Our Instructors
Sylvia
“Progress, not perfection.”
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After working as a personal trainer at a gym, I was introduced to Pilates by my mentor, and I was immediately hooked. I love how Pilates creates a balanced workout where you really feel that deep mind-body connection. It’s not just about building strength and flexibility, it is also incredibly therapeutic and making it accessible for everyone, regardless of their fitness level or injuries. I was inspired to become a Pilates Instructor so I can help others to experience the benefit of Pilates and its “healing power”.
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My background is twelve years of Ballet and a career in Personal Training.
I love to connect those two elements by emphasizing proper alignment and technique to help clients build strength and flexibility safely.
I have a strong interest in the mind-body connection, which I believe enhances the overall experience and effectiveness of Pilates.
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My teaching style is warm and inclusive, I focus on creating a supportive environment where everyone feels comfortable.
I prioritize clear communication and personalized guidance, ensuring that each student understands the fundamentals of Pilates while encouraging them to listen to their bodies.
I blend enthusiasm with patience, emphasizing proper form and mindful movements. I want to create a sense of empowerment, helping each client progress at their own pace while building a strong mind-body connection.
I try to make each session enjoyable and transformative, allowing students to discover their own strengths and capabilities.
I also love exploring other movement practices, like dance and weight training. I believe that incorporating diverse forms of movement not only enhances my teaching but also enriches the Pilates experience.
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Traveling, hiking, yoga, hanging out in Malibu with my daughters, having a glass of wine, and a good book to read or a good show to watch.
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Progress, not perfection.
This reminds me that every small step counts and encourages a mindset of growth and resilience. It’s all about embracing the journey.
Melinda
“Pilates is for every body!”
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I became a certified instructor after my husband had heart failure and strokes. I wanted to help him rehabilitate, gently but with intention. Today, I want to help people improve their health and become their strongest selves.
I’m impacted with gratitude any time a client achieves one of their fitness goals, from being able to touch their toes, sit upright, or go through life without back or shoulder pain.
The disbelief and gratification that people feel within their own bodies is the absolute best part about teaching Pilates. Things my clients didn’t think were possible for them — their achievements are my greatest joy.
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Strength and balance are my forte.
I love tailoring plans and classes for clients that transform weaknesses into strengths. Seeing clients become confident in their own bodies, trusting their abilities and progressing through their limitations takes courage and is pure fire.
I am also obsessed with posture. I can’t unsee it, everywhere at all times, and most of it needs Pilates.
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I teach contemporary classical Pilates on all apparatus; all of my classes are multi-layered for all bodies and experience levels — sweat and shakes but lots of lengthening too.
I think it’s important to create a flow that includes the four tenets of Pilates: strength, stamina, stretch and stability.
I love to provide challenges, but with multiple layers so all bodies can participate while working the spine through flexion, extension, and rotation.
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I paddle board, hike, and play on a kickball team. You can always find me at the beach or at a concert. I’m a huge metal head — Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden.
Traveling and exploring new places and cultures is my passion.
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Nothing worth having comes easy.
Robyn
“I give my clients a blueprint and they build their Pilates house.”
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I have been sharing my love of Pilates for over 20 years. It started when I was a student. I quickly became obsessed with how amazing I felt and looked after my first 12 sessions.
My first Pilates instructor and then my mentor Jackie Landrum encouraged me to become an instructor, and I will always be grateful she saw that inner instructor in me.
I am certified in both classical and contemporary Pilates.
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Creating strong bodies and having fun while doing it.
A strong core is invaluable. My biggest joy is seeing my clients progress in core strength, flexibility, and confidence, and seeing the difference it makes in their lives.
I’ve had so many clients completely transform their lives. One in particular at the age of 74 had a complete spinal fusion. After her surgery she was in a wheelchair, walker then a cane. I worked with her physical therapist and incorporated Pilates into her recovery. We worked together 5 days a week for 5 months until she was fully recovered. She is an incredible human being and her determination and hard work along with amazing Pilates core work made her recovery so special and successful.
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I’m patient, precise with a bit of fun thrown in. I want all of my clients to feel the work they did in my class the next day, so I make my classes challenging both physically and mentally, while maintaining a fun and welcoming space.
Seeing my clients every week try something old, something new, and something they can’t do — it’s such a pleasure to see them hone their practice and strengthen their bodies.
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Tennis, dance classes, biking, riding, walking my dogs, and watching my daughter participate in sports.
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In life, “ kindness is free.”
In Pilates, I like to say that I’m giving my clients a blueprint and they’re building their Pilates house.
Laura
“Pilates does not impact our lives, it gives them back to us.”
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I literally “fell” into Pilates in 2003 from a rock climbing injury and learning to walk again.
It then became a conditioning method as I worked in a demanding industry requiring peak physical appearance and I eventually joined a teacher training program so I could be self-sufficient with my practice.
