Club Pilates

Bios

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  Vicki Ratzlaff

  Pilates Instructor

  Vicki's Pilates full studio training certification was completed in 2005 through Momentum Studios of Albuquerque, New Mexico. She has been in the fitness instruction profession for over 18 years here in the Portland area. She started out with Step Aerobic programs, added Stationary Cycling, personal trainer programs, dance programs, and taught Yoga through Yogafit International. As a Yoga instructor she fell in love with the core, strength, and balance challenge through the movement that Pilates teaches. After her Pilates certification was completed, she became an instructor and taught at Sellwood Pilates for 10 years. Vicki finds Pilates to be the most complete and comprehensive program in keeping your body moving. For over 18 years she has taught and helped men and women of all ages and levels to reach their goals for better balance, flexibility, posture, and mobility using the Pilates method. Each one is "strengthened from the center out".

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  Dorothy Cronin

  Pilates Instructor

  Dorothy is a Pilates instructor at Club Pilates Happy Valley.

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  Colleen O'Grady

  Colleen has had an excitement for Pilates since 2006 when she took her first Pilates class. Her passion for the practice exploded a few years later when Pilates helped restore movement and strength in her body prior to and post three surgeries. Pilates felt both natural and challenging, yet low impact on the joints. She loved how Pilates made her feel stronger, helped her experience more alignment in her body and allowed her to thrive more in life. Colleen became nationally certified through the Pilates Method Alliance and Balanced Body. Most teachers love to learn as much as they love to teach and Colleen continues to learn alongside you, progressing her personal practice and education. Colleen feels blessed to be “working” in an industry that allows her to help others create change in their lives and their bodies. Pilates has been a gift to her and she feels excited to share this gift with you.

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  Alexis Griffith

  Pilates Instructor

  After having surgery on her ankle at the age of 17, and compromising her knees running track in high school, Alexis found it difficult to find a low-impact fitness regime she could enjoy and relate to. She also found it hard to stick to any type of exercise she had tried in her late teens and early 20's. Finally, after hundreds of dollars of unused gym memberships, and feeling dissatisfied with the state of her body and mind as a whole, Alexis stumbled upon Pilates. Pilates not only changed her body in a way she never knew possible, it also gave her a new sense of self-confidence and a deeper understanding of what Joseph Pilates calls the mind-body connection. Pilates also helped her posture, which relieved her from chronic lower back pain that plagued her as a young adult. Now having experienced these positive changes first hand, Alexis dedicates her time as a Club Pilates certified instructor to helping others reach their external and internal goals. She believes that through Pilates, she can help others overcome the same challenges and fitness struggles that she once dealt with early on by making exercise and health relatable. Alexis enjoys learning about all the different aspects of Pilates and now finds ways to incorporate other exercises into her workouts by using Pilates fundamentals. In addition to Pilates, Alexis loves cooking, surfing, snowboarding, mountain biking, painting, writing, playing music and hanging with good friends.

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  Carrie Weigel

  Pilates Instructor

  Carrie discovered the endless benefits of Pilates after a double bunionectoy surgery (Physical Therapist recommendation). Soon after she took her first class Carrie knew Pilates would be part of her life for forever. The low impact movements of Pilates were a lifesaver to her body after CrossFit and gymnastics in her earlier years. Her life has truly transformed, mind body and spirit. After many years in the hotel and resort industry, travel, and an extremely rewarding career in senior housing, it was time for Carrie to make some changes. She completed a comprehensive instructor training which included over 500 hundred hours of practical work, observations, and apprenticeship on the work and equipment of Joseph H. Pilates. Carrie is thrilled to share her passion with you and help you look and feel amazing inside and out. Carrie loves the Club Pilates family and can’t wait to meet you.

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  Judy Lee

  Judy Lee is a movement coach with over 10 years of experience working in diverse health and fitness settings. She discovered her passion for fitness during high school athletics competing in dragon boat, dance, and swimming. These experiences led her to pursue a Bachelor of Science Degree in Kinesiology with a minor in Dance. As a former exercise physical therapist aide in clinics, she realized the importance of maintaining a balanced body to achieve optimal health. With this in mind, her style of teaching has been holistic and combines all of her specialties: NASM Certified Personal Trainer, ACE Certified Health Coach, Balanced Body Pilates Reformer, Chair Instructor, TRX Suspension Trainer, ViPR Trainer, IGC Cycling Instructor, Level 1 Kettlebell Concepts Trainer, Tabata Bootcamp Instructor, RYT 200 Yoga Teacher, Certified Yoga Trapeze Trainer. She believes the key to living a sustainable healthy lifestyle is knowing what you want, why you want it, and taking action to execute it. Whether your goal is to move pain-free, train for the next triathlon, or simply eliminate daily stress, she delivers a plan that will work best for you!

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  Jamila Hastie

  Jamila Hastie is 28 years old and has been athletically engaged since a very young age. She’s originally from Atlanta, Georgia and is a graduate of Georgia State University where she received her Bachelor of Arts in History. Jamila spent the following years living in San Francisco, Chiang Mai, Thailand, and Los Angeles. Shortly after relocating to Los Angeles, she took an Intro Pilates class and was hooked instantly. Less than a year later she obtained her certification through Club Pilates in North Hollywood. Driven by intuitive motivation, Jamila is inspired by her clients and is a mere guide to help them achieve their fitness goals. She constantly seeks to learn and refine her teaching skills so that she can guide individuals from all walks of life towards an active and balanced lifestyle. Throughout class, Jamila consistently provides descriptive and motivating cues that aim to simultaneously achieve correct form, incorporate breath, enhance the mind-body connection, foster confidence and develop abdominal strength.

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  Allison Brando

  Pilates Instructor

  Allison Brando is an intuitive artist who brings broad vision, bold enthusiasm, and electric energy to her work, both habitually and intentionally. Originally from Louisiana, Allison completed an intensive training program in Seattle with Dorothee VandeWalle, a master Pilates teacher who is recognized worldwide as a teacher-trainer and Pilates practitioner. Allison teaches in the tradition of the original, authentic Pilates method. As a certified Metropolitan Authentic Training (M.A.T.) Pilates instructor, she offers the finest quality Pilates instruction for every body — from people with the advanced fitness level of elite dancers and athletes to persons who are recovering from injuries or physical challenges. A professionally trained dancer, Allison has earned scholarships to such institutions as Edge Performing Arts Center, Broadway Dance Center, the American Jazz DanceCompany and the Los Angeles Performing Arts Center. Allison also has 17 years experience as a dance instructor which has helped her develop a variety of effective teaching techniques. As a result of all of her experiences, Allison emphasizes to each of her clients the integration of movement and conditioning into healthy lifestyle development. Allison has taught in studios across NYC, Seattle, New Orleans, Denver, and Los Angeles, and is thrilled to be joining the team at Club Pilates following her recent move from NYC to the Portland area!