our staff |
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PILATES
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Susan Simon - Owner of Harmony Pilates Studio & Certified Pilates Instructor |
Susan began her career as a dancer with a deep appreciation of classical and contemporary dance. After moving to California and having her second child, she suffered significant pain in her low back from a bulging disc. Given her familiarity with Pilates and its focus on core stabilization, she trained her way to complete recovery and became a fully certified Pilates Mat and Equipment Instructor through the prestigious PhysicalMind Institute®. She continues with self-practice and enjoys staying up to date on the latest innovations in The Method Pilates because she believes that the greatest teachers never stop learning. Her Pilates studies include tutelage under Jean Sullivan, Her credentials and accomplishments include a 1992 Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Point Park College, 2001 Mat/Equipment Certification from the PhysicalMind Institute®, 2006 PMA Certification, 5 years experience as a Pilates Personal Instructor in California, and 3 years ownership of Harmony Pilates Studio. Her own personal experience includes 35 years of dance, body and health awareness, and physical conditioning knowledge. Susan’s method of teaching has been described by her peers and her clients as knowledgeable, caring, patient, and experienced. She looks forward to working together with you on your own personal health and fitness journey. Susan believes that “Whether one desires to become more fit, pain free, or is just looking for an exploration of self, the flexibility of Pilates will enable us to design a program that is just right for him or her.” |
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Holly Manganaro - Certified Pilates Instructor |
| Holly was certified in Pilates mat and apparatus through Core Dynamics, under Michele Larsson, in 2005. She completed her comprehensive training at Wellspring Studio in Pittsburgh, PA where she was an instructor prior to her moving to North Carolina with her family.
Holly was first introduced to Pilates while studying ballet in Long Beach, CA. Holly danced professionally with the Long Beach Ballet and Nevada Dance Theatre. Following the several years as a professional ballet dancer and avid Pilates student, Holly moved to Pittsburgh to complete her college education and pursue her Pilates certification. After receiving her Associates Degree of Science, Holly worked as a Physical Therapist Assistant and was able to unite her knowledge of Pilates and therapy to benefit her patients to the fullest extent. Holly's experience in the rehab setting has given her the ability to help clients with pain or injury achieve harmony and balance through the Pilates Method. Her encouragement and close attention to detail inspires her clients to always strive to that next level. |
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Jackie Podence - Certified Pilates Instructor |
Jacqueline Podence is enjoying a rewarding career as a performer, choreographer, and educator. Ms. Podence was born in Allentown, PA where her love for movement began. She holds a BFA degree from Rutgers University Mason Gross School of the Arts and has worked with several contemporary dance companies in the New Jersey and New York area including the New York City based Dodge Dance Company from 2001 until 2006. Jacqueline’s strong affinity for personal well being inspired her to further her understanding of physical training by becoming a certified Pilates instructor through the PhysicalMind Institute. She has been training clients in both mat and standing Pilates since 2003 in New Jersey and Florida. Ms. Podence has recently graduated from Florida State University with her MFA in choreography and performance and is very happy to be joining the Harmony Pilates team. |
YOGA
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Erin Donovan - Certified Yoga Teacher |
| Erin has been practicing Vinyasa and Power Yoga since 1991, beginning with her mentor, Lucy Rose Caliendo. She has studied ISHTA Yoga with Master Yogiraj Allen Finger, Power Yoga with Lisa Bennett Matkin and Kundalini Yoga with Sigfried Koemetter, where she learned to absorb the health and balance of the body and mind through alignment, breathing, sequencing and relaxation. Her inspiration comes from the Vinyasa tradition and blending other Hatha yoga practices.
Certified with Yogafit, Erin has continued her education with OM Yoga founder Cyndi Lee, Ashtanga teacher David Swenson, Kundalini teacher Gurutej Kaur, Vinyasa Flow Yoga teacher Seane Corn, Pre-Natal Yoga teacher Jennifer Wolfe and many more wonderful teachers. Erin adapts yoga postures for each individual in order to evolve into the form and help to free each unique body, mind and spirit. Erin hopes to assist students in taking their innate strength, compassion, and mindfulness off their yoga mats and into their everyday lives. Earning her B.S. in Professional and Liberal Studies from Dowling College, majoring in Psychology and English in 1999, Erin studied Modern Dance and Pilates throughout college under Dorthea Caan and enjoys incorporating some of the movements into her classes. After moving to NC, Erin co-founded Yoga Experience with her sister Allison Young in 2002 to bring affordable yoga to the Triangle area. Upon closing in 2007, Erin has continued to teach in the Apex area and has since a little Yogini of her own. Abby was born in August 2008. |
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Nancy Hannah - Certified Yoga Teacher |
| Nancy has been practicing yoga for over 25 years. She earned her certification through The North Carolina School of Yoga, and holds certification in Advanced Studies in Yoga Instruction from The Asheville Yoga Center. She has enjoyed Continuing Education covering a variety of yoga styles taught by knowledgeable and respected teachers, among them: Yin Yoga with Paul Grilley, Essential Therapeutic Poses with Judith Lassiter, and Vinyasa Flow with Sean Corn.
