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.
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.
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. 
Holley
After overcoming chronic pain from scoliosis, old injuries and poor posture, Holley's mission in life is to help others develop a better relationship with their bodies. In 2006, she became a massage therapist. And soon after added yoga, functional movement, corrective & therapeutic exercise and finally, Pilates, to her toolbox. Holley recently relocated to the Bay Area from Texas, where she taught chiropractic patients how to feel better in their bodies by developing healthy and functional movement patterns. She also served on the board of directors for a local nonprofit, FitAbilityTX, providing fitness opportunities to community members living with disabilities. When she's not teaching, she enjoys kayaking, dancing, cooking, traveling and volunteering at Second Harvest. She is a mother of 2 children and 3 dogs. 
Tiffani
Tiffani’s passion for movement started as a child with her mother’s Jane Fonda workout videos. Her sport of choice was gymnastics but also excelled in swimming and enjoyed roller skating. As an adult she played roller derby and a variety of aerial acrobatic arts with a love for the Lyra hoop. After a few injuries, she began to study movement and body mechanics more closely and found that practicing Pilates helped alleviate lingering injuries. She realizes the power of Pilates and wants to help people learn to move their bodies safely and enjoy more years of life with mindful movement. Tiffani loves learning new movement languages and marrying them to create unique, well rounded movement experiences. In addition to Pilates she is also a certified Vinyasa Krama instructor and personal trainer. She is also a Certified Menopause Coach and Senior Fitness Coach. 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. |
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. 
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." 
Taryn
Taryn first became fascinated about how the body works following an injury, when she decided to take a more proactive approach to managing her recovery process. She began taking classes at a local Pilates studio, and eventually enrolled in its comprehensive teacher training program. Later, Taryn decided to transfer to Balanced Body’s teacher training program, where she was expertly taught by Tom McCook, Portia Page, and Fernanda Grove. Taryn believes that all movement should be enjoyable, pain-free, and ultimately lead to a better sense of well-being in the mind and body. In addition to her work with Pilates, Taryn holds certifications in a range of modalities – including self-myofascial release with foam rollers, pre- and postnatal exercise design, and has also earned a credential from the Franklin Method as a pelvic floor fascia trainer. |