Brian Friedman

What is your favorite yoga or pilates pose?

• Any of the twisting postures

What other forms of exercise do you do?

• Biking, running, weight lifting... you name it

Brian’s yogic path began in 1993 when he was introduced to Sivananda yoga. Since then he has studied Iyengar Yoga, Power Yoga, Astanga Yoga, and Sadhana Yoga Chi. Brian has studied with some of the top yoga teachers in the world including Doug Swenson, David Swenson, Sri Dharma Mitra, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, and others. True yoga practice begins when we step off of the mat. Brian is a P90X and P90X+ graduate and is now offering his YOGA CORPS class to In Balance for a perfect balance of boot camp and yoga flow.

Carrie Ilefield

Carrie's Bio Coming Soon

Chris Williams

In 2003, at the age of 56, and after 35 plus years in sales and marketing, Chris was facing several health issues, including weighing almost 240 lbs, hypertension, elevated cholesterol, and the looming presence of being diabetic. Deciding to get serious about his health, Chris adopted a very strict low carbohydrate diet, along with a physical routine of yoga and free weight training to regain lost strength and flexibility. “Although the diet helped me lose the 80 plus pounds, it was yoga that gave me the discipline to make and keep the necessary life changes that I continue each day.” Chris “retired” from the business world in 2007 to pursue his studies of yoga with the intent of teaching. He received his RYT 200 in October of 2007 in Integral Hatha with Jeannie Laslow. Chris continues his studies with various local teachers, and is primarily influenced by the Iyengar and Anusara tradions of yoga. Chris currently teaches with a particular interest towards seniors, beginners, kids, and those with health limitations. He enjoys the opportunity to introduce those familiar with only the asanas (physical postures) to two other limbs of yoga - breath and meditation.

Donna Silver

Donna has been teaching group exercise for 12 years, Pilates for 7 years. Her oassion for teaching pilates is from the brand new beginners to the performance athlete in need of rehab or training for an upcoming race. She has studied Ashtanga Yoga under David Swenson, Beryl Bender Birch, and David Williams. She has trained on the Pilates Mat through Stott Pilates, Certified by Balanced Body Reformer I & II , Phi Pilates for Reformer I and Chair . Advanced certiification through SCW for Small apparatus and props, Les Mills Bodypump and Bodyflow certified, Efi Gravity Certified, and AFAA Personal Trainer

France Johnston

What is your favorite yoga or pilates pose?

• Garudasana or Eagle, love the way I feel after the posture, like taking flight!

What other forms of exercise do you do?

• I swim, with fins preferably, underwater ultimately.

France first stumbled upon yoga while traveling in Australia and later started practicing when living in the Bahamas. Yoga helped her find a positive outlook to a lifetime of bad posture and self-esteem issues. Since 2000, she has deepened her studies of yoga in South Florida. Her deep interests in color and sound therapy helped her understand that through yoga, one can truly awaken the self, the inner teacher and learn to live from the heart, with compassion, love and joy. In August of 2008, France completed the Teacher Training Program at the White Lotus Foundation. It felt as though, after years of soul searching, she had finally come home.

Jessica Cichra

What is your favorite yoga or pilates pose?

• Yoga: Happy Baby Pose....because it feels sooooo good & carefree!; Pilates: Plank pose....because it is challenging and works many areas of the body and is the base for numerous variations.

What other forms of exercise do you do?

• Surf, kayak, paddle board, strength/resistance train, Budokon, jog, swim, bike

Growing up a competitive gymnast, Jessica initially took up Yoga for the physical rush! She embraced the incredible benefits of pranayama as it has taken her personal practice beyond just the physical. She has completed her 200 hour teacher training with Empath Yoga which incorporates yoga, meditation, elements of hypnosis and empathic listening skills. Jessica provides a loving, nurturing Yoga for Stress Relief class that gives students a new outlook on life!

Jessica is also an accomplished Pilate’s teacher and trained with friend and mentor Janie Handlin. She loves the mind/body connection of pilates and its strengthening, lengthening, and toning results. Jessica teaches her students how they can practice pilates and toning exercises anywhere and how to have fun with it!

Julie Remington

Julie Remington, RYT completed her 200 Hour Yoga teacher certifaction in Vinyasa Flow Yoga. Julie's love for teaching Yoga comes from years of practice, inspiring teachers AND her amazing Yoga Community. She provides yoga that gives her students both a sense of peace and physical and mental relief that she has personally experienced in her life. Julie's classes focus on health of my physical body and ongoing discovery of how to live with kindness and mindfulness. Her teachings share what she is passionate about- "Ahimsa", or non-violence, in both thought and deed? How can we be more compassionate to ourselves and others? "As a teacher, I want students to experience the sense of fun and joy that comes with a yoga practice. I hope that when students leave the class, they will have an open body, an open heart and a smile on their face." “You are a child of the universe; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.” - from Desiderata by Max Ehrmann.

