I was drawn to Pilates over 16 years ago. Working as a massage therapist many clients repeatedly spoke of Pilates with such enthusiasm. After becoming a mother, I needed to connect with my core again. Having had an athletic background and working as a massage therapist for 8 years, Pilates instantly felt like a natural fit. My Pilates experience began on the Reformer and quickly my teacher suggested I consider starting teachers training. After certifying in 2003 while living in Santa Barbara, CA. I returned home to West Michigan and began teaching in 2005 at Avalon School of the Arts. Continuing my education was a concern, where will I need to travel to? I received a gift, Master Trainer Ahmé Bovée, relocated from Canada to open a studio in East Grand Rapids. It has been an amazing experience to train with Ahmé and a wonderful compliment to be a part of their teaching staff from 2011 to 2015. I am always growing with industry standards through Balanced Body University.

My journey over the last 16 years has been both physical and spiritual. I have had the pleasure of knowing some clients for 14 years, wonderful people inside and out. It is truly an amazing thing to be part of a community where all ages come together to grow. With gratitude in my heart I bring to you, Pilates in Holland. A studio where we learn to move better physically and mentally in everyday life, enhance performance, and laugh at what seems impossible. It is a privilege to help others grow their body-mind connection with Pilates principles.

I am a movement educator and I love to help my clients find joy in their bodies through the modalities of Pilates, Body Barre, and Nia. I have a unique ability to help you get out of your head and into your body, leaving judgement and comparison at the curb so that you can learn to move your own body’s way and find your most optimal health and smile while doing it!

I am a certified Nia Technique instructor and I am in my 13th year of teaching. I have taught all over the Midwest in beautiful and serene yoga studios, sassy dance studios, 4-star fitness resorts, on college campuses...to children, teens, athletes, couch potatoes, self-professed exercise haters, cancer survivors and everyone in between! Nia really is for EVERY BODY! I love how the fun and freedom of dance, the power of martial arts, and the strength and stress-reduction of the healing arts combines in Nia to make one seriously transformational fitness practice!

I have had a love for the discipline of Pilates since my early 20s and I am thrilled to be studying and certifying through Balanced Body Teacher Training Program with Master Trainer Ahmé Bovée and with my mentor, Mandy. I have completed my Mat training and Body Barre training and teaches both classes at the studio.

I also have a love for music, travel, dance, paddle boarding, and hanging out with her family. I hope to bring some of my experiences from living abroad on a Fulbright Scholarship in Salvador, Brazil in Summer ’19 to my classes. A passion for movement and music runs deep in my blood, come move with me!

Health and fitness have been an important part of Teresa’s life and she’s always enjoyed doing a variety of activities: walking, elliptical training, hiking, belly dancing, and hula hooping to name a few. She started in Pilates in 2014 to increase her core strength after an incident that left her with some dislocated ribs. Amazingly, Pilates also helped her regain strength from previous injuries that had resulted in various surgeries. This inspired her to want to build on her knowledge of Pilates to improve her own practice but also to help others so she started training to become a teacher. Teresa holds her mat certification from Balanced Body University and is continuing her training for Barre Pilates and Reformer through Ahmé Bovée at Pilates in East who is a Master Trainer for Balanced Body. Teresa also works full-time as a certified professional ergonomist. The knowledge of anatomy, biomechanics and physiology she has gained through her education for this field allows her to bring this expertise to her teaching as well.

Penelope has always loved being active, whether hiking trails, paddle boarding, running, skiing or biking. When she experienced an injury from running, she turned to Pilates to help strengthen her entire body. It was so effective, and she loved it so much, she wanted to be able to share the benefits with others! Penelope received her Pilates training through the Balanced Body program with Master Trainer Ahme Bovee. She is privileged to have taught in West Michigan for the last several years, and is delighted to continue teaching at Pilates in Holland's beautiful studio.

In her spare time, Penelope can be found spending as much time as possible playing outside with her husband and their three children. She is also passionate about whole food eating and cooking. Penelope loves spending time in the kitchen, creating new recipes with local food. She posts healthy, delicious, seasonal recipes on her blog, The Kitchen Beet. You can check out recipes atwww.kitchenbeet.com!

