Tonka Cascais believes in a pro-active approach to changing lives. She is the owner of ProPilates, a Fort Lauderdale wellness studio that specializes in classical Pilates. She works to instill the belief that a healthy body comes from more than just working out; it must come full circle. Tonka doesn’t just teach Pilates. She teaches her clients that it also matters what goes into your body, what you put on your body and what you surround yourself with. She believes you must treat yourself well to achieve wellness.

Tonka was certified in New York in1999 as a second-generation Pilates Instructor. She completed thousands of apprenticeship hours under Master Teacher Romana Krizanowska, who was personally trained by Joseph Pilates and is still the voice for his original work.

In 2000, Tonka opened ProPilates, and brought Pilates to Fort Lauderdale. Since then she has continued her education and research, expanding her knowledge of health and wellness. She has earned many certifications, including:

• Gyrotonic® Certification
• Ionithermie Trainer and Certification
• Polar Certification for Cardiovascular Training
• Personal Training Certification
• TPI certification (currently pending)
• Currently attending the Global College of Natural Medicine’s program for Nutritional Consultant

Tonka believes that if you take care of your body now, you won’t experience negative health such as diseases like cancer and diabetes, weight gain and back pain. As the driving force behind this pro-active approach to achieving wellness, Tonka is now working on creating her own certification program.

TRAINING AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• 1995: Emigrated to the U.S. from Bulgaria
• 1995-1997: Extensive research in physical fitness and exercise programming in France, Italy, Monaco and Spain
• 1996: Earned The Aerobic and Fitness Association of America Certification
  
• 1997: Earned Diploma from the American College of Sports Medicine, which is recognized as the world’s authority in Fitness and Health Programming
  
• 1998: Trained in the Fitness Institute Program, under the tutelage of nationally known fitness expert Dr. Anthony Abbott
  
• 1998: Trained at Drago’s Gym in New York City with Romana Krizanowska, who was personally trained by Joseph Pilates
  
• 1999: Certified as a second-generation Pilates Instructor
  
• 2000: Opened ProPilates in Fort Lauderdale
  
• 2003: Appointed as a Level 3 Master Teacher and became responsible for training new instructors in South Florida for Romana Krizanowska’s Pilates Certification Program
  
• 2004: Completed the advanced system of “Back to Golf,” expanding her knowledge of the biomechanics of the golf swing, understanding the correct body alignment and injury prevention. Began applying Pilates’ methods to improve people’s golf game, and developed a specialized program emphasizing injury prevention for the Junior Golf Academy at Grand Oaks Country Club.
  
• 2005: ProPilates chosen as the sole provider of Pilates and Gyrotonic services at the Spa International on Fisher Island
  
• 2006: Completed a human body dissection seminar at the University of South Florida, widening her medical knowledge for introducing Pilates as a rehabilitation program
  
• 2007: Completed the Gyrotonic Expansion System’s training under the program’s developer, Juliu Horvath, becoming one of the first Gyrotonic instructors in Fort Lauderdale
  
• 2007: Introduced ProPilates programs to the Doral Golf Resort and Spa’s clients and its Golf Academy
  
• 2008: Nominated by the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce for the prestigious “Business Woman of the Year” award in recognition of building ProPilates