CORE Pilates & Yoga
feel better. see results. become transformed.
CORE Staff
Lara Garda, Studio Director & Founder
Lara
has over 18 years experience in the instruction of health and fitness.
She is an ACE Certified Group Fitness Instructor with a Bachelor
of Science degree in Physical
Education, Sports and Nutrition.
Lara began teaching group fitness in 1990, teaching aerobics,
step, slide, aqua and Spinning.
After training for her second Marathon yoga became a welcome
recovery and in 1999 Lara began taking the necessary steps to become a
Registered Yoga Teacher with the Yoga Alliance.
Her certifications and trainings include: Integrative Yoga
Therapy with Joseph LePage, Baby Om, Fitness Yoga with Molly Fox, Yoga
Steps, YogaFit Levels 1, 2, 3, and
pre-natal. Lara is
also trained in Pilates Mat work, Reformer and MVe®
Chair through The Pilates Coach, Powerhouse, Stott and PEAK Pilates
organizations. Lara’s
signature class offerings include, Hello Toes Yoga!™
for Mom and Baby, Preschool and Kids Yoga as well as Yoga for Stress
Management. Her Pilates
Equipment training sessions are goal oriented and deliver a complete
workout for the mind and body.
Danielle Proctor, CEO & Founder
A
graduate of CMU, Danielle has over 10 years experience managing
businesses. After a knee injury requiring full ACL and meniscus
reconstruction, Danielle started personal Pilates training to enhance
her physical therapy program.
Experiencing immediate results and an unusually speedy recovery,
Danielle realized the true potential of Pilates and established CORE
Pilates & Yoga in 2008 with the goal of providing an affordable,
state-of-the-art Pilates equipment studio focused on customized results.
Danielle is happy to combine her love of Pilates and yoga with her
amateur golfing passion.
Jill
is originally from the Pittsburgh area and after high school she took a
brave new step and moved to Alaska!
She graduated from the University of Alaska, Anchorage with a
Liberal Arts degree and also attended the Computer Learning Center for
computers. Returning to
Pittsburgh as a computer analyst downtown she quickly realized that the
behind the desk job did not mesh with her adventurous spirit and
outgoing personality. Her
love for fitness and an active lifestyle emerged once again and she dove
into the health and fitness industry teaching group fitness and personal
training. It was along this
path that she discovered Pilates.
Jill has been teaching Pilates Mat work for 5 years. Her
trainings include Peak Pilates Level I, NETA Yoga, YMCA Kickboxing, step
and personal training. Jill
plans on continuing her Pilates training with Peak Level II in the near
future.
Leslie Georgiadis
Leslie
has been a yoga and Pilates instructor for 7 years. Her
yoga training hails from the Himalayan Institute, YogaFit Level I, II,
and III with supplemental training from Vinyasa Flow/Shiva Rae and
Anusara/John Friend. Leslie
has completed her PEAK Pilates Comprehensive Training and has additional
training in Barrel I & II and Chair I & II plus, Pilates MVe®
fitness chair. Leslie’s
SGTs are a mind/body explosion of energy and experience.
Her private sessions blend the ingredients of her vast education
and are customized to each individuals need.
Leslie also specializes in training dancers and athletes.
Melissa Deah
Melissa
has been practicing yoga for six years. Her
love for the art and physicality of yoga inspired her to become an
instructor with trainings through YogaFit levels I, II, III, Yoga
Strength and Prenatal/ Postpartum. Melissa
leads her yoga class through a Vinyasa flow style that meets the needs
of beginners as well as advanced students. She has an associate’s degree
in exercise sports science, and has completed her massage training at
the Pittsburgh School of Massage Therapy. Melissa
has also continued her work and education in the mind/body profession
adding Pilates to her repertoire through the ZenLates™ Method. Melissa
is passionate in her work and enjoys sharing the amazing health benefits
of Pilates, Yoga and Massage.
Michelle Parolini
Michelle is often known as
the “Fit Guru” – she loves all aspects of fitness, both indoors and out!
She is a natural coach encouraging her clients to strive for
more…always while smiling and making a positive impact in their workout
experience. Michelle holds
numerous certifications and trainings in the fitness industry; she is a
Mad Dogg Athletics Level 2 Spinning Instructor, a TRX Suspension Trainer
and an AFAA Group Fitness Instructor.
Her Pilates Trainings are with the Bender Method in Mat Work and
ZenLates™ Training Systems for Chair, ARC,
Reformer and Tower, Levels 1 & 2.
Her love for the outdoors and for always having a goal to work towards
have lead her to complete marathons, half marathons and various distance
rides including the century!
Another little known fact is that Michelle was also an ISIA figure
skater – can we say Grace and Control in one package!
Trisha Self
Trisha,
a former LPGA Duramed Futures Tour player, has over 17 years of
experience in competing and working in the golf industry. She graduated
from Colorado State University with a B.S. in Health and Exercise
Science and a concentration in Health Promotion. Trisha received
certification through TPI in Golf Biomechanics Level II and Junior Golf
Player Development Level II.
With cutting edge fitness techniques, Trisha works with golfers of all
skill levels to improve their overall golf game and health. By combining
her passion for golf and her drive for fitness, Her focus is on creating
result orientated programs that will strengthen specific golf muscles,
improve overall flexibility and rotation with repetitive reinforcement
on balance and stability movements.
Cathy Suchin
Cathy brings over 16 years
of group fitness experience with step aerobics, strength training and
Pilates. Her certifications
include AFAA – Group Fitness, Johnny G. Spinning, Resist-a-Ball, YMCA
Personal Training, Flexibility Training and Mat Pilates; plus PHI
Pilates Mat Work, and; CORE’s in-house ZenLates™ Training -
Pilates Based Movement Level 1, 2 and Chair.
Cathy is an avid sport enthusiast- running competitively in a
variety of road races from 5K’s to full Marathons.
She has won the masters division in Hershey Pa; 1/2 marathon in
2005 and the St. Barnabas 5K in 2010 plus qualifying for the Boston
Marathon! When she is not
running and teaching, Cathy is “running” after her five children and
dabbling in Triathlon Training.
Cathy strives to bring customized variety to each workout!
Betty Jo Thaman
Betty
Jo has over 26 years of professional experience in the fitness industry.
She is ACE certified as a Group Fitness Instructor and a Personal
Trainer specializing in pre/postnatal, post-rehab, cancer survivors, and clients with arthritis.
She also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Marshall University
(Huntington, WV). Betty Jo
began teaching Pilates mat in 2000 and reformer in 2004 with training
from PHI Pilates, Pilates Coach, and PEAK Pilates MVe®
Fitness Chair. She also has yoga training through AAAI-ISMA and YogaFit. Her specialty lies in training beginners, older adults, and those
with issues or limitations that need a slower, calmer approach through
her years of experience she is able to deliver a personal touch offering modifications for the beginner to more
advanced movements for those who like to” kick it up a notch” and
challenge themselves.
Lori Weingartner
Lori is a 2007 graduate
of the Pittsburgh Massage School.
She was drawn to learning more about the profession after
being in an auto accident and experiencing relief from a variety of
massage techniques. Lori
is always seeking new therapy techniques and modalities to
incorporate into her client’s wellness continuum.
In addition to Swedish and Sport Massage, Lori specializes in
Aromatherapy, Reflexology, Hot Stone and Hot Bamboo Fusion.
She is also pursuing Ashiatsu in 2012!...Stay Tuned.
When she is not massaging, Lori enjoys spending time with her
two French Bulldogs, Napoleon and Kip.