Club Pilates

Bios

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  Amy Hunt

  Amy

  Amy found her passion for Pilates 15 years ago, after recovering from a knee injury cause by playing soccer. This new found love started her pursuit toward a healthy lifestyle and later her career in fitness. Amy is certified by In Balance Pilates in Mat and all apparatus created by Joseph Pilates. She is also an elite personal trainer with Aerobics and Fitness Association of America and in 2015, she completed the TRX program. Exercise is not just moving the body to Amy. Pilates has taught her all movements originate from the core. She has been incorporating the Pilates method into functional and traditional training to encourage people to meet their fitness goals for many years. Her clients range from weight loss, special needs and cancer survivors. She also works with postpartum and sport-specific clients. "I love seeing my clients learn the physical and mental benefits of Pilates inside and outside the studio".

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  Donna Starling

  Donna

  Donna was a competitive gymnast and cheerleader throughout school and college and later an ICU nurse at NHRMC. She enjoys being wife and mother to 3 and her hobbies include tennis, golf, boating, gardening, and especially Orchids! After a hip injury last year, Donna discovered Pilates in Rehab. She realized the many similarities between Pilates and gymnastics, precision of the body and mind. “I hope my experience coaching gymnastics in college will help propel me to enlighten others of the joy I have found in the Pilates fitness lifestyle.”

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  Karen Barnhill

  Karen has been in the health and fitness industry for over 15 years. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Exercise Science from UNCW. She was personal trainer and group fitness instructor for many years in Wilmington. In 2006 she found her way into a Pilates class and fell in love with the Reformer. It was exactly what her body needed! A great compliment to her workout routine, providing relief from tight muscles and low back pain. She completed her comprehensive training from PHI Pilates in 2007 and is certified to teach on all apparatus. In addition, she is certified with AFAA and NASM as a personal trainer. She holds multiple certifications in corrective exercise, myofascial release, TRX and Barre. She spent five years as an educator/presenter for AFAA teaching the comprehensive Personal Fitness Trainer certification. Karen's passion is to help as many people as she can learn about taking care of their bodies, mind and spirit. Her clientele ranges from the competitive athlete to the elderly population who want to work on functional fitness. "That's why Pilates is perfect, anybody can do it and everyone should do it!" Karen and her husband have recently moved back to Wilmington with their two French Bulldogs, Sara and Beau. She is commonly mistaken for her twin sister, Cortney who is also in the fitness industry!

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  Liza Stevens

  Liza is a Wilmington native and has always enjoyed an active coastal lifestyle. Surfing, cycling, and dance have been a part of her upbringing since she was a young girl. A competitive dancer in her youth, Liza found her way back to dance as a Zumba, Hip Hop, and Ballet instructor for the last four years, in addition to being an elementary school teacher in New Hanover County. She has an undergraduate degree from UNC-Wilmington in Environmental Science and Biology, and a Master’s in Elementary Education. She graduated with Pilates Reformer, TRX, Barre, and Trigger Point certifications through Club Pilates in 2017. The first time she’d tried a Pilates Reformer class with friends, she immediately felt the difference in her posture and core strength. She was hooked! It was leaps and bounds above any exercise class she’d ever experienced. Liza is passionate about sharing her love for Pilates and wellness with her Wilmington/Wrightsville Beach community. Her goal is to teach others the importance of daily exercise as well as the satisfaction that comes from carving out a small piece of time in the midst of a busy life!

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  Natalie Elfner

  I received my 300hr yoga training certification through NYI in 2011. After teaching yoga for several years I took my first pilates class and I loved how it aligned my body. Especially having a small case of scoliosis in my thoracic spine it was the only exercise that really helped my posture. I love how pilates can be a great rehabilitation for any injury or buy impairment. Pilates has a way of not only strengthening and toning but alleviating pain and improving agility. After falling in love with Costa Rica during my yoga training I went back and received my Pilates mat certification in 2016 at Pilates Nosara. I decided to go back this past year and immerse myself in the experience and I completed my comprehensive reformer and equipment training though Pilates Nosara this past winter. I was lucky enough to accept the apprenticeship 6 month program and I got to learn, work and study under my mentor Page Sieffart. I hope to cultivate what I learned and bring it back home to Wilmington. I think pilates can be like a dance, a body in motion is a beautiful way to create space in areas that might be tight or tense and to open up not only the physical body but the mental and spiritual as well. I like to create classes that focus on connecting the breath and fluidity of movement while gaining strength and balance in the body. I'm so excited to be a part of Club Pilates!

