Pilates Instructors

Alia Staples

Alia Staples has been teaching Pilates for over a decade. She was first introduced to the method in 2010 and quickly saw results from a consistent Pilates practice. As a teenager, Staples underwent major spinal fusion surgery to correct severe scoliosis and struggled to find an exercise program that strengthened her core until discovering Pilates. She decided to pursue teacher certification through US Pilates LLC and completed 700 hrs of extensive training with Jennifer O’Mara, Teacher of Teachers for US Pilates LLC, Brett Howard and David Freeman, Directors of US Pilates LLC.

Staples has served as a Center Director for US Pilates LLC since 2014, and was invited to be a Teacher of Teachers for the program in 2020.

Alia holds a BA in Communications and English from Virginia Tech, and earned an MBA from the University of Central Florida. She is also an AFPA Certified Prenatal and Postnatal Fitness Specialist and is passionate about empowering women to feel strong throughout their motherhood journey.

Alia has owned and operated The Pilates Loft in Arlington, Virginia since 2014. She has trained hundreds of clients, along with dozens of apprentices to become Certified Pilates Instructors since the studio’s opening; one of the most rewarding aspects of her career. Alia lives in Arlington with her husband and three young daughters. When she’s not in the studio, Alia can be found spinning, running, singing, or chauffeuring her children around town.

Giulia Ambrogi

Giulia has had a passion for fitness from a young age; trying a variety of different dance classes and recreational sports teams throughout grade school, including tap, jazz, swimming, softball & soccer. After college, while looking for new ways to keep active, Giulia found Pilates and was rapidly inspired by the practice. As her technique in Pilates advanced over the following years, so did her passion for the practice. Eager to expand her knowledge and share the Pilates method with others, she decided to become a Certified Pilates Instructor. Giulia graduated from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication.

Giulia was certified in 2016 after completing over 700 hours of intensive training at The Pilates Loft in Arlington with Alia Staples, Teacher of Teachers for Classical Pilates, Jennifer O'Mara, Teacher of Teachers for Classical Pilates, and Brett Howard, Senior Teacher of Teachers and Director of Education for Classical Pilates.

Rhyla Holley

Rhyla, born and raised in southern Indiana, was a competitive gymnast for over a decade. Throughout that time, she fell in love with the art of exercise, and gained an understanding and appreciation for the human body and movement. Her passion for staying fit was constant throughout her college career, and it inspired her to teach swimming lessons, instruct kick boxing classes, and serve as an intern at National Institute for Fitness and Sport (NIFS); a gym in Indianapolis that caters to amateur and professional athletes.

Years later, an old injury from childhood began to resurface, causing chronic lower back pain. A doctor’s prescription for Pilates was life changing, and she hasn’t looked back since. After her first class at The Pilates Loft in 2015, she was hooked. She rediscovered movement in her own body, the power of the authentic method, and her desire to share this knowledge with others.

Rhyla became a certified instructor in 2017 after completing over 600 hours of training at The Pilates Loft in Arlington, under the guidance of Alia Staples, Teacher of Teachers for Classical Pilates; Jennifer O'Mara, Teacher of Teachers for Classical Pilates.; and Brett Howard, Senior Teacher of Teachers and Director of Education for Classical Pilates. Rhyla is eager to share her love of Pilates with her clients, and is committed to helping them reach their fitness goals.

Emily Guiliano

Emily Guiliano began Pilates in 2015 when she was searching for an activity that would re-engage and re-energize the mind-body connection she knew and loved throughout her 15 years of martial arts training. Her previous evolution from student to sensei of Okinawan Karate, under Grand Masters Gregory and Judy Tearney (Syracuse, NY), made the progression of her practice of Pilates and joining the United States Pilates Association, LLC. certification program seem organic. She was proud to travel this new path to share her enjoyment and the benefits of Pilates with others.

Akin to her martial arts background, Emily appreciates the traditional training, mentorship, and ideology that Classical Pilates. provides, as well as the instructor lineage which connects to Joseph Pilates through his protege Romana Kyrzanowska. Emily was certified in 2017 after completing over 600 hours of intensive training at the Pilates Loft in Arlington with Alia Staples, Teacher of Teachers for Classical Pilates, Jennifer O’Mara, Teacher of Teachers for Classical Pilates, and Brett Howard, Senior Teacher of Teachers and Director of Education for Classical Pilates.

