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OUR INSTRUCTORS
Vera Szepesi
Vera owns and manages Esprit de Core Pilates Studio. She came to Pilates after practicing law in California for 5
years. During her time as an attorney, she discovered Pilates, and became fascinated with its ability to heal and to
help people. After making the decision to leave the legal world, she decided to pursue Pilates as a career.
Vera completed the PhysicalMind Institute's Pilates training program, and is a certified Pilates instructor. Her
passion is to help clients improve postural and body awareness, and develop efficient, healthy movement patterns for
everyday living.
Since completing her certification, Vera has continued to study with Lizz Roman, Sherri Betz and others to allow her
to use the Pilates Method to help clients with rehabilitation after injuries and related to aging, as well as
osteoporosis and osteopenia .
Vera has also studied yoga, meditation, reiki and hypnotherapy.
Terri van de Sande
Terri has over 20 years of experience in the health & fitness industry. As a previous dancer and competitive
gymnast, which resulted in multiple injuries, she was first introduced to Pilates through physical therapy and then
decided to add it to her credentials.
Terri enjoys teaching Pilates to all ages and fitness levels. Aside from the physical benefits her clients achieve, she
enjoys “watching their body awareness and self-confidence grow in an empowering way”.
Jessica Heinz
Jessica recently moved to the Bay Area from West Tennessee. She discovered Pilates in college and loved it from
the first class. Jessica’s background is in Classical Ballet and she has a degree in Dance Teaching and Choreography
from Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pennsylvania.
Originally drawn to Pilates because it is such a great method of cross training exercise for dancers, Jessica wanted
to learn how to teach it once she observed the benefits it provides for all people. Pilates helped Jessica regain
strength in her own body after a dance-related back injury.
Jessica began studying the Stott Pilates method while she taught Ballet and creative movement for the Ballet
Memphis School and is now a certified Stott Pilates instructor. She enjoys teaching clients how to become aware of
their mind-body connection and realize their strength. Jessica is a patient teacher who works gently with clients
who are recovering from injuries. Her detail-oriented teaching methods enable a focus on the slow and controlled
nature of Pilates exercises.
Karen Gottlieb
Karen is a certified Stott Pilates trainer with her complete certification including mat, reformer, chair, cadillac and
barrels. Karen also has training and practical experience in injury and pre- and post natal exercise.
Karen's background also includes gymnastics and dance training. She grew up in Los Altos and earned her BA from UC
Santa Barbara. She has been teaching Pilates since 2000.
Dana DiVerde
Dance, fitness and balanced good health have always been Dana’s passions, and in 2004 she realized the culmination of
these things in Pilates. Dana believes Pilates meets today’s clients’ desire for a more thoughtful approach to
exercise, fulfilling the client both mentally and physically. She appreciates the accessibility of this fluid form of
training for all ages and fitness levels, and enjoys adapting the workout toward her clients’ specific needs.
Dana's philosophy is "Nurture yourself by achieving 'inside-out' good health, so that you may have unlimited energy for
your passions." She believes that Pilates is both a proactive and reactive tool for doing this.
Dana is fully trained by Stott Pilates on all equipment, for all levels of conditioning. She has a B.A. from UCLA.
Aura DeMare
Aura has been practicing Pilates since 2002 and became certified in 2006 through Integrated Teacher Training
(with Madeline Black, Jean Sullivan, Debra Schubert, and Joerg Chabowski).
Aura has an MS in Biology from San Francisco State University, which is where her love for inquiry-based science
began. She has since taken those same investigative principles to her Pilates training and understanding how the body
works. As a competitive swimmer, she appreciates how Pilates compliments and enhances other physical activities
and is dedicated to helping her clients enjoy the many benefits of Pilates in their everyday lives.
Stephanie Anthony
Stephanie is a certified Pilates instructor and has been teaching Pilates part-time since 2005. She recently left the
biotech industry to follow her passion for Pilates as a new career. She comes from an athletic background in soccer,
running, and ballet and was introduced to Pilates through ballet at Santa Clara University. She quickly experienced
the benefits of Pilates, which opened her mind to a more easeful way to move and develop strength.
Stephanie completed the PhysicalMind Institute training and is also certified in Pilates Mat and Equipment through
Balanced Body University.
Stephanie is inspired to share her passion for Pilates with her clients and brings energy and enthusiasm to her
sessions. Her goal is to help clients activate their bodies, experience more easeful movement, and develop overall
strength and flexibility.