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  Noelle Demetrious

  Noelle Demetrious is a Wilmington, NC native. She has been involved in health and fitness her entire life through dance, gymnastics, and cheer-leading. Noelle grew up in a Chiropractic household, the foundation to her holistic lifestyle. She learned at a very early age the importance of movement, flexibility, and spinal health. After obtaining her high school diploma, Noelle felt empowered to share her passion for health and wellness with others. After being introduced to Pilates in 2014 she found the new technique of maintaining physical and mental fitness aligned with her holistic understanding of the body. Noelle became a certified trainer in Power Pilates through StudoVibe in Cary, NC, as well as a 200 RYT Kunga Yoga instructor through the Wilmington Yoga Center. Strengthening the core aids in strengthening the spine. According to the founder of Pilates, Joseph Pilates once said, "A man is as old as his spine is flexible." Building a strong powerhouse leads to a healthy life on and off your Reformer. Noelle is excited to start her journey with Club Pilates to help the community to take their practice and healthy lifestyle to the next level.

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  Rachel An Miles

  Rachel is an NC native. She studied dance at East Carolina University and graduated with a degree in recreation programming. When 15 years of being 'on the road' selling veterinary pharmaceuticals took its toll on her back, she found that Pilates solved the pain and made her feel stronger and healthier. And, it was fun! With practice, she was amazed that the Pilates repertoire was eventually able to lengthen and tone her body-allowing her to move in ways she never could before. She compares the instruction to “Cirque de Soleil for normal everyday people.” She soon realized her true passion was leading, observing and coaching movement. In 2013 she earned certification as a personal trainer studying both and NSCA and NASM curriculum, as well as the BASI Pilates comprehensive instructor certification on all apparatus. She is also a TRX group instructor, and certified to teach Stand Up Paddle Board Pilates. She has had the pleasure of helping train and teach professional athletes from The Carolina Hurricanes, the dancers of The Carolina Ballet, and our very own Wrightsville Beach Ocean Rescue lifeguards. She also has experience with physical therapy patients in an orthopedic surgery setting, and especially enjoys working with aging adults. In addition to, of course Pilates, she enjoys SUP, Yoga, trail running, mountain biking, and having her toes in the sand of Wrightsville Beach with friends and family. She truly believes and embodies the notion that every day is a gift and if you don't like the way your body feels- if you are able- you better do something about it. As Joseph Pilates had said, "Health is the first prerequisite of Happiness!”

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  Kelly Frank

  Kelly first fell in love with Pilates in 2003, just after completing her Masters Of Fine Arts. Certified in classical Pilates style in California, she taught in several studios and cities while pursuing her career as a university professor of theatre/dance. After moving back to her native Pittsburgh in 2008, Kelly met and married her husband Steve, and focused on starting their family. Returning to Pilates in 2013, she endeavored to study the more scientific, physiological aspects of Pilates fundamentals and techniques. Kelly was certified in the IM=X technique in 2015, and began to incorporate this additional knowledge base to her teaching style. She also served as the Membership Specialist for the IM=X studio. Kelly and her husband relocated to Wilmington in 2019, where they live with their 4 children. Kelly is passionate about reaching people who are looking for real results, and finding the best solution to help them achieve their goals.

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  Stacia Welborn

  Stacia has been studying pilates since 1998 and has been certified and teaching since 2002. With a Bachelor of Arts in dance, her strong connection to the movement of the body is evident and her love of teaching pilates shines through. Stacia has attained certifications from Physicalmind Institute, PHI Pilates and Balanced Body University. "I believe everyBODY can benefit from pilates and it is one of the best preventative health measures you can take for your physical and mental wellbeing. I'm always eager to share the many benefits of pilates with anyone who is willing to try it. Be brave, be strong and be your own kind of beautiful!"

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  Paula Bullock

  Paula has been in the health and fitness industry for 30 years. A graduate from UNC with a BSN in Nursing, Paula works full time as the Chief CRNA at NHRMC Orthopedic Hospital. She started teaching group fitness classes at the Wilmington Athletic Club as an AFAA certified Instructor. An injury lead to an interest in the benefits of Yoga and Pilates, and she’s been hooked ever since. A graduate of Coastal Carolina Pilates Studio in all apparatus and mat in 2004. Further training took place with IMX Pilates in New York. Paula taught from 2004-2015 at both In Balance Pilates Studio and the Wac. “After taking a few years off from teaching I’m so excited to have the opportunity to teach at Club Pilates! Pilates is such a gift to the body. The principles of Pilates: breath, precision, concentration, control, flow, all centered around the core brings such a body awareness to the client. I’m so excited to be a part of Club Pilates!”

