Pilates Instructor Biographies
Judi Cettel
Judi Cettel received both a BFA and MED degree from Miami University in Visual
Arts and is recently retired after teaching at the high school level. During
her tenure, she served as Visual Arts coordinator K-12 and High School
Department Chair for Mason City Schools, She is presently a partner in Life
Style Designs, Commercial and Residential Interiors. Judi completed the
instructor's certification in April 2004, after being a client at Pendleton
Pilates since its opening. Judi says, "I have tried most forms of fitness
programs over the years but have never found one to be so totally engaging and
energizing as Pilates. As a student I love experiencing the range of
transformations that are occurring in my own body as I continue to study and
practice Pilates, and as a teacher I love having the opportunity to help direct
our clients towards experiencing their own personal transformations."
Sarah Eastlake
Sarah Eastlake recently graduated with a BSN/RN in Nursing from the University
of Cincinnati. In November she took the Pilates Method Alliance Teacher
Certification and Examination and has since become our first Pilates Method
Alliance Certified Instructor. She is a massage and neuromuscular therapist
with experience in physical therapy, chiropractic, and spa setting. Sarah fell
in love with Pilates from her first session and received her certification with
the Spring, 2003 Pendleton Pilates Teacher Training class. Sarah says, "I am
passionate about the human body and the amazing things that are possible in
this skin."
Shannon Faith
Shannon Faith is the Studio Manager for Pendleton Pilates. She received her BFA
in Dramatic Performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory
of Music. After graduating, Shannon performed locally and chose to stay in the
Cincinnati area to be near her family. Her professional experience has
primarily been in retail management and, most recently, sales. Shannon welcomed
the opportunity to transition from her corporate environment to the studio
setting. “I was attracted to Pilates by the form and discipline of the
movement. I really appreciate the mind, body, and spirit connection this type
of exercise offers.”
Kate Graham
Kate Graham received her Pilates Certification from White Cloud Studio,
Cleveland in November, 2002. Kate is currently a student at The University of
Cincinnati studying Nutrition Science and will graduate in June. She is also a
Johnny G Certified Spinning Instructor. She likes to run, bike and swim and
finds Pilates to be the perfect complement to her other training.
Melissa Kaiser
Melissa was first introduced to Pilates as a student at Ohio Northern
University where she received a BFA in Musical Theatre. She received her
certification with the summer 2004 class at Pendleton Pilates. Since then, she
has been teaching as much as possible. "Teaching Pilates has given me an
entirely new outlook on life. I feel like I finally have the opportunity to do
something positive for other people. Pilates has improved my quality of life
and I love being able to help other people do the same thing."
Brian Magnarini
Brian Magnarini found his first connection with Pilates while diving for the
University of Tennessee. As a scholarship athlete, the conditioning off the
springboard was every bit as rigorous as the practice on the springboard. Brian
has been coaching springboard diving for Anderson High School and Clifton
Meadows Swim Team for more than 15 years and has taught aerobics/danceaerobics
as a sub for his sister’s business, Tara Lynn’s DanceAerobics. For 10 years,
Brian worked as an instructor assistant then teacher with Cincinnati Public
Schools and the Cincinnati Archdiocese respectively. Brian says, "I love my
newest teaching opportunity with Pendleton Pilates where I can not only assist
people with their fitness goals, but I can also learn from the wealth of
knowledge in Stacy Sims, the other Pendleton Pilates instructors, and the
diverse and passionate clientele."
Megan Schwarb
Megan Schwarb received her Pilates Certification in December 2004 from
Pendleton Pilates. Besides her time spent at the pilates studio, Megan works as
an Inside Wholesaler for Great American Financial Resources, Inc. She graduated
from Miami University with a bachelor's degree in Finance. Megan fell in love
with pilates after her first session because it required discipline and focus.
Her motivation to become an instructor was easy because she felt the results of
core strength and overall flexibility. She enjoys working with new clients and
helping them become aware of how their bodies move in space.
Sheila Sims
Sheila Sims became certified as an instructor April, 2004 after being a client
of Pendleton Pilates since its opening. Sheila fell in love with Pilates
immediately. "I realized that I was getting the blended benefits of separate
yoga and nautilus classes in one session of Pilates. I have gotten really
strong and fit as a client and as a teacher I take great pleasure in helping
clients discover or rediscover their personal power through strong bodies."
Sheila has a background in various body work forms including modern dance and
is currently Community Resource Director for the Mental Health Association and
previously was an Organization Development Manager with Procter & Gamble.
