OUR INSTRUCTORS

Mari Winsor on Teaching Pilates and the Winsor Pilates Trainers

Your Pilates class is as good as your trainer and I am very proud of all the trainers who work at both the Winsor Pilates and Winsor West studios.

The majority of my trainers are Romana’s Pilates certified and all are highly qualified and experienced teachers in the Pilates method. Winsor trainers follow the fundamental principles set out by Joseph Pilates and add to that their unique style, focus, and joy of teaching.

At Winsor Pilates, our approach is personal, warm, focused, and fun. Our trainers develop a workout program that fits the client’s unique exercise needs. The workout -- a system of exercises focused on the core postural muscles and the spine -- is a complete mind, body, and spirit experience.

The Pilates method combines strength resistance and physical movement designed to stretch, strengthen, and balance the body. With systematic practice of specific exercises coupled with focused breathing patterns, Pilates will transform your body in ways you never dreamed. Your overall health will improve, you will feel better and more flexible; your body will have more endurance; your muscles will be stronger; and of course, you will look longer, leaner -- better.

It is important that your personal fitness journey be something you enjoy doing.  For me Pilates fulfills all my exercise needs and I know my trainers agree that when taught correctly Pilates exercise is the most empowering gift you can give to yourself.

Melanie M. Adam

Melanie enrolled at Performing Arts Physical Therapy (PAPT) - the Pilates Studio of Los Angeles - in 1998, where she received her first Pilates certification. She recently received her second certification with Romana Pilates. She has happily worked along side Mari Winsor for six years.

As a professional dancer, Melanie enjoyed the opportunities of working for Bob Fosse - CHICAGO - and Michael Bennett - A CHORUS LINE. She studied acting in New York City with Robert Patterson (Sanford Meisner Technique). Besides her constant and prevailing passion for Pilates, a newfound interest is real estate. She received her State of California Real Estate License in 2008 and is working with Keller Williams - Studio City.

Alexandra Bohlinger

Alexandra Bohlinger has been teaching the Classical Method of Pilates for the past two years in Orange County, CA. She trained directly under Romana Kryzanowska, Joseph H. Pilates’ protege, in New York City, and achieved her Level IV certification. Although only required to study for 600 hours to achieve a Level V certification, she opted to study more than 1,000 hours, and returns to New York annually for continued education and technique training.

Alexandra also holds a 2nd-degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do, is a Certified Personal Trainer, certified in Kickboxing, and teaches Yoga and Latin Dance. Originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, her diverse background and extensive fitness training enable her to develop and coach anybody to their absolute highest level of physical and mental health!

Lisa Burnett

Lisa is a certified and classically trained Pilates Instructor in the classic New York Pilates method. Lisa has studied with Joseph Pilates' protégé, Master teacher Romana Krynowska, as well as obtaining certification in numerous workshops. Among those she has studied with are Ron Fletcher, Elizabeth Larkin, Claude, and Jillian Hessel’s scoliosis workshop. Lisa works with many Physician referrals and is currently working on a rehabilitation CD. Lisa has studied ballet from age 5, and worked as a professional jazz dancer touring the eastern seaboard, as well as guest dancing with Alvin Ailey, Phil Black and Twyla Tharp dance companies in New York City. Prior to teaching Pilates, Lisa worked in both Los Angeles and New York in motion pictures.

Courtney Ca

Courtney completed her Pilates certification in the New York Classic Method in 1996.She has taught Hi Impact aerobics, step aerobics, and weight training. Previous certifications were through ACE, AFAA, and ACSM.

Teaching exercise has also inspired Courtney to stay fit. In he late 80’s Courtney began to experience symptoms of arthritis. The traditional exercises were sometimes too painful for days after, with the onset of osteoarthritis. Courtney began Pilates and after just three months, she felt such a difference in her posture and energy level: and it also helped ease her back pain.

Courtney loves that Pilates makes you feel great and stand taller in a short amount of time. One never gets bored with Pilates, because there is a body and mind connection which makes you strong both mentally and physically.