Pilates does not impact our lives, if gives them back to us, frees us up for pain free movement and pleasure found in moving.
I will never forget the first time I could train and not “feel broken,” the first we went bowling after my back surgery and there was NO PAIN, or when I could continue a physically demanding career after three abdominal / back region surgeries, or carry a baby after back surgery and not feel pain, and that exercises I could not do 20 years ago now feel good.
To us, Pilates is not a job, it is a PROFESSION.
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I am a pain, injury, and strength specialist. I help scar tissue break up so my clients move with freedom and without pain with Classical Pilates, Yamuna body rolling, and hands-on myofacial work.
I have a strong foundation of Classical Pilates which is demanding physical training done with rigor, and personal experience recovering from five surgeries in four years utilizing Pilates as rehab combined with Yamuna Body Rolling which is designed to break up scar tissue, muscle adhesions, address fascia and bone.
To name a few, I have helped a brain damage client learning to walk again — it took us 3 years; an advanced MS client with a lifestyle assistant learning to jump (“fly”) and the tears that ran down his face.
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Classical, compassionate, demanding, and silly fun.
I teach Pilates with integrity and care about each client who comes through our doors, their progress, well-being and learning AS IF each one is a “student of Pilates”. It’s not a gym. And a student of Pilates should expect to discover deep work, properly in their body with progression each session — either from strength to strength or from misery to relief.
Often after a class I will ask students if they noticed the music was off. They suprised themselves with, “no.”
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Hiking, ocean views, anything outdoors, reading, knitting, rummikub.
Learning — currently studying Tudor ruled England, and recertification in Yamuna which is every two years.
I enjoy an occasional whiskey :)
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It’s from my Great Grandmother, Leila, “All things in moderation.”
Leilani
“Come to class and experience how amazing it is.”
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Working out has always been a therapy for me. I fell in love with Pilates when my friend asked me to take a class with her years back and I became hooked! I was inspired by a couple instructors and got myself certified! It’s been very helpful with my scoliosis.
Becoming a Pilates instructor has allowed me to change people’s lives, helping others feel stronger and more balanced through mindful movement — making new friends and being surrounded with happy souls is a bonus.
Pilates is therapeutic for me and making it my career makes me so happy — and I’ve never been in better shape!
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I love working with the spine, rehabilitation, and full body lean muscle. We provide personalized guidance to each person’s needs and teach and educate about what Pilates is — and that’s a rehabilitation to the human body.
The best part of what I do is watching my clients grow in confidence and strength.
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My teaching style is fun, personal, & informative. I’m flexible to what my client want and need, and will give tailored, personalized guidance.
I want everyone who walks in to feel at home, being around other like minded individuals. We want the studio to be a happy place for all our clients.
At the end of my classes, I like to incorporate meditation and breath work. My clients always look forward to it.
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Outside Pilates, you could call me an introvert. I love being at home with my cats, cooking, decorating, and of course… shopping!
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“Health, Wealth, and Happiness!"
I always say “Pilates is a practice” and I am learning more and more every day.
Farrah
“Pilates reminds me to stay in tune with my body and to nurture its needs.”
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I first discovered Pilates after having to quit volleyball and weightlifting due to a big leg injury. Pilates helped me find a form of movement that allowed me to challenge myself while actively working on recovering my body from my leg injury along with past sports related injuries as well. I knew I wanted to become a Pilates instructor so that I could help other people feel good and confident in their bodies and movement as Pilates has done for me.
The thing I love most about Pilates is seeing the joy it brings people. I love getting to work with individuals from many backgrounds of injury, athletics, or even people just wanting to find a form of exercise they enjoy. Seeing people smile when they achieve a move they’ve worked hard for or just being happy from being able to get out of the stresses of everyday life makes me happy and grateful that I get to teach.
Pilates has impacted my life so much! My posture has improved, my past injuries don’t bug me anymore, and I feel happier and more relaxed. Pilates reminds me to stay in tune with my body and to nurture its needs. I try to incorporate those teachings into every aspect of my life.
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I am a classically trained Pilates instructor who teaches through a lens of recovery. I work to ensure that you will leave feeling good, worked, and happy!
Having passed basic training, I’m continuing my Pilates education through an advanced apprenticeship program with a deep learning of working with athletes to injury and recovery.
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My classes are focused, rewarding, fun. You can expect a challenging Pilates class that will leave you feeling accomplished.
I like to utilize all the apparatus from Reformer to Wunda chair to Cadillac. I will create the session around you and your body's needs.
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Outside of Pilates, I love to hike, crochet, read, spend time with family and friends, and attend concerts!
One thing about me that might surprise my clients is that I am a huge metal fan! My favorite band of all time is Korn. Some of my other favorites are System of a Down and Slipknot.
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I always say, “Take a breath” when I notice my mind wandering or if I feel discouraged, I like to take a breath to ground myself before finding a solution to the challenge I am facing.