I have always enjoyed movement. By 1966, I began a daily yoga practice. In university, I added classes in ballet, jazz, and modern dance. On a visit to San Francisco in 1978 I observed tai chi chuan for the first time. I added the tai chi to my yoga practice, while I pursued a career in management with the City of Portland.

Nine years later, with 4 bags between us, I had the opportunity to move my daughter and me to Taiwan for three years. Heaven! I supported us by teaching managerial, financial and technical language to the Taiwanese Ministry of Finance and various international corporations and still had five hours per day of training with Grand Master Chu, Chi Kung Master Wang, and sword and saber masters in Cheng Man-Ching's school! I tested to the master teacher level (sifu) when I left and was presented the phoenix sword the year my first sword teacher was presented the dragon sword.

Back home, I continued my practice and teaching of tai chi chuan while pursuing a career in teaching in universities, colleges and business. In 2000 while at an international teaching conference in Vancouver BC, I suffered a knee injury that threatened to stop my practice of tai chi.

STOTT Pilates rehabilitated my knee, but I experienced improvements in other old injuries as well. It was a dramatic enough improvement that I studied for teaching certification, and for over 6 years I taught clients full-time at the certification center I had attended. I taught one more year at another studio, and now have had the opportunity to open my own.

I grew up in Dallas, Texas, where I began my ballet training when I was three years old. I enjoyed performing for many years and earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in dance in 1992 from the University of Utah. I discovered Pilates in 1990 while recovering from a dance injury. I was amazed at the strength and awareness of movement I developed, and how quickly I recovered from surgery.

I was privileged to complete a Pilates instructor training program with Elizabeth Larkam, who is internationally recognized as an innovator in mind body movement and a Pilates Master Teacher with Balanced Body. I worked with her at the Center for Sports and Dance Medicine at St. Francis Memorial Hospital in San Francisco, CA. In 1992, I joined the faculty of the Ballet Department at the University of Utah and the Ballet West Conservatory where I began teaching Pilates and Dance Conditioning in addition to Ballet Technique and Pointe. My emphasis was injury prevention, kinesiology, and technique improvement. I was a member of the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science, and my collaboration with sports medicine specialists greatly enhanced my ability to see and understand movement patterns.

I live in La Center with my husband and two children. I continue to feed my passion for Pilates and dance with classes and workshops through Pilates for Life Northwest. I focus on the integrative aspects of Pilates, centering on strength, flexibility and mind body awareness. I am committed to continually developing my own skills and knowledge as a teacher to better create a class environment in support of the deep transformations that happen within my clients.

In school, Sheila enjoyed sports and received a sports scholarship to Pacific Lutheran University. There she discovered rowing, and she has been hooked ever since.

, Sheila graduated with a degree in Exercise Science and Kinesiology from PLU and is certified with the National Athletic Trainers Association. She has worked with various athletes for many years in high schools, colleges and adult leagues. She certified with the Pilates Method Alliance in 2001 and has been working in an outpatient Physical Therapy and sports medicine for 20 years.

Sheila joins us to share her knowledge of sports, balance, and maintaining whole body fitness to increase a competitive edge and avoid injury. Look for her classes Monday nights.

Mary Jo Cohen has been a yoga student since 1989 and teaching yoga since 1996. Her primary inspiration and training in hatha, kriya, kundalini, philosophy, pranayama and meditation comes from local teacher, Diane Wilson. She completed Anusara teacher training from Sarahjoy Marsh, plus creative and technical training from international yogis such as John Friend, Ana Forrest, Victor Van Kooten, Angela Farmer, Rodney Yee and Siva Rhea. Mary Jo has taught a variety of classes from beginners to advanced levels, plus workshops for pre-natal, runners, gardeners, pranayama, yoga dance and more and has taught at a variety of places, including Yoga Shala of Portland, Nike Campus, Multnomah Art Center, 24-Hour Fitness, Willamette Athletic Club, Vernier Technology and Portland Parks and Rec . She currently teaches at March Wellness and Gravitas Studio.

Mary Jo became a practioner of GYROTONICS^® in 2010 and instantly connected with the movement, the specialized equipment and healing energy. She completed the Level I Foundation Training in April, 2011 and has completed her apprentice teaching. Mary Jo now books private client appointments at Gravitas Studio and Melissa Framiglio Studio, both in SW Portland.

Mary Jo will begin teaching GYROKINESIS^® this January. These high-energy classes incorporate the fundamental exercises of GYROTONICS^®, connecting a strong rhythmic breath to fluid, dance-like moves. She will be teaching at Pilates for Life in Vancouver and Gravitas Studio in SW Portland.

Mary Jo is a native Portlander and has been a life-long athlete, with her favorite passions being rock climbing, telemark skiing, hiking and scaling peaks. Married to her husband Craig, they have two very active teen-age girls.

Sheila has been a student and lover of yoga for more than 21 years, arriving to it through a deep interest in its philosophical and heart-transforming aspects. Within the last five years, Sheila has completed extensive immersion and teacher's training in Anusara yoga, including specialized training in Anusara yoga therapy. As a teacher, Sheila offers a place that feels playful and heart-centered.