Each of our professional, certified instructors brings unique and outstanding talents to their teaching as well as a deep passion for Pilates and its benefits.
Megan Bascom
Megan Bascom received her Pilates certification through the Kane School of Core Integration in NYC and her BA in Dance Studies focusing on Dance Injury and Prevention from the University of South Florida. She has had a passion for anatomy for as long as she can remember and enjoys sharing her anatomy knowledge with clients to help them better understand exercises and how the body moves. Her experience as a dancer provides her with a detailed sense of movement, allowing her to facilitate a thorough movement experience and individual workout for each client. Megan also teaches dance to children in NYC and CT and dances professionally with a Brooklyn-based modern dance company.
Personal Philosophy on teaching Pilates
Pilates promotes strength, flexibility, coordination and a deeper overall sense of one's own body. There are many ways of modifying each of the Pilates exercises to suit the individual's needs. The basic core principals of the Pilates method can be applied to other forms of activity in our lives.
Mary received her certification through The Kane School of Core Integration, New York in 2003. She has been teaching private sessions, group classes, and mat classes in New York City and Long Island for the past six years. Mary firmly believes in structuring her sessions by carefully explaining the core principals of the work, before building up a client's strength to go on to more advanced work.
With a background in classical ballet, which Mary has studied for nearly 30 years in London, Los Angeles and New York, she was initially introduced to Pilates through her ballet teacher in London. She continues her studies in this fascinating work, taking workshops whenever she can. She has also studied yoga and modern dance, and loves to dance Argentine tango.
Personal Philosophy on teaching Pilates
Pilates is a total mind/body centering practice. When properly practiced, it brings enormous benefits: longer, leaner muscles with strong core abdominals and a greater freedom of movement and well-being.
Courtney is a native New Yorker and was introduced to the Pilates method ten years ago, as a young dance student. Her ballet training includes studying on scholarship at the School of American Ballet, Ballet Academy East, Miami City Ballet, and Boston Ballet, among other schools. She is currently a professional dancer and loves Pilates for the physical strength and balance it gives her. Courtney received her 600-hour Pilates certification on the mat work and all apparatus while simultaneously earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Dance and Kinesiology at Indiana University, where she graduated with highest distinction. In addition to Pilates, Courtney is a certified Yoga instructor and Reiki practitioner, as well as a classically trained pianist.
Personal Philosophy on teaching Pilates
Courtney enjoys teaching Pilates because it allows her to imbue clients with an increased mind-body connection and greater ease of movement.
Lauren Garson holds a BFA in Dance from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA. She is STOTT Pilates
certified on all apparatus, receiving her certification in Chicago, IL. There she taught group classes
and private lessons at Harmony Mind Body Fitness, working with clients of all ages and backgrounds.
Throughout her training and teaching, she also completed additional Anatomy and Biomechanics courses
as well as a Cadaver Lab at the University of Illinois. Prior to shifting her focus into the Pilates world,
Lauren was a dance instructor for over 10 years. In New York City, Lauren continues her professional
dance career and is excited about sharing and expanding her knowledge of Pilates.
Personal Philosophy on teaching Pilates
A Pilates session can be a unique balance between aligning the body and exploring its potential safely by
applying the Pilates principles to movement as well as to the actions every day life.
Danielle O'Connell has been teaching Classical Pilates since 2000 when she was certified by Joseph Pilates' progege Romana Kryzanowska. She comes from more of an athletic background than dance background, and has learned to appreciate how the Pilates Method can enhance and prepare the body for any type of physical movement. She is also a certified yoga teacher having been certified by OM in 2002, and has worked extensively in Anusara yoga. She is also a mom to 2 young children and loves cooking, running and dark chocolate.
Personal Philosophy on teaching Pilates
Her teaching focuses closely on alignment, breath and body awareness.
Georgette is an authentic certified Pilates instructor and a licensed Dance Therapist. She has explored her passion for movement through many years of dance, Yoga, and Pilates. Her discovery of Pilates and her decision to become an instructor was a natural progression of her physical pursuits. After dancing over 25 years she began taking Pilates as a way to find relief from her own hip injury. She earned her teaching certification from the Kane School of Core Integration, New York City in 2008 and her masters in Creative Arts Therapy from Pratt Institute in 2007.
Personal Philosophy on teaching Pilates
Georgette shares her knowledge of the body and mind connection by teaching Pilates and movement for a better way of health and being.
