SENIOR INSTRUCTORS

Holly Jean Cosner - Holly Jean is a former professional dancer, who danced with several ballet and modern companies in the US and France. After a severe ankle injury, (from dancing) she started doing Pilates for rehabilitation and strength, and was very impressed with the results. In 1996 she was trained and fully certified in the Pilates Method by Romana Kryzanowska and Bob Liekens. She has since taught as the senior instructor for studios in New York City, Newport, Laguna Beach and Costa Mesa.

An avid yoga practitioner, Holly Jean is also a certified Baby Om instructor. She is the creator and co-author of the book PeeWee Pilates : A Pilates Workout for the Post-Partum Mother and Baby. Since it's release, PeeWee Pilates has sold into 8 translations worldwide and is used as the training manual for several Post Natal Pilates programs.

Holly Jean believes that our bodies should have a balance of strength and flexibilty. She is able to pinpoint what each client needs individually to find this balance and get their best workout. She has been featured on Access Hollywood, the CBS Morning Show and Good Day New York, as well as featured articles in Fit Pregnancy, Pilates Style, Baby Talk, E Pregnancy and Plum magazines.

Carolyn Driscoll- Carolyn began Pilates at the age of 17 after a knee injury from gymnastics and decided to get certified in the method in 2000. She has had the opportunity to study with some of the most revered instructors in the Pilates community, including Romana Kryzanowska and Bob Leikens. Since completing her certification she has taught in studios in Boston, New York, San Diego, Tokyo and Newport Beach.

Aside from Pilates, she enjoys yoga, running, surfing, and skiing and has always felt that Pilates contributes to her abilities in these areas. She is excited to be back in New York where she hopes to continue teaching with enthusiasm and a freshness that will inspire her clients. She prides herself on giving her clients motivating and tough workouts that leave you knowing you got a great session!

INSTRUCTORS

Allison Black - Allison has been practicing and teaching Pilates since 2004. After graduating with her BA in Art, she moved from Florida to New York City for the sole purpose of earning her classical Pilates certification through Romana's Pilates. Allison also holds certifications from the National Academy of Spots and Medicine, the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America, and the American Heart Association. As a former gymnast and athlete, her entire life has been dedicated to challenging the body and mind. Allison loves customizing each workout so that the individual client can get the best out of Pilates!

Gabriela Cardenas - Gabriela began studying Pilates in Austin, Texas with Vicky Hickerson, and continued her study with Romana Kryzanowska, Sari Mejia-Santo, Daria Pace, Bob Likens, and Susan Moran-Perich. She holds certificates in Authentic Pilates from The Pilates Studio, and Power Pilates, The Gyrotonic Expansion System, National Academy of Sports Medicine and National Exercise and Sports Trainers Association. Gabriela teaches throughout the New York City area, and has taught internationally in Madrid and Marbella, Spain. She brings over twenty years of classical and contemporary movement to her profession, and has worked intensively with several artists throughout Texas and NYC. Her journey in the performing arts began twenty years ago in Longview, Texas, where she began training in Suzuki violin and classical ballet. She has intensively studied with The Longview Ballet Theatre, The Marina Seminova School of Ballet in Moscow, TCU Dance Ensemble, American Dance Festival, Ballet East Dance Theatre of Austin, The Joyce Trisler Company, and The Paul Taylor School. Gabriela holds degrees in Spanish and English, with a Modern Dance Concentration from Texas Christian University and Universidad de Granada, Spain. In 2006, she completed her degree in Dance Performance and Education from SUNY at Empire State College, and The Harkness Dance Center at the 92nd Street Y, where she is presently assisting in teaching creative movement and ballet to little children.

Megan S. Densmore - Megan was certified in classical Pilates in Los Angeles under the leadership of Jill Cassady who trained directly under both Romana Kyrzanowska and Ron Fletcher.  Megan also holds her BFA in Acting from the University of Southern California.  Megan combines a diverse athletic background that includes gymnastics and classical ballet training with an analytical mathematical brain.  She specializes in chronic pain, fibromyalgia, injury rehabilitation, stress management, and also works with clients pre and post pregnancy.  Megan prides herself on tailoring all workouts to clients' individual needs.  She believes that alleviating areas of tension in the body and restoring proper alignment can greatly diminish many common health concerns of modern society. 

Lynann Escatel - Lynann first heard about Pilates when she injured her back and knee.  After years of dancing she decided it was time to start thinking more about her body.  Jumping at the chance to be trained by Romana Kryzanowska and Sari Mejia Santo, Lynann is thrilled to now be able to teach something that she enjoys and finds exciting.  Lynann likes to make sure that each workout is exactly what your body and mind needs.

Kate Filina - Kate was born and raised in Russia. She moved to New York with her family in 1992. After a lower back injury Kate discovered and fell in love with Pilates. She went through the classical certification program in New York in 2003. Since completing her certification she has been teaching in NY and Sydney, Australia. Kate is also a certified thai yoga massage therapist.

Everardo Gonzalez - Artist & Educator for the past 10 years, has followed Mr. Pilates footsteps in teaching his legacy, "Return to Life". His goal as an instructor is to help clients achieve their goals through movement. As an educator, Everardo guides you to release whats been holding you back and helps you restore whats been lost. Ultimately he will help you retain a more youthful body, mind, and spirit by defying gravity and lifes daily stresses. He will help you understand your individual structure and how it functions through movement with balance and a sense of weight distribution so you can defy gravity. He is here at Uptown Pilates so you can be the dynamic you and enjoy your life with a more uniform developed body. That is Mr. Pilates' Legacy and that is a typical session with Everardo.