Emily holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business with a concentration in Management, Finance, and Economics, and values both the counterbalance and complimentary qualities that Pilates provides to her career.

Viktoriya Overby

Vika, born and raised in Ukraine, began practicing Pilates in 2011 when her chiropractor recommended Pilates classes to strengthen her back muscles and “core” to relieve recurring back pain.

Vika began her first Pilates training with Balanced Body back in 2012 and continued deepening her knowledge and improving her teaching skills while living in Ukraine, the US, Russia, Mexico and Kazakhstan. Her classical Pilates journey started in 2015 in Mexico City after she took a seminar led by Brett Howard, Senior Teacher of Teachers and Director of Education for Classical Pilates. She was immediately hooked on the precision and focus on detail of the classical Pilates method. In 2018 Vika completed over 600 hours of intensive training at The Pilates Loft in Arlington with Alia Staples, Teacher of Teachers for Classical Pilates; Jennifer O’Mara, Teacher of Teachers for Classical Pilates; and Brett Howard, Senior Teacher of Teachers and Director of Education for Classical Pilates. In 2021 Vika finished a Pilates Master Mentor Program with Lolita San Miguel and received the designation of a second-generation Pilates teacher and Lolita San Miguel Pilates Master.

Outside of Pilates, Vika holds an M.A. in English Teaching and Linguistics. She worked as an ESL instructor for many years.

Vika understands how important it is to find a unique approach for every client to help them reach their fitness goals. What inspires her the most is watching her students’ progress.

Malgorzata ‘MJ’ Jarosz

B.S. and M.S. in Physical Education Certified Personal Trainer, NASM, National Academy of Sports Medicine

MJ became interested in Pilates while still living and studying in Poland, however, at the time she was unable to pursue her dream of becoming a Certified Pilates Instructor. MJ immigrated to the US in hopes of extended opportunities and to fulfil her dream of becoming a Certified Pilates Instructor. After living briefly in Jacksonville, Florida, she moved with her husband to Arlington, Virginia where she began practicing Pilates to address back problems that had persisted for several years.

Once she began taking classes, she was hooked and then went on to train at The Pilates Loft to become a Certified Instructor. She believes that Pilates is the ultimate form of exercise to help strengthen, lengthen and tone the body and is also an invaluable tool to assist during rehabilitation. Her love for Pilates stems from its positive impact on her own physical and mental well-being, and she strives for others to find those very benefits.

MJ completed over 600 hours of intensive training at the Pilates Loft in Arlington with Alia Staples, Teacher of Teachers for Classical Pilates; Jennifer O'Mara, Teacher of Teachers for Classical Pilates; and David Freeman, Principal of Classical Pilates. MJ is eager to share her passion for the Authentic Pilates method with her clients to help them meet their fitness goals.

Susan Gibbs

Susan came to Pilates when her very pushy mother (a Pilates devotee of many years) gifted her with a twelve-pack of privates on her birthday. It only took one lesson for Susan to figure out that Pilates was the element missing from her fitness routine. After her sixth lesson, she had begun investigating becoming a certified Pilates instructor to deepen her knowledge of Joseph Pilates’ methods.

Susan is a dedicated life-long learner and, in addition to a Bachelors degree in English and a Master in Creative Writing, she is a culinary school graduate and spent 10 years as a network news producer in New York City. When Susan isn’t teaching and practicing Pilates, she runs two businesses and is mom to two amazing small humans. Her life is fueled by hot tea and power naps.

Susan completed over 600 hours of intensive training at the Pilates Loft in Arlington with Alia Staples, Teacher of Teachers for Classical Pilates; Jennifer O'Mara, Teacher of Teachers for Classical Pilates.; and David Freeman, Principal of Classical Pilates. Susan is eager to share her passion for the Authentic Pilates method with her clients to help them meet their fitness goals.