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  Heidi Rehder

  Heidi took her first reformer class nearly 10 years ago and instantly fell in love with the graceful yet challenging nature of the Pilates discipline. Her passion for the method led her to complete the comprehensive Stott Pilates training at Balance Pilates Training Center in Richmond, VA in 2010. After becoming certified in mat and reformer, she was fortunate enough to spend 6 years teaching Pilates at a physical therapy clinic in Virginia Beach, alongside an amazing group of PTs. During that time, she completed a course in Stott Pilates Rehab Mat & Reformer 1 and became certified to teach Zenga Mat & Reformer, PelviCore, and AFAA Group Fitness. Heidi also has a BS degree in Exercise & Sport Science from Pennsylvania State University and is passionate about studying all things health and fitness related. Heidi is thrilled to be a part of the Club Pilates team and looks forward to helping others discover the endless benefits of the Pilates approach to fitness!

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  Anne Ingham

  When Anne discovered a Pilates mat class 10 years ago she immediately fell in love with the focus, precision and control it required. “I felt like my best self when I was committed to Pilates and loved that I could become stronger and more toned without pain.” Anne is a two-time breast cancer survivor and found Pilates not only helped regain her strength, but also helped regain her confidence after chemo and surgery. “After my last surgery I was terrified to do any physical exercise, but with encouragement from my friend Mindy Agnoff I came to a reformer class and left a new person. It was amazing to regain control of my body and to feel the strength and flexibility I had lost.” This inspired Anne to pursue her teaching certification and empower others in regaining their own mind-body connection. “I want others to feel inspired to find their strength and confidence in each class.” Anne is certified in Pilates Reformer, TRX, Barre, and Trigger Point through Club Pilates. She is also a social worker connecting people with disabilities to one-on-one services in the community.

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  Devon Hamerski

  Devon is a Wilmington native who began her Pilates Journey when she was 13 years old with her first instructor Shepherd Duncan, and fell quickly in love! She spent 13 years training in classical ballet, attending Joffrey Ballet summer of 2016 and Carolina Ballet in 2017. She also taught pre-ballet levels over the years and knew she loved teaching. She received her Pilates Training at In Balance Studio with Carrie Pages. She is certified in Mat and Full Apparatus with 500 hours. Having experience with injuries and body awareness drew her to Pilates as a way to help people and make them be body-image positive and feel great at the same time. Devon is a student at Cape Fear Community College and is excited to continue to grow as an instructor at Club Pilates!

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  Chrissy Barnowich

  Chrissy Barnowich

  Chrissy began her healthcare journey by studying athletic training at East Carolina University and she has over 6 years of experience working with athletes and keeping them healthy. She furthered her education by obtaining her doctorate degree in physical therapy at University of Miami where she developed an appreciation for the importance of posture and a healthy, balanced body. In Miami she first was exposed to Pilates and immediately fell in love with the way Pilates builds a strong foundation through functional movements. As a healthcare provider, Chrissy believes strongly in a holistic approach and she appreciates the parallels between medicine and fitness. She has the opportunity to bridge these two practices by teaching at Club Pilates and treating patients in an orthopedic and sports medicine outpatient clinic. Her favorite quote by Joseph Pilates is “Change happens through movement and movement heals.” Chrissy received her Pilates training through Pilates in the Grove in Miami for mat and all levels of apparatus and is certified by the Pilates Method Alliance. She recently moved to Wilmington from Miami and is excited to join the Club Pilates team to help bring the benefits of Pilates to the Wilmington community.

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  Jenn Byrd

  Jennifer 'Jenn' Byrd moved to Wilmington over a year ago from Charleston, South Carolina. Growing up in the “Holy City”, she found her love for fitness and helping others. She started dance at the age of 3 and transitioned to competitive cheerleading in her teenage years. She enjoyed competing throughout the US, with teams from all over South Carolina. Jenn studied at The Art Institute of Charleston for Fashion & Retail Management and remained actively involved in Competitive Cheerleading. After suffering many injures, at 22 she decided to take a step back from the spring floor and pursue her career in the Hospitality Industry. In 2017 she decided to move to Wilmington and join our Club Pilates team as our Assistant General Manager. She soon began her 500 Hour Pilates Teacher Training with Club Pilates, lead by Shepherd Joseph. She loves being near the ocean and could not imagine her life without finding her Club Pilates family.. Health, Fitness, Spirituality and Nutrition have always been such important parts of her life. She believes fitness is not just about fitting into a certain mold of what everyone else thinks you should be, but rather a mindset; health and confidence from within. Creating a positive and safe environment in her classes is always her top priority. Come see her at the Club!

