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| Susan Barnes, Studio Owner, is a certified instructor in the Pilates Method of fitness and rehabilitative movement. Susan combines her knowledge of Pilates, Active-Isolated Stretching, stability and balance training, and functional movement patterns to offer a workout that is challenging, yet suitable, for anyone - from seasoned athletes to sedentary office workers. Susan strives to improve ease of movement and to reduce stress and chronic muscle tension in her clients, incorporating Orthopedic Massage into sessions when indicated. Susan creates individualized home programs to compliment one-on-one sessions, using mat work, physioballs, foam rollers, therabands and body rolling. She emphasizes a teaching style that is relaxed, friendly and energetic. Susan received her Master Level Pilates Certification from Madeline Black’s Integrated Teacher Training program in Sonoma, CA. |  |
| Linda Hillel discovered Pilates after a back injury, and was hooked immediately. Not only did Pilates rehabilitate her injury, but it also improved her core strength, alignment, and flexibility. The unintentional result was a career shift, from teaching cooking to teaching Pilates and fitness. Linda was certified in Pilates mat by PhysicalMind Institute, and she obtained her Pilates mat and apparatus certification from Turning Point Studios in Walnut Creek, CA. She continues to deepen her knowledge and skills with master trainers in both Pilates and fitness, including the Movement Medicine injury prevention and rehabilitation course at Turning Point Studios. With her energetic teaching style, Linda shares the joy of movement from a strong and safe center. |  |
| Jessica Fudim Individualized private sessions, engaging group classes and an attentive eye are at the heart of Jessica Fudim’s approach to teaching Pilates. Jessica received her Pilates certification from the Ellie Herman Studio in 2001. Since then, she has studied Pilates-based physical rehabilitation with Lizz Roman and continues to fortify her teaching skills and repertoire with continuing education courses. In addition to working at Finding Center, Jessica is also a Senior Trainer and Teacher Training Instructor at EHS Pilates in San Francisco. She previously taught Pilates in New York and as a faculty member of the Experimental Performance Institute (EPI). Jessica discovered Pilates while completing her Dance B.F.A. studies at UC Irvine and CU Boulder. Determined to trump a doctor’s advice that she “stop dancing” as a result of back and foot pain, Jessica turned to Pilates for rehabilitation and a deeper understanding of how the body works. In turn, she is invested in empowering each of her clients to integrate the Pilates method toward reaching their mind-body goals—whether the aim is to rehabilitate from injuries, improve posture, increase the efficiency of physical performance, or simply get in better touch with the body. You can see her in action in the “Ball” Chapter of Ellie Herman’s Pilates for Dummies and on the stage performing with her company Jessica Fudim’s Dance Animals. |
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| Bethany Clemen has been intrigued by the human body all of her life beginning with her study of ballet and gymnastics at the age of 5. She continued to study dance and eventually found Pilates at age 16 as a means to rehabilitate many injuries from the demands of dance. Pilates became integral to her conditioning routine and allowed her to feel stronger, healthier and gave her the ability to continue performing professionally. In 2002 while earning her BA in Dance from Mills College, Ms. Clemen became certified to teach Pilates through Ellie Herman Studios. She loves the versatility of Pilates and the constant process of learning and discovery that goes with the study of movement. She has studied injury rehabilitation with Nora St. John and trains clients of all ages and levels. Her focus is on helping everyone, regardless of age or ability, find joy in their movement and a greater sense of well-being. |
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| Alejandra Monsalve is a Physical Therapist from Chile. In 2002 she
graduated from the Catholic University of Maule in Chile and received a Bachelor's degree in Kinesiology and Physical Therapy. While studying at the University in 1996, she took a spinal cord injury specialtycourse and in 2001 developed a spinal cord injury program. Alejandra finds working with and helping people afflicted with chronic back pain and spinal conditions is something she feels strongly called to do. In Chile Alejandra worked as a Pilates instructor and Physical Therapist and worked with patients with traumatic, cardiovascular, orthopedic, respiratory, and neurological injuries and diseases. In 2003 she moved to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Here she took training courses in Neurological Rehabilitation and worked as a Physical Therapist treating patients with cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injuries, neuromuscular disorders, spinal cord injuries and sciatic conditions. In 2004 she moved to Cuba and studied Multifactorial Neurology Rehabilitation at the CIREN, International Neurology Rehabilitation Center in Havana, Cuba. Since relocating to California in 2005, Alejandra has taken an English Health Training Program at San Francisco State and renewed her Pilates Certification through the Physical Mind Institute in 2006. She has become a certified member of the American Fitness Association in 2007 after completing an aqua fitness program and Yoga program. Alejandra is also working on obtaining her California Physical Therapy license. Alejandra loves helping others who suffer from chronic pain brought on by injuries and disorders. She finds Pilates to be a great instructional tool to control pain and build core stability, balance, endurance, flexibility and strength. She customizes each Pilates session based on the client’s needs and his or her specific injury. She strongly believes that by using Neuroplasticity and breath control you can have a healthy body. Alejandra brings a lot of specialized knowledge and experience to her classes as well as passion and enthusiasm. |
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| Leanne Lempinen fell in love with Pilates after training with Madeline Black for three years starting in 1992. Years later after a career in Media Producing, some yoga teacher training and an epiphany that her calling is in movement therapies, she certified in Pilates through Physical Mind Institute and Carol Appel’s fitness program. Leanne has been teaching for 4 years and has added training with Deane Juhan (author of Job’s Body), Beth Harris (20 year veteran Pilates master and rehabilitation specialist), Sienna Sherman (yoga diva) and other professionals who practice complimentary modalities such as orthopedic massage and muscle activation testing. She is currently using Pilates to rehabilitate clients with various limitations and joint injuries, post-surgery recovery, pre and post natal conditioning as well as general fitness. Leanne’s competitive sports and movement experience began at the age of 5 with partner roller skating and ice skating and progressed through gymnastics, ballet, cross country running, diving, swimming and rock climbing. Working with movement as therapy has renewed her passion in life as she continues to study and practice various modalities that support mind, body soul integration. Presently, Leanne combines various modalities including massage, muscle activation testing, yoga and Pilates to help clients heal and rejuvenate. | |
| Valerie Loo has been working with individuals as a Physical Therapist since 2001. She has a Masters Degree in Physical Therapy from the Mayo Clinic and residency training in orthopedic manual therapy. With well-trained eyes and skilled hands, Valerie is able to combine physical therapy with Pilates, integrating her clinical expertise of the musculoskeletal system into her teaching. She credits Pilates with helping her to rehabilitate her own spinal injuries resulting from a childhood of competitive gymnastics. She finds great satisfaction in empowering her clients with the knowledge and body awareness to address dysfunctional movement patterns. Her goal is to help her clients achieve improved alignment, core strength, and efficiency in movement, whether in athletics or in everyday life. Valerie’s certification is through the Balanced Body University Instructor Training program, directed by Nora St. John. |
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