SENIOR INSTRUCTORS

Cristina Gallio - Cristina Gallio is a former professional ballet dancer, who danced with Ballet National De Marseille Roland Petit (Marseille, France) and Opera de Nice (Nice, France); during her dance career Pilates became part of her daily training. In 1997 Cristina studied The Pilates Method with Romana Kryzanowska and Bob Liekens and a year later was certified by them.

Cristina studied Anatomy of the Trunk, Spine and Limbs with Irene Dowd and she still updates her skills attending weekly Pilates classes with Bob Liekens and by attending continuing education. Her approach is to identify each client's need and to adapt the exercise to them, in order to maximize results in a short period. Cristina has been featured on Oxygen TV, Self Magazine and Martha Stewart Living Television.

Brett Howard - Master Teacher - Brett Howard is a Senior Teacher of Teachers in the Authentic Pilates Method of Body Conditioning and a director of the U.S. Pilates Association teacher certification program. He has been certified in Authentic Pilates since 1998 and has been a Teacher of Teachers since 2003. Brett trained with Master Teacher Romana Kryzanowska as well as Master Teachers Bob Liekens and Sari Meijo Santo and was featured throughout the book “The Pilates Method of Body Conditioning” by Romana Kryzanowska and Sean Gallagher.

Brett holds a B.F.A. in Dance from S.U.N.Y. Purchase College Conservatory of Dance. He is currently pursuing a M.A. in Dance Education with a concentration in higher education from New York University Steinhardt Graduate School of Education. Brett presented at the 2004 and the 2005 National Dance Education Organization Conference and had his work published in the 2004 N.D.E.O. Conference.

Brett has danced for the Saeko Ichinohe Dance Company, Mary Seidman and Dancers, Stephan Koplowitz, Tarin Chaplin, Hemiko Minota, Renata Celichowska, and The Faun Dance Troupe. He is the Artistic Director and Choreographer of the dance company “Brett Howard and Company,” which he founded in 2001.

INSTRUCTORS

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.

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.

Kelly Hogan - Kelly, a former dancer with the companies of José Limón, Helen McGehee, and Louis Falco, has been a Certified Pilates Instructor since 1998. Her Pilates training with Bob Liekens, Romana Kryzanowska and Sari Pace made for a wonderful career transition, allowing her to teach all clients, not only dancers. She has also taught ballet and modern dance in Toronto, São Paolo, Bern and Bonn, at numerous universities in the States, and in New York City's schools of Alvin Ailey, Martha Graham, and Dance Theatre of Harlem. She is a Juilliard graduate.

Suzanne Lavey - Suzanne danced with the Metropolitan Opera at Lincoln Center for thirty-four years (1967-2001). During this tenure she was a principal soloist in productions of Faust, La Giaconda, Turandot and Aida. Suzanne began Pilates in 1996 as she found that it helped to maintain her dance technique as she was getting closer to retirement. At that point Suzanne was getting so much enjoyment out of Pilates she knew that she wanted to share the authentic method with others.

Nicole Lichau - Nicole experienced Pilates for the first time over ten years ago while working toward her B.F.A. in dance at the State University of New York Purchase. Nicole has used Pilates over the years to help her as a dancer stay in shape and avoid injuries. Nicole hopes to use the knowledge she has gained over the years to help others understand the Pilates Method.

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. 

Melissa Marks - Melissa is certified in Authentic Pilates, having received her training under the direction of Brett Howard.  She has enjoyed working with an extensive range of clients ages 15-85, whose needs encompass ballet cross-training to physical rehabilitation.  Melissa is also a registered RAD instructor of Classical Ballet and modern dance, holding the Certification in Ballet Teaching Studies from the Royal Academy of Dance, London.  Melissa has been awarded United States National Leadership and Service Awards as a counselor for young children and teens, guiding dancers with regard to issues of injury rehabilitation and prevention, nutrition, and social concerns.  Melissa is dedicated to ongoing participation in continuing education, so as to provide effective, professional instruction.