Dena Drotar

Dana’s first introduction to Pilates was with Mari Winsor’ 20 minutes workout DVD. She fell in love in Love with it. Then she took a private class with Sandy Shimoda at Winsor Pilates and that was it. She was hooked. Dana was certified through Power Pilates and came full circle back to Mari Winsor working at Winsor West.

Prior to teaching Pilates, Dana taught yoga and aerobics. She is a massage therapist, a Reiki healer, and aromatherapist. She has a passion for the body and feels that Pilates is the most magnificent way to connect mind, body, and spirit.

Joan Facciobene

Joan is an RAD trained former professional ballet dancer. She began studying Pilates when she was a young dancer experiencing her first injury. Though initially not enamored of the work, she found herself gravitating toward it whenever possible. Eventually a friend introduced her to Drago’s Gym in New York where she began studying Pilates with Romana Kryzanowska, Joseph Pilates’ principle disciple and the person designated to carry on his work. It was under Romana’s tutelage that she became “hooked.” In 1996, after several years of independent studies, she was certified in the Pilates Method by what is now known as Romana’s Pilates (Formerly Pilates Inc.) She has taught the original Pilates repertoire in several studios in Los Angeles and, as with ballet, strives to keep the work as pure as possible.

Aliceann Grusin

Aliceann Grusin came to Pilates first as a student. After a childhood spent in gymnastics and dance, she knew after her first session that Pilates was different and wonderful. Aliceann became certified in 2001 by Romana Kryzanowska and has continued her Pilates education with Romana’s Pilates and Power Pilates.

Aliceann’s approach to Pilates is essentially the same as Joseph Pilates approach. You need to “give the body what it needs.” Her clients range in age from 20 to 80 and she believes Pilates can offer strength and stability to ALL bodies. Aliceann teaches private sessions as well as group mat classes at Winsor.

Kristin Kobayashi

A trainer at Winsor Pilates since 2006, Kristin has lived an active lifestyle for most of her life. She began gymnastics and dance at an early age and continued to participate in various movement and world dance classes at UCLA where she graduated with a Bachelor’s of Arts degree. During this time, she was also invited to be an instructor for USA Cheer camps. An injury to her ankle from kickboxing forced her to find alternative ways of exercising which ultimately brought her to Pilates. Soon after, Kristin received her certification through Power Pilates.

Kristin has worked at various studios and rehabilitation centers around the Los Angeles area and Having a passion for all types of fitness including yoga, she has taught kickboxing, bootcamp and Fusion Sculpt classes and is a certified Spinning instructor. Kristin was also featured in an Acacia 3-in-1 total body fitness video.

Lucy Martin

Lucy Martin grew up in Switzerland and Belgium before moving to New York City to pursue a dance career. On scholarship at Steps on Broadway, she focused mostly on ballet and jazz studying under Debbie Roshe, Michael Owens, Patti Wilcox and Emilietta Ettlin.

Dance injuries introduced her to Pilates, which quickly became a consistent part of her routine so she could not only continue to dance but improve how she danced. Lucy received her certification from Romana’s Pilates in New York and now lives in Santa Monica where she teaches for Mari Winsor.

Hector Mercado

Hector Mercado was invited by Mari Winsor to become a Pilates trainer in 1999 and under her tutelage was given the opportunity to train and receive his certification by Romana Pliates (Authentic Pilates).

Hector has been teaching at Winsor West Pilates for ten years and is now head trainer, helping Mari oversee the daily routine of Winsor West and making sure the training is consistently “authentic” and of good quality.

Hector brings to Pilates a dancer’s sensibility: the idea of body and mind working together to achieve the harmony of a complete workout. He understands the kinesis of the body and how to apply the workout of Pilates to heal and strengthen. Having experienced the effects of Pilates on his own chronic lower back pain, Hector has known first-hand the benefits of the Pilates technique.

Hector was a principal dancer with Alvin Ailey Modern Dance Company and has had many works created for him. He was worked extensively in the dance world with Alvin Ailey, Bob Fosse, Twyla Tharp and Donald McKayle.

