Published authority on fitness and wellness and a pioneer of the Pilates method, Alycea Ungaro brought some of the very first mat Pilates classes to New York City. Both the method and Alycea built a devoted following as people flocked to her classes. Alycea has expanded her popular Pilates classes into a fitness media empire. Her first multi-media project was the innovative Portable Pilates™, an easy-to-use at-home mat workout. Best selling titles followed including; Pilates: Body in Motion, published in 2002, The Pilates Promise published in 2004, and The Pilates Practice Companion, Alycea’s most comprehensive book yet, released in bookstores in January 2011. In addition to serving on the advisory board of Fitness Magazine, Alycea also travels widely as a guest teacher hosting retreats at world-famous location such as Amangani in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. She has trained scores of celebrities including Madonna, Uma Thurman, Kyra Sedgewick, Claire Danes, and Molly Sims. Together with long-time client Christy Turlington, Alycea collaborated on a “Pilates Booty” for Puma. The booty was aptly named “The Alycea.”

Annie Venier, founder of Le Petit Studio bis, in Paris, France, began practicing Pilates almost 15 years ago. In 1998 she used the method to fully recover from a sports related injury. “Long, lean, strong and supple, Annie is a walking and talking advertisement for Pilates… a fun, straight-talking professor whose prior life as a painter has a tendency to creep into her descriptive vocabulary. She may ask you to hug Pavarotti, walk in goo, slide like a piece of ham between two slices of bread, or grow giant feet…” (Z Bellel). Annie has completed a rigorous 875 hour long teacher training program and is certified by Corebody (Paris, France.) She is also certified in Advanced Pilates (The Moving Center/The Pilates Center of Boulder) and in Pre and Post-Natal fitness (The Center for Women’s Fitness.) Each year Annie participates in a variety of continuing education workshops and is currently pursuing her advanced education masters with the world renowned Pilates Center of Boulder. Annie has been teaching since 2004, in Paris, New York City and Sag Harbor. She aims to transmit her undying love of pilates and joy of movement, in order to create a warm and supportive atmosphere. Fluent in French and English and a former competitive athlete, Annie also enjoys yoga, biking, swimming, and running, as well as the occasional aperitif en terrasse!

As a former modern dancer and choreographer in the Off-Broadway culture in Germany, Barbel was always geared to learn more about the human body. She studied the Authentic Pilates Method with Romana Kryzanowska and the Pilates Studio in New York City. She has also studied ideas of the Eastern Philosophy pertaining to the meridian lines throughout the body and the chakras within the centerline in the body, which gives Barbel a rich understanding of the Pilates workout. Strength training has also increased her knowledge of how to approach the body. As a very physical being herself, Barbel found that Pilates is a wonderful movement modality which will lead to a deeper level of connection within our body and our lives. She believes a gentle but strong workout can make all of us feel very alive.

Bridget started dancing at the age of five years old. She grew up in New York and studied ballet at Ballet Academy East and Broadway Dance Center. Bridget started doing Pilates when she attended college at New School University as a Dance major. Bridget was certified for Beginner and Intermediate Mat through Power Pilates in New York City, then obtained a full certification through Power Pilates under Shari Berkowitz after moving to Los Angeles. She enjoys giving her clients new and different exercises to reconnect with their bodies in ways they have never done previously. Her goal is to keep her clients moving in a creative way, while adhering to classical Pilates teaching methods.

Caitlin Goddard (“Cat”) has lots of interests, all of which include some kind of movement. After teaching dance in Massachusetts and California (including a gig teaching ballet to the USC Football Team), Cat came to New York to study medieval literature but instead discovered Pilates. A former public school teacher, Cat believes in clarity of instruction, and strives to help every Pilates student understand the intention behind each movement. When she’s not counting “The Hundred,” Cat can be found competing in ballroom, Latin and pole dance; teaching and practicing vinyasa yoga; learning gyrotonic; or walking her dog, “Prozac.” Cat earned her certification from Core Pilates NYC and holds three different prenatal Pilates certifications.

Christina’s favorite thing about teaching Pilates is hearing students tell her, “My back hasn’t been hurting at all anymore!”; “I’m skinnier!”; and “It was sooo crazy… I had to raise my bicycle seat because I’ve gotten taller!” She is passionate about anatomy and has fun seeing the results stack up as students connect to their center and perfect their alignment, gaining the most strength and length as they can thru their Pilates practice. She’ll also make sure that you master Criss Cross, her all time favorite of the Pilates Ab series, because how better to accentuate your flat belly and perfect posture than with a cinched waist? Cristina began dancing when she was really, really little and continues to dance and choreograph at her current height. She earned degrees in dance and English at the University of Texas at Austin, followed immediately with massage certification via Austin’s Lauterstein-Conway Massage school. She earned her 400 hour Comprehensive Pilates Certification at Core Pilates NYC and is on a path towards a career in physical therapy. She is excited to join the dynamic team at Real Pilates.