Currently Nancy teaches for the Duke Cancer Patient Support Program at Breast Cancer Day Retreats and Annual Sea Side Retreats. She also teaches a Stress Management Class at the NCSU Women's Center, and a Mindful Movement as Medicine Class at Heartsfield Assisted Living of Cary. Local studios that have been home base in the past include: Yoga Experience of Apex; Anahata Healing Center of Cary; and Namaste Yoga Center of Cary. She also teaches private sessions in her home studio. Nancy encourages her students to trust their intuition and embrace a sense of fun as they explore the powerful impact that yoga practices can have on their responses to and recovery from stress, the everyday variety and the traumatic. |
DANCE
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Gozde Hilal, Bellydance Instructor/Choreographer/Performer |
Gozde began taking bellydance class while her daughter was a young toddler. After toting her around and then steadying her as she learned to walk, she felt like she was beginning to look more like a candy cane and less like a healthy, upright woman. She found a fabulous dance collective in the Boston area whose teaching combined compelling performance with courses rich in technical background. There she studied multiple times a week and fell in love with bellydance. Since moving to Carolina a decade ago, Gozde has studied with numerous master instructors, both in the US and in Turkey. She’s had the constant pleasure of working with other professionals, founding performance groups and teaching classes and workshops for women. “Introducing kids and seniors to the idea that they, too, can bellydance has been part of the delight I always feel while teaching.” Whether working with beginners or professionals, choreographing, or instructing dancers from across the world while in Turkey, bellydance is her deep, loving and playful expression in life. |
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Sarah Shelton, Flamenco Teacher |
| After years of fascination and searching for classes, Sarah began her flamenco studies in Durham with Carlota Santana. Two years later she took her first trip to Seville, Spain to study the art form in its birthplace and focus on flamenco puro, the most traditional, gypsy style. In 2007 she returned to Spain for 8 months to study flamenco intensively. While taking classes with La Farruca, La Faraona and Angelita Vargas, arguably the 3 greatest women in flamenco puro, she got a better understanding of the art's heritage and essence. Sarah, as a member of Flamenco Carolina, has been performing locally for years in festivals, schools, restaurants, and private events. |
KIDS MOVEMENT
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Tanja Kwiatkista, Flamenco Teacher and Certified Movement Therapist |
Tanja’s multi-faceted education allows her to utilize various techniques in each lesson: “It is not about results, but rather, the experience.” Her intention is not to offer a readymade program, but to provide an individualized session based on the needs of the children in each class. Tanja’s students are provided a setting free of judgment to experiment and discover their hidden skills and strengths. |
CONSULTANTS
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Jackie Hand, Registered Somatic Movement Therapist/Educator |
| Jackie has taught ballet, modern dance and Laban Movement Analysis (LMA) for many years. She has been on the dance faculties of Emory University (Atlanta) and Gettysburg College (PA) and has served on the certification faculty at the Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies in NYC for 25 years. She has also taught Laban Movement Analysis and Bartenieff Fundamentalssm at New York University, Teachers’ College Columbia University, Movements Afoot (with John Chanik) in NYC, Montclair State University (NJ) and in Berlin and Budapest. She taught both LMA and Experiential Anatomy at the 2004 and 2006 Bates Dance Festival (ME) and continues to guest teach throughout the US. She is a current faculty member in the Modular and Bartenieff Certificate Programs at the Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies in New York City.
Jackie uses her LMA training in ballet, improvisation and movement for actors, and in choreography and creative movement for children and teens. Former students have danced with Martha Graham Dance Company, Paul Taylor Dance Company, Pacific Northwest Ballet and Harrisburg Ballet (PA) and are teaching and administrating in university dance programs in the United States, Brazil and Europe. Jackie’s movement research and publications include working on an Occupational Safety and Health grant from the New Jersey Department of Education, awarded to fellow CMA Ruth Clark for a study for the performing arts’ dance and drama training programs at Gloucester County Institute of Technology, and “Motif Informs” (online). She recently presented a workshop on "Energy Science and its Relevance to Laban Movement Analysis" in Arlington VA to Washington Area Certified Movement Analysts. She has worked as a consultant for a Movement Analysis Interview Behavior Study at John Jay College of Criminal Justice (NYC) and is a contributor to the Rosen Publishing Group’s 1999 The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Body-Mind Disciplines. A Connective Tissue practitioner since 1983, she presented “Irmgard Bartenieff’s Connective Tissue Therapysm and Bartenieff Fundamentalssm/Laban Movement Analysis – An Integrated Modality for Effective Change.” at a movement conference in CA in June 2006. Since 2000, she has studied CranioSacral Therapy through the Upledger Institute assists in the Institute’s training classes, and as of March 31st, 2009, is Techniques Certified as a CranioSacral Therapist. She has a private practice in Connective Tissue Therapy, Movement Re education and CranioSacral Therapy. Jackie holds an MA (University of Oregon), BFA (The Ohio State University), is a Certified (Laban) Movement Analyst, Connective Tissue Therapist, Registered Somatic Movement Therapist/Educator, Certified Teacher of Labanotation, is Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB), New Jersey State Certified in Massage, Bodywork & Somatic Therapy and Certified as a Massage Therapist in the Commonwealth of Virginia. |
219 North Salem Street, Suite 103, Apex, NC 27502