Purvi Goradia - Purvi is a corporate communications expert-turned-Pilates instructor after drastically improving her scoliosis, posture and pain management through Pilates classes and private sessions since January 2006.

Kirsi Insalaco - Kirsi has been practicing Pilates since 200I and her enthusiasm for the power of Pilates to transform her body lead her to train at the well respected The Pilates Centre of Boulder CO. Her previous experience as a therapeutic massage therapist proved to be a great background for the understanding she has of the moving body and she loves to share her passion for Pilates by inspiring others. She operated and taught at her own studio in Hawaii, as well as teaching at the Four Season Resort Hualalai Hotel before moving to the east coast in 2007, she is also currently teaching at the Sag Harbor Pilates in New York.

Eva Kim - Eva Kim is both a dancer and choreographer.  She holds her MA in Dance and Dance Education from New York University and her BA in Physical Education from Kyung Hee University. Seeking to incorporate an understanding the human body, Ms. Kim also hold certification in yoga through Yoga Works. She trained and taught more than a decade as a fitness trainer and dance educator in both Korea and the US. She enjoys creating challenging workouts for any ages and level of fitness.

Yael Lubarr - Yael has studied ballet since the age of 5, and graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor degree in Dance Arts with High Honors, and a Bachelor degree in English with Distinction. While studying in the Merce Cunningham Professional Training Program on scholarship in New York City, she decided to obtain her Pilates teaching certificate from the Romana's Pilates program, run by Romana Kryzanowska and Sari Mejia Santo. It completely changed and strengthened her body, making her fully aware of the benefits of authentic Pilates training, not only for dancers, but for everyone. Yael is absolutely delighted to have the opportunity to teach this wonderful and effective method at Uptown Pilates.

Michelle Mandel - Michelle is from Boulder, Colorado and has been classically trained by Pilates Uptown and the Pilates Center in Boulder. Being classically trained gave her the opportunity to experience exercise at a level that challenge both her mind and body because she learned such unique principles of life through movement. To further her education she attended numerous workshops and teacher training courses learning Kathy Grant work, common pathologies, anatomy and alignment. Her passion for Pilates changed her life after suffering from a neck injury due to a car accident. This profound experience rehabilitated and revitalized her spine and reawakened her soul. Her body physique changed and she gained a better awareness of the important connection between the body, mind, and spirit. Her goal is to inspire people from all walks of life by adding meaning, confidence, and better posture to their lives.

Stephanie O'Keefe - Stephanie was introduced to Pilates in college when she took a course for credit and she quickly recognized the changes in her mind and body.  Although she was an athlete all her life, Pilates was the only exercise that gave her the strength and stability she needed.  She continued to practice Pilates while she worked in the corporate world. It was at this time that she noticed the toll sitting at a desk all day took on her and her co-workers bodies.  Determined to make a difference, Stephanie became certified through Power Pilates in New York City under the leadership of Bob Liekens and Susan Moran-Perich.   Stephanie is also a Holistic Health Counselor through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition.  Her goal is to help each individual reach their optimum health and happiness in their body, mind and spirit.

Cynthia Olson - Cynthia was introduced to Pilates in 2001 by a physical therapist, as she recovered from knee and hip conditions acquired while training for a marathon.  She was hooked, and later received her certification in New York through Power Pilates, a rigorous classical program. She has studied under Bob Liekens and Susan Moran in New York, Shari Berkowitz in Beverly Hills, and has trained with master instructors in Madrid, London, and Paris, and continues to develop her teaching through daily practice and continued learning.

Most recently Cynthia has returned from 18-months in the UK, where she worked with clients ranging from the elderly to elite athletes—including training injured players from Scotland’s professional football team, the Edinburgh Hearts.  While in Scotland, she also taught individuals who were unemployed due to mental health issues and taking Pilates as a relaxation benefit sponsored nationally.  She has seen the benefits of the practice on those recovering from injuries, suffering from chronic pain, post-pregnancy clients, and individuals simply looking to get in shape. Cynthia continues to run injury free thanks to Pilates.

Vicki Somoya - As a lifetime student and teacher of movement, Vicki has been practicing the Pilates method for the past 12 years. As a professional dancer, she has performed with modern dance companies in both the Tampa, Florida and New York areas. She holds a Masters in Dance and Choreography from the State University of New York, where she also headed their Pilates program. Vicki has choreographed and been on the dance faculty of both the University of Tampa and St. Petersburg College. Vicki became certified to teach Pilates in 2000, working with Bob Leikens and Phoebe Higgins. Since then she has studied with Irene Dowd, Pat Guyton and Deborah Lessen, among others. She is currently developing a "moving mat" workout for dancers and is excited to be sharing her passion for movement with everyone at Uptown Pilates.

Kevyn Zeller - Kevyn began doing Pilates 10 years ago as an avid runner to rehabilitate her knees. Thanks to Pilates and the health of her knees, she still runs, snowboards, practices yoga and trains for triathalons in Colorado. She recieved her Pilates Certification at The Pilates Center in Boulder, Colorado. While studying at The Pilates Center, she obtained her degree in Kinesiology at The University of Colorado at Boulder. Her degree in Kinesiology allows her to back the artistry of her teaching with a strong scientific base which constitutes both a knowledge of and fascination for all types of human movement and physiology. Pilates has not only changed Kevyn's relationship with running and exercise in general, it has truly changed her life. Her enthusiasm for sharing what Pilates has given her is genuine and contagious.