Owner/Lolita San Miguel Pilates Master and Second Generation Instructor/Mentor/Prenatal and Postpartum Specialist

Certifications

I was originally certified comprehensively in Pilates through Body Arts & Science International™. In 2012, I was chosen by Pilates elder Lolita San Miguel to participate in her Pilates Master Mentor Program. In 2014, I graduated from the program after 2 years of intensive study. I am now considered a disciple of Lolita’s. I am also a certified prenatal and postpartum specialist working with mothers during all stages of pregnancy and post-pregnancy.

Mentorships

When Pilates teachers started coming to Studio Flo Pilates for instruction, I wanted to create a separate continuing education program for them. I created an extensive program that bridges certified Pilates instructors from contemporary to classical Pilates.

Education

– B.A. in Dance from Loyola Marymount University
– NYU Tisch School of the Arts – Summer Residency
– American Dance Festival/Durham, North Carolina – Summer Residency
– Body Arts & Science International™ Learn from the Leaders Summit
– Lolita San Miguel’s Pilates Master Mentor Program
– Mentorship with Patricia Russell, Urban Body Studios, Atlanta
– Advanced Pilates Seminar, Atlas Pilates, Seattle
– Student of Andrea Maida, Pilates Master
– DONA-trained Birth Doula

Teaching experience

13 years

What can a client expect from your class?

We get to business fast in my classes, but we like to keep things light hearted and fun. I love to challenge my clients with new twists on exercises and I request that my clients ask me questions. Once I see that you want to improve and are committed to it, there is nothing I won’t do to get you there. My classes have a strong sense of community, I make it a point to get to know you personally and to care deeply about your goals.

What do you find most inspiring about your mentor or Joseph Pilates?

Joseph Pilates was a genius who created a method truly for everybody, it changes your body and then your life. He believed that Pilates would change the world if people began to practice the integration of mind, body and spirit. My mentor Lolita San Miguel, has spent her life educating others in this method and she truly lives and breathes its philosophy. I can only hope to be 80 years old, and as vivacious, healthy, and sassy as she is!

Certifications

I completed my 900 hours of training and certification at True Pilates New York (formerly Drago’s), under the direction of Romana Kryzanowska’s daughter, Sari Mejia- Santo in February 2007. I feel blessed to have trained there when Romana was alive and a frequent visitor, and TPNY was the world-wide hub of Romana’s Pilates.

I have continued taking workshops and continuing education with instructors including Cynthia Shipley, Cynthia Lochard, Lori Coleman-Brown, Kathi Ross-Nash, Rhonda Celenza, Juanita Lopez, and the wonderful instructors at Studio Flo.

Education:

• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Washington University in St. Louis, 2005
• Romana’s Pilates Certification Program, True Pilates New York, 2007
• Art of Feminine Presence Teacher Training, Levels 1 and 2, 2011, 2013
• Rossiter Coach Training - connective tissue stretching for pain relief, 2011
• Red Cord Practitioner Training, 2013

Teaching Experience

12 Years

What can a client expect from your class?

Pilates awakens the deep, inner core muscles that make you walk taller and feel strong from the inside out. My teaching style is hands-on with attention to detail so you get the most out of each movement.

What do you find most inspiring about your mentor or Joseph Pilates?

Romana Kryzanowska was incredibly inspiring to be because she embodied all that Pilates is meant to achieve. She had an easy grace and playfully commanding presence. A workout with her was thoroughly challenging, commanded your full attention and effort, pushed you to new levels of strength, and was delivered with lighthearted warmth and ease.

Certifications

I was certified at Urban Body Studios in Atlanta, GA through second generation master instructor Penelope Wyer Barrow. Barrow was the first of Romana’s Kryzanowska’s protégés to open and offer a complete classical program in the Southeast region of the United States. Our 700 hour, year-long program went over the complete classical system as Joe had designed and passed down to Romana. Since then I have taken continuing education and workshops with: Jay Grimes, Kathi Ross Nash, Brooke Siler, Chris Robinson, Mari Winsor, Dana Santi, Brett Howard, Bob Liekens, & the incredible fellow Flo instructors.

Education:

• Theater Major at California State University, Long Beach
• Actors Conservatory Program at the Larry Moss Actors Conservatory, Los Angeles
• Associate of Dietetic Sciences from Delgado Community College, New Orleans, LA
• Comprehensive Pilates Certification Program, Romana’s Pilates through Penelope Wyer Barrow
• Barre Certification Training, Beyond Barre Method
• Specialist in Fitness Nutrition, International Sports Sciences Association

Teaching Experience

9 Years

What can a client expect from your class?

Pilates is designed to be a workout. You can expect a fun, but challenging flow through Joe’s work that will leave you feeling stronger than when you came through the door.

What do you find most inspiring about your mentor or Joseph Pilates?

