Club Pilates

Bios

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  Karen Anderson

  Instructor

  Karen first discovered pilates by sheer happenstance in 2007 when a coworker, whose wife was in the process of completing her student teaching hours, recommended she try it. Within a few sessions she was completely sold on the changes she saw and felt in her body. Following retirement from the Coast Guard in 2014 and with nearly nine years as a Pilates client under belt, she began her journey toward becoming a comprehensively trained Pilates instructor. Karen is Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher (NCPT) and a graduate of the internationally recognized Body Arts and Science International (BASI) Academy with over 500 combined hours of practice, observation, and apprenticeship. She also holds certifications through Madd Dogg Athletics as a Spin Instructor and Barre Above as a Barre Instructor. A proud Virginia Tech graduate, Karen currently resides in Norfolk with her husband Josh, and their daughter Rylee. When not in the pilates studio, you'll find her volunteering her time at Saint Patrick Catholic School, serving as a leader for her daughter's Girl Scout troop, or just relaxing at the beach.

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  Anya Kupke

  Anya first discovered Pilates in 2006, and immediately fell in love with this form of exercise. She completed instructor's training in Richmond Virginia and became a Stott Pilates Certified Mat and Reformer instructor in 2007. She subsequently earned certifications through Stott Pilates in Stability Chair, Arc Barrel, Zenga and Barre. Anya is a former world class swimmer. Born in Leningrad (St. Petersburg), Russia, she was a member of the Soviet Union's National Team for nearly 4 years, and she is a graduate of the prestigious Leningrad Institute of Physical Culture. After graduation during 6 years she was an assistant coach for her country's national swim team. She next served as a fitness consultant at the exclusive World Class Gym in St.-Petersburg, which catered to business travelers from around the globe. She came to the USA in January 1998. In 2004 her passion for fitness led her to become certified by the American Council on Exercise (ACE) as a personal Trainer. She later received training and certifications in TRX, SandBells, PiYo. She has become a second degree Black Belt in Karate. In addition to her current work in Pilates and other forms of personal fitness training, she is karate instructor, and coaches Master's swimmers and provides instruction in Aqua Aerobics and Aqua Pilates. Anya's motto is " It's never too late to begin something new and exciting", and she looks forward to instilling a sense of excitement and accomplishment in all her clients. Anya loves spending time with her family and friends, traveling, hiking in the mountains, swimming, paddle boarding in the ocean. She has 30 y.o. daughter ( Naval Academy graduate), and 18 y.o. son (Freshman in Virginia Tech, avid soccer player), 2 y.o. Golden retriever Aurora.

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  Sonja Anderson-Struzzo

  Discovering that working out made her look, move and feel better while still in her preteens, Sonja has long been a fitness enthusiast. Her quest to improve her performance in track and cross-country and as a member of the cheer squad in high school inspired the start of their first female weight training program. After graduating college she was invited to join the tennis and fitness staffs at a Los Angeles Country Club where she enthusiastically accepted the offer to be certified as a personal trainer. From there her professional career helping others through fitness was launched. Sonja includes many strategies to help clients feel, move and look their best. Her experience with The Method has shown her how Pilates transforms students’ posture, flexibility, mobility, body composition and athletic performance like nothing else. She appreciates how Club Pilates workouts also include purposeful engagement of the deep core and total body training by incorporating other modalities like TRX straps, BOSU Balls, Glide Discs and free weights to challenge and condition the body in new and increasingly effective ways within each and every workout. Sonja’s teacher training includes NASM CPT, Peak Pilates Instructor I, Nike Golf Performance Specialist, Hole in One Pilates, Pilates for Golf Instructor, Aqua Stretch Facilitator, TRX Instructor, Cardio Tennis Teacher as well as specialized training with Power Plate, Pound Pro, PiYo, Schwinn Cycling and kickboxing. She studied Advanced Integrated Flexibility, Dynamic Body Stretching, and Chain Reaction Biomechanics and is a Fellow of Applied Functional Science with the Gray Institute. She also has achieved an Elite Personal Fitness Trainer designation from the IDEA Health and Fitness Association. Sonja’s goal is to lead clients to Aha! moments that provide new insight to improve their workout experience and ultimately enhance their lives. She finds Club Pilates offers an exceptional pathway to give students that experience, agreeing wholeheartedly that the CP philosophy: “DO PILATES. DO LIFE” is the most effective approach to improving physical fitness as well as quality of life.

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  Ashley Ferreri

  Ashley discovered Pilates after finishing her collegiate Track & Field career in 2010. She was in the market for a new form of strength training to replace the weight lifting routine she had been accustomed to, and quickly fell in love with Pilates after her first class. After practicing as a student for a few years, she realized she was destined to become an instructor and trained under PMA Master Trainer Adriana Vargas in San Diego, California. Ashley is fully certified on all apparatuses - Reformer, Chair, Cadillac, & Ladder Barrel, including mat. Ashley takes more of an athletic approach to the Pilates method and loves to create fun, new ways to challenge her clients. She has extensive experience with special populations that include pre/post natal, spinal & joint conditions, injury recovery, etc. Her favorite part of teaching Pilates is having the amazing opportunity of changing her clients' lives for the better on a daily basis.

