About the Creator:
Hillary Brown started her career in Mesa, Arizona as a member of the elite dance team “Starz” at the age of 3. She continued to train in Salt Lake City, Utah where her studies included Jazz, Ballet, Tap, Pointe, and Lyrical. As well as dance, she played roles in movies with Disney, DreamWorks, and Lucadia Films, and had reoccurring roles on Touched by an Angel. With her experience in the industry, she was the first high school student to attend a private independent film school created by DreamWorks were she worked directing and producing independent films with industry leaders Darrin Fletcher and Chet Thomas. Directing being her passion, her first film made it into the LA film festival.
In 2001, Hillary made her journey to Hawaii, where she has taught at over 10 studios, received her B.A. in Speech Communications from the University of Hawaii and now is the owner of Manoa Dance Studio. Hillary was also the director of a local talent agency and has choreographed for several local shows, competitions, pageant contestants, and has also been a judge for several pageants, including the Miss Hawaii Pageant and Miss Teen Pilipino and World Pageants.
In 2008, Hillary suffered from a major stroke leaving her unable to speak and her right side paralyzed. After months of inpatient care and a risky brain surgery, she discovered Pilates as therapy. She made leaps and bounds in her recovery over two years with Pilates and it enabled her to return to her first passion, dancing. Along with a positive attitude, the support from family and loved ones, and a “Never give up” attitude, she credits a great deal of her miraculous recovery to the Pilates Method.
“My doctors told me that I would not be where I am today if I had not been in such good shape before the stroke. I credit that and my wonderful body awareness (which plays an important part of any physical recovery) to Pilates. Pilates helped me get back into dancing after near death, and to Pilates I owe my life.”
Falling in love with Pilates, Hillary completed the Harmony Teacher Certification in 2011, Streamline Bodyworks Certification in 2015 and is now a Master Pilates instructor with over 1500 in training hours and additional certifications such as Pre and Post Natal, Scoliosis therapies, pain management, and body mechanics. She is known for her advanced knowledge in helping ocean paddlers, cyclists, golfers, weight lifters, dancers and sports professionals recover from and prevent injuries.
She now shares her passion for Pilates and movement in hopes that the methods will not only help others the way it helped her, but also help them develop a passion for health, develop a positive attitude and reach for and achieve the highest in life.