Instructors

Jennifer O'Mara

Jennifer has owned & operated The Pilates Loft since 2003. A graduate from the University of Florida, Jennifer’s background is firmly placed in Exercise Physiology with an emphasis in Physical Therapy. She studied Pilates under and was certified by Romana Kyrzanowska, Joseph Pilates’ protégé, in 2000. With a specialization in spine care, Jennifer found an easy transition from helping people find relief in the physical therapy arena to using Pilates to strengthen and eliminate most pain associated with the back and neck.

With a physical background beginning in gymnastics as a youth, power lifting through college and marathon training currently, Jennifer uses Pilates as a form of cross training to improve flexibility and core strength.

In 2009, The Pilates Loft was named a certification center and Jennifer was invited to be a Teacher of Teachers for Classical Pilates. Since that time, she has continued her education with Brett Howard, the Director of Education for the program, and continues to pass that knowledge on to her instructors and apprentices.

Mark Griffith

Mark was introduced to Pilates in the year 2000 at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. At the time, Mark was competing in trampoline for the United States National Team on the World Cup Circuit. Physical Therapists for the United States Olympic Committee used Pilates as a way to combat Mark’s chronic back pain caused by instability of the joints in his back and pelvis. After a few sessions Mark’s pain disappeared and he was hooked! He continued training at the International Elite level and earned 19 National Titles and a World Championship Title in the sports of tumbling and trampoline.

Mark received his Pilates Instructor certification in 2005 from Power Pilates based in New York City and has been teaching at The Pilates Loft since then. In addition to teaching Pilates, Mark was a performing acrobat in Cirque du Soleil's resident production of 'La Nouba'. He is personally committed to the Pilates Method of Body Conditioning to help him not only prevent injuries but to maintain a demanding fitness level. Mark also enjoys weightlifting, volleyball, tennis, and scuba diving. Most recently in 2009, Mark was inducted into The USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame.

Lori Milner

Lori has been dedicated to a fit and healthy lifestyle for most of her life. She was a student of Pilates for more than six years before she decided to become a Certified Pilates Instructor. This solid transition is a natural fit for Lori, who graduated Cum Laude from Georgia Southern University with a bachelor’s degree in teaching.

With her strong instructional background, Lori knew, after her first few sessions, Pilates was something she would continue for a lifetime. Not only did Pilates help her balance, posture and flexibility, but it was also a great way to strengthen and tone her core after having a child. As an avid runner, Pilates has also given Lori another outlet for cross training. She has successfully completed over 7 half marathons and plans to continue competing in future distance and strength events. In addition, Lori enjoys spinning and weight training.

Lori was first introduced to Pilates in 2003 after the birth of her first daughter. She is personally committed to the Pilates Method of Body Conditioning and she strives to keep the integrity of each exercise Joseph Pilates created. Lori has completed more than 600 hours of extensive training and apprenticeship hours with Teacher Trainer Jennifer O’Mara, Owner of the Pilates Loft, and Stephanie Ellis, Certified Power Pilates Instructor and teacher-trainer from Pilates of Boca in Boca Raton, Florida. In June of 2009, Lori was certified as an Authentic Pilates Instructor through Power Pilates, based in New York. She prides herself on being a lifelong learner, an enthusiastic teacher and a dedicated wife and mother to three wonderful children.

Elizabeth Monge

Elizabeth grew up with a dedication to gymnastics starting at an early age through her teenage years. The structure and hard work instilled in her carried with her creating a lifelong passion for fitness. As a teenager she began weight lifting, spinning, yoga and kick boxing as a way to stay fit. A mother of twin girls and a son, she is constantly busy and found in Pilates a new way to strengthen her core, and a mind body connection to exercise she had never experienced before. The overall strength and tone she gained was life changing, and from that point knew Pilates was the answer to achieve her fitness goals.

Elizabeth graduated with a B.A. in Communications from the University of Central Florida in 2002, and enjoyed a fruitful corporate career in the field after deciding to pursue her passion for Pilates full time. In 2012, she entered the NY Pilates Studio Teacher Certification Program through the United States Pilates Association ® LLC and The New York Pilates Studio ®, receiving over 700 hours of training at The Pilates Loft, extensively training with studio owner Teacher of Teachers Jennifer O'Mara, and at The Pilates Haus in New Jersey with Brett Howard, Senior Teacher of Teachers and Director of Education for Classical Pilates. She continues to be a lifelong learner in the Authentic Pilates method, and shares that passion with her clients.

