Club Pilates

Bios

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  Abby Phelps

  Studio Owner & Pilates Teacher

  Abby is a lifelong athlete who has always loved the energy and camaraderie of group fitness. When she wanted a career change from the business world, Club Pilates was a natural fit with her motivation to "do well by doing good". She's thrilled with the excitement Chicago has shown for Club Pilates and feels lucky she gets to call this her job! Pilates' focus on shoulder stabilization and core strength has eliminated the back problems she faced after her first child (and now she has three to carry around!) Abby went through Club Pilates's certification program in 2016 and loves being able to connect with members both as an owner and teacher.

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  Annie Gemkow

  Pilates Teacher

  Annie was first introduced to Pilates as a dancer with Ballet Chicago. When she left the dancing world and got more serious about Pilates, she knew she'd figured out her passion in life. She completed her Pilates Certification with Balanced Body and has taught Pilates in multiple countries. Annie has taken additional Pilates education focused on pre/post-natal, Pilates for runners/ surfers/ dancers, ACL/MCL rehab, and spinal mobility. She taught Pilates in Southern California for six years before moving back to Chicago to be closer to family. Besides Pilates, she like to dance, surf, ski, play guitar and is an avid marathon runner having completed over 125 races. She is a true testament to the fact that Pilates is a great complement to running!

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  Claire Kenkel

  Pilates Teacher

  Claire’s first experience with Pilates was through a mat class in 2005 where she discovered that Pilates was a great foundation for running and sand volleyball - adding balance, coordination, and flexibility. Now as a full-time business consultant, Claire recognizes daily the benefits of improved posture and core strength in offsetting the effects of computers and travel. She has been sharing her knowledge and passion for Pilates as an instructor since 2016 and has completed comprehensive training through Balanced Body. She is recognized as a Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher by the NPCP. Claire focuses on helping her clients understand proper alignment and how to initiate movement, while identifying and avoiding movement patterns that can contribute to chronic pain. Above all, she believes in helping people learn about and appreciate their bodies rather than wishing for new ones.

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  Jenny Talarico

  Pilates Teacher

  Jenny has spent over thirteen years teaching fitness classes, including indoor cycling, barre and interval. A few years ago, her low back pain told her she had to strengthen from the inside out and take her core strength more seriously. She began her Pilates journey in May 2016 with Club Pilates Teacher Training and in August 2018 completed a comprehensive certification program with Body Arts and Science International (BASI). She loves spreading her passion for Pilates and fitness to the Club PIlates community and helping new members find a smart fitness regimen. Jenny's loyalists love her strong cuing, great flow, hands on corrections, and upbeat personality.

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  Linda Arrandt

  Pilates Teacher

  Linda began taking private Pilates lessons in the late 1990’s and saw first hand the direct benefit to her core strength, balance, posture and muscle tone. The cumulative benefits were apparent through the improvement of her yearly ski trip to Telluride, Colorado. She went from being a green skier to double blue and a few black runs. This led Linda to become a Pilates Instructor and she graduated from the Power Pilates program in 2003. Linda loves to educate and received a BA degree from The University of Miami in Elementary Education. Linda is also licensed in Neuromuscular and Pregnancy Massage. She is a practicing Integrative Nutrition Health Coach and attended The Institute for Integrative Nutrition in 2013 and The Dr. Sears Wellness Institute Health Coach Program in 2015. All of Linda’s training is focused on the overall health of the body, both internal and external. Linda’s passion shines through in her multiple disciplines to help her clients and students live better in their bodies.

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  Linda S Silbert

  Pilates Teacher

  Linda’s love for Pilates began over 30 years ago while attending classes at the studio where Joseph Pilates first taught in New York City. After two daughters and a move to Chicago, Linda became a Certified Pilates Instructor studying with Michele Larsson and completing the Core Dynamics Pilates training program in 2000. She works with numerous Chiropractors and Medical Doctors and incorporates rehabilitation into her Pilates teaching. Linda has completed additional Pilates workshops focused on Scoliosis, Osteoporosis, Prevention of Sports Injuries, Pelvic Floor Strength, and Recovery from Strokes. She appreciates how Pilates has helped her clients become more confident with postural changes, reduced stress and avoidance of health issues, increased energy, understanding the importance of breathing, and improving their self-image. Linda is thrilled to bring her enthusiasm and experience to Club Pilates.

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  Lisa Iantoni

  Master Trainer

  Lisa began her journey a decade ago on a whim when she bought a Groupon Pilates class in Chicago. Little did she know how transformative Pilates would be, and the effect that Pilates would have on her life and her hundreds of students since. After that first class, she felt lighter and found muscles she never knew existed. She knew then that life had presented a challenge. She learned in the first class the “body awareness” that gave her a sense of space, that “small controlled precise movements” linked body and mind, and that true fitness is about more than building muscle. Pilates transformed her life. She left a high profile career as a successful commodities broker to give back to the Pilates community what she'd received. She now works daily to help Pilates transform the lives of her clients. Lisa believes in education and learning, which led her to being an instructor and educator today. She earned her bachelors degree in Marketing from DePaul University. Lisa completed her Pilates certification through the PhysicalMind Institute and is also PMA (Pilates Method Alliance) certified. She is a Master Trainer with Club Pilates where she loves educating those interested in becoming certified Pilates Instructors. She loves a balance between teaching group classes and private sessions.

