About Me

I have been a “Mover” my whole life. My lifelong journey with movement began early. As a child, I fell in love with Dance in all it’s wonderful forms, and my passion for dance lead me to study Ballet, Modern Dance, Contemporary, and Broadway style Jazz and Tap. In college and later in my dance career, Choreography became my passion. I enjoyed using and manipulating movement to tell a story, or portray an abstract thought. That creativity and exploration soon evolved into a curiosity of the human body and it’s abilities, both in dance and in fitness. It was then that I started learning as much as I could about Anatomy and Kinesiology, various movement modalities, injury prevention and recovery, and more. 

Within my undergraduate degree at the USF Dance Department, I was introduced to the Pilates Method as a form of body conditioning for dancers to train the body, help prevent injuries, and recover after injury. Once I started training with Pilates, I felt an immediate difference in my dancing. I wished I had found it sooner and never wanted to give it up! After graduation, I found ways to keep training with Pilates to help support my dance career. I believed in it so much, that soon I received my Pilates Certification with Rael Isacowitz through BASI (Body Arts and Science International). I went on to teach Pilates classes for clients of all abilities and levels, including athletes and dancers, pre and post surgery clients, clients with chronic and progressive medical conditions, and the elderly and active aging client. My knowledge has grown significantly over the years, as each client has taught me so much. There is no better way to grow as an instructor than to listen, learn, and collaborate with a client in order to create a fitness program that truly meets their needs.

In an effort to always keep learning, I received my MFA from UC, Irvine. Both in years before and after my MFA Degree, I had the opportunity to teach as Faculty as an Associate Professor at several universities and colleges. This included teaching classes in Pilates Mat Work and Reformer Work for Dancers, Pilates Pedagogy, Student Internships, Anatomy and Kinesiology for Pilates and Dance, Modern Dance, Ballet, and Choreography.  As a Faculty member, I Choreographed and presented Modern and Contemporary Dance works for Dance Department productions. 

My fitness career continued to change and progress over time, and I had the opportunity to work at physical therapy offices, studios, gyms, and more. As my work progressed with physical therapy and active aging clientele, I wanted to find ways to encourage my clients to keep moving as much as possible throughout the week, no matter their ability or health condition. As I explored ways to keep clients moving, I found my answer in the martial art format of Tai Chi Chuan and QiGong. These moving meditations help to get my clients off the Mat, moving through space and breathing, and practicing balance with  controlled movement, intention and flow. I received my Tai Chi Chuan and QiGong Certification from SOHMA, School of Healing Martial Arts.

With all I have learned over my many years of teaching, and as a student myself, I know I will continue to learn and grow as instructor, … learning from my clients, from new improvements in science, and from my own body as I age. It’s a “project” I will always enjoy.

Degrees and Certifications:

University of California, Irvine - MFA  2004

University of South Florida - BA  1997

BASI Certified Pilates Instructor - 2000

SOHMA Certified Tai Chi Chuan Instructor - 2023

Other Past Experience with:

Pilates instructor for Physical Therapy Offices

Associate Professor Faculty at various Universities and Colleges

Dance Choreographer and Performance

Performing Arts Nonprofit Organizations - Dance and Theater Arts