Our Team
Allie
Allie teaches group classes in The Reinvention Method.
Where are you from?
Tampa, Florida
What was your professional background prior to teaching at ChaiseFitness?
I graduated from NYU, having studied Musical Theatre and Producing. While in college, I worked the front desk at Chaise.
Describe your teaching / training style in 3 words:
Musical, energetic, encouraging
What do you love most about The Reinvention Method?
I love how focused the Reinvention is on improving and maintaining posture. As someone who has struggled with back problems due to minor scoliosis, taking classes, such as our signature Reinvention class has done WONDERS for my posture. I saw my chiropractor a few months after regularly integrating Chaise classes into my workout regimen and he even noticed substantial improvement.
Sandi
Sandi is the Director of Training at ChaiseFitness. She teaches private/duet Pilates sessions, private/duet Reinvention Method sessions, TRX, and group classes in the Reinvention Method.
Where are you from?
Cohoes, New York (a suburb outside of Albany)
What was your professional background prior to teaching at ChaiseFitness?
Technically, I went to school for Business Management and Marketing, and received my B.S. from Fordham University (GO RAMS!). Out of college, I worked for a renowned real estate company in Manhattan as a Marketing Associate and started teaching fitness classes part-time. I was always an athlete; a competitive cheerleader, a soccer player, and I ran half marathons. I was so engaged with the fitness industry right from the beginning that I decided to make it my career once I found ChaiseFitness and the Reinvention Method.
Describe your teaching / training style in 3 words:
Precise, energetic, strong
What do you love most about The Reinvention Method?
I love how even when you have been doing the class for a while, there are always ways to challenge yourself and engage your muscles even deeper. I find the longer you do it, the more precise you get and the harder it is.
Masako
Masako is a Master Instructor at ChaiseFitness. Book a private or duet Pilates session with Masko.
Where are you from?
Osaka, Japan
What was your professional background prior to teaching at ChaiseFitness?
I am a second generation Pilates master teacher and post rehabilitation movement expert. I received my Full Pilates certification from Kane School of Core Integration, New York City. I was mentored by Lolita San Miguel (one of the only two Pilates elders who were certified by Joseph Pilates himself) and Julian Littleford.
Describe your teaching / training style in 2 words:
Athletic, rehabilitation
What do you love most about Pilates?
You can literally grow (old) with it. It is highly adaptable to almost any need.
Kimberly
Book a private or duet Pilates session with Kimberly. Kimberly also teaches group classes in the Reinvention Method.
Where are you from?
I am originally from LA and spent my childhood in the Midwest.
What was your professional background prior to teaching at ChaiseFitness?
I worked as a professional modern dancer before studying Pilates in 2017. After graduating, I started working in boutique studios and gyms while working with project- based dance companies.
Describe your teaching / training style in 2 words:
I would describe my teaching style as focused and mindful.
Favorite pilates exercise?
I really love doing Thread The Needle on the reformer. A plank always brings a smile to my face!
What do you love most about Pilates?
I enjoy exploring the body's imbalances and working deeply to even them out. Everything you learn in a session can be applied to your everyday life. I also love the versatility of the practice— the work can be as therapeutic or athletic as you want it to be.
Ashton
Book a private or duet Pilates session with Ashton.
Where are you from?
Originally born and raised in Bristol, Virginia, I have called New York my home for over 10 years now.
What was your professional background prior to teaching at ChaiseFitness?
My passion for movement and dance stems from my childhood by taking ballet and modern dance classes. This passion followed me into college by completing my Bachelor of Arts in Dance Education at Winthrop University and then completing her Master of Fine Arts in Dance at Rutgers University. Further, learning about the body and mind connection in addition to my inquisitiveness about anatomy led me to the world of Pilates.
Describe your teaching / training style in 2 words:
Restorative and Balanced Strength
Favorite pilates exercise?
Lately, the exercise swimming has become a favorite of mine for myself and to teach my clients. Until you perform the movement, you think that it will be easy but once the body begins the movement, the body and mind realize that it's a full-body workout. There are intricate body placements and movements so that the body is composed in its form.
What do you love most about Pilates?
My absolute favorite thing about Pilates is helping clients with body ailments or pain management through movement. In my opinion, it's like a puzzle trying to find what exercises assist clients to become stronger and to decrease pain. Seeing how pilates has helped a client achieve their body and movement goals warms my heart and continues to be the reason why I teach this form.
