Our Instructors ~ Esprit de Core Pilates Studio

OUR INSTRUCTORS

Vera

Vera owns and manages Esprit de Core Pilates Studio. She discovered Pilates during her time practicing law. Vera was initially drawn to Pilates as a way to build tone and flexibility in her body after long days of sitting at a desk. After a foot injury that turned into chronic foot pain, she realized that Pilates is also a powerful and gentle healing and rehabilitation tool. Vera made the decision to leave the legal world because she wanted to find meaningful work in which she could help people to feel healthy and comfortable in their bodies. She decided to pursue Pilates as a career, and has never looked back.

Vera completed the PhysicalMind Institute's Pilates training program in 2005, 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, Elizabeth Larkam, Yamuna Zeke and others, to keep learning new skills and to continue to learn 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.

Amber

Amber began teaching movement while in middle school, helping new dance students learn fundamentals and technique for tap, jazz, and ballet. Breaking down movements and building awareness of body positioning through years of dance experience translated naturally to Pilates.

Amber enjoys working with people, listening and helping others gain mobility and strength. She believes everyone benefits from Pilates and can apply it to everyday living. Amber is STOTT trained in Mat, Reformer, and Cadillac/Tower apparatuses and is eager to learn, grow and teach.

When Amber is not at the Pilates studio she is busy driving around her two teenage kids, volunteering at their public schools, practicing Pilates and dancing at a local studio. She loves reading, cooking, sunshine and mountain air.

Dana

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.

Laura

Laura has been a Pilates instructor for two decades. Starting as a matwork instructor with The Method, and going on to get her advanced instructor certifications through STOTTPILATES.

She has focused on injury and special population. As someone who has dealt with severe injuries from a car accident, she learned Pilates as part of her healing journey. It has been a joy to help others through this practice.

Smadar

Smadar first became interested in Pilates when she started experiencing back pain. She was amazed to learn that Pilates can heal injuries and improve posture, and was happy to see how Pilates helped improve her own back pain.

In 2011, she was certified as a Pilates Mat Instructor and taught in Israel before moving to California in 2013. Smadar completed the Stott Pilates instructor training, and is a certified instructor through Stott Pilates

She is a mother of two and enjoys staying active with Pilates, hiking, and yoga. "I am very passionate about helping others enjoy the benefits of Pilates."

Cat

Cat is a STOTT trained instructor with a background in dance and sports. She found Pilates after an injury and quickly fell in love with how it allowed her to reconnect with her body and to feel stronger. That experience shaped how she teaches today - focusing on making movement enjoyable, and something people can feel good about in their own bodies. Her goal is to create a supportive space where people can connect with their bodies, build confidence, and enjoy the process of moving well while maintaining and building strength and mobility.

When Cat is not teaching, you'll find her exploring the Bay Area, visiting local farmers markets, and staying active through hiking, taking long walks, and practicing yoga and Pilates. She loves sharing her passion for movement with others and believes that everyone deserves to feel strong, capable, and at ease in their body.

Efrat

Efrat has a degree in physical therapy from TAU and has been practicing
for over 25 years. During this time, she worked in diverse environments
including both hospital and home care. She worked with different age groups, from children to the elderly, and treated both chronic and acute conditions using physical activity as a tool with her patients, including Pilates. She also did several courses that extended her knowledge in third age physical activity and its benefits.

Efrat believes that physical activity is important at any age and in any condition and she knows the
impact on both body and mind. She discovered Pilates as a student and used the technique with her patients. Becoming an instructor was on her wish list for many years as she found the exercises very useful for her patients.

Efrat likes to take long hikes and trains everyday whether indoors or outdoors. In her spare time she learns the art of goldsmithing. She is a mother of three and with her youngest starting college she has the time and the ability to help you improve your strength, flexibility and mobility. She looks forward to meeting you in her classes and sharing her experience and knowledge.

Karen

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.