Our Staff | Center For Movement

Shanna Funk, Scarsdale Studio Manager.

Shanna graduated from the Art Institute of Seattle with a degree in Fashion Marketing. She brings to this position an extensive background in customer service and management.

Alexia Simmons, Pilates Instructor.

BA in Theatre, Texas Tech University. Certification: The Pilates Studio/Romana Kryzanowska, 2003.

Andrea Lynne Balliette, Pilates Instructor.

Lynne Balliette has been a certified Pilates instructor since 1998, receiving her initial training from Romana Kryzanowska in New York, NY. She holds certifications from Romana’s Pilates, The Pilates Studio, and The Pilates Guild, and is a gold-certified instructor and member of the Pilates Method Alliance, an international professional association for the Pilates method. Lynne was the first full-time Pilates instructor in the Dance Department at Goucher College, Maryland, where she taught from 1998 to 2001. In addition to teaching Pilates in the US and abroad, she has appeared in television news programs, newspaper articles, and an instructional DVD on Pilates. Prior to her Pilates training, Lynne received an M.F.A degree in dance performance and choreography from the University of Michigan and danced and choreographed professionally in New York. She has studied anatomy and kinesiology with Irene Dowd, among others, and she completed a Master of Arts degree in movement science from Teachers College, Columbia University, in May 2009

Anna Moy, Pilates Instructor.

BS in Management, New York University. Certification: The Pilates Studio/Romana Kryzanowska, 2001.

Barbra Schneider, Pilates Instructor.

BA in Special Education, Lesley College. Certification: Pilates Comprehensive Certification Center for Movement, 2008.

Courtney Zimmerman, Pilates Instructor.

Courtney Zimmerman was born and raised in the great city of New Orleans, Louisiana. After high school, she went on to become a dance major at the University of California-Irvine, receiving a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree and graduating Cum Laude. While training in Southern California, a spinal injury ensued and led her to the discovery of Pilates. She received her certification in California before venturing out to New York City and has now been teaching at the Center for Movement since the Summer of 2007. She finds her work to be extremely rewarding and enjoys working with clients who are looking to benefit from what everything Pilates has to offer.

Jeannie Michaels, Pilates Instructor.

BFA in Dance, BA in Anthropology, SUNY Purchase. Certification: The Pilates Studio/Romana Kryzanowska, 2000.

Janine Flasschoen, Gyrotonic Instructor.

Janine Flasschoen is a native of Kansas City, and was introduced to GYROTONIC® by her daughter living in New York City as a means to rehabilitate her back after surgery in 2000. She quickly realized the supported system of GYROTONIC offered an effective approach to recovery as well as a means to maintaining the health of her back.The lack of GYROTONIC studios in the Midwest led her to begin studying GYROTONIC in New York City. Inspired by this new path to individual fitness needs and goals she became certified in 2003 and began teaching in the Kansas City area. There she owned one of the first GYROTONIC studios where she hosted the first teacher training with Master Trainer Adrianna Thompson in 2006.Continuing education is of utmost importance to her, and she has completed workshops in GYROTONIC applications for golf with David Rasmussen and GYROTONIC applications for physical therapy of the hips and shoulders with Paul Horvath. She is certified on 2 additional pieces of specialized GYROTONIC equipment, and recently completed the training for GYROKINESIS®. She is presently in a 3 year training program for the Alexander Technique. Her background includes course study for a BFA in dance at the University of Missouri’s Conservatory of Music in Kansas City. She has been practicing yoga for over 15 years, teaching yoga for 10 years and has trained with David Swenson, Max Strom, Bhavani Maki, Tim Miller, Beryl Bender Birch, Mark Blanchard, David Williams, Bryan Kest, Ana Forrest, Kim Schwartz, Rolf Gates among others. She is passionate about self-discovery and personal growth at the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels. With this passion she invites self exploration and seeks to awaken self discovery within her clients.

Jennifer Ottati, Pilates Instructor.

Holds B.A. and M.A. in education from Manhattanville College. Comprehensive Pilates Teacher Certification through Center for Movement, 2009.

Jean McCabe, Pilates Instructor.

Jean McCabe is a former ballet dancer with the Joffrey Ballet of New York and the Stuttgart Ballet of Germany. She performed in a varied repetoire from "Swan Lake" to the "Taming of the Shrew" to "Mythical Hunters", while doing extensive international tours. Jean studied Pilates with the master teacher Romana, Joseph Pilates student and disciple. Jean enjoys performing in community theatre productions and does ballroom dancing. She brings her varied and eclectic background to her teaching. Jean has been teaching at Center for Movement for 10 years.

Jess Sandberg, Pilates Instructor.

Jess Sandberg began her pilates studies in California at the University of California Irvine. She studied at Irvine as a classical dancer and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance from one of the top programs in the country. She also participated in a sports medicine internship in the schools athletics department. Pilates was the perfect compliment to her dance training, and something she learned to appreciate more and more. Upon arriving in New York City, she entered into Center for Movements instructor training program. Along with working as a physical therapist aide at a spinal and sports medicine office, she has been enjoying teaching ever since. Jess loves to be able to introduce the benefits of pilates and help her clients attain their personal goals. She enjoys sharing her knowledge of pilates training and taking each student to the next level.

Kristen Baker, Pilates Instructor.

Kristen is a classically trained ballerina through the Royal Academy of Dance and has studied under some of the most noted instructors in the nation. She holds a BS in ballet from Indiana University, where she also obtained her Pilates certification in 2005. She has since become certified in personal training through Hunter College and the American Council on Exercise. Kristen continues to attend seminars and classes to further her knowledge of Pilates, exercise science, and kinesiology

Lisa Duncan, Pilates Instructor.