Julia Purtill - Julia Purtill is a Certified Pilates Instructor and member of the Pilates Method Alliance, who believes Pilates is a method of exercise that is beneficial to everyone. Prior to establishing her career in Pilates, Julia was a competitive gymnast and dancer. After sustaining a major knee injury, she turned to Pilates. Her difficult path of recovery taught her about strength, patience and self-awareness. She is able to apply her creative background to the Pilates method, working with each client and their specific needs with freshness and excitement. Julia has been able to see the benefits of Pilates in the lengthening and strengthening of her own body. Both she and her clients share wonderful moments when they are able to flow through a difficult exercise or they begin to feel relief from the pain with which they struggle. Julia graduated with a BFA from the University of Northern Colorado with an emphasis in Printmaking and Art History. She spent her childhood in Colorado and has since made New York City her home.

Gillian Rosenthal - Gillian's career in the healing arts began at age 17 with a stay at The Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Lenox, Mass. She has since become a certified yoga instructor, specializing in Vinyassa, pre and post natal, and mommy & me yoga. Gillian is also a practicing massage therapist; whole foods chef, trained at The Natural Gourmet Cookery School in NYC; and herbal apprentice to Rosemary Gladstar of the folk herbalists' tradition. Her focus on the body-mind connection has ultimately led her to Pilates. Gillian believes wholeheartedly in the system Joseph Pilates has created, and strives in her work as a teacher and practitioner to keep the work authentic. Gillian enjoys the challenge of working with clients as individuals, and utilizes the system in order to bring out the personal best in each one.

Najla Said - Najla is an actress who has been doing Pilates consistently for over eight years. She was certified by Brett Howard and Sean Gallagher in the authentic method in 2004.

Abby Silverman - Abby has been teaching Pilates for the last three years. She has taught extensively in Manhattan, Westchester and Fairfield County. She has also been a guest instructor in Europe and the Caribbean. She is a graduate of The Ohio State University with a degree in dance. Coming from a dance background, she brings an excellent body awareness and a desire to make Pilates fun! Abby is also a certified holistic health counselor and a graduate of The Institute for Integrative Nutrition, a program recognized by Columbia Teachers College. She focuses on offering a healthy lifestyle with emphasis on personal, individual diet as well as the importance of exercise. Abby has a passion for teaching and hopes to excite her clients as well.

Salome Solano - Salome's first experience with Pilates began in 1992 while pursing an MFA in dance at Temple University. She loved how her body changed as well as how it enhanced her dance training. In 2003, Salome began the Pilates certification program through the Pilates Studio and in 2004 was certified. Shortly thereafter, she spent three and a half months in Bermuda teaching at Bermuda Bodyworks. Salome's favorite thing about teaching is experiencing the excitement of her clients when they notice their body changing.

Marianne Veehoff - Marianne, a former actress, received her training from Romana's Pilates. She fell in love with it years ago and finally decided to dedicate her time to teaching it to others. Being an avid runner, she discovered new found strength, flexibility, and endurance thanks to Pilates. Known for her humor and resilient teaching style, she tries to make her clients smile as well as sweat!

Vehia Walker - Vehia began her Pilates training in 2000 after a fellow dancer introduced her to the Pilates “Series of Five” abdominal exercises, which left a lasting impression.  She loved the principles behind Pilates and the long, lean look it gave her body.  In 2001, she attended an introductory Pilates course in New York City.  Upon completion of this course, she knew she wanted to be an instructor.  However as a dancer, rehearsals, performances and traveling did not allow time for anything else.  In 2004, she entered the Authentic Pilates program at the Pilates Studio in New York City headed by Brett Howard.  Since then, she has taught throughout New Jersey and Manhattan.

Adrianne Yurgosky - Adrianne studied Political Science and French at Fordham University and became introduced to Pilates.  After continuously taking classes, she decided to dedicate more time to learning the method.  Adrianne has primarily worked with athletes who struggle with flexibility and want to enhance their performance.  However, she enjoys working with everyone and understanding how the method can work specifically for them.