The intuitive genius behind the work, that he thought of our bodies as a system and how to truly strengthen from the inside out, and that he was tough as nails!

Director of Community Outreach/Master Instructor

Certifications

I completed a 500-hour comprehensive teacher-training program through Club Pilates under Laura Browning Grant and Allison Beardsley. I am certified through the Pilates Method Alliance and have completed numerous continuing education programs through the organization, including the Pilates Youth Program. In 2015, I received my Second Generation Pilates Teacher and Lolita San Miguel Pilates Master™ qualifications.

Education

– BFA in Dance (with a focus on teaching), Cornish College of the Arts, Seattle, WA
– Pilates Method Alliance Certified Pilates Teacher
– Pilates Youth Program, Pilates Method Alliance
– Lolita San Miguel’s Pilates Master Mentor Program

Teaching experience

Since 2011

What can a client expect from your class?

I always have in mind the Pilates principals of control, centering, concentration, precision, and (of course) flow. As the teacher, I have to know why we are doing certain things, for example, changing the breath, or placing emphasis on a specific part of the movement. As a student, it is important to keep your focus and listen to your body and the movement. If your mind and body are truly connected, Pilates can be very challenging. I always work with the bodies in front of me, so I encourage conversations, questions, and the sharing of your goals and what you are striving for.

What do you find most inspiring about your mentor or Joseph Pilates?

Joseph Pilates, without any formal training, had an exquisite instinct for how to work with the human body. He was the picture of physical health, and his techniques were proven time and time again with his students by correcting wrong postures and even curing ailments. Somehow he knew exactly what each body needed and it obviously worked, because we are still practicing it today.

Lolita San Miguel taught me to be confident in what I do and to value what I have to offer as a Pilates teacher. And she practices Pilates every single day – now that’s something to strive for!

Certification

I'm honored to have participated in the inaugural Lolita's Legacy teaching program at Studio Flo Pilates.

Education

– BA in Communications, University of California, San Diego, 1995

– California Ballet School & Company Dancer, 2000 - 2014 

– Lolita's Legacy Teacher Training Program, 2016

– Advanced Pilates Seminar, Atlas Pilates 2018

Teaching experience

Since 2016

What can a client expect from your class?

Clients can expect a high energy, fun and thoughtful class. Clients feel invigorated rather than of exhausted after a session, like they are ready to "rule the world!"

What do you find most inspiring about your mentor or Joseph Pilates?

"Everyone is the architect of their own happiness," said Joseph Pilates. As a breast cancer survivor, I couldn't agree more. As a sickly child who went on to become, quite literally, a brand and byword for physical fitness, Joseph Pilates realized that people are able to effect radical personal change, if they are willing to commit to it.

Certification

I completed Lolita San Miguel’s 500-hour Lolita's Legacy Teacher Training program under the instruction of Jennie Groom and Brittany Taylor, Second Generation Pilates Teachers. Lolita San Miguel is known as one of the only two people known to have been certified by Joseph Pilates. I am a Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher (NCPT) through the Pilates Method Alliance (PMA).

Education

- B.S. in Hospitality and Tourism Management, Emphasis in Events, Conventions, and Attractions

- Lolita's Legacy Teacher Training Program, 2018

- Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher (NCPT)

- Mentorship in Prenatal/Postpartum Pilates with Brittany Taylor, Studio Flo, San Diego

- Certified Barre Above with Pilates Focus Instructor 

- DONA-trained Birth Doula and Postpartum Doula

Teaching experience

Since 2018

What can a client expect from your class?

Clients can expect encouragement and a supportive environment with intentional and thoughtful instruction. I enjoy looking at Joe's work in new ways to challenge the bodies in front of me. I find so much joy in seeing someone's Pilates journey and their progression through their practice. I will do everything I can to help you along your way! Questions are always welcomed and of course we are going to have some fun!

What do you find most inspiring about your mentor or Joseph Pilates?

Joseph Pilates had such an incredible understanding of the human body and the movement required to build a healthier (and happier!) life. From someone who was in constant excruciating back pain to now living a pain-free life after finding Pilates, I could not be more of a believer and proponent for his method. The mind-body connection allows you to strengthen every part of you from the inside out and gives you a deeper awareness to take throughout your daily life. I am continuously inspired and always in awe of what Joseph Pilates built!

Certification

I completed Lolita San Miguels 500-hour Lolita's Legacy Teacher Training program under Jennie Groom, Second Generation Pilates Teacher and Lolita San Miguel Pilates Master in 2016. I was personally certified by Lolita San Miguel, one of the only two people known to have been certified by Joseph Pilates.

Education

- B.S. Molecular and Cellular Biology, 2001

- M.S. Molecular Microbiology, 2006

- Lolita's Legacy Teacher Training Program, 2016

- Advanced Pilates Seminar, Atlas Pilates 2018

Teaching Experience

Since 2016

What can a client expect from your class?

