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Kristen Iuppenlatz Grech

Kristen began her study of Pilates in 1993 to alleviate chronic pain from two car accidents. She trained in the Physical- mind Method with Francine Black and Carrie Fields and received her Instructor certification in April of 2002 through the Pilates Teacher Training Intensive at the Ellie Herman Studios in San Francisco. She owned and operated Resilience Pilates Studio for four years. Kristen is passionate about her continuing exploration of Pilates and has studied with four of the five living Pilates elders who were taught directly by Joseph and Clara Pilates. Kristen creates an individualized Pilates program to address the needs of each of her clients. She strives to make Pilates accessible and affordable for everyone. Kristen's background is in drama and musical theatre. She directs children's theatre in Sonoma County and dabbles in voiceover. Kristen lives in Sebastopol with her husband John and two children, Zavier, and Ava.

Chantill Lopez

(that's me and my beautiful mom!)

Chantill first experienced the joy and benefits of Pilates through dance. Over the years it has continued to manifest into a practice of mindfulness, body consciousness and continued strength and joy. As a teacher Chantill believes that personal exploration of movement is integral for each student to grow in a way that is organic and enjoyable.

Chantill has practiced Pilates for more than 16 years and has taught in both California and Hawaii. She holds Pilates certifications from the Physicalmind Institute and Body Kinetics - Master Trainer, Carol Appel. She is also certified in Yamuna Body Rolling and has continued to study and train in methods such as Yoga, Feldenkrais and the Halprin Process developed by modern dance icon and innovator, Anna Halprin. Chantill spent several years working in studios throughout the Bay Area and owned and operated Movement In Balance Pilates Studio in Sebastopol from 2004-2006.

She is currently pursuing training in the Franklin Method, pioneered by functional anatomy and movement expert Eric Franklin and is a Balanced Body University Faculty member.

Chantill uses classic and adapted Pilates exercises and other movement techniques to bring a balance of strengthening, opening and body-mind consciousness to her work. Her experience and training enable her to work with students of all ages, abilities and special considerations such as scoliosis and osteoporosis. She lives in Sebastopol with her husband Carlos and her son Charlie.

Pamela Lindsay

Pamela brings more than 25 years of experience in therapeutic movement and dance to her work. After dancing professionally in a variety of companies both nationally and internationally, she served on the faculty of the Boston Conservatory, Walnut Hill School for the Performing Arts, and Boston College. It was then that she pursued her interest in both Pilates and yoga. She is a certified yoga instructor and is a member of the Kripalu Yoga Teacher Association as well as a registered member of the Yoga Alliance.

She is a certified Pilates instructor having studied with both Stott Pilates and the Integrated Teacher Training Program with Madeline Black.

She has also been certified in the Gyrotonic Expansion System® by Julio Horvath.

Over the past several years Pamela has conducted a variety of classes and workshops at various corporate locations and health clubs as well as being employed by Studio M, and at North Bay Pain Care in the physical rehabilitation department. Pamela currently offers Pilates, Gyrotonic® and Gyrokensis® at Pilates Collective as well as maintaining Pilates mat classes at the Parkpoint Health Club in Santa Rosa.

Angelina Alire (Bio to Come)

Deena Lavendar

Deena is a certified Pilates and Personal Trainer who specializes in core stabilty using props and balance tools. This work allows for more focus on muscle groups that are underused in our day to day habitual patterns of movement.
Deena started learning Mat Pilates over 12 years ago in order to rehabilitate a chronic neck and arm injury. Instead of the recommended surgery, she was amazed at how Pilates eased her pain and hastened her recovery.
Impassioned to share her discovery with others she decided to get her Pilates certification. Deena is certified by PhysicalMind in Mat Pilates, Balanced Body University in all apparatus and holds an Aerobics and Fitness Association of America Certification for personal training.
Her empathetic, encouraging teaching style inspires her students to work toward better balance, strength integration and spinal alignment -- the body's overall wellness.

Carlos Lopez

Carlos brings more than 12 years of experience in the martial arts to create a fun, inspired and structured cardio class to Pilates Collective.

Geoff Lusk: Apprentice Teacher

Geoff is completing his Pilates certification as an apprentice teacher at the Pilates Collective. After several years of practicing Tai Chi and Chi Gung, Geoff discovered Pilates and fell in love with the work. He approaches Pilates with the deliberate mindfullness and energetic awareness that he gained from hisTai Chi and Chi Gung experience. When his isn’t in the studio, Geoff enjoys biking and hiking around the beautiful local parks and exploring the natural wonders of his adopted home.

Jo Braden

Jo Braden first started studying the Pilates Method in 2001, training both on mat and full apparatus. Jo's background in dance and yoga made Pilates a natural fit and she quickly became addicted to this fun and efficient method of exercise.

In 2006, Jo was pleased to find out that she was pregnant. She stayed active in her Pilates practice all through her pregnancy, and resumed training sessions just a few weeks after giving birth. Jo firmly believes that her regimen of Pilates, yoga and walking made her pregnancy, labor, delivery and recovery as easy as possible.

This profound experience with Pilates made Jo realize that she wanted to make a career change from being a wildlife biologist to become a Pilates instructor. In 2008, Jo completed an instructor training program with Pilates Academy International (PAI) in San Francisco, earning her Mat and Reformer certifications.

Jo looks forward to being a Pilates instructor for many years to come and wants to help others find the inner strength and grace that Pilates has brought to her life. When she's not in the studio, you can find Jo hanging out with her two boys, Andy (hubby) and Wiley (son). Or knitting. Or sneaking in a nap.