BA in Exercise Sports Science, minor in Dance, Texas Tech University. Certification: The Pilates Studio/Romana Kryzanowska, 2003.

Marcia Green, Pilates Instructor.

BA in Music & Theater, Long Island University. Licensed Cosmetologist. Certification: Core Pilates, 2007.

Morwen Banq, Teacher Trainer- Center for Movement's Certification Program.

Dance Degree from France. Certification: The Pilates Studio/Romana Kryzanowska, 2003. Morwen joined our staff in 2003 and has proven herself as an accomplished and talented instructor. Morwen's commitment and passion for upholding the integrity of Joseph Pilates' method has not only lead her to become one of our most popular instructors, but has allowed her to become the head instructor for CFM's Pilates Certification Program.

Melissa Woyshner, Pilates Instructor.

Melissa began studying the Pilates Method as a student in 2004. She loved the results that Pilates had on her own body and decided to increase her understanding of the method by enrolling in a comprehensive certification program. In 2007 she completed Core Pilates Comprehensive Certification. In addition she has been certified in Pre-Natal and Post-Natal care.

Monica Stephenson, Gyrotonic & Pilates Instructor.

Monica Stephenson is originally from Fayetteville, North Carolina. She moved to Winston-Salem, NC at the age of 14 to train intensively at the North Carolina School of the Arts. She graduated in 2001 and completed the Professional Training Program at the Houston Ballet Academy in 2002. At the age of 19, Monica received her first professional contract as a trainee with the Washington Ballet. She went on to perform with the Dance Theatre of Harlem Ensemble from 2003-2005. In October of 2006, Monica joined the Los Angeles Ballet as a member of the corps de ballet. Monica performed with Los Angeles Ballet for the 2006-2010 seasons and was on faculty at the Los Angeles Ballet School where she taught Pilates and developed Classical Pilates for the Young Dancer TM. She also taught Pilates for Susanne Thom Physical Therapy and Equinox Fitness Clubs. Monica received her mat certification through Power Pilates in New York City in 2005 and her comprehensive equipment certification in 2006. She is also a fully certified GYROTONIC® instructor.

Nicole Baltes, Pilates Instructor.

Nicole grew up in Southern California and began her Pilates training in 1998 after sustaining a variety of injuries resulting from dance. Pilates offered her a way to rehabilitate from these injuries, as well as to continue to maintain her life as a dancer. Having over 20 years of training in all styles of dance, Nicole has performed both concert and commercial work throughout the Southern California and New York areas, has taught and choreographed, and was a cast member aboard a Holland America Cruise Line. After moving to New York in 2004, she continued her Pilates training and performing. As a way to bring together her love for Pilates, movement and teaching, Nicole received her Comprehensive Pilates Teacher Certification as well as her Advanced Mat Certification through Core Pilates NYC in 2009. She is very passionate about the abundant benefits that Pilates can bring to everyone and always looks forward to sharing this passion and excitement with her clients.

Olga Maidan, Pilates Instructor and Gyrotonic Instructor.

Certification: Pilates, 2004. Certification: Sal Anthony's Movement Salon, Gyrotonic, 2007.

Patrick Garvey, Pilates Instructor.

Holds a Bachelor's Degree in English from Antioch University, Ohio. Serves as a FDNY Paramedic. Completed certification through Core Pilates, 2008.

Sayaka Higashi, Pilates Instructor.

Sayaka is originally from Japan. Growing up she studied Japanese traditional dance, Jazz and Modern dance, and performed around the country. When she came to the US she started taking Pilates as a method of daily exercise, in addition to her dance training and has been hooked ever since. She believes Pilates is one of the most effective mind body exercise available today. Sayaka received her Pilates certification from Power Pilates in 2005.

Susan Uriarte

Holds a B.A. from Emory University, Pilates Comprehensive Certification Center for Movement 2006.

Stephanie DeNardis, Pilates Instructor.

BFA in Dance, The New School/Joffrey Ballet School. Certification: New York Pilates Studio, 2004.

Simone Cardoso, Pilates Instructor.

Former Professional Dancer, Dance Theater of Harlem. Certification: The Pilates Studio/Romana Kryzanowska, 1997.

Tara Harrison, Pilates Instructor.

Tara graduated from Wagner College with a B.A in Musical Theater Performance with a minor in Dance and English. Her certification is from Center for Movement completed 2008. After obtaining several injuries including a labral tear in her hip Tara turned to pilates as part of her physical therapy and brings this experience to her teaching. Tara also dances and choreographs around the country.

Yasco Sato, Gyrotonic Instructor.

Certified Gyrotonic Instructor

Yael Lubar, Pilates Instructor.

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 The Center for Movement.

Heidi DePante, Pilates Instructor.

Certification Pilates Studio 2007. I have always maintained an active lifestlye by incorporating Pilates, running and dance in my daily routine. I take great pride in motivating and helping others understand the benefits of leading a healthy lifestyle.

Emily LaHaie, Pilates Instructor.

Emily LaHaie has always been active, involved in both dance and figure skating from a young age. She received her dance training from the Classical Ballet Academy of Northern Virginia, the Rock School of Pennsylvania Ballet and the North Carolina School of the Arts. In addition to dance, she competed regionally and nationally with the Capitol Steps synchronized skating team. Currently she dances with both Kusterflux and Tamara Saari Dance. Emily holds a bachelors degree in Studio Art from NYU as well as a certificate in French as a Foreign Language from Université Laval in Québec City. Her Pilates training began over ten years ago as a complement to her dance training and has been helpful in overcoming injuries. She loves the increased body awareness and strength she gets from Pilates. Emily received her Comprehensive Certification from Core Pilates NYC and is thrilled to be teaching.

Hanadi Ghezraoui, Gyrotonic Instructor.

Certified Gyrotonic Instructor