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.
Winsor Fit Club
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Brenda-Li
Brenda-Li
Brenda-Li transitioned into teaching Pilates after ending a professional dance career with American Ballet Theatre in New York. For over 13 years, she’s taught at Winsor Pilates and can be seen in dozens of Mari Winsor’s Pilates DVD’s, infomercials, and product packaging. As a Pilates trainer and fitness model, she was featured in articles for Shape, Fit, and Glamour magazines, to name a few. She studied Pilates with Romana Kryzanowska and became a certified instructor in 2001. Having experienced several injuries from the rigors of ballet dancing, Brenda-Li turned to Pilates to bring more balance and healing to her body, as well as to maintain strength and flexibility for dancing in TV, film, stage, and music video productions.
Aside from teaching, Brenda-Li choreographs for dance shows, performs, contributes articles to fitness blogs, and continues to fitness model. Practicing and teaching Pilates gives her a strong foundation for other physical practices she likes to delve into: yoga, aerial arts, hoop dance, and latin ballroom dance. She also has a background in the healing arts, having studied different techniques that enhance her life and work. Brenda-Li loves seeing how Pilates brings her clients joy as they gain awareness of their bodies, expand their minds, uplift their spirits, and of course, get healthy and fit!
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Douglass Banker
Douglass Banker
Douglas Banker is one of Mari’s latest additions to Winsor Pilates. He was certified through the Romana’s Pilates Certficiation Program in 2007.
Before finding the pilates method, Douglas proudly served four years in the United States Marine Corps. He is notorious for his diligence and attention to detail.
Douglas works with a wide range of people, from injured to pro-athlete, from adolescent to elderly. He will ensure you achieve your goals and reach your optimal potential in health
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Lucy Martin
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.
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Mari Winsor
Mari Winsor
Fitness expert Mari Winsor is widely credited with popularizing Pilates and making this once-obscure workout accessible to the public at-large.
In 1990, Mari opened her first Pilates studio in Los Angeles, and introduced her innovative signature workout, “dynamic sequencing,” based on techniques developed by Joseph Pilates. Soon after, the highly visible bodies of musicians, professional athletes, and celebrities began to flock to her studio to be shaped, toned, and strengthened.
Eager to learn as much as she possible could about Pilates, in 1992, Mari began studying with Romana Kryzanowska, who trained with Joseph Pilates and took over his New York studio upon his death. After one year of intense study, Mari earned her certification in the true technique of Joseph Pilates. Mari continues to study with Romana to this day.
In 2003, Mari brought Pilates to a new level of public recognition when she released her first infomercial. The record-breaking success of the Winsor Pilates workout series and award-winning infomercials was unparalleled. Thirty videos later and over 50 million programs sold, Mari’s groundbreaking dynamic workouts have helped millions of Americans get the body they want making Winsor Pilates a household name.
Committed to sharing her knowledge and experience with the public, Mari has created an Online Winsor Pilates Fitness Club. She has co-authored three books: The Pilates Powerhouse; The Pilates Pregnancy: Maintaining Strength, Flexibility and Your Figure; and The Pilates Workout Journal: An Exercise Diary and Conditioning Guide. Mari’s fitness expertise has been featured in countless magazines such as: Allure, Glamour, Fit Pregnancy, Health, InStyle, More, Redbook, Shape, Vogue, W, and Woman’s World.
Now the owner of two Winsor Pilates studios and with a continuous roster of A-list clients that includes Drew Barrymore, Elizabeth Berkeley, Minnie Driver, Daisy Fuentes, Jasmine Guy, Jewel, Melanie Griffith, Meg Ryan, Sharon Stone, Marisa Tomei, Courtney Thorne-Smith and Dita Von Tees, Mari remains the most sought-after trainer in Hollywood and a celebrity in the world of health and fitness.
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Rachael McDonald
Rachael McDonald
Rachael McDonald, Romana Kryzanowska certified, has been teaching under Mari Winsor since 1994. As a professional dancer in NYC during the 1980’s, Pilates was a mandatory cross training. I learned young that the gift of this work is the constant deepening and rediscovering of strength, joy, and confidence in the body. And this helps lead to a very peaceful and satisfied state of mind…something all of us can use!
