Club Pilates

Bios

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  Julie

  Lead Instructor

  Julie has been in the fitness industry since 2000 when she began her studies in Exercise Science. She started out as an ACE certified instructor teaching a variety of group fitness classes as well as personal training. She later found Pilates and absolutely loved the way Pilates transformed her body! She received her first apparatus certification through Balanced Body in 2009 and went on to complete her comprehensive training in 2010. She is also a certified health coach helping others achieve their health and fitness goals, a Reiki Master and holds continuing education in sports nutrition, sports injuries, Pilates for equestrians, kinetic anatomy, Bootcamp and BOSU. Julie has worked with many clients of all ages and fitness levels helping them feel stronger and more confident. She uses imagery and metaphors to help her clients tune into their bodies more. She really follows Joseph Pilates philosophy of"connecting the mind to the body." Her teaching style is challenging, yet fun! Always changing the movements so you never feel like it's a routine. Julie would love to see you in one of her group classes. She can also work with you one on one through private training at Club Pilates. Whether you are looking to improve your sporting performance or just want more personal attention. Helping clients achieve their goals has always been a priority of Julie's. Changing people's lives for the better brings her joy.

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  Radhika

  Instructor

  Radhika’s first introduction to a Pilates Reformer came in 2005 while in California and exploring other paths to broader health and wellness after the birth of her second child. This journey continued for three years at Get Fit Pilates with Radhika following the Classical Method. Upon relocating to the Chicago area, Radhika continued taking Pilates for two years at Pilates Fitness Inc. with Carl and Elise Corry, former-professional ballet dancers under George Balanchine and second-generation Pilates instructors having trained under Master teacher Romana Kryanowska in New York, a protégé of Joseph Pilates. Radhika has continued her training for seven years at Total Body Dynamics with Judith Chitwood, current Professor of Dance at Northern Illinois University, former ballet dancer, and second-generation Pilates instructor having also trained under Romana Kryzanowska and Level I Master instructor Juanita Lopez. Most recently in Radhika’s journey, she has now begun sharing her experiences and belief in the transformative power of Pilates. She is a Certified Pilates Instructor with Club Pilates and has found great satisfaction in blending her classical lineage with a contemporary approach. In addition to this exciting new element of sharing Pilates with others as an instructor, Radhika remains a dedicated student by practicing daily. Additionally, she continues her education in the Pilates Method with her mentor, Judith Chitwood, to stay on the leading edge in teaching strength, flexibility, and overall wellness. Radhika is looking forward to sharing her knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm about Pilates with all the members at Club Pilates!

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  Desiree

  Instructor

  Desiree began practicing Pilates as a way to improve core strength pre- and post-pregnancy. She noticed becoming stronger and reaching goals fairly quickly which kept her motivated to continue. She discovered that Pilates was much more than just exercises on the mat. Exercises become more challenging with props like the magic circle and apparatus like the Reformer. Private lessons offer more strengthening and stretching opportunities on the Cadillac, ladder barrel and Spine Corrector. Overall, she enjoys the way Pilates improves her relative inner strength, breath awareness, concentration, coordination, flexibility and posture. Desiree earned her comprehensive Pilates certification with Club Pilates, and has additional certifications with Physical Mind Institute, Anusara Yoga, ACE Personal Trainer and NETA Group Exercise Teacher. She is also SCW Barre Certified and SCW Foam Roller Certified. Desiree is an avid exerciser and enjoys running, varied high-intensity interval functional movement classes which often include boxes, weights, kettlebells and barbells. Pilates helps her stay safe by keeping her “powerhouse” strong. She also loves Pilates on her active recovery days with more strengthening and stretching. Come discover how Club Pilates can help you live your best life! “Physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness.” ~ Joseph Pilates

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  Lori

  Instructors

  Lori started practicing Pilates over 20 years ago in an effort to alleviate issues from a spinal curvature. Before long she noticed her posture improved greatly (she stood a full inch taller!) and she moved more gracefully and felt stronger and in better shape. She completed teacher training through PhysicalMind Institute and taught at Power Pilates/Equinox and other fitness and rehabilitation studios. She looks forward to seeing you in class!