The Ailey experience was a springboard to a Broadway career of leading roles including the revival of “Bernardo,” with Leonard Bernstein and the original Broadway cast of “Cats.” Hector has also had roles in films like “Slow Dancing in the Big City” and “Hair.”

Currently, Hector is a teacher and Dean of Modern Dance at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy (DADA). Hector just completed choreographing a video for James Ingram, and continues to pursue his love of dance by mounting works on his ballet students and other dancers.

Molly Niles

Molly Niles, a Los Angeles native, spent her summers in New York training at the Joffrey Ballet School. She was introduced to the Pilates method when she suffered a dance injury, her senior year at Skidmore College. Achilles tendonitis was cured, her body changed for the better and she was hooked for life!

After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Dance, Molly moved to New York City and continued her Pilates training at the renowned Pilates Studio on the Upper West Side of Manhattan and Drago’s Gym. In 1999, Molly was certified by Romana Kryzanowska, Sari Mejia Santo, and Bob Liekens. She received a second certification from Power Pilates in NYC with Bob Liekens and Susan Moran-Perich in 2007. Molly was also certified in Yoga from YogaWorks in Santa Monica in 2008.

Molly has taught at studios all over Los Angeles, as well as Greenwich, Ct, Southampton, NY and London, England. She loves being a part of the Winsor Family!

Lani Rabin

Prior to raising three children, Lani was a practical nurse in a medical office for over five years where her passion of the body, health and helping others were born. Always inspired by movement, she received her third stripe red belt in Tae Kwon Do before her own health issues led her to Pilates. Lani obtained certification in 2003 in Authentic PilatesTM through Romana Kryzanowska. Through continued education Lani discovered GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS® receiving certification for both in early 2006. Lani’s personal experiences and discoveries fuel her passion in teaching and she is continually inspired by the changes she sees in others.

Sandy Shimoda

Sandy Shimoda is certified by Romana Kryzanowska and continues to train with master teacher Jay Grimes. She has also learned from great instructors such as Lori Coleman-Brown, Dorothee Van de Walle, Cynthia Lochard and Peter Fiasca. Sandy taught with Peter at the 2008 Mind Body Conference and was a demonstrator on his Classical Pilates DVD with consideration for the neck and back. Sandy is also featured on Mari’s upcoming GAIAM workout videos and in Pilates Style magazine. Sandy has taught at Trish Garland’s studio, Live Art, Pilates Seattle International and Pi studios in London.

Mari Smookler

Mari Smookler “Missy” has been teaching Pilates since 2002. She is Romana’s Pilates certified. Missy first got the bug in 1998 when she was looking for something to help tone and elongate her muscles. She was inspired by the way Pilates transformed the shape of her body and she wanted to share the knowledge with others and began her training with Romana Kryzanowska in Los Angeles and New York. She proudly renews her certificate annually. She often assists Mari Winsor at Pilates conferences. You may recognize Missy as the ‘modifier’ in many of Mari Winsor’s workout videos. Missy is featured on Mari’s upcoming GAIAM workout videos.

Jessica Sullivan

A midwesterner at heart, Jessica has called Southern California home for most of her life. She graduated from University of Southern California majoring in Theater with a minor in Communications. When not in the studio, Jessica can be found with her horses. She has been a competitive show jumper since high school. An injury as a result of a fall led Jessica to Pilates. Before becoming a teacher, Jessica was a client at Winsor West. She was so inspired by the method and the results she decided to become a teacher herself. Jessica received her certification though Power Pilates and worked at the Vertical Workshop of Beverly Hills before joining the Winsor family in early 2008.

Diane Carr

Diane Carr trained as a musical theatre artist and received her BFA cum laude from the Webster Conservatory of Theatre Arts in St. Louis. Her background includes studies in movement, dance, stage combat and the Alexander Technique. Diane has been teaching Pilates since 2003 and was certified by Jill Cassady, a student of Romana Kryzanowska and Ron Fletcher. Diane has trained clients of all ages and abilities in both studio and rehabilitative environments. Her teaching style is hands-on and humorous, emphasizes proper form, and when needed, incorporates other techniques including massage therapy. “I believe that sessions should be positive, healing, and most of all, fun.”