Lauren Deatherage

Lauren is a native New Yorker who had a successful career in corporate fashion for over 10 years. Her position included extensive international travel, which she loved and valued, but it became extremely taxing on her body. Spending six to eight months in foreign countries, she was looking for ways to keep her body healthy and her mind focused. Lauren was introduced to Pilates in 2004 and fell in love with how strong, long and lean Pilates made her feel. She primarily trained with instructors in New York and Los Angeles, although her passion for Pilates drove her to seek out classes in Hong Kong, Melbourne, Buenos Aires and many more cities. In 2015 she relocated to Orlando, found The Pilates Loft and committed to a fulltime career in authentic Pilates. In addition to Pilates, Lauren practices yoga and enjoys hiking and rebounding to stay fit. She is eager to inspire her clients with the Authentic Pilates method and share her passion for health and wellness.

Lauren received over 700 hours of intensive training at The Pilates Loft, where she trained with studio owner and Teacher of Teachers Jennifer O'Mara; Brett Howard, owner of The Pilates Haus in New Jersey, Senior Teacher of Teachers and Director of Education for Classical Pilates; and David Freeman, Director of Classical Pilates and owner of The Pilates Institute of Fort Lauderdale.

Jessica Hasara

Jessica first tried Pilates when she was an undergrad in college. After several car accidents, she found that the core strength she gained with Pilates was the only thing that helped resolve her lower back pain. Later, Jessica went to work for Cirque Du Soleil, where being surrounded by professional athletes, she was inspired to increase her fitness goals. There she met Mark Griffith and she began working out at The Pilates Loft - Orlando in 2005. After 10 years of practicing the classical Pilates method she decided she wanted to share what she had learned and become an instructor.

Jessica spent 600+ hours training at The Pilates Loft, where she trained with Jennifer O'Mara, studio owner and Teacher of Teachers; Brett Howard, owner of The Pilates Haus, New Jersey and Senior Teacher of Teachers and Director of Education for Classical Pilates; and David Freeman, Director of Classical Pilates and owner of The Pilates Institute of Fort Lauderdale.

Jessica earned the degree, Master of Liberal Studies from Rollins College in 2014 and also works as a college Humanities professor. She loves being able to combine her love of teaching with her love of Pilates.

Samantha DeBoer

Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Samantha grew up training as a classical ballet dancer. Now, as a professional dancer, Samantha is intimately familiar with the importance of cross training and strengthening the body uniformly. Early in her career she suffered a severe lower back injury due to overuse and imbalances because she, like many young athletes of aesthetic sports, lacked the knowledge needed to maintain peak physical strength and stamina while keeping her body safe. After taking time away from dancing and completing months of physical therapy, she was still in pain while performing and in her everyday life.

In her search for relief, she tried Pilates and after her very first session at the Pilates Loft, she felt a change. She began practicing at the studio on a weekly basis and very quickly her pain decreased, her mobility started to return, and she became stronger than ever before. Pilates was the answer to living pain free and getting her back to doing what she loves!

Samantha now strongly feels that everyone should learn the tools needed to maintain their bodies in the healthiest way possible. Inspired by the revolution she had gone through, Samantha decided to become a Pilates teacher so she can empower others with this amazing method of body conditioning. She spent 600+ hours studying under Jennifer O'Mara, Teacher of Teachers for Classical Pilates and owner of the Pilates Loft Orlando, and Brett Howard, Director of Education for Classical Pilates, and in December of 2017, she became a USPA certified Pilates teacher. She is excited to help others learn how to properly strengthen their bodies so that they too can perform to the very best of their abilities every day, no matter what capacity it may be in!

Kimberly Dias

Kimberly fell in love with Pilates after her first lesson. Her passion for health and wellness started with her career in nursing. She loves that the authentic Pilates method improves your quality of life. She has seen first-hand the therapeutic benefits of Pilates. After an ACL repair surgery on her right knee, she used Pilates to rehabilitate her knee to full recovery and strength. During a high-risk pregnancy with twins, she continued to practice Pilates during and after her pregnancy. Pilates safely helped maintain a strong core, which alleviates the back pain that comes along with feeding and carrying two babies. In 2015, Kim began her Pilates training. She believes in the importance of exercise as part of a healthy lifestyle and as a form of preventative medicine. Her goal is to be an energetic, motivational teacher and share the Pilates Method with others.

Kimberly spent over 700 hours training at The Pilates Loft, training with studio owner and United States Pilates Association LLC® Teacher of Teachers Jennifer O’Mara; Brett Howard, owner of The Pilates Haus in New Jersey, Senior Teacher of Teachers and Director of Education for the United States Pilates Association®; and David Freeman, Director of the United States Pilates Association LLC® and owner of The Pilates Institute of Fort Lauderdale.

Willis Middleton

Willis Middleton is a classically trained Pilates instructor who has been training clients in Winer Park FL, Ridgefield and Westport CT, and now back in Orlando FL since 2002. She is a Romana Authentic Pilates certified teacher who has been inspiring students and changing their bodies for seventeen years.

