I am strong, I believe you are too, and I am privileged to have the opportunity to practice both inner and outer strength together.
I understand how movement can be taken for granted. In the first two decades of my life, I watched my parents go from living full, adventurous lives to separately being debilitated and dying from cancer, strokes, and dementia. I witnessed firsthand how movement or lack of it could impact someone's mental and physical well-being. I also realized how inaccessible many forms of movement can be, and how inaccessible our world can be to those who move and perceive the world differently.
My life experiences led me to the health profession and my fascination with the connection between the mind and body led me to pursue a neuroscience degree followed by a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology at the University of Michigan. I've since spent over 6 years working in public health research at the state, national, and international levels. I am currently a managing research scientist focusing on quantifying the global burden of anemia and hemoglobinopathies for an institute based out of the University of Washington.
Though I like how population health research can lead to systemic change, I miss the personal connection one gets as a health practitioner. Pilates is the missing piece that allows me to directly change individual's lives for the better.
I began practicing Pilates consistently in 2020 on a mat in my living room following an online program with Sara Colquhoun. I was attempting a long bike tour across Michigan and needed to build strength in my legs as my knee pain had returned. She taught Pilates in an accessible way that allowed me to experience movement that didn't hurt during or afterward for the first time in my life. What started as a supplement to my cycling quickly became my preferred form of movement. Pilates not only allowed me to move stronger and better every day, but was a savior for my mental health after some of the most stressful times of my life (oh, and also during the pandemic).
In 2021, I began practicing with Steve Sisk of Pilates of East Lansing and in 2023, with the team at Pilates in Holland. In 2024, with encouragement from my instructors, I started the Pilates teacher training program with Ahmé Bovée, Amy Hamilton, and Dayle Buick at Bovée Pilates.
Pilates has opened up the world of movement for me again. There are no prerequisites to be able to do Pilates-- the exercise instead meets you where you are. You don't need stellar hand/eye coordination, don't need to play on a team, and don't need to be a certain weight or height to participate and get a great workout. Regular movement and building strength enables people to do all of the other things that make life worth living-- whether that is hiking, kayaking, flying on a plane to visit friends, or picking up children or pets. My philosophy is that movement is for everybody, and Pilates is intentionally designed to be modified so every body can move.
