Our Bios
The Pilates Movement offers high quality training in the authentic Pilates Method. Only those who have completed an extensive certification program, consisting of over 600 hours of apprenticeship, will be accepted to teach at this studio. Like snowflakes, no two people’s bodies are the same. That’s why it is necessary to go through a very thorough training which teaches the entire system of over 500 exercises, modifications, variations, injury prevention, how to handle current injuries or physical limitations, safety on the equipment, and most importantly how to adjust to different people. Each of our instructors must keep up with their training by attending Continuing Education courses, conferences, and taking sessions from master teachers.
Jennifer Ruggiero
Owner/Instructor
Jennifer’s love for movement started at the early age of seven. A native of Westchester County, she has been studying ballet and modern dance for over twenty-two years. Jennifer was first introduced to Pilates in 1995, while earning a BFA in Dance Performance at SUNY Purchase. Recovering from a stress fracture in her foot, she took Pilates sessions in place of her technique classes. After noticing the amazing result of her rehabilitation, she pursued teacher training upon graduation in 1998. She completed the intense 600 hours of training under Romana Kryzanowska, a Master teacher trained by Joseph Pilates, and completed her training in April of 2000.
Jennifer’s teaching experience began at SUNY Purchase with the Purchase Dance Corp. As a performing member, Jennifer was also the rehearsal director for the children in the annual production of “The Nutcracker” for The Purchase Dance Corp. In addition to teaching Pilates, Jennifer has been a rehearsal director and dancer for The Dance Theatre in Westchester and a company member of DePersis and Dancers. For five years, Jennifer was a full time Principal Instructor and for two of those years, Program Director for re:AB® Pilates. She has also taught Pilates at Peridance, Drago’s Gym, The Pilates Studio, Equinox, New York Health and Racquet, and Casa Day Spa.
She has continued her education with Romana Kryzanowska, Sari Santo, Brooke Siler, Bob Liekens, Michael Fritzke, Ton Voogt, Cynthia Lochard, and Cary Regan, as well as attending conferences for teachers. Her love of movement and teaching others has inspired her to open The Pilates Movement. Pilates has changed her dancing, changed her body, and most importantly, the quality of her life.
Jennifer opened The Pilates Movement in January 2006.
Lacey Mathis Lacey has been teaching at The Pilates Movement since April of 2008. Prior to teaching in New York, Lacey was teaching Pilates in Los Angeles and Florida for two years. She shares her love of the healing practice of Pilates with each client she works with. Lacey is a Los Angeles native, who graduated with a B.A in Sociology from the University of Colorado, at Boulder. She is a yoga and running enthusiast and finds Pilates to be the perfect compliment to an active lifestyle. She received her comprehensive Pilates training at The Kane School in New York City. Lacey is very capable of creating effective and fun workouts, with an emphasis on body awareness, strength and stability and is one of the most sought after instructors at The Pilates Movement. |
A. Lynne BallietteLynne Balliette has been a certified Pilates instructor since 1998, receiving her initial training from Romana Kryzanowska  in NewYork City. She holds certifications from Romana’s Pilates, The Pilates Studio, and The Pilates Guild, and is a gold-certified instructor and member of the Pilates Method Alliance, an international professional association for the Pilates method. Lynne was the first full-time Pilates instructor in the Dance Department at Goucher College, Maryland, where she taught from 1998 to 2001. Over the years, she has appeared in television news programs, newspaper articles, and an instructional DVD on Pilates. Prior to her Pilates training, Lynne received an M.F.A degree in dance performance and choreography from the University of Michigan and danced and choreographed professionally in New York. She has studied anatomy and kinesiology extensively, most notably with Irene Dowd, and will complete her master’s degree in movement science from Teachers College, Columbia University in May 2009. Lynne has been on the staff at The Pilates Movement since April of 2009.Mora-Amina Parker Mora-Amina Parker was born is St. Louis, Missouri raised in San Francisco, California where she was an avid child athlete. Her experience in sports range from basketball, softball, volleyball, and track and field, as a young competitor, she developed a deep appreciation for physical conditioning. As a teenager she discovered dance and performing, as a result she pursued a career in modern dance. As a former member of Savage Jazz Dance Company, Dallas Black Dance Theater and Philadanco, she realized a need to find a deeper way of working with her body to maintain safety while performing and touring. She was introduced to Romana’s Pilates in Philadelphia with Brie Neff, and was a practitioner of the work for six years prior to seeking her certification in 2008. Upon completion of her Romana’s Pilates certification she began teaching at Equilibrium Pilates under the tutelage of Brie Neff. Mora-Amina has also had the express pleasure of working with Romana Kryzanowska, Sari Meja Santo, and Jerome Weinberg. Mora-Amina continues her dance career, and enthusiastically looks forward to continuing her Pilates education and informing others of the power of the work. Mora-Amina has been on the staff at The Pilates Movement since September of 2010. Danielle Havasy
While pursuing her passion for yoga and other fitness regimes, Danielle was introduced to Pilates. Soon after she started taking classes at The Pilates Movement in 2007 as a way to improve her abdominal strength and develop increased mind-body awareness. She was inspired by the profound results Pilates brought to her life and how it empowers others that led her to complete her Pilates Certification at Center for Movement in NYC. As a practitioner and trainer, Danielle is continuously inspired by how Pilates re-educated and heals the body. Danielle likes to make each class challenging but also encourages her students to have fun, and enjoy Pilates and all of its benefits. Danielle joined the staff at The Pilates Movement in June of 2011. Annie Venier
Annie Venier, founder of Le Petit Studio bis, in Paris, France, began practicing Pilates almost 15 years ago. In 1998 she used the method to fully recover from a sports related injury.  In 2004, following 8 years of advanced Pilates practice, Annie moved to Paris and pursued a rigorous 875 hour- long teacher training program. In 2005 Annie completed her training and became a fully certified Pilates Instructor, certified by Arianna Barnstead and Corebody of Paris France. In 2006, Annie obtained an additional Advanced Pilates certification (certified by Amy Alpers of The Moving Center) and in 2008 was certified as a Pre and Post-Natal Pilates specialist (certified by Carolyn Anthony, The Center for Women's Fitness.) Annie joined the staff of The Pilates Movement in October of 2011. |
