interest in muscle function and motor learning and in how biomechanical and muscle / movement imbalances contribute to painful conditions. In 2006, Rochenda published the first rigorously designed, peer reviewed research study on a Pilates - based treatment (for low back pain). This research has been presented at physiotherapy conferences in Asia, Europe and Canada.

 

Rochenda is a passionate educator having co-developed the BET Pilates training curriculum and she has been active internationally teaching this system to Physiotherapists since 1997.

 

In her spare time, Rochenda enjoys outdoor activities, running and cycling, travel and spending time with her two daughters.