I’ve been a bodyworker even longer than I’ve been teaching Pilates. Working with people in both modalities, I am a firm believer in how much Pilates can help work through painful and limiting conditions. Getting the body and mind to come together is very empowering and what this work is all about. For me, helping people get centered, strong, and confident is such a rewarding experience! -
Sam Cotrone
Sam Cotrone
Certified in 2001, Sam has worked exclusively with top Hollywood clients, from in front of the camera, to behind. He has also worked with many heads of studios. Sam’s clients come to see him exclusively from as far away as Europe, Asia, Toronto, and New York. Sam is one of the most sought after instructors in Los Angeles, and frequently works with many of the Dancing with the Stars celebrities and dancers.
Sam is dedicated to fitness, and the ideal of living a happy, healthy, and strong body lifestyle. Sam has been seen on Entertainment Tonight with Daisy Fuentes, and on Access Hollywood with Kelly Osbourne. He has also been featured on TV Guide’s “Hollywood Bodies” and “Hollywood Hard Bodies.” Sam has been featured in Pilates videos sold around the world, and has been featured in People magazine, and Pilates Style magazine.
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Saul Choza
Saul Choza
Saul has been an instructor for Winsor Pilates for over 14 years.. He is certified through Romana’s Pilates and has also studied with other renowned instructors such as Lolita San Miguel, Jay Grimes and Marie Jose’ Blom. Saul continues improving his craft by attending physical fitness courses and fitness workshops. His focus on strength, flexibility and balance has earned him a roster of clients that have been with him since his first teachings.
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Susannah Cotrone
Susannah Cotrone
Susannah Cotrone has been teaching Pilates for over 12 years, and was featured in the July 2008 issue of Pilates Style magazine. Susannah has been featured in countless Pilates videos with Mari Winsor, and has directed and performed in 2 DVDs she created for the Pilatesstick company. She has posed as a Pilates model for fitness magazines, on-line articles, and is seen in Pilates infomercials, DVDs, and product packaging through out the world. A personal triumph of Susannah’s was realized when she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in the Performing Arts from Saint Mary’s College of California in 2009. Susannah contributes fitness articles to The Huffingtonpost.com and is on staff at the Winsorslim.com website, where she leads discussions about Pilates and enjoying a healthy lifestyle.
Susannah spent most of her young life studying classical ballet, and went on to dance professionally with The Richmond Ballet, Ballet Omaha, and The City Ballet of Los Angeles. After performing the classical ballet repertoire as a principle ballerina, Susannah became a young mother. Having started her Pilates practice at fourteen years old in order to strengthen her body for the rigors of a professional ballet career, she used her Pilates knowledge to get back into dancing shape after her first pregnancy. Transitioning into a career as a Pilates instructor was a natural progression for her, and in 2001 Susannah was awarded with an Authentic Pilates Certification, known today as Romana’s Pilates. Susannah is married to Sam Cotrone, a Pilates instructor as well, and they have three children. Teaching Pilates is one of the great joys of Susannah’s life, and she knows first hand the amazing results practicing Pilates can bring
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Brenda-Li
Santa Monica
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Aliceann Grusin
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.
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Bianca Mallot
Bianca Mallot
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Bianca Malott
Bianca Malott
After obtaining a Bachelor degree in International Relations and being introduced to the corporate world I decided it was not my passion. I made the option to change careers to something that invigorates people’s life, body and mind – PILATES! I had fallen in love with Pilates since my first lesson, and experienced great changes in my body. I have worked as an apprentice at True Pilates NY and once I moved to LA as an official Pilates instructor I joined Winsor Pilates.
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Camille Newbern
Camille Newbern
A southern California native, Camille Newbern is certified by second generation instructor Jill Cassady in the classic New York Pilates method. After dancing with the San Diego Ballet, Camille attended the University of Southern California, where she received her degree in American Literature. Following graduation, Camille was introduced to Pilates by her parents. She fell in love with the dynamic, dance-like method and it was not long before she was on her way to becoming certified. When she is not teaching, Camille can be found pursuing a career in acting. Camille is proud to be a part of the Winsor family.