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  Cortney Hamm

  Cortney is a full time mom, caregiver and advocate to her beautiful special needs daughter Hannah, who is a vibrant and joyful 17 year old. She understands the importance of taking care of herself and “filling her cup” in order to give herself fully to others. Exercise has helped her to fight depression and stay focused on the important aspects of her life. With the encouragement from her twin sister Karen (also an instructor with Club Pilates!) she ventured into the fitness industry. She has worked in the industry for over 11 years; personal training and teaching a wide variety of group fitness classes. Through the years she’s discovered the importance of exercise and clean nutrition working hand in hand. You can look healthy on the outside but true health starts on the inside. She fell in love with Pilates when Karen started teaching. She found that it was very rehabilitative to some of her injuries from long distance running and was an overall functional exercise that created flexibility, length and control. That started her journey into teaching Pilates. She has seen so many bodies and minds completely transformed through the the Pilates Method and that has driven her passion to helping others achieve their goals. Cortney is certified through NASM for personal training, Mat Pilates and Barre through Balancepoint Pilates, Reformer Pilates through NAFC and holds many other group exercise certifications including TRX, Les Mills Body Pump, RPM and Keiser Indoor Cycling. Her favorite quote from Joseph Pilates is “In 10 sessions you’ll feel the difference, in 20 sessions you see the difference, and in 30 sessions you’ll have a whole new body” She has seen this so many times in her years of training and teaching. She is excited about joining the Club Pilates team, and we couldn't be more thrilled to have her!

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  Angela Fagan

  Angela has called Wilmington home for 17 years now! She moved to Wilmington to finish her Undergraduate Degree in Psychology. She always envisioned herself helping others and thus this led her to her love for teaching Pilates! Angela has suffered from anxiety for many years and found exercise to be a great & positive outlet for reducing anxiety. Once she found Pilates, she found a sense of peace and balance in a nurturing and supportive environment and Pilates became more than just her happy place! Pilates is not only good for the physical ailments that we can see, but also the ones that we cannot see. Angela fell in love with Pilates because it’s for everyone! Whether you have years of experience in the physical fitness world or you’re just starting out, young or old and all strengths and weaknesses. There’s a place for everyone at Pilates and this is what Angela loves the most about it! Angela completed her Teacher Training with Club Pilates in Fall 2018. On her downtime you will most likely see Angela in one of your classes and as the weather starts to get nicer, taking advantage of getting out and going paddle boarding as much as she can!

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  Tori Cook

  Coming from a family full of athletes, Tori has always been interested in movement and its effect on our well-being. Tori grew up playing basketball and played at High Point University but passed on a scholarship to better take care of her health. Tori was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis and has been treating the condition with alternative practices ever since. This is when she found her love for Yoga, Pilates and Nutrition. She loves how Pilates is so rehabilitating for our bodies and is excited to share its Teachings with our community. She completed Teacher Training with Club Pilates in Fall 2018, and her RYT200 Certification in March 2019. Her study and practice of both Yoga and Pilates compliments her teaching style as she creates mindful Class Flows. “When I’m not spending my time in the studio I enjoy studying, baking and traveling. I believe in order to heal our bodies we must know our bodies!”

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  Cori Holub Yip

  The most important thing I learned in my first career as a Registered Nurse was the vital role that exercise has in achieving and maintaining good health. That has always motivated me to be proactive about my fitness, and finding Pilates felt like finding the missing piece of a puzzle; the unique blend of strength, flexibility and coordination training has helped me be much stronger and healthier in all aspects of my life. I was inspired to become an instructor because I saw how much Pilates was also helping my classmates, all of whom had different backgrounds and different needs. It was clear to me that Pilates was good for anyone and everyone, and I wanted to be a part of it. After attending a variety of classes, I pursued mat training and became certified by In Balance Pilates Studio to instruct mat Pilates in 2013. I continued practicing and learning and became certified as instructor for the work and equipment of Joseph Pilates including the reformer and apparatus in 2018. I'm so excited to be a member of the Club Pilates team!

