Hilery Avritt, Mount Baker
Hilery began practicing Pilates in 1998 when she utilized the method to rehabilitate her back from an auto accident. She soon discovered her body was stronger, more flexible and healthier than before the accident. She became inspired to study Pilates and the human body further, and began teaching Pilates in 2000. Hilery opened Vitality Pilates in 2001 and heads our Instructor Certification and Personal Enrichment Program.
Adena Atkins
A California native, Adena grew up playing soccer and was athletic but lacked flexibility and coordination. When she went to a chiropractor about her developing knee pain at the tender age of 16, he informed her that she had the flexibility of a 70-year-old man. Her sister challenged her to take a ballet class, and though she literally couldn’t waltz, the challenge thrilled her. Adena became obsessed with the medium, choreographing as well as performing every chance she got. She choreographed for the Ventura College Opera Workshop and taught movement at the Ventura Community Kid’s Arts Program. Along the way, one of her mentors insisted that she try Pilates.
Within her first three lessons, Adena had the opportunity to train with master teachers Gail Desart and Bonnie Sessions, who suggested she consider teaching and offered her a position at her studio. After observing various methods of Pilates instruction, she chose the BASI certification school due to the creative breadth of the block system and the practical bent of its choreography. After three years of personal practice, nine months in the comprehensive program studying with master teacher Kristi Cooper White, and a year of student teaching, she became a full-fledged teacher in 2003.
Adena feels lucky to have taught alongside and mentored with master teachers Bonnie Sessions and Jen Wood, and to have taken workshops with others, including Karen Clippenger and BASI founder Rael Isacowitz. In 2006, she moved to Boston, where she taught at a physical therapy facility as well as at the award-winning Modern Pilates studio in Brookline, under the guidance of Lisa Johnson. She also took workshops and worked privately with master Pilates and Gyrotonics instructor Kathy Van Patten. Adena is thrilled to be back on the golden coast, teaching in a thriving studio that emphasizes accessibility and education.
Vera Bullen, Mount Baker
Vera was drawn to the Pilates instructor certification program at Vitality after she returned from three years of teaching ballet, dance history, kinesiology and dance conditioning at the University of Auckland in New Zealand. Previously, Vera taught ballet to children and teens in private studios in Seattle for 13 years.
Vera is passionate about anatomy and loves sharing her knowledge with her students, while making her classes fun. After working with children for so many years, she finds teaching adults to be more rewarding and personally satisfying. She finished her instructor certification in 2010, and has recently started teaching supplemental experiential anatomy sessions in the instructor-training program.
Vera holds BAs in dance and drama from the University of Washington, an MA in Dance Studies from Laban in London, and a Master of Creative and Performing Arts from the University of Auckland. She is a member of and has presented at both the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science, and the Performing Arts Medicine Association.
Christine Fosmire, Mount Baker
Christine ran competitively in the Colorado Mountain Race Circuit for six years. A running injury (ITBS) brought her to her first Pilates teacher, Karen Clippinger, a renowned exercise physiologist. Christine practiced with Karen intensely for two years. After moving to Seattle, and 8 years of Pilates practice, Christine was encouraged to teach Pilates, she entered into Vitality’s Instructor Certification and Enrichment Program. Christine feels like she has found the ideal career in teaching Pilates. In Christine’s own words “Teaching Pilates feels like a perfect fit for me. I hope to provide a challenging and supportive atmosphere for others to experience the power and benefits Pilates provides.”
Tiffany Galer, Phinney Ridge
Tiffany was first drawn to Pilates because of its fluidity and the invigorated feeling she left class with. She quickly found relief from a chronic shoulder problem caused by 5 years of drafting as a Landscape Architect and began noticing a deeper awareness of her body’s movement patterns along with improved strength and posture. Feeling so excited by her own experiences, Tiffany felt eager to help others feel similar benefits; she graduated from Vitality Pilates' Instructor Certification program and feels very fulfilled by her change in career path.
Tiffany enjoys seeing clients walk out of their sessions smiling, feeling rejuvenated and excited about the improvements they feel physically and emotionally. When she’s not in the studio, Tiffany may be found enjoying good music, kayaking, hiking and other fun outdoor adventures or at home refining her ice cream making skills.