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  Erica

  Instructor/ Regional Manager

  Erica has a background is in management. After becoming the Mom to 3 beautiful kids, making time for herself became a priority. She found a small studio close to her house and fell in love with working out. Fitness soon became her passion, expressing herself through her own personal weight loss journey. During the next few years she completed her Group Fitness certification through AFAA, multiple group fitness formats and then went on to get her Personal Training Certification through ISSA. Erica taught a variety of formats from Water Aerobics to HITT classes as well as Personal Training at several local gyms and studios. After years of teaching at this intensity her body couldn’t handle the constant high impact. This led her to Pilates! Pilates really took away the stress caused on her joints and helped strengthen and length her muscles. The pain was no longer there. Erica decided to take her love for management and fitness and combined them when accepting the General Manager position at the St. Charles location. She then went on to complete her 500 hour Comprehensive Pilates Certification. Erica currently over sees St. Charles, Park Ridge and Bloomingdale locations as well as teaches in Bloomingdale, and subs when needed in St. Charles and Park Ridge. Erica’s Classes are fun and challenging. You will get an amazing working out. Your abs won’t know what hit them. Between the workout and Erica’s quest to put a smile on your face, you’ll enjoy every minute of your time. Give this girl a headset and she really knows how to brighten a room. Come on by and laugh with her.

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  Carrie

  Instructor

  Carrie has been in the fitness industry for 4 years, and loves sharing her passion with others. Her favorite thing is seeing the excitement on people’s faces as they do things they never thought physically possible.Carrie’s background is in HIIT workouts and Strength Training, but she’s very excited to add Pilates! What she loves most about Pilates is that it will benefit EVERY body! No matter what age or physical level you are, it will keep your body and mind strong for life!

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  Kristin Bloch

  Instructor

  Kristin first became serious about fitness 15 years ago after too many hours of sitting behind a desk began to have negative consequences. Although Kristin dabbled in Yoga, Pilates, and strength training, her main focus was on cardio. However in 2015 a running injury caused her to check further into Pilates and she was a convert after realizing that after a few Pilates reformer sessions, her hips and knees no longer ached. Earlier this year Kristin decided to take her love of Pilates to the next level by enrolling in the Comprehensive 500 hour Teacher Training Program offered by Club Pilates. Kristin is no stranger to education, earning a Master of Business Administration in 2008, but states that the Pilates Teacher Training program challenged both her body and mind in ways never expected. Kristin also has previous experience as a corporate trainer, training newly hired employees over the course of eight weeks to prepare them for their careers in a busy call center. She loved the connection she built with her students while training them, and hopes to build these connections with members as she assists them with their Pilates and overall fitness journey. Kristin loves the fact that no matter what someone’s fitness goals are¸ Club Pilates has a workout to help them achieve those goals, and she hopes to show everyone that you can be strong, vital, and healthy no matter your age or current level of fitness.

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  Tammy

  Instructor

  Tammy Pankau is a Certified Balanced Body Pilates Mat and Reformer instructor and ACE certified Personal Trainer. She also has her Barre Above certification, TRX certification and has gone through the BOSU Master Training Program. Tammy has 25 years of experience in the fitness industry as an instructor, personal trainer, Pilates trainer and in fitness management. "Pilates became part of my life in 2003 to help strengthen my back, deep abdominal muscles and to lengthen my muscles after a back injury. I was able to avoid a spinal fusion by taking Pilates, and then I decided that I wanted to become a Pilates instructor to help others improve their lives through movement pain free." Tammy is married and has a son, daughter and dog named Max. Her hobbies are bike riding, kayaking, zip lining and spending time with her family. Her favorite fitness quote is "No matter how slow you go, you are still lapping everybody on the couch."

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  Kim

  Instructor

  After more than 20 years of working in cubicles in Accounting departments, Kim found herself walking into a Club Pilates studio in 2018 in hopes of getting help with her tight hamstrings and hips and toning her muscles; however, Kim found that Pilates offered more than that. Kim found the uplifting and encouraging atmosphere at Club Pilates to be mentally refreshing and physically challenging. After a few months, Kim began to feel her flexibility and core strength increasing, and soon after that Kim could also see the changes in her body overall. This inspired Kim to want to learn more about Pilates and to share its benefits with others. Kim joined the Teacher Training program through Club Pilates in 2019 and received her comprehensive certification in Mat, Reformer, Springboard, RTC, EXO Chair, Ladder Barrel, Spine Corrector, and Magic Circle in 2020. Kim understands how the advantages of strengthening the core and lengthening the muscles after years, or hours, of sitting at a desk or in a car can improve one’s overall physical wellbeing at any point in their lives. Kim is also eager to share the mental satisfaction she found through Pilates and the clients and instructors at Club Pilates with others.