Our Instructors

It’s true, this is a beautiful building with an array of amazing equipment. However, what truly makes us special is the quality instructors who work here.

Kathy Anderson

Owner/Pilates & GYROTONIC® Instructor
Kathy's experience in business management and dance have prepared Kathy in manifesting her current vision expressed through her "world class" Pilates studio. Fully Stott trained, Certified Pilates Golf instructor and Gyrotonic Foundation Level I teacher, Kathy is committed to bringing an integrative approach to well-being through Pilates, Gyrotonic exercise and movement techniques by opening My Pilates Studio. It is a studio to nurture the balance of mind, body and spirit thus creating overall positive physical benefits. It's also an environment where programs and services are presented by experienced, credentialed and committed instructors. As her mother said to her shortly before her death, "Find something you love to do and the rest will fall into place." What a wise woman she was!
Contact Kathy Anderson by Email

Nikki Lawson

Stott Certified Pilates Instructor
Nikki is an energetic instuctor trained and certified specifically in STOTT PILATES. Her focus is on emphasizing neutral alignment, core stability and peripheral mobility for an overall improvement of life. A background in science allows her to apply an extensive knowledge of anatomy while developing effective workout programs for clients ranging from post-rehabilitation patients to elite athletes. Known for her innovative matt classes, Nikki focuses on keeping exercise interesting and fresh while maintaining balance and unity.
Contact Nikki Lawson by Email

Alicia Perkins

Pilates Instructor/Massage Therapist
Alicia Perkins is a trained STOTT Pilates Instructor on both Mat & Reformer and Licensed Massage Therapist in the State of Ohio. As a STOTT Pilates Instructor Alicia takes her understanding of the body’s alignment and imbalances to another level where the body moves freely to re-align naturally through the amazing form of exercise that is Pilates. Alicia has practiced massage both individually and corporately and believes massage is a corrective therapy as well as a preventative modality and a foundation for the reduction or elimination of pain and stress, increased circulation, more flexibility, deep relaxation, and a sense of euphoria with more vital energy.

Peri Akers

Stott Certified Pilates/Yoga Instructor
Peri has 100 Hours of private Yoga training from Jyotika. She is a Kripalv Institute trained yogi under direct guidance of Dr. Amrit Pesai. Her other Yoga training includes: Vinyasa – Sean Corn, Iyengar – Mary Dunn. Vini- Gary Kraftson and Ashtanya with Brian and Johny Kest. She is a Physical Mind Certified Pilates Instructor and has 200 Hours of Pilate’s reformer training. Other credits include: A.C.E. Certified Fitness Trainer, Reebok Core training instructor, Precision Cycling Instructor, Postural Analysis Specialist, and a Total Body Flexibility Specialist. She also is American Red Cross CPR Certified. Peri is presently working on bachelors in Natural Health & Nutrition. She has 3 years experience training clients of all populations.
Contact Peri Akers by Email

Vanessa Corrigan

Certified Pilates Instructor
Vanessa has been practicing Pilates daily since 1997. As a fully certified Pilates instructor, with a Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts from Ohio University, Vanessa has taught private and group classes on Pilates apparatus and mat since 2001. Vanessa has attended Pilates Methods workshops with Stott Pilates, Ron Fletcher, and at Physical Mind Institute with Joan Breibart and Barbara Sampson. While managing the equipment teacher training course for The Physical Mind Institute in NYC, Vanessa was a fitness model for two instructor-training manuals, and the assistant editor of Pilates Protocols, a comprehensive guide geared toward teaching Pilates to people with special contraindications. Vanessa's consistent and positive attitude is attributed to her personal passion for pure foods and spiritual practice.
Contact Vanessa Corrigan by Email

Shari Bowman

Registered Yoga Instructor
Shari Bowman is a Registered Yoga Instructor, teaching in the Dayton area for over 6 years. Shari has studied extensively with John Friend, and is listed on his website as an Anusara-inspired teacher. Most recently, she completed a weeklong training with John Friend in Yoga Therapeutics. Shari has also studied with many well known teachers, including: Shiva Rea, Baron Baptiste, Rodney Yee, Doug Swenson, and Cindi Lee from Om Yoga Studio. She is the only certified Yoga for Golfers instructor in Ohio. Shari brings an athletic spin to her Yoga practice, incorporating core and strength training into a heart inspiring class. Hatha, Anusara, and Ashtanga blend together seamlessly as the class unfolds. Each class is designed to challenge the body, open the heart, and inspire evolution.
Contact Shari Bowman by Email