Melissa Galvan
Melissa, a native Seattleite and University of Washington Graduate, grew up dancing for Elizabeth Lanning at Elizabeth's Dance Dimension in Bellevue Washington. At the age of 17 Melissa was recruited to dance by KSR (Kazarian/Spencer/Ruskin & Associates) formerly KSA (Kazarian/Spencer & Associates) based out of Los Angeles, California.
Melissa was drawn to Pilates as a means of physical recovery after a near fatal car accident that occurred in October 1999 which resulted in her having to forfeit her dancing career. Upon returning to Seattle and after countless years of physical rehabilitation marked by frustration and little progress, Melissa discovered via classes at Vitality Pilates that with modifications to many of the Pilates exercises she could challenge herself physically at a level that was unattainable via traditional physical therapy.
This success led her to the Instructor Certification Program at Vitality, where she is now a Certified Pilates Instructor. In February 2010 Melissa welcomed into this world the birth of her first son, this journey inspired Melissa to specialize in Pre & Post Natal Pilates. Melissa now excitedly welcomes women in any stage of pregnancy (pre & post partum) into her classes (she is now expecting her 2nd child). In 2011 Vitality Pilates invited Melissa to be an Instructor Trainer in the Vitality Pilates Instructor Training Program. In addition to her love for Pilates, Melissa is also a Certified TRX Trainer.
Lisa Kugler, Mount Baker
Lisa is working towards full certification from Vitality's Instructor Training Program. She holds a B.A. in Liberal Studies from Sonoma State University in California where she has been a credentialed teacher for 10 years.
Her first encounter with Pilates was after childbirth in 2002 , thanks to the purchase of an at home Pilates mat repertoire. Regular practice left Lisa feeling like her old self again, only better. Her postpartum rectus abdominal separation began to heal, her limbs were undeniably more toned and her posture improved. It wasn't until four years later after her second child was born, that Lisa experienced the Reformer for the first time while living in Los Angeles. After her first session, she felt taller, stronger and more balanced in her body.
Lisa quickly developed a healthy addiction to her Pilates practice by incorporating it into her regular exercise routine of hiking, running, biking and chasing after her two kids. In fact, Lisa stumbled on Vitality's Mount Baker location during a morning run. She took it as a sign and enrolled in the training program. Lisa is excited to share her love of teaching and Pilates with her clients and become a certified instructor.
Mari LaRocca , Phinney Ridge
Born and raised in Ballard, Mari has spent most of her life dancing. She grew up taking ballet classes and originally discovered Pilates as a great way to strengthen the body and cross-train for ballet. Mari decided to pursue dance in college and attended Texas Christian University, in Fort Worth, where she received a BFA in Ballet & Modern Dance. After graduation, she moved back to Seattle and joined Vitality’s Teacher Training Program. During the course of training Mari realized how much she enjoys helping others experience the many benefits of Pilates. In addition to teaching, Mari dances with Redd Legg Dance and spends as much time as possible outdoors with friends and family.
Sharon Pickens-Green, Phinney Ridge/Mount Baker
Sharon originally worked in the service industry, a job that ultimately requires a healthy amount of athleticism, coordination, and focus. She found Pilates training to be an eye opening experience. It taught her choreographed athleticism and coordination on a large scale while molding her body to feel stronger, safer and more supported. Hooked after her very first lesson, Sharon enrolled in Vitality’s Instructor Certification Program at Mount Baker Studio in 2006.
In the classroom, Sharon’s teaching focuses on each Pilate’s principle individually allowing her students to strengthen through proper form. Students who like to "go, go, go" will find their swiftness give way to controlled movements. Sharon is most excited about the far-reaching, abstract, holistic approach of Pilates which proves it is a discipline/art and an origin of health. She believes building a strong body as quickly as possible to support and inspire a healthy lifestyle is of utmost importance. Sharon plans on continuing her studies of coordination and breath as an advanced area of focus in the future.