My discovery of Pilates sparked an evolution of myself. It is the perfect combination of mental and physical coordination required to control your mind and body through movement that ultimately transcends into every aspect of your life. My passion is to share that magic with everyone that walks into my class with the hope that you leave feeling like you can conquer the world...or at the least the day:)

What do you find most inspiring about your mentor or Joseph Pilates?

My gratitude for the balance and strength this beautiful method created by Joseph Pilates has brought me is what inspired me to become a Pilates instructor. It inspires me to continuously evolve my practice and myself. It not only strengthens your body, it strengthens your mind and it teaches you that one can not be achieved without the other. It gives you an awareness of yourself that makes you better at everything you do. Joseph Pilates was a genius....and Pilates is Magic!

Certification

I completed Club Pilates' 500 hour teacher training in 2018 and completed a 6-month mentorship in classical Pialtes with second generation master instructor Jennie Groom in 2019.

Education

- A.S. Business Administration, Southern New Hampshire University, 2017

- Trainee Program, Joffrey Academy of Dance, 2010

Teaching Experience

Since 2018

What can a client expect from your class?

I have been a mover all my life and I am happiest when I am able to share my love of movement with others. I strive to make clients feel welcome, capable, and challenged in class and hope they leave class feeling stronger and accomplished. My goal is that my love of Pilates will motivate, educate, and inspire my clients to continue working at their practice.

What do you find most inspiring about your mentor or Joseph Pilates?

Joseph Pilates had an innate sense of what the human body needs and the mind to create an incredibly effective exercise method. His ingenuity alone is inspiring. 

Jennie came into my life at just the right time, when I was feeling a little lost in the world of Pilates. Her expertise caught my attention and her commitment to the Pilates method, her clients, and staff drew me in. She constantly inspires me to leave no stone unturned as I continue my journey as a practitioner and teacher of Pilates.

Certification

I completed Lolita's Legacy Pilates Teacher Training Program under Jennie Groom.

The certification is a 500-hour comprehensive program that covers the mat repertoire and all Pilates equipment.

Education:

- BA in Communication with an emphasis on Entertainment and Tourism

- Lolita's Legacy Pilates Certification

Teaching Experience

Since 2016

What can a client expect from your class?

I have such a passion for Pilates and that translates in all of my classes. I focus on technique and how to get the most out of each exercise. My goal is for clients to end class with a smile on their faces and feeling an inch taller.

What do you find most inspiring about your mentor or Joseph Pilates?

 I am so inspired by how Joseph Pilates created a method of exercise that is appropriate for all body types. He truly was ahead of his time. Pilates has changed my life in so many ways and I love hearing how his method has changed others' lives as well.

Certification

Body Arts & Science International (BASI) Pilates 2013, Costa Mesa, CA

Integrated Movement Studies (IMS): Laban Movement Analysis & Bartenieff Fundamentals  2010 - 2014, University of Utah, Salt Lake City & University of California, Berkeley

Education

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), World Arts & Cultures | Dance 2011, University of California, Los Angeles

Teaching experience

Since 2008

What can a client expect from your class?

My intention in class is for clients to experience the relationship of their core to their distal ends and leave class with a better understanding of the integration of and constant negotiation between effort and support within the body. We may also do a little bit (a lot) of giggling in class.

What do you find most inspiring about your mentor or Joseph Pilates?

Joseph Pilates was definitely ahead of his time, and his work has clearly stood the test of time while other methods have come and gone in less than the blink of an eye. And while I think his method is fantastic (obviously), the people in my life who have and continue to make his work pure but still accessible are instructors like the ones here at Studio Flo. I can't think of Pilates mentors I've experienced more innovative, knowledgable, and whole-hearted than the gracious teachers of this here studio. I am honored to have the Studio Flo Pilates team as colleagues and especially as mentors.

Certification

I completed Lolita San Miguel’s 500-hour Lolita's Legacy Teacher Training program which includes training on all Apparatus and the Mat Repertoire through the instruction of Jennie Groom and Brittany Taylor, Second Generation Pilates Teachers. Lolita San Miguel is known as one of the only two people known to have been certified by Joseph Pilates. 

Education

- B.A. Marketing with Specialization in Integrated Marketing Communications 
- Lolita's Legacy Teacher Training Program, 2018

Teaching experience

Since 2018

What can a client expect from your class?

A client can expect a fun, detail oriented and thoughtful class. They can expect to have fun, sweat, and leave feeling invigorated, leaving all of their stress behind them!

What do you find most inspiring about your mentor or Joseph Pilates?

Joe was a true mastermind and pioneer in the physical fitness world. His belief that the method is a lifestyle and a disciplined approach to help one’s overall mental and physical health couldn’t be more true. His thoughtful creation of the exercises are suited for anyone and that is simply amazing.