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  Kelli Jacob

  Kelli just moved to Virginia Beach from Ashburn, Virginia and she's so excited to be a part of the Club Pilates’ family. Her passion for Pilates began 20 years ago after her 3rd baby was born. Kelli was diagnosed with Plantar Fasciitis and was on crutches. She was unable to exercise and started gaining weight and feeling down because she could not do the physical activities that she was used to doing. Kelli started taking Pilates classes and loved it so much that she knew she wanted to become an instructor. Pilates changed her life in so many positive ways. Kelli was able to walk again without pain. She was so much happier and her core so much stronger. Her back pain was gone. Kelli received her Comprehensive certification through Peak Pilates and opened the first studio in Ashburn, Virginia 15 years ago. She met and taught people from ages 10 to 85. Her goal was to make them smile while they gained the confidence and the core strength to achieve the goals in their everyday life. They realized through my classes that Pilates is truly for every BODY. My studio was voted “Best in Northern Virginia” and the people Kelli met and taught stayed with me for the whole 15 years that she was there. Kelli is so excited to meet and teach new people here in Virginia Beach & Chesapeake. When she is not in the studio, Kelli spends time with her 3 kids and family, enjoying walks on the beach with her dog, Oliver and loving every second of her time at Virginia Beach.

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  Shelley Hickey

  Shelley Hickey was born and raised in Shreveport, Louisiana. Her love of fitness began with the help of her father who was an amateur bodybuilder. She started her fitness career in 1997 as a AFAA certified aerobics instructor. To further help people achieve their fitness goals, she became a personal trainer in 1998, completing training with certifications from AAAI/ISMA and Fitour. Shelley married her husband and began moving to where the Navy took them. While living and working in Norfolk, Virginia, Shelley was introduced to Pilates by a fellow colleague. She fell in love with Pilates and was able to quickly achieve a Mat Pilates certification with Physical Mind Institute in New York. As Shelley moved to different locations with her husband and family, she continued to work and grow as fitness trainer from coast to coast and as far as Japan. Arriving back to the states in 2008 stationed in San Antonio, Tx. Shelley completed instructor training with STOTT Pilates at Pilates of South Texas. In 2017, she completed her STOTT Reformer Pilates Certification in Richmond, Virginia. Shelley continues to grow in the profession of being a Pilates instructor while pursuing ever expanding opportunities.

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  Jeanette Gold

  Jeanette enjoys exercising and participates in a variety of outdoor activities. In 2005, she was introduced to Pilates and immediately became intrigued with the way in which Pilates made her feel: stronger, more efficient, more flexible and energized. Practicing Pilates on a consistent basis helped her to keep up with demands of being in the military for over 9 years and then working in healthcare as a Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant for 21 years. This self-discovery of the benefits of Pilates lead Jeanette to complete a 500-Hour Comprehensive Pilates Instructor program. She incorporates the Pilates method with patients and clients with focus on proper alignment and normal movement patterns. Jeanette believes, as Joseph Pilates did, that proper health information is vital to humanity in order to live well. As a Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant and now as a Comprehensive Pilates Instructor, Jeanette is trained to work with a variety of individuals and special conditions such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, scoliosis, other spinal issues, hip, knee, shoulder issues and more.  Jeanette plans to advance her practice by taking the Pilates Method Alliance National Certification Exam, attending Continuing Education Courses, and studying Classical Pilates. She has a passion for teaching those who really want to change their bodies and deepen their understanding of movement and how it relates to everyday living.

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  Jessica Martinez

  Originally from Miami Beach, Florida, Jessica has lived all over the country for both school and work. A life-long athlete, Jessica discovered Pilates while taking time off from contact sports and running after suffering a back injury. After a summer of practicing Pilates at a Club Pilates in Illinois, she was hooked as her back pain was gone and her times in long-distance races were faster! Jessica is a Club Pilates trained instructor, feel free to ask her about Teacher Training! She is also certified athletic trainer and holds a PhD in Kinesiology from the University of Connecticut which she utilizes as an Assistant Professor in the Athletic Training Program at Old Dominion University. When not in the studio or teaching future athletic trainers, you can find Jessica running Norfolk with her dog Loki or on the ice playing hockey.

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  Sherry Frankiln

  Sherry has been sold on the benefits of Pilates for nearly thirteen years. Looking for a gentle way to regain strength after the birth of her son, she stumbled on this form of exercise and fell in love. Having struggled for decades with chronic back issues and fibromyalgia, other workouts often left her feelings defeated. Pilates felt amazing! In June 2018 Sherry became a member of Club Pilates Great Bridge. The classes, variety and encouraging staff started her thinking about a career change after being a stay at home mom for 14 years. She began instructor training in January 2019 and has never looked back. Sherry thrives on seeing members becoming stronger, more confident, and healthier. Her passion is to spread the message that Pilates is for EVERY body, regardless of age, size or limitations.