Susannah Cotrone

Susannah Cotrone studied classical ballet then danced professionally before transitioning into her career as a Pilates instructor. Susannah has been teaching Pilates for over ten years, and in 2002 she became a level 5, second generation, certified Romana’s Pilates instructor. Susannah recently was featured in Pilatesstyle Magazine’s July ’08 issue for her work with Pilatesstick.

As the director of Pilates education for Pilatesstick, Susannah is teaching workshops, producing instructional DVDs and teaching at Pilates conferences. Susannah taught the first ever Pilatesstick class at Pilatesstyle Magazine’s Los Angeles Conference. Susannah is also a frequent contributor at The Huffingtonpost.com in the Living section, where she writes about fitness and her experiences with it. Susannah also co-produced the original Winsor Pilates DVD series with Mari Winsor, as well as performing in over fifteen other videos in the Winsor Pilates series.

Roger Gonzalez

Roger Gonzalez Hibner began teaching at Winsor Pilates in 1995. He has been co-Director of Teacher Training at Core Conditioning since 2003, and is faculty for Balanced Body University. His teaching experience includes master classes at Universities, conferences and workshops. He started studying the Pilates method in 1995 under Romana Kryzanowzka and received his certification from the Pilates Studio (NYC) in 2002.He also holds a PMA Gold Certification. He has continued his training under another student of Joseph H Pilates, Jay Grimes. Roger has a background in Dance having worked with the Lewitzky Dance Company, Solomons Company/Dance and the Milton Myers Dance Company. Raised in Mexico, he settled in Los Angeles after living in New York where he moved to after graduating Summa Cum Laude from the University of Texas at Austin. There he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts in Dance. Currently, he teaches the Pilates Method to trainers, dancers, physical therapists and normal people. You can also find him in the original Winsor Pilates video series.

Amanda Lazar

Amanda Lazar believes that fitness is a pathway to personal transformation. She is a Level 5 Certified, Classically Trained Pilates Instructor. With a Masters degree in Spiritual Psychology from the esteemed University of Santa Monica, Amanda takes a whole person approach to physical conditioning. She is dedicated to helping her clients establish an ongoing lifestyle of enhanced wellness in all areas of their lives.

Amanda has studied the relationship between consciousness, health, and healing for over 12 years. Her fitness background also includes: competitive horseback riding, swimming, and 10 years of Ashtanga Yoga. She has studied strength training, interval training, core conditioning, and functional training techniques for over 15 years.

Amanda currently volunteers her time as an adjunct faculty member at The University of Santa Monica and is a member of the IDEA Health & Fitness Association.

Rachel McDonald

Rachel McDonald has been teaching with Mari Winsor since 1994. Certified by Romana Kryzanoska, Rachel brings her professional dance background and 16 years of bodywork experience to her practice. You can also find her in many of Mari’s home workout DVD’s.

Renda Mishlany

Renda has been a Piltes trainer with Winsor Pilates for seven years. She began her Pilates training in 1984 and after 600 hours of instruction in the Pilates Method of Body Conditioning, was certified in 1997 by Romana Kryzanowska. Her early training in classical ballet started in Beirut, Lebanon where she was selected for a scholarship to study ballet abroad at the prestigious Legat School in England. She continues to take ballet classes at the Los Angeles Ballet School. Renda keeps up her Pilates training and certification through regular, rigorous classes and workshops with master teachers who include Romana Kryzanowska, Sari Pace, Trish Garland, and Jay Grimes.

Alyssa Tomoff

Amazed by Pilates' effectiveness in healing a chronic back injury, former dancer Alyssa Tomoff decided she had to pass on the joy of a pain-free, challenging workout to others. After spending over 1200 hours in her nine-month apprenticeship, she was certified by Romana's Pilates in 2005. Alyssa enjoys working with people from all walks of life and is particularly sensitive to those with injuries or other physical challenges. Since moving to Los Angeles, she's been working at Winsor Pilates and continues her training with master teachers. When she's not in the Pilates studio, you'll find her hiking in the mountains with her dog.