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.”

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.

Betsy Ward-Hutchinson has been teaching dance, dancing and choreographing in the Triangle area for 25 years. As a founding member of the Rainbow Dance Company at Arts Together, she grew up in a tradition of dancing with the body, mind, and spirit. She has been a life long student of dance and movement.

Betsy has a degree in dance from Meredith College and a graduate degree in dance education from UNC-Greensboro. She currently teaches dance to grades 6-12 at Cary Academy. “Every part of us, every tiny cell of ourselves, is in movement, and we are so fortunate when we can choose to create that movement to find joy and harmony and well being.”

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.

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.

Tanja’s multi-faceted education allows her to utilize various techniques in each lesson:
dance theater, ergonomic movements, games with no losers, rhythm, psychomotor skills, arts and singing. In this holistic manner, the joy is about the movement and the artistic process.

“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.