Ellen Boyle

Ellen Boyle began practicing Pilates twelve years ago while searching for relief from recurring back pain. After just a few group mat classes she realized both how out of shape she was after having three children, and how much she enjoyed the way Pilates made her feel. She stuck with the mat classes, and eventually mixed in apparatus lessons as well. Her back pain went away, she had more energy for her busy family, and she looked and felt better. Seeking a way to keep Pilates in her life for the long term Ellen got certified as a Pilates instructor, completing her 650-hour Comprehensive certification in 2007. She loves the energy of group classes and the ability to focus on individual needs during private apparatus lessons. Most importantly, she truly enjoys hearing about and seeing the positive impact Pilates has made in the lives of her students. Ellen regularly attends continuing education seminars to continually broaden her understanding of the Pilates Method and how it can be applied to a broad range of client needs.

Silvia Dreher

Silvia grew up a dedicated student of ballet and was a boxer through college. After graduating with a B.A. in Economics from the University of Basel, Switzerland in 2009 and beginning her career in consulting, Silvia tried Pilates and found it a natural fit. She was a student of Pilates for several years before deciding to become a Certified Pilates Instructor in order to fully understand the exercises and to be able to share the method with others.

Silvia was certified in 2016 after completing over 700 hours of intensive training at The Pilates Loft in Arlington with Alia Staples, Teacher of Teachers for Classical Pilates, Jennifer O'Mara, Teacher of Teachers for Classical Pilates, and Brett Howard, Senior Teacher of Teachers and Director of Education for Classical Pilates. She is eager to share the Authentic Pilates method and to promote its benefits to her clients. Silvia is fluent in English, German and French.

Kara Trohaugh

Kara, a native of Pittsburgh, PA, has always been an avid lover of fitness, participating in dance and gymnastics as a child and later running, spin classes, and weightlifting as an adult. After moving to Arlington, she was seeking to add variety to her usual workout regimen and immediately fell in love with Pilates. A frequent traveler, Kara has continued her Pilates practice around the world, training in Bahrain, Germany, and Italy. Kara graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2010 with a degree in Aerospace Engineering and received a professional Master of Science in 2013.

Kara was certified in 2017 after completing over 600 hours of intensive training at the Pilates Loft in Arlington with Alia Staples, Teacher of Teachers for Classical Pilates; Jennifer O'Mara, Teacher of Teachers for Classical Pilates; and Brett Howard, Senior Teacher of Teachers and Director of Education for Classical Pilates. In January 2023, Kara completed a year-long intensive teacher training program with Chris Robinson, receiving a certificate in the Complete Pilates Method Continuing Professional Education. She is eager to share her passion for the Authentic Pilates method with her clients to help them meet their fitness goals.

Lisa Dilliplane

Lisa, originally from southern New Jersey, grew up a devoted student of dance and participated in swimming and figure skating over the years. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History from Syracuse University, a J.D. from Rutgers School of Law-Camden, and a LL.M. from American University’s Washington School of Law. When she started her career, Lisa was looking for various ways to relieve stress and stay active and fell in love with running, yoga, and spin classes. She decided to try a class at the Pilates Loft to strengthen her abs and lower back as well as improve her posture. Lisa was hooked on the Authentic Pilates method after her first class because of the difference she felt from other Pilates classes. After being an avid student, Lisa decided to become certified to further learn the system and share her love of Pilates.

Lisa was certified in 2017 after completing over 600 hours of intensive training at the Pilates Loft in Arlington with Alia Staples, Teacher of Teachers for Classical Pilates; Jennifer O'Mara, Teacher of Teachers for Classical Pilates; and Brett Howard, Senior Teacher of Teachers and Director of Education for Classical Pilates. She is excited to share the Authentic Pilates method with her clients to help them meet their fitness goals and look and feel their best.

Alyssa Janes

Alyssa, a native of Arlington, grew up an avid dancer, hiker, and backpacker. From the age of three through seventeen, Alyssa was a dancer for the Arlington Center Dance Company, performing ballet, tap, modern, and musical theater. At the age of 10 she was diagnosed with spinal scoliosis, which advanced so quickly that spinal fusion surgery became necessary three years later. Luckily, as part of her dance training, she was required to take weekly Pilates mat classes for physical conditioning. She remembers leaving these classes feeling stronger in her core and more flexible and pain-free in her spine. Years later, after finishing her Master's program, Alyssa was eager to get back into Pilates to regain her core strength and flexibility, and to relieve her back pain. After extensive searching, she discovered the Pilates Loft, which has rekindled her love for Authentic Pilates and deepened her passion for its meaningful method. As a Certified Pilates Instructor, she loves sharing this exceptional method with clients, and helping them meet their needs.

