Our Story
KZ AligN Pilates was conceived by our founder, Kea, who has long been interested in how energy and movement can heal and transform us. Kea believes that if our bodies are moving well in alignment, our minds and overall well-being will be positively impacted.
In 2012, Kea was searching for a way to combine her decades long practice of mindfulness with her love of movement. This led her to discovering Pilates and the powerful benefits to mind and body. She completed an apprenticeship, became a certified instructor, and worked in a number of studios before eventually opening KZ Pilates in Chiang Mai. KZ AligN was born!
Kea’s goal is to increase awareness of the benefits of Pilates and inspire more people to start a mindful Pilates practice. For this reason, she created bespoke instructor training programs called KZ Apprentice Progression (KZap) and KZ Intensive International Progression (KZiip). The KZ AligN team hopes to play a key role in building a strong Pilates community throughout Thailand, valuing connection with care at the heart of it all.
Our Founder
Wanvisa Sararos (Kea)
I was born in Bangkok, and have lived in several provinces around Thailand, spending time in cities and villages, mountains and beaches. As a young girl, I grew up in a small village in Ayutthaya and frequented our local temple. This led me to become interested in Vipassana meditation around the age of 16, and I have been practicing meditation ever since! I have practiced in a number of other styles within the Thai forest, Theravada, Mahayana, and Goenka traditions. Over the past few years, I have become invested in holistic energy work, such as Qi Gong, Tai Chi, Tibetan bowls, crystal bowls and traditional South American ceremonies. I strongly believe in the importance of balance between physical, mental and spiritual energy.
Throughout my life, I have been passionate about movement and exercise. I enjoy yoga, weight lifting, volleyball and just about any other kind of sport. It was around 2012 that I first fell in love with Pilates. In 2015, I completed the Balanced Body Comprehensive Instructor Training Program and an apprenticeship at Personalized Pilates in Scottsdale, Arizona. I was fortunate to learn from Katrina Foe, who studied under Lolita San Miguel. Lolita San Miguel is a first generation instructor who was certified by Joseph Pilates himself. Following this, I taught Pilates in the US with a fantastic team, including Kellee Stooks and Anna Jones- a master instructor who trains other instructors in certified Balanced body methods. A few years later, I moved back to Thailand and worked in a Bangkok studio, before opening KZ Pilates in 2015.
Over the years, I have continued my Pilates education through a variety of courses and conferences:
- Balanced Body Pilates on Tour conferences in the United States and Korea
- BAM Method training- Anna and Brandon
- Online continuing education courses include Pilates and living life to the energy
People who know me from outside of Pilates tell me that I have a city head and a village heart. People who know me from my Pilates classes tell me that I am like sweet torture.
Our Instructors
Thanyaluck Lertthammanut (Kwan)
Comedian and Professional Swimmer
I love all kinds of exercise and I’m quite a funny person. I love to be surrounded by people who are hilarious with a good attitude. If you are one of my students, let’s make the session more fun and engaging for a healthy body and mind. Sometimes, you might even find yourself laughing out loud too!
If I could compare Pilates with something else in my life, I would say that Pilates is like natural medicine. Now that I am pain free, I use Pilates as medicine in my daily life and have also become an instructor.
Nonglak Phuangsuwan (Luck)
Hi my name is Luck. I’m a former full-time mother and now I’m a Pilates instructor. I like to travel to see new things, participate in outdoor activities, and spend time cooking and baking. I’m a simple and calm person who loves animals and cares for and helps the people around me. I’m the mother of one child and I pay a lot of attention to detail. Therefore, it’s my passion to treat my Pilates clients with attention and care.
Our Students
Extremely professional Pilates studio with genuine American patented equipment. Very beneficial to health. Restoration of signs of aging and physical therapy of injuries.
I was already excited after my first lesson. Teacher Kea pays attention to every detail. Too bad I’m not in Chiang Mai all the time. I was so fascinated that I had to find a way to practice on my own.
Kea is a Pilates teacher who is very professional and truly knowledgeable. Studying in private classes with Kea will give you the full benefits. We can tell her what we would like help with. Personally, I have benefited from pilates and it helped solve my problem with hunching my back forward. This was caused by weak abdominal muscles (ie. weak core). Pilates can play a role in solving this problem.
Great for all pilates lovers- pros and newbies like me. The teacher is very supportive and eager to educate you to understand all parts of practice. Her teaching style is quite casual and friendly and the tasks always depend on your ability and body. I am very impressed by the lovely teacher and the peaceful class environment with high quality equipment. Totally happy to do it again.
I have been training with Kea and her team at KZ Pilates for an average of twice a week for the last couple of months. I have a history of chronic pain for the past two decades, and a total of eight slipped discs in my back as a result of a lifetime sitting in front of computers – and not being very good at exercise. In the first session, I could do very few of the movements without experiencing pain in my lower back. I was also regularly taking painkillers and anti-convulsant drugs.
It’s incredible to look back at the progress that I’ve experienced over the last three months.
Firstly, I have dramatically reduced my medication. In my Pilates sessions, so many more of the exercises are available to me – and while I still have pain in my body – it is a LOT less than it was before. Pilates has also increased my awareness (and practice) of physical posture, in a way that nothing else ever has. (And I have tried a lot of things). Kea and her team are professional and caring, and the space itself is gorgeous. I highly recommend KZ Pilates to anyone who would like to improve their physical condition, and their life.
I was so happy to come to Chiang Mai and meet Teacher Kea. I took private lessons for 1 hour to gain her Pilates knowledge. I have missed it while in Bangkok. When Kea found out that we were studying the Mat Pilates Instructor course, she wanted to teach us and advise us on how we could improve our practice. In the end, she also even fed us too! love u
Thank you Teacher Kea for making me want to try Pilates. Now I am already in love with Pilates!
I have been practicing pilates at KZ Pilates for 2 years. It changed my life. Instead of aging normally like most people, I feel my body has become younger, perhaps by 5 years. I am also much more mindful of my body. The teachers at the studio are professional and they can tailor their teaching to my needs.
Have you ever tried taking Pilates classes? In Chiang Mai, I went to 2-3 places, but ended up at KZ Pilates because I felt that the teachers cared a lot about the poses that I did, not focusing solely on difficult poses, but on getting the poses right. I’ve been studying here for 7 months now. I feel like my muscles are getting stronger with a more defined shape. My ‘Office Syndrome’ lower back pain is much better. My body is slimmer. Importantly, Pilates makes you more conscious and able to connect with different parts of the body. Very impressive! It’s an exercise that makes me happy every time I do it. The teachers are all lovely! Most importantly, the teachers keep focused on the details. Do your homework and exercises to suit your objectives and help develop the muscles that need to be developed. At first, I thought that the price was quite high, but now I can’t quit studying here because it is a very worthwhile payment.
It’s really good! I’m envious of Chiang Mai people who get to study with Kea regularly. The teaching is quality, the price is low, and most importantly, it’s beautiful!
You are a very good teacher- very kind and calm. Practicing Pilates can really help improve the way you present yourself, for example with your posture, or help with back pain. My office syndrome has improved a lot.