Mandi Plasch, Ravenna
Born and raised in Eastern Washington, Mandi has spent most of her life as a gymnast. She started gymnastics at the age of four and continued her dedication through college. Mandi was given a scholarship to compete for the University of Washington's gymnastics team. When that career was finished she found Pilates to be the perfect activity to help her keep the strength and flexibility she gained from her many years as a gymnast. After being a member of Vitality for a year, Mandi sought to further her knowledge of the body and Pilates. She began teacher training in September 2009 and completed the program in the fall of 2010.
In the classroom, Mandi is passionate about the fundamental principles of Pilates, which helps her clients to build a solid foundation as they work their way through class. She teaches her clients to have a good understanding of proper alignment as well as deep mind-body awareness. Mandi believes that paying attention to these details bring about the strength and necessary awareness to go through multilevel classes successfully and experience all the wonderful benefits of Pilates. When Mandi is not teaching, you will find her in a coffee shop reading, enjoying dinners with friends or snuggling in with her husband in their West Seattle home.
Meredith Redmon, Phinney Ridge
Looking for an activity that could tie together running, skiing, rafting, knitting, and day to day life, Meredith came across Pilates in 2006. Since then Pilates has turned out to be much more than just another hobby. The increased mind body awareness (and many other benefits) resulting from Pilates lead Meredith to enroll in and complete Vitality’s Teacher Training program. Along with teaching, Meredith continually works to deepen her own understanding of Pilates and loves to help clients discover its benefits and grow within their own practice. In addition to teaching Introductory and Multi Level classes, Meredith also pioneered Vitality’s fall Ski Pilates program, designed specifically for local skiers and snowboarders of all fitness levels.
Jessica Towns
Jessica absolutely loves the supportive fitness culture at Vitality Pilates and is excited to be apart of the Vitality team. She is committed to teaching Pilates and sharing the joy of a well-rounded body!
Jessica graduated from Evergreen State College in 2003 with a B.A. in Native American Studies (she herself is an Aleut-Sugpiak, Alaskan Native). She then moved to Crested Butte, Colorado, where she explored her love of hiking, flora, yoga, and music. In 2005 she embarked on a life-changing trip around the world, stopping in England, France, Morocco, Guinea, India, and Thailand. On this journey she fell in love with West African dance and music as well as her now husband, talented percussionist and dancer Manimou Camara.
African dance is a high impact and very beautiful and vigorous art form, that sometimes left Jessica feeling a little unbalanced and less than graceful. She was drawn to fellow African dancer Hannah Kogan, who moved with exceptional grace and control. She soon learned that at the core of Hannah's dance was Pilates! From there Jessica began to practice Pilates with Hannah, and on her own. She was so inspired by the amazing changes in her body and her dance that she enrolled in the Vitality Pilates Teacher Training program.
Jessica is excited to help you deepen your Pilates practice and take it to the next level. She looks forward to seeing you in class!
Tom Wiseley
Tom is a "Classical Pilates" instructor, trained and certified in 1999 by Romana Kryzanowska and studied under Master Teachers Sari Paige (NYC), Dorothee VanDewalle (Metropolitan Pilates) and Lori Coleman-Brown (Pilates Seattle International). He owned and operated Pilates Center Northwest for eight years. He has also trained in Alexander Technique, Trager, Feldenkrais, Skinner Releasing, ballet, modern dance and Russian biomechanical actor training.
Tom is a Detroit native with an MFA in Theater Directing from University of Washington, a Directing scholarship from Cornell and a BA in theater from Michigan State. On faculty with the Theatre Department at Cornish College for the Arts, he continues to work as a writer/director, actor, stage manager, lighting and set designer.Tom is also a musician, composing and performing on keyboard, guitar and drums, drumming live with bands in various clubs about town.
Nicole Writt, Phinney Ridge
Nicole was born and raised in the west suburbs of Chicago. She attended Concordia University in Irvine, California and then moved to Seattle with her long-time best friend. Drawn to Pilates in 2008 by a lifelong interest with health and fitness, Nicole became very passionate about the healing effects of Pilates on both the body and the mind. She now lives in the Olympic Hills neighborhood with her husband and pets. During her downtime you can find her reading, cooking, and hanging out with her friends and family.