Alyssa received a B.S. in Environmental Studies from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science & Forestry in 2013. In 2016, she earned an M.S. in Environmental Studies from Antioch University New England. She became a certified instructor after completing over 600 hours of intensive training at the Pilates Loft in Arlington with Alia Staples, Teacher of Teachers for Classical Pilates; Jennifer O'Mara, Teacher of Teachers for Classical Pilates; and David Freeman, Principal of Classical Pilates.

Tara Hutton

Tara Hutton is a Lolita San Miguel Pilates Master Instructor. She is a second generation instructor, earning certification under Lolita San Miguel in the Pilates Master Mentor program. She earned her initial comprehensive certification from the Body Arts Science International organization, with a specialty in Dance. She has taught in San Diego, San Francisco, and Boston. She is thrilled to share her love and passion for Pilates at The Pilates Loft!

A native of Wichita Kansas, Tara holds a BFA in Dance Performance from Butler University. She first fell in love with Pilates in college, when it helped her return to ballet after sustaining a broken foot. She has danced professionally for multiple ballet companies, including California Ballet, Bay Point Ballet, and the North Atlantic Dane Theater. She will also appear in Greta Gerwig’s film, Little Women.

Carol Pomponio

Carol, a native of Arlington, has been practicing authentic Pilates since 2006. She originally tried Pilates to address back pain due to scoliosis, and quickly came to appreciate its focus on core strength, lengthening, and flexibility. No other method of exercise that she tried addressed the body as holistically. She immediately recognized the transformative power of the Pilates method of exercise.

Eager to deepen her practice and to share the benefits of authentic Pilates with others, she became a certified instructor in 2020 after completing over 600 hours of intensive training at the Pilates Loft in Arlington with Alia Staples, Teacher of Teachers for Classical Pilates; Jennifer O'Mara, Teacher of Teachers for Classical Pilates; and Brett Howard, Senior Teacher of Teachers and Director of Education for Classical Pilates.

Mary Horan

Mary, originally from Massachusetts, grew up in a very active family. Fitness has always been an important part of her life. Before college, Mary competed in Irish dance competitions, ran cross country, and played soccer. After graduate school, and settling in Arlington, Mary tried various group fitness classes to keep active and to reduce low back pain before trying the Pilates Loft. Pilates classes were different from everything else she tried and were just what she needed to maintain flexibility and increase core strength to live a healthy lifestyle. She quickly fell in love with the Pilates method and decided to complete the teacher training program. Mary earned a Bachelor's degree in English Literature from Ave Maria University in Florida and a Master's degree in History from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland.

Mary was certified in 2020 after completing 600 hours of intensive observation, practice teaching, and self practice at the Pilates Loft in Arlington with Alia Staples, Teacher of Teachers for Classical Pilates; Jennifer O'Mara, Teacher of Teachers for Classical Pilates; and Brett Howard, Senior Teacher of Teachers and Director of Education for Classical Pilates. She is excited to share the Authentic Pilates method with her clients to help them meet their fitness goals and feel great.

Kerlly Castellano

Kerlly Castellano began Pilates as an additional workout regimen for ballet training as a teenager. She noticed a huge improvement in her posture, core strength, and technique leading her to seek out a certification while in college. She trained with Endurance Pilates in Boston and obtained her PMA certification in 2017. She strictly adheres to the classical method and maintaining purity in the work as intended by Joseph Pilates. She loves guiding her clients to find the work within their bodies. She continues to dance but focusing on salsa and Cuban folklore. Pilates gives her freedom in her movement and allows her to fully enjoy dancing while avoiding injuries. for Classical Pilates. She is excited to share the Authentic Pilates method with her clients to help them meet their fitness goals and feel great.

Kelly Lafontaine

Kelly grew up as an athlete and adventurer. At a young age, she was committed to the circus arts industry and gymnastics. Stumbling upon the Pilates method in college, she realized how similar it was to her prior training regiment. In 2011, Kelly completed her first basic mat certification. Determined to know more, she went on to apparatus training. In 2017, she completed her first comprehensive certification with Peak Pilates and Pamela Garcia and Clare Dunphy. In 2022, she completed her second comprehensive certification through the bridge program with Classical Pilates USA and Brett Howard. She is also a member of The Pilates Loft Arlington administrative team.