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  Pamela Swentek

  Pilates Teacher

  Pamela started ballet at the age of 3 and continued dancing until college, not knowing that she was building the foundation for Pilates all along the way. After several years of taking HIIT Classes, TRX and Spin classes, she found working out was the best way for her to relieve stress. Unfortunately, with heavy, intense classes her posture suffered and she started taking Pilates. She quickly became addicted to classes, often going twice a day, and soon started the Club Pilates Comprehensive Teacher Training Program in San Diego. After a certification in TRX, Club Pilates was the best decision, combining all her past experiences and her now perfect posture to help future students.

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  Sarah Sitz

  Pilates Teacher

  Sarah grew up watching her mom teach Pilates. From a young age, she felt drawn in by Pilates and its direct connection to so many of the key principles she had learned from years of dance classes. Sarah went through Club Pilates' comprehensive Teacher Training Program and enjoys watching how Pilates transforms her client’s minds and bodies. She is motivated by the energy and enthusiasm of all of the members and by how quickly they have welcomed her into the Club Pilates community. In addition to Pilates, Sarah is passionate about nutrition, wellness, and anything that has to do with her Golden Retriever, Winnie.

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  Jen Wilson

  Pilates Teacher

  Jen started doing Pilates in 2000 as way to destress and add balance to her life. She has an Elementary Education degree and was teaching Special Education at the time. She quickly realized how easy it was to push aside your own health and happiness once "adulting" happens. Pilates soon moved from an outlet to a passion, and she earned a certification through Physical Mind Institute in 2002. Pilates was the first exercise class that seemed kind to her body - she would leave feeling rejuvenated and centered. She noticed how one Pilates class would last a whole week; lift that spine, use your core, move through life easily. This needed to be shared with everyone! Jen has been sharing for 16 years. She has completed courses in pre/post-natal, pelvic floor and abdominal repair, scoliosis, hyper mobility, foot activation, BOSU, TRX and Reiki (Just ask if you ever want her to send some good energy your way).

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  Elyse Swiatek

  Pilates Teacher

  Elyse is a Broadway Performer who turned to Pilates to help alleviate dance related injuries. Elyse began her training in Pilates in 2010 while attending The Boston Conservatory at the Berklee College of Music. She completed her Pilates comprehensive training through Balanced Body University and her BFA in Musical Theatre at the same time. Elyse has been teaching since 2011 and constantly strives to learn more about her own body and the bodies that she trains. Pilates is for every single body and she is a firm believer in the work of Joseph Pilates and the importance of healthy body movements. Pilates has given Elyse a healthy career as a dancer and she loves working with Athletes who enjoy a challenge! She strives to make every class fun using her performance skills, attention to detail, and musicality. Clients find her classes full of energy and leave feeling longer and stronger.

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  Allison Heinz

  Pilates Teacher

  Allison fell in love with Pilates in 2013, while taking a Tower class with a few dancer friends in college. She had been an athlete her entire life, but found a new strength and spinal support in Pilates. After a few years of touring as an actor with a Children's Theatre Troupe, she settled into the Chicago theatre scene and found Club Pilates. She decided that combining her love of the stage and fitness would make teaching Pilates an absolute joy. Allison achieved her certification through the Club Pilates Comprehensive Teacher Training program. She is overwhelmed with the kindness and welcoming support that the Club Pilates community has shown her.

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  Linda Miglieri

  Pilates Teacher

  After graduating from Purdue University, Linda worked for years in the corporate world with a career in medical and pharmaceutical sales. She also volunteered at Northwestern Hospital, engaging with patients on their road to recovery, but her happy place is the lakefront running path where she can be found year round. This love eventually sparked her curiosity in Pilates as she wanted to incorporate balance with all the running. She found Pilates brought strength, length, and mind body awareness. The instructor who introduced her to Pilates eventually became her Master Trainer at Club Pilates! Linda's passion for Pilates drove her desire to become an instructor and help others discover the same mind body success. Linda graduated from the Club Pilates comprehensive 500-hour Club Pilates Teacher Training program.

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  Carolyn Variano

  Pilates Teacher

  Carolyn fell in love with Pilates the moment she walked into an intro class at Club Pilates, Lincoln Park, in 2017. A self-confessed fitness and health enthusiast, Carolyn discovered in Pilates the essential foundations – and complement – to her fast-paced HIIT and weight-lifting classes. Her Pilates training has taught her about body mechanics, proprioception, and how to train supporting muscles to create a strong body from head to toe. The community she found at Club Pilates reinforced her love of exercising in groups and being motivated by others. As a teacher, Carolyn hopes to share the deeply inspiring, challenging, and transformative experiences she herself found at Club Pilates.