What am I going to be when I grow up? A Pilates instructor! I love to teach, and I love exploring the anatomy of movement and its affects on how I feel as I do the things I do every day. Because Pilates has so helped the various aches and pains resulting from my desk job working as a Network Engineer for AT&T for 36 years, a broken knee, arthritis and lots of flute playing, I know that Pilates will always be a part of my life. So when I approached Mandy on – “I have been thinking about teaching Pilates”, she was excited and I knew this would be a good fit.

I love the details, the nitty gritty, of working with anatomy and technique. As a flute player and teacher, I can hear in the sound and tone of someone’s playing when small anatomy changes are made and how it helps my student’s achieve a better result in their playing. I love how this applies to being a Pilates student, I can see how strengthening or stretching certain muscle groups can alleviate or mitigate long-term pain and bring excellent results. This attention to detail is something I pride myself in and that I work hard to bring to my Pilates Reformer classes and private sessions.

I am currently doing my reformer training through Balanced Body and Master Trainer Ahmé Bovée under the mentorship of Mandy. As I step into this new career in Pilates, I look forward to seeing where this training takes me next. In addition to my work at the studio I play flute and am on the board with the Holland Symphony, I teach flute privately and help mentor young flute players in several of the local school systems. My husband and I enjoy spending time with our grandchildren, and watching them explore and excel in various sports.

Pilates is about lifelong health and community for me. Sharing the art and science of Pilates is an opportunity to help others find more confidence in their movement and in their lives. When I began practicing Pilates 2 years ago it was completely out of my comfort zone, but I joined the studio and dove in head first with the intention of bettering myself both mentally and physically. I also wanted to show my two adult daughters that taking care of oneself is an important part of life. Pilates was a big part of my weight loss journey and has given me a solid foundation to move her body actively.

In addition to the physical benefits of Pilates I have found a beautiful community at Pilates in Holland. I am daily inspired by the warm and fun-loving energetic vibe of my colleagues and our clients. This has fed my passion for mind/body wellness and prompted me to do my professional training with Balanced Body Master Trainer Ahmé Boveé under the mentorship of Mandy. I want to share the impact that Pilates has had in my life with others in hopes that it will inspire them to get moving and get connected. One of my favorite quotes is ``Be the change you want to see in the world`` and I love how I can live that out at the studio. Having spent the last 13 yrs. as a successful Salon Coordinator and Stylist, I love getting to know my clients personally. Pilates is one more way for me to connect and be that change.

I have two beautiful daughters that I love dearly and three fur babies that I call my farm. Come join me for mat class, I hope you leave filled with light, a fun-loving spirit and that your body and mind are renewed and full of confidence!

Say ‘Yes!’ to new experiences! After nearly 10 years of being a student of Pilates, I jumped into my Pilates teacher training, and I’m so excited to share this practice with you as it has been life-changing for me. I have been been a stay at home mom for 15 years, and I knew that I was ready for a new challenge. Prior to having children, I was a nurse. Educating others on healthy movement and lifestyle is a natural fit for me and my whole family is cheering me on in this new venture.

In 2009, I attended my first Pilates class with Mandy, and I knew at that very first class that Pilates would be a part of my life from then on. I felt stronger, more flexible, more connected to my body right away, which over time has led to an increased self-confidence. Mandy is so warm and welcoming and exceptionally good at fostering community, and as an instructor it is my goal to do likewise for you. I am working on my instructor training with Master Trainer, Ahmé Bovée through Balanced Body, and being mentored by Mandy.

I have experience as a student with mat class, private sessions, Group Reformer, Nia, and Fierce Flow, all through Pilates in Holland. I have become a passionate student of these forms of movement and I feel it gives me a unique perspective on all we offer. When it comes to moving our bodies, it should be something we enjoy and feel good about because it means we’ll keep coming back for more. The positive effects of Pilates in my life extends far beyond the studio and it helps me realize what my body capable of. Saying ‘YES! to certifying and teaching Pilates has truly been a gift and I hope you will say your own ‘yes!’ and come join me for class. I am excited to share my passion, experience, and knowledge with you.