Janet Lawson

Transformational Breath Work Instructor
Janet Lawson spent over 27 years as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor and Employer Services Trainer serving people with disabilities. Over the last two years she has completed training in Transformational Breath Work with the founder of this work, Judith Kravitz. With two other Transformational Breath Facilitators she offers twice monthly workshops at The My Pilates Studio as well as other seminars and workshops throughout the region bringing this profound breathwork to people to access their own inner wisdom and healing power.
Contact Janet Lawson by Email

Cindy Kester

Pilates/Rehab Specialist - Certified Health & Fitness ACSM
Cindy holds a bachelors degree in Physical Therapy from Cleveland State University. She has worked in health care for over 20 years, primarily in orthopedics and spine rehabilitation. A life long exercise enthusiast, Cindy has devoted most of her adult life to health and wellness. She achieved her certification as a Health and Fitness Instructor with the American College of Sports Medicine to assist her clients beyond their rehabilitation period. Working at Sinclair Community College as an adjunct faculty member, Cindy realized she also had a love for teaching. This has fueled her desire to educate and promote injury prevention, teach awareness of movement and posture, and overall physical fitness. Her work with illness and disease over many years has given her a desire to help others toward health and wellness thru Pilates.
Contact Cindy Kester by Email

Darin Stahl

Yoga Instructor
Darin is a martial artist with over 15 years of experience. He began his training studying various martial systems from Japan, China, Indonesia and the Philippines. For the past nine years Darin has dedicated himself to the Burmese system of Bando. He currently holds a Black Belt in Kenpo Karate and a second level Black Belt in the Bando System. In 2003, Darin established the Dayton Bando Club to share these arts with his students. In 2004, he co-authored the first Dhanda Yoga Book written for the American Bando Association. He is currently working on the Letha Yoga book for release in 2006.
Contact Darin Stahl by Email

Sandy Locke Burkley

Pilates Instructor
She's a professional designer that is so passionate about the practice and benefits of Pilates that she changed careers to become a Stott-certified instructor. She has always been interested in movement and have studied all types of dance, including bellydance, which she still enjoys as a hobby. She was first introduced to Pilates during a dance class in 1978! She was curious & practiced some of the movements from a book. She started Pilates classes at a studio in 2000, studying traditional method Pilates movements, as developed by Joseph Pilates. Her recent anatomy-based Stott training in Mat and Reformer gives her a more modern approach, while still incorporating traditional Pilates movements into her classes.
Contact Sandy Locke Burkley by Email

Ericka A. Hahn

Certified Massage Therapist
Ericka is a Nationally Certified Massage Therapist, can facilitate one's innate ability to prevent disease and allow the body to heal naturally. Ericka was first certified in North Carolina, where she practiced until returning to Dayton, Ohio. She received certification by the State Medical Board of Ohio in January 2007, and continues to be an active member of the American Massage Therapy Association.
Contact Ericka A. Hahn by Email

Cara Bonney

Certified Pilates Instructor
Cara Bonney is a certified athletic trainer and certified strength & conditioning specialist and is a Stott Pilates trained instructor. She received her undergraduate degrees from Purdue University in athletic training and exercise science and a masters degree from University of Cincinnati in health and exercise management.
Contact Cara Bonney by Email

Joyelle Fobbs

Stott Certified Pilates Instructor
Joyelle Fobbs was a former ballerina with the Dance Theatre of Harlem in NYC and has her BFA in dance from University of Michigan. She is a Stott certified mat instructor and has taught Pilates for 3 years on the university level in group, semi-private and private settings.
Contact Joyelle Fobbs by Email

Shelley E. Rike

Certified Pilates Instructor
H.H.P., L.M.T., C.P.I
Shelley Rike has been dancing since she could walk. She started studying science and dance at Fort Lewis College to prepare her for education from the Silver Sword Academy of Healing Arts in Durango, CO. In 1998 she graduated as a holistic health practitioner moving on to San Diego for her internship in trauma rehabilitation and sports therapy. She has been integrating nutrition, massage, crainosacral, visceral, and movement therapies since to bring balance and initiate a self healing response in the body. She has taught dance and yoga, but it was not until healing her own back with Pilates did she realize the importance of strengthening the bodies core in the correct posture to support the spine. She then studied Pilates through Core Conditioning in Santa Barbara, Ca. As a trainer she focuses on each person's individual needs, facilitating this fine tuning in the body. She works with rehabilitation as well as fitness and especially enjoys pre and post natal.
Contact Shelley E. Rike by Email

Pilates instructor demonstrating proper form and technique