Daniel Lyon is the author of the bestselling “The Complete Book of Pilates for Men” (HarperCollins). He is certified in Classical Pilates from Romana. He is a Level one Posture Alignment Specialist (PAS-I) certified from the Egoscue Method, and he is a level 5 Meridian/resistance stretcher. He holds a BA in Psychology/Pre-med and he can really only speak English — although he does his best to mutter out the occasional foreign word.

Kelly Kent started her dance training at the age of 4 with Frank Hatchett at Broadway Dance Center in Manhattan and From there went on to be a Sesame Street kid, making her appearance on television and video. She continued her dance training with a scholarship at the Ballet Hispanico School of Dance, went on to the High School of Performing Arts as a dance major (recipient of the Lee Theodore award for theatre dance), and During her sophomore year she was a member of the Eglvsky Ballet Company. Kelly received her B.F.A. in dance from the Dance Conservatory at S.U.N.Y. Purchase. After college, Kelly danced with many dance companies in NYC and has toured the world. Looking for a new challenge, Kelly took a Pilates class and was hooked. Kelly went on to get her certification from Power Pilates under Bob Liekens. Kelly has two beautiful kids at home, and during both pregnancies she has done Pilates to maintain a healthy, happy, baby body before, and after. Kelly is also married to a chef and loves food, so she not only knows how to dish it out but also knows how to work hard to keep the body you want and enjoy your life. If you want to challenge yourself and be pushed to your full potential Kelly is your girl..

Yael has studied ballet since the age of 5, and graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor degree in Dance Arts with High Honors, and a Bachelor degree in English with Distinction. While studying in the Merce Cunningham Professional Training Program on scholarship in New York City, she decided to obtain her Pilates teaching certificate from the Romana’s Pilates program at True Pilates New York, run by Romana Kryzanowska and Sari Mejia Santo. It completely changed and strengthened her body, making her fully aware of the benefits of authentic Pilates training, not only for dancers, but for everyone. Yael is absolutely delighted to have the opportunity to teach this wonderful and effective method at Real Pilates.

According to Rahul Jacobs, former Financial Times Travel Editor, “Lynda Lippin is quite simply the best Pilates teacher I’ve had and I have had a few.” So much more than a Master Trainer, Lynda Lippin approaches all exercise, energy, and body work as healing. Her nurturing yet demanding style of teaching allows clients to move past their thresholds of body, mind, and spirit and embrace newfound strength, flexibility, coordination, and energy. Lynda began her Pilates studies in 1988 at New York’s SUNY Purchase with Pilates luminary Steve Giordano. She ran several successful studios in the Philadelphia area as well as in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos for over a decade before becoming the resident Pilates and Fitness Director of the world renowned Como Shambhala Spa in Parrot Cay. Lynda won the 2003 Best of Philly award for Best Pilates Studio, and the 2011 SpaFinder Magazine Readers Choice Award for Best Pilates at Parrot Cay Resort. She is also a Master Reiki practitioner, certified Fitness Trainer, and holds certifications in TRX as well as Kettlebells.

Originally form Costa Rica, Melissa received her Bachelor’s degree in Dance from Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica in 2004. She moved to Atlanta in May 2008 and completed her Power Pilates certification at Studio Lotus, where she taught for the past three years. In June 2009 she completed her Red Core certification, April 2011 did TRX training and in June 2011 finished Suspension X for BioCored. She came to New York to pursue her passion for growing and learning as an instructor. Melissa is very positive, she loves challenges and she really believes, “when you move you are truly alive.”

Miriam has a really long last name. She wAs a gymnast at four years old, till she was ten and became a dancer, till she was fourteen when she mixed dance with marching band (alto saxophone!) and acting. As an actress, she’s studied several different forms of movement including Pilates, mask work, Alexander technique and puppetry. Completely inspired by the Pilates method and all it can do for the body and mind, she is very excited to be teaching at Real Pilates. She is certified in the Classical Pilates Method from CorePilates NYC.

Shari Berkowitz came to Pilates after she suffered a traumatic and temporarily paralyzing injury. After 12 months of physical therapy, she was introduced to Pilates at The Pilates Studio of New York and fell in love with the method. Shari had danced and performed in musicals since she was 3 years old and had suffered many injuries until she studied Pilates. It was Pilates that gave her full-body balance of strength and stretch to take her out of chronic pain. She trained with Romana Kryzanowska at Dragos and at The Pilates studio of New York. After teaching in NYC, she moved to L.A. in 2002. In 2004 she opened The Vertical Workshop in Beverly Hills. There, she taught both a wonderful clientele of strong, self-made men and women as well as Power Pilates apprentices and Pilates teachers from all over the world. In 2010, Shari returned home to NYC to expand her business and personal pursuits. Now, known as one of the foremost Pilates teacher trainers, Shari is proud to present at conferences and teach private workshops at studios across the country and internationally. Along with teaching Pilates, Shari creates Pilates products for teachers and clients, writes about Pilates, fitness and health, writes novels and non-fiction books and designs jewelry for her jewelry line www.sharibjewelry.com. Shari encourages all teachers of all styles of Pilates to work together to form a community of help for each other and our clients!

