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Pilates Core Center and Dragonfly Yoga - Staff |
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* * * Staff * * * | Sylvia Byrd-Leitner, MFA - Co-Founder and Creative Director, Master Pilates TeacherSylvia Byrd-Leitner's experience in body work is extensive. She has a Masters of Fine Arts in Dance and Choreography from Temple University, and has had the pleasure of dancing, performing, and teaching nationally. She brings to her yoga and Pilates practice an acute awareness of form and body in motion. Sylvia is a comprehensive certified Pilates instructor, a member of the Pilates Method Alliance (PMA), and a faculty member of Balanced Body University. |
 | Diane Grossman, CHHC, AADP - Co-Founder & Business Manager, Health CoachDiane's expertise is in business development, operations and management. Her career accomplishments range from the establishment of individual businesses and partnerships to a leadership role in a Fortune 100 global corporation. After being introduced to Pilates and yoga to strengthen her shoulder and rotar cuff weakness and deal with stress, Diane fell in love with the benefits she felt immediately. She has been practicing now for over 10 years. Diane holds a certification in Powerhouse Pilates Group Reformer I training. She is a Certified Holistic Health Coach and received her training at Institute of Integrative Nutrition (IIN) in New York City. She is certified by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners and has obtained Continuing Education Units from Purchase College, State Univerity of New York. She is currently enrolled in the IIN Immersion program. Diane offers health coaching to individuals and groups. She enjoys sharing her passion for living a healthier lifestyle with her clients, family and friends. |
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|  | Oi Kam Acheson - Personal Trainer, Pilates and Yoga Instructor, Massage TherapistOi Kam's heritage of Hawaiian island living and 13 years experience brings a special blend of heart and hands to her long standing holistic practice. Specializing in restorative massage and body work, Oi Kam assists her clients to realization of optimal health and wellness. Oi Kam is a New Jersey certified massage therapist and currently certified and educated in personal training, fitness therapy, yoga and nutritional support. Her massage techniques have blended from the gentle Swedish touch to the deep tissue of Shiatsu to the release of tension held in the body through Chinese body work called Tuina. With massage, Pilates and yoga "Auntie O" has assisted those challenged with pain and frustration in daily activities to a recovered and renewed sense of strength without pain. |
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|  | Archana Bhalgat - Administrative Staff, Associate Pilates Instructor After facing a life-threatening illness in 1999, and spending two years in physical therapy, Archana began incorporating yoga into her daily life. Creating a new understanding of the mind-body connection, she has experienced first-hand the benefits, both physically and emotionally. Her interest in Pilates and core strength lead her to Pilates Reformer 1 and 2 training. Archana brings her history and passion for yoga and Pilates, as well as her need to understand physical fitness to the PC2 team, giving her the opportunity to share her knowledge and experiences with others. Combining her skills in accounting and MBA from Symbiosis University in Pune, India, with her unique interpretation of life, she is able to assist with the day-to-day operations of the studios while bringing a joyful and fun attitude that inspires those around her. |
 | Kelby Christ, CYTKelby's journey began as a fitness instructor. Her love of sharing wellness with others is what brought her into the health and wellness field. After finding yoga, her definition of fitness and wellness changed to a more holistic approach. her studies in Health Promotion and Fitness Management, as well as her experience in teaching group exercise have shaped her teaching style. Her classes often involve energetic sequences but also incorporate stillness in order to quiet the mind. Being active and an appreciation of nature are two of her passions that she brings into her practice. |
 | Dani Durante-Heinold, Associate Pilates Instructor Classically trained in ballet, jazz, tap and modern dance including hip hop, Dani has been dancing since the age of four. After years of performing, and receiving a BA from Seton Hall University she served as a ballet mistress for a Northern NJ dance studio. As she evolved from dance to Pilates, her newly found passion seemed like a natural transition. Currently a certified Zumba instructor, Dani also holds certifications in Pilates Mat I and Mat II and Reformer I training from Balanced Body University. |
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|  | Lisa Forman, RYT and Personal TrainerLisa is an Advanced Certified Personal Trainer, is certified in sports nutrition and holistic healing. She has been practicing yoga for over 12 years and has found that YogaFit is the perfect type of yoga for her to incorporate into her fitness lifestyle. |
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|  | Carole Gorman-Swift - RYT and Master Pilates Instructor Carole is an experienced dance and exercise instructor with over 35 years expereince. She has a Bachelor of Science in Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance from West Chester University, a Masters of Education in Dance from Temple University, she holds a comprehensive Pilates certification with Balanced Body University and is 200 Hour certified Yoga Teacher. Locally, Carole has taught dance at Cherry Hill East and Haddonfield Memorial High Schools and was the previous owner and director of Dance Beat Dance Studio of Haddonfield, NJ for twenty years. “As a lifelong dancer and exerciser the high quality of instruction within PC2’s Pilates classes has enabled me to regain and maintain my strength and flexibility.” Carole is pleased to continue teaching her love of “mindful movement” through Yoga. |