Alex F.
Book a private or duet Pilates session with Alex F.
Where are you from?
Melbourne, Australia!
What was your professional background prior to teaching at ChaiseFitness?
Corporate Communications. I kicked off my career in financial services but later worked in scientific R&D, automotive, and publishing. At the tail end of my corporate journey I was working almost exclusively as a speechwriter. Outside my native Australia, I've lived in Japan, Belgium, Ireland, and the United States.
Describe your teaching / training style in 3 words:
Abs and Arms. (With a smile.)
What do you love most about Pilates?
It teaches every person at any point in their life or fitness journey how to move responsibly. This is a skill you will never forget nor a skill your body will ever regret. Pilates is like that first cup of tea or coffee in the morning. It's the launchpad to starting my day--and my client's--the right way.
Alex B.
Book a private or duet Pilates session with Alex B.
Where are you from?
I am from Sioux Falls, South Dakota
What was your professional background prior to teaching at ChaiseFitness?
Prior to teaching a Chaise I graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a double major in modern dance and public relations. I then moved to New York and attended the Martha Graham School for two years.
Describe your teaching / training style in 3 words:
Challenging, detail oriented, inspiring
What do you love most about Pilates?
I love helping people more confident in movement and gain more awareness of their body. My goal for every lesson is to have you feeling better than when you walked in.
Heather
Book a private or duet pilates session with Heather.
Where are you from?
I’m from the Bronx :)
What was your professional background prior to teaching at ChaiseFitness?
Prior to teaching Pilates professionally, I was an award-winning marketer leading teams at PUMA and New Balance, globally. I spent my time creating marketing campaigns, working with rappers and athletes including Usain Bolt, Julian Edelman, Meek Mill, Jaden Smith, and Jack Harlow.
Describe your teaching / training style in 3 words:
Empowering, Calorie-torching, Intuitive
What do you love most about Pilates?
I love how healing Pilates is. I’ve seen Pilates change people’s lives, age them backwards, and restore folks’ flexibility and mobility after injury. It’s an incredible movement and art form.
Eva
Book a private or duet pilates session with Eva.
Where are you from?
I was born in Lyon, France!
What was your professional background prior to teaching at ChaiseFitness?
I have trained very hard since a young age to become a professional dancer. I left my home and my family at the age of 10 to pursue my passion and dance in many different conservatories and schools in France until I graduated from High School at 18. I then flew to Montreal, Canada and a year later I landed here, in New York, where I studied and graduated from Alvin Ailey school after two years in their Scholarship Program. I danced in different dance companies after graduating and started this new journey, teaching both Dance & Pilates!
Describe your teaching / training style in 3 words:
Encouraging, Challenging, Precision (I am very picky about forms and alignment ;)
What do you love most about Pilates?
I love everything Pilates!! I love how this technique can help every and any individual reach multitudes of different goals, it's principles, and the mindfulness that the practice offers. It impacts you beyond just a workout, it creates an amazing & unique mind-body connection.
Hydeia
Hydeia is one of our wonderful substitue Pilates instructors!
Where are you from?
I am originally from Chicago , and I have lived in New York now for 6 years!
What was your professional background prior to teaching at ChaiseFitness?
I received my BFA in dance from Webster University in St. Louis. In addition to being a Pilates instructor I am also a barre class instructor!
Describe your teaching / training style in 3 words:
Endurance, foundation, and mobility.
What do you love most about The Reinvention Method?
I love the full body engagement and intricacy of Pilates. I feel equally strong and long everywhere, and the slightest change in position can ramp up an exercise to a really challenging level.
Hannah
Hannah is one of our wonderful substitute Pilates instructor!
Where are you from?
I am from Rochester, NY.
What was your professional background prior to teaching at ChaiseFitness?
In addition to teaching Pilates I am a professional dancer/performer and prior to becoming an instructor at ChaiseFitness, I was teaching dance in a charter school and studying at Modern Dance and Neurobiology at the University of Oklahoma (graduated in 2020).
Describe your teaching / training style in 3 words:
Welcoming, energetic and focused.
What do you love most about Pilates?
I love the inclusive nature of Pilates and how modifiable, accommodating, and challenging Pilates can be. As a dancer, the focus, control and breath required in Pilates has helped me strengthen and ground my personal movement practice - I am passionate about this modality and love sharing it with my clients.