Stephanie’s first introduction to pilates was in 1988, attending mat classes for dance conditioning and injury prevention during a summer dance program headed by Karole Armitage and she has been practicing ever since. Now a certified pilates instructor for seven years and a dancer of three decades. In 2001, Lanckton received her pilates certification through The Physicalmind Institute. She mentored under Shelly Stephenson and Kristen Smith, additionally she has studied with Lesley Powell and Rael Isacowitz. Stephanie co founded, operated and taught at ‘Pearl Pilates studio’ in Portland, Oregon and is founder of Plumline pilates. Classically trained by the folks at Real Pilates, she continues to build on her knowledge base everyday. Stephanie believes very strongly in the importance of proper alignment, form and integration of breath supported movement. Her favorite exercises are Side Splits and Eve’s Lunge and her favorite prop is the foam roller. A professional dancer performing in New York City, Boston and Portland. Stephanie holds a BA in dance from Point Park University.

Tela has been in fitness her entire life. Starting her gymnastics training at 4 she was competing nationally by the age of 10. At the age of 13 Tela decided that she would like to dance. She proceeded to attend some of the most prestigious arts schools in the country including North Carolina School of the Arts, Virginia School of the Arts, and Alvin Ailey American Dance Center. Tela has traveled and performed all over the world during her career and after retiring she decided to broaden her love of movement into a career in fitness. After receiving her certification in personal training and group fitness Tela taught at various gyms including New York Sports Club, Crunch, and is currently a group fitness instructor at the advertising giant Saatchi & Saatchi. After injuring her knee she turned to Pilates for rehabilitation and instantly fell in love with the Pilates method. She received her certification from Core Pilates NYC and in 2005 became a teacher of teacher’s at Core Pilates NYC certifying apprentices in the classical pilates method. Tela is currently a teacher of teachers in the Pilates method as well as a Dance instructor at Playwrights Horizons Theatre School, an affiliate of Tisch School of the arts at NYU.

After a severe childhood accident left her with chronic and debilitating pain, Victoria (Tori) was lucky enough to find Pilates as the best possible way to keep her body (and mind) intact while doing her undergraduate work at The New School here in New York. The changes Pilates created in her body inspired her to pursue her certification. Victoria received her comprehensive certification from Core Pilates NYC in 2009. Since then she has gone on to teach in some of New York’s most prestigious studios. After a year of teaching full time, she was inspired to deepen her understanding of the body by enrolling in the Swedish Institute’s Massage Therapy program. After receiving her diploma in December of 2011 and her license in March 2012, Victoria loves bringing her experience and expertise to Real Pilates with intense, deeply focused and classical-style workouts.

Emily began practicing Pilates in 1999 after undergoing spinal fusion of her 5th lumbar and 1st sacral vertebrae. As a former runner and lover of “aggressive” sports (field hockey and rugby), she was skeptical at first but soon fell in love with all that Pilates has to offer. It was just as much a mental exercise system as it was physical and her body and mind benefited from the work and discipline that Pilates develops and requires. While experiencing the changes in her body and mind that Pilates brought about, she decided that a career teaching Pilates was her true passion in life. She is just as passionate today, if not more so, than she was about Pilates when she first started learning the method and truly enjoys watching her student’s bodies and minds change as they learn Pilates.

A Tampa native and Peak Pilates Certified Instructor, graduated from The University of Tampa in 2006 with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Exercise Science and Sports Studies. A lifelong fitness enthusiast, she works with dedication and commitment to encourage clients to perform at their best. Her well rounded approach to exercise and health provides progressive and innovative training that’s accessible to everyone. Samantha’s experience spans from being a fitness program coordinator, health and wellness educator, and personal trainer. Her areas of expertise include: MVe Fitness Chair training, postural assessment and movement screening, fitness assessment and exercise testing in accordance with the American College of Sports Medicine protocols, LapBand patient exercise consultation and prescription, and fitness marketing.

Born and raised in Tokyo, Japan, Mikiko moved to New York and graduated from Pratt Institute with a degree in Interior Design. Having a love for fitness she had always kept active until she hurt her knee during a run. That led to her discovery of Pilates, and Mikiko left the corporate world to pursue her passion. She got her certification in all apparatus from Center for Movement in NYC and mat certification from FTP Japan. You can experience Pilates in both English and in Japanese with her! Mikiko loves working with people and believes in the importance of body-mind connection.