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GYROTONIC
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1033 Wade Ave, Suite 208, Raleigh NC - 919-828-4525

Jesma Reynolds - Pilates instructor




Chelsea Jones - Owner/President, Pilates Instructor, Gyrotonic® Instructor

Chelsea enjoys teaching a wide range of clients through both the pilates and Gyrotonic modalities. She specializes in working with clients with lower back and joint injuries, but also has fun providing a vigorous workout to both fitness clients and competitive athletes. Originally a stock and option trader, Chelsea enjoys both the front and the back-office aspects small business ownership.

Her first experiences with the pilates method were in the 1980s at Interlochen Arts Academy (Northern Michigan,) where she attended various dance camps and workshops as well as performed. Chelsea took a hiatus from her pilates training until the mid-1990s when she was a student with various instructors while completing her Bachelor of Science in Finance degree from Michigan State University (Class of 1997.) In 1999, she received her Certified Personal Trainer accreditations with both ACE and AFFA. In 2000, she completed her pilates instructor certification with The PhysicalMind Institute where she also holds other accreditations including Gait Patterning, Pilates for Osteoporosis and Pre/postnatal Pilates. Chelsea received her Gyrotonic instructor certification in 2002 and her Gyrokinesis instructor certification in 2004. Since 2000, Chelsea has been working with an average of 25 clients each week and continues to learn from all of her clients and fellow instructors. She also reserves time each year to spend with other instructors and master-trainers around the country so that she can maintain her studios cutting-edge reputation. Chelsea is a Professional and Studio member of the Pilates Method Alliance.

Most importantly, Chelsea enjoys spending time with her two beautiful daughters Adelaide & Zoë, and her loving husband Russ. She is committed to creating balance in her otherwise hectic lifestyle through therapeutic movement, reading, cooking, spending time outdoors, philanthropic endeavors, and daily meditation.

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Melissa Kakavas - Director of Pilates Education, Certified Pilates Instructor, PMA-CPT & Gyrotonic® Instructor, Thai Yoga Therapist

Melissa Kakavas is the General Manager, proprietary instructor and teacher trainer at Body Balance Movement Therapy, Inc. Originally from Burlington , NC , Melissa attended the prestigious School of the Arts in order to focus on dance during her high school years before attaining her BFA in Dance from UNC Greensboro. She recently relocated from New York City where she was a professional dancer and received all of her bodywork training. Melissa is certified in pilates through both The PhysicalMind Institute and Power Pilates, Inc. and has been teaching since 1996. Melissa has also completed her Gyrotonic® and Gyrokinesis® certifications and enjoys teaching both private clients and small groups this exciting new modality. Additionally, Melissa holds the following accreditations: Pre/postnatal pilates, pilates for osteoporosis, pilates gait-patterning, and is also a member of the Pilates Method Alliance.

Along with her aforementioned qualifications, Melissa is also a certified Thai Yoga Body Therapist and has been practicing this one-on-one bodywork for the past three years. Melissa has been invited to teach as a pilates master-trainer in Bermuda and St. Lucia, a coveted position for any very experienced pilates instructor. Before leaving New York City, she helped design and teach her own pilates teacher training and certification program for Sal Anthonys Movement Salon.

Melissa loves to get out and socialize with friends and family, eat great food and have fun. Most of all, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Chris, and new son, Parker.

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Charlotte Holton - Pilates & Gyrotonic® Instructor

Charlotte chose to become a pilates instructor after years of practicing pilates and yoga as compliments to her work as a modern dancer.  Originally from Winston-Salem, NC, Charlotte lived in New York and Chicago before returning to North Carolina.  In both cities, she enjoyed working and studying with a wide range of teachers and exploring different movement opportunities.  Since returning to North Carolina, Charlotte has been an active participant in the Triangle dance community.  She was certified to teach pilates on the mat and apparatus through the Pilates Certification Center.  In addition, she is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (B.A.) and the University of Chicago (M.A.) and has been a student at the American Dance Festival.

Charlotte underwent her Gyrotonic® teacher training in 2007.

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Jeffrey Golden - Massage Therapist LMBT NC #2592, pilates Instructor

Jeff has a very diversified background that began in high school and college athletics, continued through his service in the United States Air Force and continues today with his study of Martial Arts, pilates, Massage and Body Therapy, music and art.

Jeff began his martial arts training in 1996 at Kamiza (Apex, NC) where he studies Kantana under Master S.P. Sully, who has over 40 years of experience. Kantana is based on natural healing and movement and includes:

  • Chuan Fa
  • Jujitsu
  • Tae Kyon
  • Bujutsu
  • Chi Qong, and much more

Jeff graduated from The Medical Arts Massage School (Raleigh , NC ) in 1997 where his focus included Trigger Point, Swedish, Deep Tissue and Sports massage. In the years since, Jeff has also completed a multitude of certifications and coursework including: Thai Massage, Myofacial Release, Shiatsu, Lomi Lomi and Yamuna Body Rolling (Phase 1). He holds both his pilates equipment and mat work certifications though Pilates Certification Center . Jeff also has completed Reiki Levels 1, 2 & 3.

Jeff has been working at Body Balance Movement Therapy, Inc. since 2001. His multitude of accreditations and personal experience lends itself to his ability to communicate well with all levels of students and to create health and well being for all of his massage therapy clients. Jeff enjoys physical activity of all kinds, the outdoors and travel. He is an avid guitar player and also enjoys painting and drawing.

