The Ridge is a place where you can truly be yourself. Where you’re empowered to chase your dreams and turn your daydreams into reality. This vision isn't just for the people joining our community; it's something we share with our core team as well. Together, with a diverse group of inspiring women, we’re building something beautiful and empowering one another every step of the way.
We’re beyond proud to introduce the incredible women behind the Ridge. Each of them is unique, inspiring, and has brought something special to our journey. We feel truly lucky to have crossed paths with every single one of them.
Anna Eikendal
Ex-athlete, Model & Pilates teacher
From the age of four, sports have been a central part of my life. I began as a runner and pursued athletics professionally until I was 20. Moving from Holland to Belgium marked a turning point for me, as I shifted from my running career to modeling. I’ve discovered many parallels between the two: both require a deep understanding of the body and a strong mental focus—two aspects I’m deeply passionate about.
After stepping away from competitive running, I embraced a balanced routine that includes fun runs and Pilates, maintaining an active lifestyle with workouts five times a week. I love nourishing my body through healthy cooking and integrating mindfulness and meditation into my daily life.
Modeling adds an exciting dimension to my journey, igniting my creativity through mood boards and concept development. I relish the entire creative process, which complements my passion for Pilates beautifully. As a teacher, I find that Pilates harmonizes the body and mind, allowing me to express that creativity while sharing its benefits with others.
My true motivation as a Pilates instructor is to pass on the strength and balance I’ve gained from my practice. It may sound cliché, but I genuinely aspire to inspire as many people as possible to prioritize their mental and physical well-being. The joy it brings me fuels my belief that it can have a transformative impact on others, too.
After years of focusing on yoga, Hedwige discovered her passion for Pilates. She had been practicing Pilates intensively for years before deciding to take the leap and complete an extensive Pilates training to become an instructor. With her personal brand, WELL., she beautifully bridges the worlds of yoga and Pilates.
“With a mission to inspire and guide others, I aim to create more balance in daily life. Yoga, meditation, Pilates, breathwork, and healthy eating, everything is interconnected. Do what you love, and do it in a strong, healthy body.
When Dagmar and Elien approached me about The Ridge, I immediately felt a connection. A female-owned business and a Pilates studio focused on style and quality – it was a perfect match. Their holistic approach to women’s well-being and the importance of feeling good aligns perfectly with my own values, both personally and professionally. Their passion for wellness is so inspiring, it only fueled my own drive.
Small groups, personalized attention, and space to connect and grow at your own pace, exactly how I believe Pilates should be taught.”
Hedwige Bontidean
Yoga, breathwork and Pilates teacher
Valerie Mottoulle
Dance Teacher, Pilates Teacher
From a young age, movement has been the common thread in Valerie’s life. She trained in modern jazz dance and dance theatre in the Netherlands, where she went on to teach and choreograph for various schools across the country.
Her deep connection to Pilates began with a powerful personal experience: a rapid recovery from a painful herniated disc injury. This turning point sparked a passion that led her to train and learn in both the Eindhoven and Antwerp, continuing to expand her knowledge through ongoing education. Valerie is particularly drawn to the anatomy of injury and the human body's capacity for healing.
At the heart of her teaching is a desire to help people move with awareness. To reconnect with their bodies, build strength from the inside out, and explore their full physical and emotional potential. For Valerie, Pilates is more than a method. It's a journey: from training to transformation, and ultimately, to magic.
“For me, The Ridge is where this philosophy comes to life: a space for awareness, discovery, upliftment, and healing. A place where people are empowered to become the best version of themselves.”
Damla’s path to Pilates is anything but linear, and that’s exactly what shapes her unique perspective as a teacher. With a background that spans philosophy, criminology, fine arts, and painting restoration, her life has always been rooted in exploration, learning, and the pursuit of self-awareness.
Her curiosity about the mind-body connection deepened through practicing Tai Chi and Chi Gong, eventually preparing for the European Championship. It was during this journey that she found herself seeking something more. Something to build muscular strength, improve alignment, and support her body in a deeper, more intentional way. That search led her to Pilates.
When Damla transitioned to intermediate classes, she encountered movements her body simply wouldn’t respond to. It was a jarring moment, but a transformative one. “Suddenly, my body wasn’t doing what I expected. I thought, ‘At this age?’ That question didn’t discourage me, it intrigued me. It opened a new layer of connection with myself.”
What began as a physical practice became a deeply personal journey, not just of strength, but of awareness, self-inquiry, and resilience. That’s what inspired her to become a teacher: to guide others in their own process of discovery. Her classes are grounded in support and presence, helping students meet their edges — and redefine them — with curiosity and care.
Even before she joined the team, she felt a pull toward The Ridge. Not just as a space for movement, but as a living, breathing community. A place for growth, alignment, and belonging. For her, The Ridge is more than a studio. It’s a home for people on a journey toward themselves, and a space where her own values of support, awareness, and transformation can fully come to life.
Damla Kahraman
Somatic work, Pilates teacher & experience collector
Elke Smeets
Psychologist, University lecturer, Singer, and Crystal sound practitioner, with a PhD in Psychology.
Propelled into singing at age 10, combined with an ever-present fascination for human flourishing, Elke pursued a dual career in psychology and music. Elke's drive lies in inspiring people to cultivate greater compassion for themselves and helping them feel safer in their own skin. At the heart of her mission lies an unwavering desire to help people feel less alone and more accepted, showing them their past doesn't have to define their future.
“Balancing my time between therapy sessions, teaching, giving talks, hosting retreats, facilitating crystal sound baths, and performing live on stage with my band, my journey is anything but conventional.
My PhD in understanding eating disorders and body image, combined with my clinical expertise in mindful self-compassion, positive psychology, sound healing, and acceptance and commitment therapy, enables me to support human flourishing through a variety of approaches.
Joining the Ridge as a team member feels like a beautiful opportunity to empower women to rediscover the incredible strength and beauty that's already within them.”
Nathalie was born in Belgium, rooted in Italy, and has set foot all over the world. From a very young age, she chased movement like a second language. Her path began in the renowned ballet school of Antwerp, where discipline was the heartbeat and expression. A professional dance career followed with stages in Belgium, Germany, Switzerland. Until one moment changed everything.
At 30, an accident ended her life on stage, and another one started. As a flight attendant for one of Europe’s leading airlines, she spent two decades immersed in various cultures, colors, and stories.
Back on Belgian soil, she grounded herself in something new: the healing art of touch. Today, she’s a massage therapist. With hands that once told stories through dance, she now creates space for stillness, for restoration, for you. Not just a treatment, but a return to your body, your breath, the present.
“For me the Ridge is a place where inner beauty and real connection come together. Collaborating with a caring community where people are seen, supported, and valued. We share more than needs, we share stories, hopes, and a sense of belonging. Being part of this reminds me why I love doing what I do.”
Nathalie Boso
Massage therapist