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Cassandra Santor
Cassandra Santor
Cassandra Santor is a classically trained Pilates instructor with more than a decade of experience teaching. Originally introduced to Pilates for her own rehabilitation Cassandra teaches with passion, enthusiasm and clarity. She relocated to LA from NYC in 2004 and was the founding Director of the Power Pilates Studios in Equinox, Santa Monica and Westwood. She provides an active and invigorating workout for beginners through those advanced students in Pilates apprentice programs. Cassandra also provides detailed instruction to special cases such as: post & pre-natal, Scoliosis, hip replacements in private and group settings. Cassandra is a member of IDEA fitness, Power Pilates and other national fitness communities.
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Courtney Ca
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
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.
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Douglas Banker
Douglas Banker
Douglas Banker is one of Mari’s latest additions to Winsor Pilates. He was certified through the Romana’s Pilates Certficiation Program in 2007.
Before finding the pilates method, Douglas proudly served four years in the United States Marine Corps. He is notorious for his diligence and attention to detail.
Douglas works with a wide range of people, from injured to pro-athlete, from adolescent to elderly. He will ensure you achieve your goals and reach your optimal potential in health.
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Hector Mercado
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.
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Joan Facciobene
Joan Facciobene
oan 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.
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Jordan Miller
Jordan Miller
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Kristin Kobayashi
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.
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Lani Rabin
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.
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Lisa Burnett
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.
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Lucy Martin
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.
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Mari Levitan
Mari Levitan
Mari Levitan “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.
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Maytal Rozensher
Maytal Rozensher
Maytal is a 3rd generation Romana’s Pilates teacher, certified through the Romana’s/True Pilates program, and hails from North Jersey/New York. Among many activities her background includes over 20 years of formal dance training in various techniques, competitive cheerleading, beach volleyball and music. She was first introduced to Pilates at the age of 15 and has since sought to expand her knowledge of the method. After receiving her BA in Visual Arts she spent a few years working in the corporate world.
Maytal was introduced to the Romana’s method in 2006 and instantly decided to pursue Pilates instruction as a career. Under the tutelage of such teachers as Sari Mejia Santos (Romana’s daughter), Cynthia Lochard, Trish Garland, and Jay Grimes, Maytal regularly participates in Pilates workshops and events to continue building her skills. She has been featured as a model and consultant on various Pilates exercise videos. Maytal has greatly benefited from the practical application of the Pilates disciplines in her daily activities. Her goal is to enable her clients to do the same. -
Melanie M. Adam
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.
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Molly Niles
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!
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Aliceann Grusin
Hollywood
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Alessandra Bohlinger
Alessandra Bohlinger
Alessandra 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.
Alessandra 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!
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Alessandra Fraga
Alessandra Fraga
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Andrew Boyle
Andrew Boyle
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Carrie Russo
Carrie Russo
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Diane Carr
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.”
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Julia Bourlina
Julia Bourlina
Julia Bourlina graduated from the Vaganova Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia, then danced with the Kirov Ballet and Opera Company for 12 years. She retired from the stage and discovered Pilates, beginning her studies in Paris with Phillipe Taupain in 1997. She moved to Los Angeles and went through the complete training program of New York style Pilates. After 700 hours apprenticeship, she was fully certified and received her diploma, passing her examination with Romana herself. Then she taught at the Michael Levy Studio for 5 years, working with a wide range of clients. She has a continuing relationship with Mari Winsor Pilates, working in several of the studios. Recently she has been focusing on bringing Pilates into the lives of her ballet students to improve their core strength, stamina, breathing, alignment and flexibility. She is in pre-production on a series of video lessons to demonstrate how the Pilates system can help young dancers improve their weaknesses.
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Karina Logue
Karina Logue
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Katie Weber
Katie Weber
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Kristin Kobayashi
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.
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Lara Vidaurri
Lara Vidaurri
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Lorenza Ludovicci
Lorenza Ludovicci
Lorenza Ludovicci is a Romana’s Pilates certified instructor, highly skilled in the authentic method of Joseph Pilates. She trained under the tutelage of his leading protege Romana Kryzanowska and mentored by Sari Mejia Santo at TruePilates New York, formerly Drago’s. Lorenza shares her expertise in a precise individualized manner with her clients. She has returned to Los Angeles after teaching in partnership with Romana-certified Anthony Sasso at Union Square Pilates in New York.
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Marea Bianchini
Marea Bianchini
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Mari Levitan
Mari Levitan
Mari Levitan “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.