Kelly is consistently keeping up with weekly private lessons and continuing education courses. A few of her favorites have been under the tutelage of Jennifer O’Mara, Junghee Won, Mejo Wiggin and Alycea Ungaro. She still participates in gymnastics strength training and calisthenics.

She has taught across the country from Boston to San Francisco and is now a resident of Fairfax, VA. Kelly holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Science from Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts. And she is also a graduate of Functional Diagnostic Nutrition program as well as the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.

Kate Love

Kate grew up as a competitive dancer, performing ballet, tap, contemporary, and musical theater. At the age of fourteen, she sustained a serious ankle injury requiring a minimum of 6 months in a cast. Her ballet teacher, a U.S.P.A. certified Pilates instructor, started doing Pilates training with her during her recovery time in order to strengthen and condition her body in preparation for her return to dance. When Kate returned to dance, she was stronger, more centered, and more capable than she was before she was injured. Through this experience, Kate fell deeply in love with Pilates not simply to condition the dancer's body, but to condition any body for total body wellness.

Kate went on to receive a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance Performance from Florida State University where she continued her training in dance, anatomy, kinesiology, and many forms of body conditioning, including Pilates. After graduation, she became a Certified Pilates Instructor in 2018 through the Club Pilates Teacher Certification program doing more than 500 hours of training under the guidance of instructors trained in many different Pilates styles. She additionally received her National Pilates Teacher Certification in 2020.

Despite the more contemporary methods of Pilates in which she is currently certified, Kate believes most strongly in the classical method as it has proven to render better, faster, and more rehabilitative results. Kate is continuing her Pilates education through the Bridge Program at The Pilates Loft in Arlington. She is eager to obtain this additional certfication and share its benefits with her clients.

Sam Schmidt

Sam Schmidt fell in love with Pilates the moment she walked into a studio. Growing up a competitive gymnast and later working as a professional dancer and acrobat, she was drawn to continue down the path of movement, strength and balance Pilates offers. The ability to work the body without adding any stress to the joints inspired her. She soon found herself encouraging anyone she could to try out this amazing form of exercise.

Sam has been teaching Pilates for 10 years with three classical comprehensive certifications under her belt. She has taught both beginner and advanced clients in Florida, Georgia and Japan. She strives to always continue her Pilates education in order to better help her clients. She has committed to help her clients grow younger instead of older. In her free time she enjoys acting, dancing, reading, and playing board games with her husband and two kids.

Brenna Nolan

Brenna learned from some of the best in the Pilates world and strives to give her best to every person she works with. She began practicing Pilates in 2001 and started teaching Pilates in 2014 after getting certified through Romana’s Pilates. Along the way, she studied History & Theory of Contemporary Art at San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI).

Maria Saunders

Maria started practicing Pilates to strengthen her core, improve her marathon running performance, and prevent injuries. She quickly became a regular at Pilates Loft Arlington. Maria continued her practice throughout her pregnancy and post-partum recovery. Being inspired by how Pilates made her feel, Maria decided to pursue the Pilates instructor certification. She completed over 600 hours of intensive training at the Pilates Loft Arlington with Alia Staples, Teacher of Teachers for Classical Pilates, Jennifer O’Mara, Teacher of Teachers for Classical Pilates and David Freeman, Principal of Classical Pilates.

Maria is an avid traveler, having been to almost 30 countries. She has run marathons in New York City, Paris, and Helsinki, to name just a few.

In addition to teaching Pilates, Maria is a Senior Manager at a global accounting and consulting firm. She holds a CPA license in Virginia and has an MBA from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Kate Dina

Kate grew up in the Chicago area and moved to Arlington after graduating from Dickinson College with a B.A. in Political Science in 2015. Before college, Kate studied dance at the Joffrey Academy in Chicago, which is where she was first introduced to Pilates. She always enjoyed staying active, participating in a variety of group fitness classes, and was excited to discover the Pilates Loft in Arlington. She enjoys the mind-body connection and balanced workout that Pilates offers. Kate decided to become a certified Pilates instructor to deepen her knowledge of Classical Pilates and to allow her to share her passion with others.