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Nina Jonson - Pilates Instructor
At the age of three, Nina told her mother that she was going to be a toe dancer; that started her life-long passion for dance. She began her study of ballet at the age of five, which culminated in her receiving a B.F.A., with an emphasis in Performing Ballet, from the University of Utah . She began teaching ballet in 1985 and is currently doing so at the Raleigh School of Ballet. After the birth of her daughter, Kiera, time did not allow her to take as many ballet classes as she would have liked, so she was drawn to the ballet-like workout provided by the pilates method. Nina became so hooked on the work that she decided to become a certified instructor (PhysicalMind Institute) and has been an instructor at Body Balance Movement Therapy since 2001. Nina still enjoys teaching and taking ballet classes, when she can fit it into her mommy schedule, as well as reading and sewing. She and her daughter and husband also love to travel to the beach and the mountains.

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Lauren Puente - Gyrotonic® Instructor

Lauren comes to Gyrotonic® with a background in modern dance.  After her student practice in Gytotonic completely changed her body and her dancing in 2006, she began her teacher trainging with Miriam Barbosa. Lauren recieved her dance training a the North Carolina School of the Arts, Boston Conservatory, and later completed her BFA in Dance and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She is currently a dancer with Niki Juralewicz and Rain Leander in Durham.  Gyrotonic has given her a more energy-efficient and effective tool to physically express herself.  She is continually inspired by her clients and hopes to bring them toward a more organized, supple and flexible self in body, mind and spirit.

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Susan Maravetz - Chief Operating Officer, Pilates and pilates for golf® Instructor & Gyrotonic® Instructor

Susan began her experience in mind/body centered exercise with yoga in 1997 and was an avid Pilates client at Body Balance for over two years before becoming certified through the Pilates Certification Center, Inc. in 2002. Susan teaches Pilates on both the mat and the apparatus as well as specializing in the Pilates for Golf® workout. She has trained in the Yamuna Body Rolling® technique and underwent Gyrotonic® teacher training in 2007.

Susan is a certified personal and business coach, and as a licensed Heartmath® 1:1 Provider, Susan works with clients to reduce stress and reach peak performance. To stay connected to the local community, Susan is a proud member of Chix in Business and serves on the Chix in Business Board as President and Chair.

 



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Nicola Bullock - Pilates Instructor

Nicola Bullock began studying Pilates in 2001 when she moved from her hometown of Chapel Hill, NC, to New York, NY, to attend Barnard College. A lifelong dancer, she noticed that the technique helped improve her balance, strength, coordination, and flexibility. Nicola continued to study Pilates, after graduating from college, at The Kane School of Core Integration so that she could share her passion for Pilates with other people. She just moved back to the Triangle Area to continue teaching and dancing closer to home. Her style combines classical repertory with a contemporary understanding of anatomy and biomechanics. She is very excited to be working at Balance Body Movement Therapy, surrounded by such knowledgeable and enthusiastic people.



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Mindi Kessler - Pilates and Gyrotonic® Instructor

Mindi Kessler began studying Pilates in NYC while dancing with various downtown projects, most notably Fischerspooner.  From there she moved to Denver where she studied with Jennifer Reich and received her certification through the PhysicalMind Institute.  She recently moved to Raleigh and is delighted to be working at Body Balance.  She finds continued inspiration for both Pilates and dancing in the work of Eric Franklin.  

Mindi underwent her Gyrotonic® teacher training in 2007.

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Kathy Vinsette - Pilates Instructor

Kathy first started her pilates training at Appalachian State University with Marianne Adams., professor of theatre and dance. Unlike any other exercise she had ever done she fell in love with the control and flow of the movements. Pilates helped re-balance her body and gave her a stable and strong core along with the flexibility she needed to improve her long distance running. She graduated with a B.A. in English and quickly began her pilates training through the PhysicalMind Institute. After teaching the matwork for several years she was comprehensively certified through Power Pilates. Kathy has been teaching pilates since 2003.

She works with injured clients, chronic pain clients, and those just looking to improve their athletics and daily life activities. She loves working with so many different people and tailoring the pilates experience toward meeting their needs and goals.

Kathy pushes her clients to the next level and brings a strong energy to her teaching. Besides pilates, she enjoys eating well and getting outdoors with her husband Rich and her puppy Mocha.


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Jackie Podence - Pilates Instructor

Jacqueline Podence is enjoying a rewarding career as a dance performer, choreographer, and Pilates trainer. Ms. Podence holds a BFA in dance from Rutgers University and a MFA in choreography and performance from Florida State University. She has worked with several contemporary dance companies in the New Jersey and New York area including the Dodge Dance Company and Pilobolus. Jacqueline’s strong affinity for personal well being inspired her to further her understanding of physical training by becoming a Pilates instructor. She has been educating clients in both mat and standing Pilates since 2003 in New Jersey and Florida. Ms. Podence has recently completed her Pilates Apparatus training through the PhysicalMind Institute and is very proud to be apart of the Body Balance Movement Therapy Team.

Jesma Reynolds - Pilates Instructor

A native of North Carolina, Jesma has always led an active lifestyle. An
avid runner, she has competed in triathlons, marathons and road races. She
discovered pilates following the birth of her second child when she
developed bursitis on the hip. Seeing the benefits of core stabilization and
flexibility, she quickly embraced pilates as part of her regime. Wanting to
gain more knowledge about the movements, Jesma was certified for matwork
through PhysicalMind Institute and taught for a year before pursuing
apparatus certification in the spring of 2007. She is also a member of
Pilates Method Alliance.

Jesma continues to run with her weimaraner Sophie both in town and on the
trails and occasionally competes in trail and road races. She loves to get
on her bike whenever she can. Additionally she and her family (husband and
two sons) enjoy skiing, hiking and all outdoor activities including very
competitive flag football matches.