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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  Linda Silbert

  Lead 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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  Rebecca Bradford

  Pilates Teacher

  Rebecca is originally from Buffalo, NY and recently moved to Chicago from NYC. She graduated from Columbia College Chicago with a BFA in musical theatre and received her Pilates certification from Pilates Academy International at Pilates On Fifth in 2016. Rebecca has danced since a very young age and grew up taking Pilates as part of her dance training. As a parallel career, she also performs in musicals in the Chicagoland area. She loves how the Pilates method creates strength and flexibility in the body that helps improve performance in every day life. She loves to create fun, challenging workouts that help improve her clients' strength, posture, flexibility and allows them to feel great in their own bodies!

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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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  Sloane Silbert

  Pilates Teacher

  Sloane was raised in a family where health, wellness, and fitness were emphasized (her father is a Chiropractor/Nutritionist and mother, Linda S, is a Certified Pilates Instructor who also teaches at CP). Her personal commitment and drive for fitness began because of an injury. She broke her femur when she was 10 years old which required 3 surgeries and extensive rehabilitation. She began to run and ran through High School and College on the Cross Country and Track teams. She challenged herself and her body and reached her goals! She has completed six half marathons and one marathon. As an AFAA certified trainer she brings this dedication to fitness and well-being and inspires her clients. She now brings that passion to Pilates (a method of exercise she has known since she was 8 years old). Sloane has completed the Club Pilates teacher training and is thrilled to be an instructor here. Her certifications include TRX, Julian Michael’s BODYSHRED, and Kickboxing. Sloane’s motto is "come prepared to have fun, work hard, and be pushed to your highest potential"! In her class you will leave your outside life behind, be motivated by her cuing, the music, and others around you to gain confidence and trust in your body's ability to reach and surpass your goals!

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  Sarah Presnak

  Pilates Teacher

  Sarah started Pilates fall of 2017 as a part of the early morning crew at Lincoln Park. She found that Pilates really agreed with her body. She fell for the proprioceptive awareness that Pilates encourages, the strength it gave her and mostly the community that the studio provides. A long time ago Sarah had considered teaching group fitness but as it turns out she was waiting for the right fitness to teach! Summer of 2018 she realized it was Pilates so she enrolled in teacher training through Club Pilates. It was a bit of a mid-life crisis that made her sign up but she is now thrilled she did as she has found it to be an amazing journey, not only in learning to teach but also in helping others in the Club Pilates community deepen their practice and build their own strength from Pilates. Sarah is so happy to be a part of the team!

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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.

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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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  Ana Milian

  Pilates Teacher

  Ana started her fitness life with rock-climbing, placing first in the Guatemalan National Championship for three consecutive years. She has been a fitness instructor for well over a decade, teaching all kinds of fitness classes. Ana has completed several triathlons, as well as half and full marathons. She loves being out in nature and is currently a graduate student at Loyola University studying environmental science and sustainability. Pilates is a real passion for her, as it helped her recover from severe back pain that physical therapy could not alleviate. Ana received her 500-hour comprehensive Pilates certification program from Club Pilates. She loves to fuse other forms of fitness and Pilates making the classes challenging and fun.