Kate became an instructor after completing 600 hours of intensive training at the Pilates Loft in Arlington with Alia Staples, Teacher of Teachers for Classical Pilates; Jennifer O'Mara, Teacher of Teachers for Classical Pilates; and David Freeman, Principal of Classical Pilates.

Tara Becker

Tara grew up in northern Virginia, and first discovered Pilates in the early 2000s while in college at Syracuse University. After having 3 reconstructive foot and ankle surgeries as a teen, she loved that Pilates mat classes strengthened her whole body while keeping her joints safe. Tara moved back to this area after college, and attended her very first classical Pilates apparatus session with Ellen Boyle in 2007. Falling in love with the classical Pilates system, Tara attended more and more classes, and eventually decided to become a Pilates instructor. She completed her Power Pilates mat certifications in 2012, and earned her 600-hour Comprehensive Certification through Power Pilates in 2016 under the guidance of her mentor, Bonnie Grove. 

A voracious student, Tara has attended numerous continuing education workshops with renowned instructors such as Benjamin Degenhardt, Blossom Crawford, Elaine Ewing, and the late Bob Liekens. As a self-proclaimed anatomy and neuroscience nerd, Tara completed every course through the Pilates for Neurological Conditions program, and was hand-picked for the Neuro Studio’s 2021 small group mentorship with Meghann Koppele Duffy. She always loves to learn more about the body, and the mind-body connection. Tara is also an avid yoga practitioner, and earned her 200-hour vinyasa yoga certification in 2018. She is a registered yoga teacher through Yoga Alliance. 

When she’s not teaching or taking Pilates, Tara enjoys spending time with her husband and miniature dachshund, and loves to travel to see her favorite band. She is a vocal advocate on social media for the idiopathic condylar resorption and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) replacement patient community, having had bilateral TMJ replacement surgery herself in 2022. As a longtime client of the Pilates Loft, Tara is thrilled to join the wonderful and supportive teaching team! She enjoys working with clients of all ages and levels, and can’t wait to see you at the studios!

Stasia Bryant

Stasia began her journey with movement and training from a young age as a ballet dancer going on to a professional ballet career performing in Europe and the United States. As she moved into teaching Ballet and Contemporary dance she was fortunate to train with an extraordinary mentor who introduced her to the Pilates method and encouraged her to go through teacher training. She found that it changed the way she worked as a dancer and definitely as a teacher. The very logic and science of the Pilates method solidified what she had a feeling for and gave her the foundation to better instruct and see deficient movement patterns and how to improve them. She attained her Pilates certification through Stott Pilates as it was an internationally recognized system and she was able to train with some of the industry's top trainers in Italy, Germany, the UK, Sweden and the US. Stasia owned her own boutique studio in Germany while living there with her husband and two daughters. She has had continuing education in Pre and Post Natal Pilates, Scoliosis, Pilates for Golf, Injury Prevention, Pilates for the Aging Population, Functional Anatomy, Athletic Conditioning, Pilates for Dancers and continues to teach ballet and barre class. She has worked at a total of 11 trade shows for Stott Pilates where she has met and worked with lead instructor trainers including Moira Stott, the founder of Stott Pilates.

Stasia most recently lived in Miami where she was a Senior Instructor at Aviva Pilates, and also taught at a Classical Pilates studio where she was able to expand her teaching approach. She has been teaching Pilates for 16 years and is always learning and growing as an instructor. She is passionate about movement and helping clients attain their fitness goals. Stasia teaches with energy, a sense of humor and an eye for detail. She is excited to be part of the very talented team at The Pilates Loft and is planning on bridging into the Classical Pilates USA (TM) Teacher Certification Program.

Lisa Pilloff

Lisa discovered Pilates nearly 20 years ago after seeking a new form of exercise to supplement cardiovascular training. In addition to building up her core strength, Lisa has experienced huge improvements in her flexibility. Whether at home, or traveling for work, Lisa enjoys meeting and taking lessons from a broad range of teachers and studios, a true Pilates tourist. Eager to deepen her practice and learn more about Pilates, Lisa started attending workshops offered by both classical and contemporary teachers and ultimately decided to pursue certification from Classical Pilates.