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|  | Alexis Gosewisch - Associate Pilates InstructorAlexis, a graduate of University of Delaware, has been a life long student of dance. Over the past few years her interest has expanded to the practice of pilates and yoga. After attending PC2 as a student for several years, Alexis decided to obtain her certification as a Pilates Instructor for Mat and Group Reformer classes. Her love of pilates led her to strengthen her own practice as well as want to share her passion for pilates with others. She currently resides in Medford with her husband and two young sons. |
 | Arianne Green - Yoga Instructor Ari's yoga journey began after graduating college in 1993. She stepped into her first yoga class with master teacher Baron Baptiste, and after two years of practicing with him, began teaching and has been for the past 14 years. Ari has also been fortunate enough to have trained with many amazing yogis: David Swenson, Berryl Bender Birch, Shiva Rae, Sean Corn, Simon Park, to name a few, and has borrowed pearls of wisdom from them all. Ari's classes are a fusion of her personal practice and the various styles of yoga and teachers she's been blessed to study with. It is a unique practice based on intuition and not tradition. The movement is creative, dynamic and challenging all in which combine strength, balance, flexibility and flow. |
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|  | Kim Jacobs - ACE Certified Personal Trainer, Group Exercise and Kickboxing Instructor and ASSDN Nutrition ManagerAlthough Kim's professional career follows a degree in Architecture and Interior Design from Purdue University her passion shows best in a health and fitness environment. She has been in the fitness industry as an instructor for over 20 years. Kim is a certified Personal Trainer, Spin, Group Exercise and Kickboxing Instructor, as well as an ASSDN Nutrition Manager. Kim strives to provide a higher level of fitness for all her students through intense, motivating and diverse workouts. |
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|  | Kelly Jones - Administrative StaffKelly's passion for physical fitness was born after earning her cross-country varsity letter at Shawnee High School in 2004. her love of running and yoga continued throughout her pregnancy. After the birth of her daughter in April 2010, her interest in women's physical fitness led her to Pilates Core Center-Dragonfly Yoga. While pursuing her degree, she aspires towards a career in physical fitness with her fiance, specializing in pre-natal and post-natal exercise. |
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|  | Tara Keeler, Chef and Culinary TeacherTara has been working in the food industry for over a decade. After graduating from Providence College with a bachelor's degree in English, it took her several years to find her niche. Finally, her lifelong passion for cooking led her to the French Culinary Institute in New York City. The day after she graduated from the FCI's six month program, Tara landed a job as a line cook for Food Network celebrity chef Bobby Flay at his New York restaurant, Mesa Grill, and quickly rose through the ranks. In 2005, she assisted Flay with the opening of Bar Americain in New York City. After opening Bar Americain, Bobby tapped Tara to be the Executive Chef of Bobby Flay Steak in Atlantic City. As Executive Chef, Tara oversaw the opening of the restaurant and was responsible for ensuring the quality and constency of the food in Bobby's largest restaurant to date. She has appeared in two episodes of the Food Network's Iron Chef America, serving as Bobby Flay's sous chef in "Battle Cabbage" and "Battle Alaskan King Crab"! In 2009, Tara made the decision to leave Bobby Flay Steak and strike out on her own as a culinary teacher. She is now able to spend more time with her two young children and looks forward to sharing her culinary knowledge with food lovers everywhere. Tara has been taking reformer classes at Pilates Core Center since 2006 and is thrilled to have finally found a form of exercise she truly loves! |
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|  | Devon Marx - RYT and Mat Pilates InstructorDevon currently teaches elementary physical education in Collingswood. She graduated from Rowan University with a BA in Health and Exercise Sciences with certifications in Health, Physical Education, and Driver's Education. Devon's passion for well-being began at a young age where she fell in love with soccer continuing through her years at Rowan where she played on the Women's Soccer Team. She focuses her passion now toward children and adults of all ages. Devon recently completed a certification in mat Pilates and a 250-hour Yoga Teacher Training. Devon's classes are always fun and energetic where students participate in exciting ways to exercise, create, and learn with their bodies. |
 | Justin Marx - Yoga InstructorJustin studied martial arts as a child earning two Black Belts. His focus shifted to soccer where he excelled playing in college and abroad. His energy became more contemplative as he delved into the worlds of Sacred Poetry and Mythology leading him to the study and practice of Raja yoga and the lineage of Babji Krisna. Justin continues these practices as both a student and teacher. "We all have the opportunity to heal based on the decisions we make each day." Justin's Healing Work stems from an influx of Divine Feminine Energy in the form of Compassion and Wisdom called the Kwan Yin Healing Method. He is currently studying more deeply our innate abilities to heal ourselves and our environment through Sacred Movement, Sound, Touch and Love. |
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|  | Jessica Moss - Senior Pilates Instructor and Professional DancerJessica is a professional modern dancer, teacher and choreographer who began her Pilates training as a way to improve strength and flexibility for dance. Jessica incorporates her experience with Laban Movement Analysis, Bartenieff Fundamentals and functional anatomy into her Pilates practice to develop movement efficiency and muscle release. She received her Pilates certification in 2004 from Pilates Master, Karen Carlson, with whom she continues to study. |