Alexis Weaver
Alexis' background is in ballet. She has been a teacher for 15 years and a
student since she was a little girl. Her studies in ballet have taken her
abroad to Kuwait, London, Russia, as well as various schools in the U.S. She
began her journey with pilates after having her three children. But, it wasn't
until she joined the Pendleton family about a year ago that she truly embraced
pilates. It deepened her understanding of how the body moves and how to make it
more efficient in dance and in her everyday routines. Alexis says "I love how
the body looks when in motion, its fluidity and strength always amazes me."
Allison Roebker
Allison began her practice of pilates in 2005 as she was recovering from a back
injury. She received her certification from Pendleton Pilates in December 2006.
As a physical therapist, Allison has always had an appreciation for the beauty,
strength, and adaptability of the human body and feels pilates is the perfect
way to combine all of these elements together. She likes teaching this
"intelligent exercise” because it allows her to pass on her enthusiasm for
pilates as well as encourage others to discover what they are capable of.
April White-Plank
April White-Plank has made her career in the fitness industry for the past ten
years. She obtained her masters in exercise science and health enhancement at
Miami University in 1999 and has been the group fitness director at both Miami
University and the University of Cincinnati. April completed her Pendleton
Pilates teacher training in August 2006. Along with teaching pilates, April is
also a registered yoga teacher, Spinning instructor and certified personal
trainer.
Caitlin Zivkovich
Caitlin Zivkovich received her certification through Pendleton Pilates with the
Winter class of 2006. Caitlin believes in the ability of Pilates to help an
individual develop and maintain a healthy mind, body, spirit and soul. She says
that practicing Pilates makes her feel strong, energized and confident and she
enjoys teaching to help others find similar benefits.
Derek Mize
James Derek is 25 years old and is a competitive swimmer and triathlete while
he continues his studies at UC Law. He has chosen to learn and practice the
Pendleton Pilates method as he believes that it supports his body’s abilities
to cross-train, avoid injury, and maintain core strength. He has taught
sexuality studies at UC after having studied for his MA in both Cincinnati and
in the Netherlands. He also serves on the Boards of Directors for Equality Ohio
and is most appreciative of the time he is able to spend within the Greater
Cincinnati LGBT community. He enjoys constant movement and appreciates
receiving as well as delivering challenges to those with whom he works.
Gayle Anderson
I started taking Pilates at Pendleton almost 3 years ago, and have become
addicted!! Love everything about it. It provides respite for me from the
day-to-day stress of the corporate world of P&G, where I work in Finance. I
became a certified instructor in December of 2005.
Heather Sommer
Heather Sommer was first introduced to Pilates at the University of Akron. It
wasn't until she suffered a knee injury that she considering doing Pilates on a
regular basis. After receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance, from the
University in 2000, she began to work part- time teaching Pilates for the Tom
Smith Studio in Akron, Ohio. Nine months later an opportunity arose to move to
California and immediately she began working and training with Julian
Litteford, owner of J.L. Body Conditioning in Del Mar, Ca. In the beginning of
2006, Heather took leave from work and moved back to her home state to be
closer to family. Ready to start work once again she began working for
Pendleton Pilates. Thanks to Julian Litteford and Stacy Sims she continues to
be passionate about Pilates.
Jasmine Hughes
Jasmine has a passion for body awareness and wellness. She's always working
toward a healthy mind, body, and spirit. Her classes are a delightful
combination of fluid movements and a positive, playful attitude that challenges
the body. She's a strong believer in working mindfully and with focus to get a
great workout. Outside the studio she works at a hospital doing fast passed
detailed oriented clerical work. She has a great love and respect for the arts
and fashion.
Words to live by: Learn from the past, live in the moment, and look positively
to the future.
Jess Magno
Jess Magno is originally from Chicago. She graduated from the University of
Dayton with a Bachelor's degree in Marketing and currently works in design at
P&G. Jess loves to help people get the very most out of their Pilates
sessions so they can fall in love with it like she did.
John Goettle
John Goettle is a retired contractor and carpenter. His time in construction
lead to back problems which eventually lead to pilates. After three years as a
student he decided to participate in teacher training, which has since turned
him down a different path.
John Goettle has become one of our most popular teachers. His extensive
background in martial arts gives him a good sense of bio-mechanics, and his
back troubles make him an extremely sensitive instructor to those of our
clientele who suffer similar problems.
His reformer classes are a little tough, given his background, yet they are
often fun given his sense of humor and easy going manner.
Kathleen Koller
Like many of our instructors, leading an active and healthy lifestyle has
always been apart of my life. Along with playing soccer and being a springboard
diver, I kept dancing apart of my extra curricular activities from kindergarten
through college. Never a professional but always an enthusiastic dreamer. An
artist at heart, I have a degree in Photography, of which I enjoy as hobby, and
am currently designing and making jewelry. For 10 years I was a Flight
Attendant for Delta and love to travel any chance I get. Pilates was a natural
transition and the most profound experience of my life thus far. I believe
whole heartedly that it will give to you the same joyous awareness as it has
for me.