Lisa became a certified instructor after completing intensive training at the Pilates Loft in Arlington with Alia Staples, Teacher of Teachers for Classical Pilates; Jennifer O’Mara, Teacher of Teachers for Classical Pilates; Brett Howard, Senior Teacher of Teachers and Director of Education for Classical Pilates; and David Freeman, Principal of Classical Pilates.

Julia Broder

Julia Broder, an Arlington local, began a Pilates routine in 2019. Athletics and travel were important parts of her life, playing multiple sports and visiting three continents. Julia spent over ten years playing basketball, Ultimate frisbee, competitive soccer, horseback riding, long distance running and biking. A series of injuries ultimately led to a connective tissue disorder diagnosis: Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Due to defective collagen, this genetic disorder causes joint instability, hypermobility, fragile skin, and chronic pain to name a few of the symptoms. Since her diagnoses at 16, Julia’s gained extensive first-hand knowledge about what it means to live life with hypermobility. After many health ups and downs, she took her doctor’s advice to start Pilates in 2019. With the focus of helping her joints, and rehabbing damage from injuries, Julia found a supportive and safe way to gain foundational strength. Her consistent Pilates practice is now an integral part of maintaining stable health. Excited to apply personal experience to teaching, she hopes to bridge Pilates with the EDS community.

Julia became a certified instructor in 2023 after completing over 600 hours of teacher training at the Pilates Loft of Arlington with Alia Staples, Teacher of Teachers for Classical Pilates; Jennifer O’Mara, Teacher of Teachers for Classical Pilates; David Freeman Principal of Classical Pilates; and Brett Howard Senior Teacher of Teachers and Director of Education for Classical Pilates. As an instructor, she looks forward to continuing her education through seminars and has a goal of traveling to studios around the United States and overseas.

Kyoko Lloyd

Kyoko danced classical ballet for 15 years in Osaka, Japan. While she loved to dance, she moved to Tokyo for a business career where she met and later married her husband who was stationed in Japan. While stationed in Italy, Kyoko became interested in teaching fitness so she obtained group exercise and personal trainer certifications. After moving to the US, she started taking Pilates lessons which inspired her to become an instructor.

Kyoko is a NCPT® Certified Pilates Teacher and completed her 600-hour Comprehensive Certification through Power Pilates in 2018. Kyoko believes in continuous learning and is studying under Shari Berkowitz who is a teacher of teachers, scientist of biomechanics and ergonomics.

Kyoko’s passion for teaching Pilates stems from helping people to connect their minds and bodies to improve their movement which helps everyday life.

Elizabeth Shea

Growing up, the closest Elizabeth Shea came to sports was a dalliance in field hockey where the coach threatened to put her in if the rest of the team didn’t get their acts together. As an adult, she resigned herself to “non-athlete” status, but never stopped thinking about the bigger picture: Wellness. She embraced the power of movement, and while rising to the top ranks of healthcare PR, offset manic days with DVD sweat sessions.

One afternoon, a book promoting “The Pilates Powerhouse” piqued Elizabeth’s interest. It featured the iconic Mari Winsor talking about a “revolutionary workout system” designed by Joseph Pilates - and Elizabeth was hooked. She segued from home videos to gym classes before discovering a classical studio led by a 2nd-generation instructor. She deepened her practice on the mat and apparatus, used her PR expertise to advance Pilates-centric efforts, and was certified in Beginner and Intermediate Mat through Power Pilates. When she had her first and only baby at 40, Elizabeth’s “advanced maternal age” was countered by the core strength, flexibility, and peace of mind that only Pilates can bring.

Fast forward: Elizabeth’s baby is half-way through college, reinvention beckons, and Pilates teacher is the obvious pursuit. She becomes certified in Classical Mat through VIDA Pilates, led by a 3rd-generation instructor, and was immediately selected to teach at a premier gym. Elizabeth’s Comprehensive Classical Apparatus Training is also through VIDA Pilates and she is excited to share her decades-long affection for the work with The Pilates Loft community.

Melissa Leong

Melissa's journey into Pilates began as a quest to enhance her athletic performance and safeguard against injuries while maintaining her active lifestyle. As a soccer player and lifelong athlete, she sought a method that would bolster her core strength, flexibility, and joint health. Pilates emerged as the perfect solution, leading Melissa to pursue comprehensive teacher training through Club Pilates.