Vera Szepesi
Vera owns and manages Esprit de Core Pilates Studio. She came to Pilates after practicing law in California for 5
years. During her time as an attorney, she discovered Pilates, and became fascinated with its ability to heal and to
help people. After making the decision to leave the legal world, she decided to pursue Pilates as a career.
Vera completed the PhysicalMind Institute's Pilates training program, and is a certified Pilates instructor. Her
passion is to help clients improve postural and body awareness, and develop efficient, healthy movement patterns for
everyday living.
Since completing her certification, Vera has continued to study with Lizz Roman, Sherri Betz and others to allow her
to use the Pilates Method to help clients with rehabilitation after injuries and related to aging, as well as
osteoporosis and osteopenia .
Vera has also studied yoga, meditation, reiki and hypnotherapy.
Terri van de Sande
Terri has over 20 years of experience in the health & fitness industry. As a previous dancer and competitive
gymnast, which resulted in multiple injuries, she was first introduced to Pilates through physical therapy and then
decided to add it to her credentials.
Terri enjoys teaching Pilates to all ages and fitness levels. Aside from the physical benefits her clients achieve, she
enjoys “watching their body awareness and self-confidence grow in an empowering way”.
Jessica Heinz
Jessica recently moved to the Bay Area from West Tennessee. She discovered Pilates in college and loved it from
the first class. Jessica’s background is in Classical Ballet and she has a degree in Dance Teaching and Choreography
from Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pennsylvania.
Originally drawn to Pilates because it is such a great method of cross training exercise for dancers, Jessica wanted
to learn how to teach it once she observed the benefits it provides for all people. Pilates helped Jessica regain
strength in her own body after a dance-related back injury.
Jessica began studying the Stott Pilates method while she taught Ballet and creative movement for the Ballet
Memphis School and is now a certified Stott Pilates instructor. She enjoys teaching clients how to become aware of
their mind-body connection and realize their strength. Jessica is a patient teacher who works gently with clients
who are recovering from injuries. Her detail-oriented teaching methods enable a focus on the slow and controlled
nature of Pilates exercises.
Karen Gottlieb
Karen is a certified Stott Pilates trainer with her complete certification including mat, reformer, chair, cadillac and
barrels. Karen also has training and practical experience in injury and pre- and post natal exercise.
Karen's background also includes gymnastics and dance training. She grew up in Los Altos and earned her BA from UC
Santa Barbara. She has been teaching Pilates since 2000.
Dana DiVerde
Dance, fitness and balanced good health have always been Dana’s passions, and in 2004 she realized the culmination of
these things in Pilates. Dana believes Pilates meets today’s clients’ desire for a more thoughtful approach to
exercise, fulfilling the client both mentally and physically. She appreciates the accessibility of this fluid form of
training for all ages and fitness levels, and enjoys adapting the workout toward her clients’ specific needs.
Dana's philosophy is "Nurture yourself by achieving 'inside-out' good health, so that you may have unlimited energy for
your passions." She believes that Pilates is both a proactive and reactive tool for doing this.
Dana is fully trained by Stott Pilates on all equipment, for all levels of conditioning. She has a B.A. from UCLA.
Aura DeMare
Aura has been practicing Pilates since 2002 and became certified in 2006 through Integrated Teacher Training
(with Madeline Black, Jean Sullivan, Debra Schubert, and Joerg Chabowski).
Aura has an MS in Biology from San Francisco State University, which is where her love for inquiry-based science
began. She has since taken those same investigative principles to her Pilates training and understanding how the body
works. As a competitive swimmer, she appreciates how Pilates compliments and enhances other physical activities
and is dedicated to helping her clients enjoy the many benefits of Pilates in their everyday lives.
Stephanie Anthony
Stephanie is a certified Pilates instructor and has been teaching Pilates part-time since 2005. She recently left the
biotech industry to follow her passion for Pilates as a new career. She comes from an athletic background in soccer,
running, and ballet and was introduced to Pilates through ballet at Santa Clara University. She quickly experienced
the benefits of Pilates, which opened her mind to a more easeful way to move and develop strength.
Stephanie completed the PhysicalMind Institute training and is also certified in Pilates Mat and Equipment through
Balanced Body University.
Stephanie is inspired to share her passion for Pilates with her clients and brings energy and enthusiasm to her
sessions. Her goal is to help clients activate their bodies, experience more easeful movement, and develop overall
strength and flexibility.