Kay Kaple
Kay comes to us from an aerobic and weight lifting background. In 1985 she won
the “Miss Cincinnati” Lightweight Bodybuilding Contest. For 11 years during the
late 80’s and 90’s she trained the Xavier University Men’s Basketball Team as
their “aerobic conditioning coach”. Kay also managed the aerobic instructors at
the former Scandinavian Health Spa until she gave that up to privately train
college basketball players turned pro with local affiliations the likes of
Danny Manning, Tyrone Hill, Brian Grant, James Posey, Louie Orr and more. Why
Pilates? “Pilates is such intelligent exercise. I have never felt stronger,
leaner, taller or more flexible...and without stress on my joints or injury!” I
love teaching such a respectable way to move and work all the areas of the
body.
Kim Lauch
Kim Lauch received her pilates mat and reformer certification December 2005,
through the Pendleton Pilates teacher training program. Her interest to become
a certified pilates instructor originated after practicing mat pilates and yoga
for seven years. She desired to improve her mind/body practice and through a
friend, discovered Pendleton Pilates. Since becoming certified in both mat and
reformer pilates, she has taught men and women in the Cincinnati area. Kim's
desire to know all she can about pilates is demonstrated by her strong
commitment in continued education. In 2006, she completed a second
certification with The Pilates Coach in Reformer II and attended two pilates
conferences. The first in NY at the Pilates Style Conference for four days with
some of the most influential people in pilates, and the second in Cincinnati at
Pendleton Pilates with two of her favorite instructors, Stacy Sims and Sarah
Eastlake. Kim plans to become eligible to sit for the PMA exam in 2007 and has
already made reservations for continued education workshops and seminars across
the country. Included in her training, Kim continues to take private and group
pilates instruction from well respected studios across the United States.
Laura Burdo
Laura Burdo established a career in the fitness industry in 1988. She began as
a light-weight competitor in the realm of bodybuilding and later pursued
fitness pageants.
After capturing the over-all titles of Ms. Ohio, Ms. Great Lakes and Ms.
Toledo, she went on to place 4th in her first National competition. She was
featured on ESPN several times and continued in the field by training other
fellow lightweight / steroid-free female competitors - All of which won
over-all titles, as well ! In 1990, Laura was inducted into the Bodybuilding
Hall of Fame - representing the state of Ohio.
Laura currently is in private practice as an independent fitness trainer /
clinical exercise specialist. She is certified by the American Council on
Exercise (ACE) and The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM.) She has
recently completed the teacher / training program at the Pendleton Pilates
Studio. Being both amazed and inspired by the changes she has already
experienced in her own mind and body, she looks forward to sharing the journey
with others.
"Pilates is a lovely compliment to all other forms of exercise - bringing key
components together to promote optimum health and well-being."
Laurel Salamon
I began taking Pilates in 2004. From the first class I was hooked, I had
finally found an exercise program that allowed me to focus and connect with
myself. As a mother of two my life revolves around my children. When I practice
Pilates I allow myself to focus on me. I completed the teacher training program
in December 2006, and am enthusiastic about the future. I look forward to
teaching regular classes as well as initials and privates.
Meghan Arata
Meghan Arata's interest in Pilates stems from her endless curiosity about body
movement in all of its various facets. The journey began for her as a yoga
teacher and has more recently extended into the Pilates realm as well. A
Cincinnati native, she has been teaching both yoga and pilates for about five
years in several studios around town. She hopes that her deep enjoyment and
fascination with the power of movement is conveyed to anyone that might take
her class.
Melissa Hopson
Melissa Hopson came to the Cincinnati area in 2001. She has been teaching
classical Pilates mat classes and group fitness classes since 2003 and finished
her Pendleton mat & reformer certification in December of 2006. She has
been passionate about fitness and personal wellness all her life and has found
great joy in sharing her passion with others. In addition to her Pendleton
certification, Melissa also holds certifications from AFPA in mat science, AFAA
in group fitness and is currently pursuing a certification in personal training
through the NASM.
Missy Farfsing
Missy comes to Pendleton from Louisville, KY where she received her mat
certification in 2003 from Pilates @ BodyFirm. This extensive certification
program focused heavily on Classical Pilates and the methodologies supported by
the PhysicalMind Institute. Upon moving to Cincinnati Missy received her
mat/reformer certification in 2005 from Pendleton Pilates. Since then, Missy
brought Pilates on the Ball to Pendleton and has used her experience as a mat
instructor to assist new teacher trainees going through the certification
program. When not teaching, Missy works at Cincinnati Children's Hospital
Medical Center in the Information Services Department.
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