Willis is certified on all the Pilates apparatus through the Pilates Method of Body training founded by Joseph Pilates direct protégé, Romana Kryzanowska. Willis feels that by studying privately with Romana, she has a direct link to Joseph Pilates revolutionary concepts and work. She believes in constantly expanding her knowledge and Pilates training and studied with the Bodies Mind Program of Study based in Mill Valley, CA.

Willis is thrilled to join the Pilates Loft with Jen O’Mara and her very talented instructors. She is also very excited to continue her Pilates study with Brett Howard.

Lexi Anderson

For as long as she can remember, Lexi has always been passionate about health and fitness. She played soccer and actively participated in sports growing up. Lexi needed something to cross train with her constant movement that stretched and strengthened her body. She took her first Pilates class at the age of sixteen and was captivated. Her passion for Pilates and the results she achieved encouraged her to become an instructor aiming to help others strengthen their core and reshape their bodies.

In 2013, Lexi became a certified Authentic Pilates Instructor through Power Pilates, based in New York City, NY. She completed her 600+ hour comprehensive program at a certified Power Pilates training center in West Palm Beach and at The Pilates Loft Orlando under Jennifer O'Mara, owner of The Pilates Loft and Teacher of Teachers for Classical Pilates.

In addition to Pilates, Lexi enjoys yoga, barre, and weight training. Her passion for teaching inspired her to receive her Barre Certification and a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Central Florida.

Noor Gandikal

Noor came to Pilates in 2018 in a last-ditch effort to alleviate the tremendous amount of back and hip pain she had from a prior injury that had completely halted her life. After her first session at The Pilates Loft, she immediately knew that Pilates was the answer to healing her pain and strengthening her body uniformly.

Noor’s commitment to practicing Pilates 3-5x a week, for 3 years, completely transformed her mind and body. As a result, she lost over 50 lbs, regained control over her body, and eliminated her chronic back pain.

In 2021, her passion for Pilates lead her to become a classically certified instructor through Classical Pilates USA. She has completed over 1000+ hours of studying and training under Master Teacher and co-founder of Classical Pilates USA (CPUSA) Jennifer O'Mara; Master Teacher & Co-founder (of CPUSA) David Freeman, and Director of Education for Classical Pilates USA, Brett Howard. She has so much passion for practicing and teaching the method, and loves that it can be used as a transformative workout, and/or a rehabilitative tool.

Emily Davies

Emily has been enthralled with movement since she started dancing at the age of 3. After graduating from her high school as valedictorian, she realized she could never stop moving and wanted to share her passion with others. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Dance Pedagogy from Oklahoma City University and graduated summa cum laude. She has been teaching dance to all ages ever since.

Through dance, Emily was introduced to Pilates and quickly developed a passion for it after she saw how it transformed her as an athlete. After 700+ hours of studying under Jennifer O’Mara, Master Teacher Trainer and co-founder of Classical Pilates USA and owner of The Pilates Loft; Brett Howard, Director of Education and co-founder of Classical Pilates USA; and David Freeman, Master Teacher Trainer and co-founder of Classical Pilates USA, she became a certified Pilates instructor through Classical Pilates USA under US Pilates, LLC (Formerly USPA). She continues to further her knowledge of Pilates whenever she can and loves to share that transformational knowledge with others.

Kim Dias

Kimberly has been in the health and wellness industry for over 10 years. Being a competitive gymnast through high school, health and exercise have always been an important part of her life. Before finding Pilates, Kimberly worked as a nurse. While working in hospitals, she was inspired to see that patients' health could be improved by lifestyle changes like diet and exercise. She found this fascinating and wanted to learn how to help people through wellness and education. She found herself more interested in learning about holistic approaches to healing and wellness than medications. After her first classical Pilates lesson at the Pilates Loft, she was hooked. She loves how Pilates is based in science, anatomy, movement and also includes a holistic approach to strengthening both the mind and body. She is fascinated by everything Joseph Pilates knew about the body and how to move it in a healthy way that allows one to practice their whole life without causing injury.

She studied under Jennifer O'Mara for her 600 hour Classical Pilates Certification. She has used Pilates personally to heal after an ACL repair surgery. Pilates allowed her to regain 100% function in her knee after surgery. Seeing the amazing benefits of Pilates and all the possibilities it allows for the body, Kimberly obtained certifications in Yoga, Nutrition and furthered her nursing education by studying functional medicine and mindfulness. She is excited to share Pilates with clients and help them feel their best.

In addition to teaching Pilates, Kimberly is a mother to four year old twins. She consistently practiced Pilates through the pre and postnatal stages of her pregnancy. She also loves yoga, playing tennis, volunteering as a nurse and going to the beach.