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  Heather Krasnov

  Heather Krasnov

  Exercise has always been important in Heather’s life. In 2001 she was diagnosed with Leukemia. Complications led to her being given less than 2% chance of survival. Two relapses later she was given an experimental bone marrow transplant and have been cancer free since 2005. After moving to Wilmington, Heather continued running marathons and became a mentor/coach for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Team in Training. Her singular motivation for conditioning was always displaced by her instinct to assist others in completing their goals. Over 15 marathons she never considered her finishing time as important as helping someone get to the finish line. Heather discovered Pilates 12 years ago as a stretching and cross training benefit to her marathon training. The pains she was experiencing in my knees, hips and lower back faded quickly after a few sessions. Heather joined Club Pilates in 2018 and almost immediately signed up for the teacher training program. When Heather isn’t studying and creating your Pilates classes, she enjoys taking a Pilates class “The reformer is my happy place”. Heather enjoys healthy cooking and spending time with her husband and Kona their labradoodle. “I look forward to helping others reach their personal finish lines!!”Yes

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  Jackie Timmerman

  Jackie Timmerman's love for Pilates grew out of her desire to keep in shape to race triathlons! She needed a strong core to keep up with the demands of this sport so began her Pilates training with an athletic approach. Over her many years, Jackie has worked with a wide variety of classes, from children's recreational programs to an Olympic Downhill skier, from paraplegic clients to woman in their late 80's. She loves to infuse others with the joy of movement and aspires to challenge her classes to feel accomplished in their workouts. Jackie is certified by Stott Pilates Reformer, Mat,Injury and Specialty Populations, Pre-Natal Specialist, Cadillac, Chairs, Barrels, Total Barre, TRX, Mad Dogg Spin, Reebok Coreboard and Step, Poundfit, Thomas the Promise Kickboxing, National YMCA Instructor Trainer, New York Road Runner's Coach, USAT Coach Level 1, CSCS--just to name a few!

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  Romina Soria

  Romina was born in Argentina, and moved to the US in 2001. A mother of three, Romina has enjoyed a healthy and active lifestyle, playing volleyball and staying active since high school. Romina has a passion for painting, and continues to teach others how to paint. Her other passion is of course, Pilates! Pilates has allowed her to help others move with purpose, and enjoy a better quality of life! Romina is so excited to share her passion and joyful nature with the Club Pilates Family. She began her Teacher Training with Club Pilates in the Fall of 2018 and is currently working towards her 500-hour certificate in Reformer, All Apparatus, TRX, and Barre.

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  Kelli Mack

  Kelli has been active throughout her life, trying all different forms of exercise and activities. However, it's Pilates that really got her attention! She took her first Pilates class more than 15 years ago and instantly fell in love with it. Not just for the physical aspect, but the mental well-being that it produces. From the precise movements, core connection and deep breathing, it is an amazing form of exercise that she believes everyone at every age benefits from! She believes in today's fast paced and distracted society, the Mind-Body connection is more important than ever. Kelli is a graduate of the 500 hr Pilates Apparatus and TRX Certification through Club Pilates, and holds an additional certification in Barre Above.

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  Carly Reeder

  Carly began dancing at the age of 3. In college, while majoring in dance, she tore her hamstring pretty bad. This led Carly to Pilates and yoga to help heal her body. She also suffered from anxiety, and began a long health journey in order to heal herself from the inside out. She later became certified in Stott Pilates, yoga, gyrotonic, and massage therapy. Carly also wanted to incorporate her health knowledge with her clients and so she underwent a 500 hr training in Transformative Ayurvedic Coaching. Because of Carly's past experiences, it has become her life's mission to help others heal (body, mind, and soul) and grow into their most optimal and best selves!

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  Shepherd Joseph

  Shepherd first discovered the wonderful world of Pilates as a teenager through competitive dance. Later she dove deeper into Pilates training while attending East Carolina University to study Dance Performance and Theater. Body awareness, injury prevention, breath-work, strength, and toning are the components that originally attracted Shepherd to Pilates, and continue to fuel her passion today. She loves nothing more than diving head first into training, teaching, and sharing the Pilates method. Her certifications began with Mat and Reformer from NC Pilates and then completed her 750-hour comprehensive certification in Pilates Apparatus from Pilates Method Alliance. Most recently, Shepherd became a certified Master Trainer for Club Pilates and leads our Teacher Training Programs! Shepherd has also been trained in TRX, Booty Barre, VBarre, Kettle Bell and Zumba. In addition, she’s Hatha Yoga RYT-200 hour certified from the Kunga School of Yoga. She loves working with clients of all levels and ages; athletes, dancers, post-surgery clients and brand-new moms. “My job is my passion and passion is my job,” says Shepherd. “I feel blessed to be able to encourage you to take care of your body and become your best self through Pilates, a healthy lifestyle and a happier life! I’m so excited to embark on this journey with you!”