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Michelle Starlin
Michelle Starlin
Michelle has been teaching Pilates for 14 years. Her passion for exercise goes back to her days when she started dancing at age five. She trained at City Ballet of Houston, High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston, Boston Ballet and the National Hungarian Ballet School in Budapest. Michelle received further training at The North Carolina School of the Arts and SUNY Purchase where her focus shifted to modern dance. Both institutes used The Pilates Method for conditioning and rehabilitation. This experience was Michelle’s introduction to Pilates.
While studying at Paul Taylor Dance Company and Merce Cunningham Dance Company in New York City, Michelle began interning for her Pilates certification with Jennifer Kriess, 2nd generation Classical Pilates Master. Following Michelle’s professional dance career, Pilates instruction was a natural transition.
From 1996 to 1999 Michelle was an ACE certified master trainer for New York Sports Club where she also received her certification from AAAI in Pre/Post Natal fitness. Beginning in 1999, Michelle’s Pilates mat class packed studios all over New York City in gyms such as Reebok/Sports Club LA, Equinox Fitness, HBO Corporate Gym and New York Sports Club.
Michelle’s expertise has graced a multitude of magazines, including Seventeen & Gusto. Michelle is honored to have been featured in two issues of Pilates Style Magazine, Spring 2005 & Spring 2010. In 2000, Michelle was interviewed by Essence Magazine along side her future, west coast employer , Mari Winsor.
After a cross country move to Los Angeles in 2005, Michelle was ecstatic to land at the famous Mari Winsor Pilates Studio located in West Hollywood. Currently, she instructs at the studio and has a home clientele base. After giving birth to her second child in May, 2008, Michelle started a Baby and Me class in the park which sparked the creation of Synthecore, a mommy and baby Pilates DVD.
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Rachel McDonald
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.
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Renda Mishlany
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.
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Roger Gonzalez
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.
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Sam Cotrone
Sam Cotrone
Certified in 2001, Sam has worked exclusively with top Hollywood clients, from in front of the camera, to behind. He has also worked with many heads of studios. Sam’s clients come to see him exclusively from as far away as Europe, Asia, Toronto, and New York. Sam is one of the most sought after instructors in Los Angeles, and frequently works with many of the Dancing with the Stars celebrities and dancers.
Sam is dedicated to fitness, and the ideal of living a happy, healthy, and strong body lifestyle. Sam has been seen on Entertainment Tonight with Daisy Fuentes, and on Access Hollywood with Kelly Osbourne. He has also been featured on TV Guide’s “Hollywood Bodies” and “Hollywood Hard Bodies.” Sam has been featured in Pilates videos sold around the world, and has been featured in People magazine, and Pilates Style magazine.
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Saul Choza
Saul Choza
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Susannah Cotrone
Susannah Cotrone
Susannah Cotrone has been teaching Pilates for over 12 years, and was featured in the July 2008 issue of Pilates Style magazine. Susannah has been featured in countless Pilates videos with Mari Winsor, and has directed and performed in 2 DVDs she created for the Pilatesstick company. She has posed as a Pilates model for fitness magazines, on-line articles, and is seen in Pilates infomercials, DVDs, and product packaging through out the world. A personal triumph of Susannah’s was realized when she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in the Performing Arts from Saint Mary’s College of California in 2009. Susannah contributes fitness articles to The Huffingtonpost.com and is on staff at the Winsorslim.com website, where she leads discussions about Pilates and enjoying a healthy lifestyle.
Susannah spent most of her young life studying classical ballet, and went on to dance professionally with The Richmond Ballet, Ballet Omaha, and The City Ballet of Los Angeles. After performing the classical ballet repertoire as a principle ballerina, Susannah became a young mother. Having started her Pilates practice at fourteen years old in order to strengthen her body for the rigors of a professional ballet career, she used her Pilates knowledge to get back into dancing shape after her first pregnancy. Transitioning into a career as a Pilates instructor was a natural progression for her, and in 2001 Susannah was awarded with an Authentic Pilates Certification, known today as Romana’s Pilates. Susannah is married to Sam Cotrone, a Pilates instructor as well, and they have three children. Teaching Pilates is one of the great joys of Susannah’s life, and she knows first hand the amazing results practicing Pilates can bring
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Alessandra Bohlinger
