Jill Denninger, studio owner, is a Buff Bones® and NCPT (Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher). Jill holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Modern Dance from the University of South Florida, where she was first introduced to Pilates and began her practice. She completed the Power Pilates comprehensive training program in 1999 and was certified through the Pilates Method Alliance in 2007. Additionally, Jill is a Registered Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapist®. She continues her education in both Pilates and Craniosacral Therapy by attending workshops on an ongoing basis.
Michelle Kennedy, PT, studio owner, is a Buff Bones® and NCPT (Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher). She is a graduate of New York University and holds a BS in Physical Therapy, as well. Michelle began her Pilates practice in 2002 and immediately fell in love with this intelligent exercise system. Initially certified in mat through the Professional Health and Fitness Institute, she completed both mat (2005) and apparatus (2007) certifications through PhysicalMind. In 2015, she completed the Polestar Pilates for Rehabilitation certification. She continues her study with master teachers, Doris Pasteluer Hall and Leslie Powell at Movements Afoot in NYC. Workshops have included study with Sherri Betz, Phoebe Higgins and Deborah Lessen. Michelle's physical therapy background includes courses in Maitland and McKenzie spinal evaluation and treatment and osteoporosis management. Michelle is dedicated to helping her clients understand and work with the Pilates method to gain better control of their movement and understand the role of core muscles to enhance posture and the ability to move, during activities of daily living as well as when exercising or playing a sport.
Mikiko Baba , was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan, after which she moved to NYC and graduated from Pratt Institute with a degree in Interior Design. Having a love for fitness, she always kept active until she hurt her knee during a run. This led to her discovery of Pilates, and Mikiko left the corporate world to pursue her passion. She completed her comprehensive Pilates training program through Center For Movement in NYC and mat program from FTP Japan. You can experience Pilates in both English and Japanese with her! Mikiko loves working with people and believes in the importance of the body-mind connection.
Cara Starling DePaul has a passion for movement that started at a very young age in dance when she fell in love with the freedom, expression and joy that moving her body offered her. After taking a Pilates class in 2008 following the birth of her second son, she once again found an excitement and enthusiasm that inspired her to turn her passion into a career. Cara is a 500 hour comprehensively certified Pilates instructor through Balanced Body. She studied extensively with Halle Clark and Marcy Schafler, as well as renowned instructor Doris Pasteleur-Hall during her years of apprenticeship. Cara aims to create a welcoming, safe, and personally challenging atmosphere in all of her classes. She encourages people to leave their stresses at the door and enjoy the experience of building both their inner and outer strength through their own Pilates journey. When Cara is not teaching she enjoys spending time with her husband and three sons and making wishes when the clock hits 11:11!
Barbara Place is fully insured and certified in Pilates, Yoga, Reiki, II, TRX and Spin. She is also a Group Fitness Leader and Personal Trainer. Barbara is a dedicated professional, intuitive teacher and healer and a lifetime student. She has been in the health and wellness field her entire life. Barbara has an innate quality of connecting the mind, body and spirit. Her specialty is alignment, core stability, and functional movement. Barbara opened and managed the Merriam Gateway Health and FItness Center in Newton before returning to school to specialize in Pilates training. Barbara studied under Romana Kryzanowska in NYC– a rigorous teaching program with over 600 hours of apprenticeship.
Suzanne Reiman, a graduate of The School of Visual Arts of NYC, has roots in the dance and fitness world. She has been studying and teaching Pilates since 1987. She works alongside Deborah Lessen of the Greene Street Studio where she completed her comprehensive training. Additionally, she teaches privately and increases her knowledge of anatomy by studying with the anatomist Irene Dowd.
Holly Sandelands, PT, DPT, is a Physical Therapist and Polestar Pilates Certified Instructor. She graduated from Columbia University with a Doctor in Physical Therapy. Holly’s physical therapy background includes orthopedics, sports, women’s health, and prenatal/postnatal. She began practicing Pilates instruction in London, UK in 2018. Holly completed the Polestar Pilates for Rehabilitation certification in 2019. She fell in love with Pilates and believes in its potential for her patients during every aspect of their rehabilitation. She finds that Pilates adds another layer of skill to her practice, which compliments her physical therapy approach, allowing her to treat patients with a wide variety of goals and aspirations, whether that is for ongoing maintenance treatment, injury prevention, or active rehabilitation from pre-existing conditions/injuries.
Diana Schlobohm is a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) with an additional certification in Restorative Yoga. Diana began teaching Pilates in 2005 and continued teaching until 2011. After a breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, Diana returned to teaching Pilates for a brief period of time, before deciding to deepen her yoga practice. She's excited to share with you her knowledge and skills in the field of yoga.
Cathy Maher Thomas , PT, DPT, has been a client at BODIES IN BALANCE for several years and was encouraged by owners, Michelle and Jill, to pursue teaching Pilates. Following her completion of study with Polestar Pilates in 2020, she became a National Certified Pilates Teacher (NCPT). As a licensed physical therapist, Cathy has practiced in a variety of clinical and academic settings. She received her physical therapy education at Columbia University, New York and a Master of Health Science and Doctor of Physical Therapy from Seton Hall University, New Jersey. She recently retired as an assistant professor of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Seton Hall University. In addition, she is a Board Certified Geriatric Clinical Specialist by the American Physical Therapy Board of Clinical Specialist and received certification as an Exercise Expert for Aging Adults. Cathy is excited to share her journey through Pilates to improve movement and wellness with others.
Rebecca Veale is a Polestar Pilates and NCPT (Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher). Rebecca graduated in 2016 from Mason Gross School of the Arts Summa Cum Laude with a BFA in Dance and minor in Psychology. Rebecca was introduced to Pilates through her dance instructor and has grown to love it. She completed her Pilates training through Polestar Pilates teacher training program affiliated through Rutgers University under the direction of Kim Gibilsico in 2015 and was certified through Pilates Method Alliance early 2016. As a dancer and athlete Rebecca knows how important it is to maintain a healthy body and even use Pilates for recovery after injuries.