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| Rachel Pinkstone-Marx, RYTAfter years of practicing at home and in classes with a variety of teachers, Rachel answered the call to further pursue her yoga practice by completing the 250-hour Yoga Teacher Training at The Yoga Center of Medford. With a degree in Literature and Writing from The College of New Jersey, she uses her love of language and culture to enhance her classes while encouraging students to find their abilities from within, making the practice "their own." As a registered teacher with the Yoga Alliance, Rachel happily instructs a plethora of classes, incorporating interests in philosophy, dance, meditation and practices for all ages and bodies. Her goal is not only to share the transformative practices of yoga, but Rachel aspires to be a part of a community where she will forever be a student as well as a teacher - always discovering, always learning, always sharing. |
 | Tracey Ricci, RN - Reiki Master and Vedic Thai BodyworkerTracey is a rgistered nurse with a Bachelors of Arts degree and a Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Rutgers University. She is a Reiki master/teacher and Vedic Thai bodyworker. Her mission, while recognizing the value of traditional medical intervention, is to increase society's awareness of holistic therapies such as reiki, Vedic/Thai bodywork and meditation, for a more balanced approach to health and wellness. Her sessions, whether reiki, thai bodywork or a merging of the two, coupled with her intuitive and visual abilities to assist her clients in improving their clarity, balance, and awareness. |
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|  | Melissa Roberts - Associate Pilates InstructorMelissa’s classes have been described as both a “Grown Ups Play Date” and “A Party” – Often you’ll hear her say “Come play with me!” and she means it! She brings her passion for Pilates alive with a class filled with fun positive energy and exercises that are both physically and mentally challenging. Always striving to play hard and laugh often. Melissa currently holds certifications in Powerhouse Pilates Group Reformer and separate certifications in Pilates Mat Levels I, II, and III. |
 | Jaya Shahani - Administrative Staff, Body Treatment, WaxingJaya was born and raised on the island of Barbados in the Caribbean. After graduating college with a BS in biology, she moved to Trinidad and Tobago where she worked as a research assistant conducting studies in the field of Neuroscience, with a specific focus on Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. She moved to the US in 2009 after getting married at which point she decided to swtitch career paths. Her fresh start in New Jersey inspired her to pursue her true passion for beauty and wellness by becoming a licensed esthetician and freelance make-up artist. She is a nurturer by nature and enjoys taking care of others and making them feel beautiful inside and out. She is also a disciplined yoga practitioner and firmly believes in the benefits of her practice. She believes that one can achieve optimal wellness by maintaining harmony of the mind, body and spirit which is what she strives to do each and every day. |
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| Luray Tobar - Associate Pilates InstructorA self-described "hippie", Luray brings her love of life, laughter, and tye-dye to her Pilates Core Center classes. She combines her knowledge of pilates and yoga with her natural compassion and sense of humor to produce some of our most popular classes. Certified through Pilates Powerhouse, you'll never be bored in her classes as she utilizes balls, boxes, and jumpboards to provide for a total body work-out. When she is not teaching pilates, she is working in her "real job" as a client production support manager or managing the "Tobar Zoo" which currently consists of 3 dogs, 2 rabbits, 4 birds, 2 adult children, 1 loving husband, and any other creatures that wander into their back yard. |
 | Gavin Segal - Personal Trainer, Total Body Reactivation Level 2
Gavin received his bachelor degree in exercise science and holds personal training certifications in NSCA(CSCS) ,ACE, M.A.T. Jumpstart, and Total Body Reactivation Level 2. Gavin has been a personal trainer for the past 15 years, helping his clients accomplish their health and fitness goals. As he was helping clients’ bodies improve, his own body was breaking down fast. Playing football for 12 years and heavy weight training for 20, was a big contributing factor. Gavin’s journey then began by looking into how to heal his body naturally, without the use of drugs and/or surgery. This led him to Total Body Reactivation. Gavin’s body felt 15 years younger in just one session. After being told that drugs or surgery was his only option to feeling better, he was amazed at the results of what his body was able to do again. Gavin’s goal was to now share this amazing discovery with his clients, friends and those who wish to follow a similar path by seeing how powerful their bodies are at healing themselves. Now certified as a Level 2 Specialists in TBR, Gavin would like to help as many people realize the amazing benefits of Total Body Reactivation. |
 | Nyla - Belly Dancing Instructor Nyla was born and raised in Tashkent, Uzbekistan - the heart of Central Asia, on the crossroads of the ancient "Silk Road." Inspired by Erkinoy, a former lead dancer of the famous Uzbek dance troupe "Bahor," and later her private instructor, she began studying Middle Eastern Dance, along with Uzbek, Persian and Gypsy Dance at the age of 16. Her extensive training consists of various forms of folk dance, ballet, figure skating and synchronized swimming, and of course Middle Eastern Dance (Bellydance). Nyla’s unique style reflects great emotion, characteristic of the Dances of Central Asia, and sensuality of the traditional Danse Orientale. Nyla's class material includes breakdown of the basic shapes, steps, and traveling techniques; creating foundation for layering, with a focus on developing proper posture, flexibility, and muscular control. Movement, shapes and combination drills help improve technique while providing a perfect cardio workout. |
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