Lauren Gaines

Yoga has the power to heal and unite, not only individually, but globally. The action of stepping on our mat plants the seed of personal purification and, through moment to moment mindfulness, we can literally change our world. As we practice, so we live, and the process of Yoga invites us into fearless self-examination of who we take ourselves to be and allows us to dive into intimacy and positive social action.

Teaching primarily Ashtanga, Yin and Restorative Yoga classes, I have fun sharing a medley of asana, pranayama, and meditation, peppered with wisdom from the sacred texts of Yoga and other readings so you feel encouraged in your own inherent wholeness and radiant goodness. With humbling pranams, I give thanks for all of my teachers, past and present. I have been graced with a 200-hr Yoga Alliance certification, having studied with many wise teachers and through many forms including Vinyasa Flow, Anusara, and Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. I am also a Karma Krew Chief, with the honor of coordinating service projects (or "seva") within my Central Florida yoga community. Om, Shanti, Shanti, Shanti

Leslie Martino

What is your favorite yoga or pilates pose?

• My favorite Pilates exercises are tendon stretch (standing) on the Reformer and anything that involves backbending. I can remember when I couldn't do tendon stretch correctly and now I can appreciate the strength, flexibility and abdominal control in takes to accomplish. backbends give me an intense feeling, like I am on top of the world.

What other forms of exercise do you do?

• As a dancer, I enjoy many things physical. Currently, in addition to Pilates, I am enjoying swinging kettlebells.

Leslie Martino, originally from New York City, started her movement training with classical ballet at the age of 4, and later went on to study modern dance and the Simonson jazz technique. She has taught dance and creative movement for over seven years. Leslie received a B.A. in Dance and History from Columbia University and an M.A. in Education from Teachers College. Leslie began practicing Pilates to help with chronic injuries. She completed her Pilate’s certification with The Willow Pilates and Yoga. She trained with studio owner Jennifer Shea, who came to Pilates by way of Bob Liekens, Ellie Herman, and later, Power Pilates. It was there at The Willow where Leslie was first exposed to the classical repertoire of the Pilates Method.

Lisa Ryan

What is your favorite yoga or pilates pose?

• My favorite pilates exercise is the open leg rocker. I enjoy the massage to my spine while I'm working my lower abs. It takes a lot of control, and it's fun!

What other forms of exercise do you do?

• I'm a runner, and I also hike and kayak whenever I get the chance.

Lisa began practicing Pilates in 2004 out of her interest in rounding out her approach to a total fitness lifestyle. She is a Level 1 Certified Peak Pilate System Instructor, certified to teach individual and group classes on the mat, reformer, and cadillac. Her classical approach to teaching this transformational movement system remains true to Pilate’s principles and protocols as they were originally designed, beneficial to students of any level. Her students experience the Pilates method as a system of exercises linked with purpose, providing for satisfying results and safe progression. Lisa instills a deep understanding and a strong enthusiasm for Pilates; and she encourages her classes to take their practice out of the studio and into their lives.

Lisa Wulf

Lisa's Bio Coming Soon

Valerie Simonson

Valerie was introduced to Yoga in 1994 due to nagging knee and back injuries from running and biking. An outdoor enthusiast she was extremely hesitant about this style of “workout”. When finishing her first yoga class, that was the beginning of the love affair. She found that Yoga is integral in every part of life, every breath you take becomes a purpose, and other rigorous activities actually benefit from the practice! Valerie went on to find many forms of practice and enjoying and morphing each one to her own liking. After many years and experience on the yoga mat, she decided to bring the experience to others as a way to break the barriers we have in the west today when it comes to yoga. Obtaining her 200hr teaching certification through Discovery Yoga a Kripalu studio in St. Augustine Florida has allowed her to do that. In the midst of finding her way, Valerie has been a student of many teachers including: Shiva Rea, Baron Baptiste, Bryan Kest, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois and Deva Parnell, who will always be her Guru, Om Shanti! Power Yoga is her passion and bringing the practice of Yoga to others without limits, rules or dogma is her style. Currently Valerie is obtaining her 500hr Certification through Discovery Yoga and she is teaching throughout Central Florida.