In addition to her Pilates training, Melissa holds certifications from Barre Above, TRX suspension training, and the Buff Bones Osteoporosis Exercise Method. Continuously dedicated to expanding her knowledge and expertise, she enrolled in the Classical bridge program through Classical Pilates USA and The Pilates Loft. This commitment allows Melissa to deepen her own practice and refine her teaching methods, ensuring she can effectively serve her clients with compassion and expertise.

Melissa holds her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication and Marketing from Virginia Tech, and held a successful career in Graphic Design for over a decade before transitioning into teaching Pilates full-time.

Whitney Shafer

Whitney worked in corporate business development for 12 years in DC. While she continued to exercise regularly, trying various classes here and there, she found that nothing made her feel how Pilates did. She stumbled upon Classical Pilates after her second daughter when she was looking for something to help her regain energy and be held accountable to her fitness goals -- she knew that taking both classes and the personalized nature of a private lesson would be what she needed.

The strength and confidence she gained, postpartum, was transformational and motivated her to embark on a 600 hour Classical Pilates certification program with Strong Body Pilates, in Los Angeles. Strong Body Pilates is an authentic Pilates studio that upholds the original method as it was intended. Whitney now teaches Pilates full time, while raising her two young daughters, and continues to grow her Pilates practice with private sessions weekly and loves to help others find their peak physical shape with the Pilates system.

Claire Abbate

Claire, a New Orleans native, stumbled upon Pilates during her senior year of high school. Over the course of her early 20s, she quickly fell in love with the practice, especially following the birth of her first child. Inspired by how quickly she healed and gained strength through the practice postpartum, she decided to pursue training to help others, especially new mothers, feel stronger and more confident in their bodies. Claire graduated from Louisiana State University Health New Orleans in 2019 with her Bachelors of Science in Nursing. She currently works as a Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse in Reston.

Claire became a certified classical instructor in 2024 after completing over 600 hours of teacher training at The Pilates Loft Arlington with Alia Staples, Teacher of Teachers for Classical Pilates; Jennifer O’Mara, Teacher of Teachers for Classical Pilates; David Freeman Principal of Classical Pilates; and Brett Howard Senior Teacher of Teachers and Director of Education for Classical Pilates.

Claire is excited to help others focus on strengthening both their physical and mental wellness through their own Pilates practice!

Abby Irby

Abby, a native Californian, grew up in an extremely active family, playing a variety of sports such as softball, ultimate frisbee, and hiking. After moving to Arlington post-college, her mother suggested she take a Pilates class to enhance her fitness routine. After her first class, Abby became hooked on the profound mind-body connection that Pilates offers, sparking her passion for the practice.

Abby graduated from the University of California Los Angeles in 2022 with a B.S. in Statistics. Her analytical background compliments her teaching style, allowing her to approach Pilates with precision and attention to detail.

Abby was certified in 2024 after completing over 600 hours of intensive training at the Pilates Loft in Arlington with Alia Staples, Teacher of Teachers for Classical Pilates, Jennifer O’Mara, Teacher of Teachers for Classical Pilates, and Brett Howard, Senior Teacher of Teachers and Director of Education for Classical Pilates.

Nancy Bright

It would be hard to exaggerate how passionately Nancy believes in the power of Pilates to maintain healthy bodies and heal injured ones! For her, 20 years of teaching and 25 years of practice vividly demonstrate the sheer brilliance of Joseph Pilates’ impressive body of work.

After twelve years as a competitive swimmer and decades of running, Nancy found the Pilates mat work in 1999 which healed her achy knees! For five years she advanced through the mat levels and then onto the various pieces of the Pilates equipment. Logically, the next step was teacher training which she completed in 2007 through the Core Dynamics comprehensive training. Always looking to go deeper to be a better teacher and student exposed her to more teaching programs and multitudes of workshops on wide variety of subjects related to the study of the body, movement and human anatomy. Most recently she completed Pilates for Neurological Conditions with Mariska Breland at the Neuro Studio in Washington, DC. She is a perpetual and curious student and especially loves learning from her students!

Nancy’s ability to customize and adapt to each client and their specific needs is evident each time she teaches. Her goal is for every client to feel and move better after each session and in their daily lives.

Movement does indeed heal and is necessary for our health. Pilates is the perfect and efficient movement. As Joe Pilates said, “Health is the first prerequisite to happiness”.