Certified Pilates Instructor Debbie Axelrod

Debbie Axelrod has been a personal trainer since 2001 and is certified through the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA). Since receiving that certification, she has worked as a personal trainer at Progressive Insurance and with clients individually in their home or hers. She is CPR/AED certified through the American Red Cross and has taken continuing education courses on Weight Management for Women and Exercise & Metabolism. She is currently working towards her certification as a Core Dynamics® Pilates instructor and believes that of all the types of fitness and exercise she has done over the years, nothing has been better than Pilates.

Debbie feels that her strength is working with middle-aged women who have very busy lives and very limited time to devote to fitness. She enjoys working with them to develop goals and workout routines that are realistic and effective.

Debbie has been "into" fitness for over 20 years, running many 5K and 10K races. She has even won a couple of trophies! Debbie still enjoys running several times a week and tries to workout in some fashion nearly every day.

Debbie is a graduate of Kent State University and lives in Cleveland with her husband of 18 years, Nelson and her three children, Taylor, Jordyn, and Jared. Her hobbies include tennis, reading, and cooking, as well as volunteering with the Susan G. Komen Foundation Race for the Cure and Adopt-A-Platoon for our troops overseas.

Debbie is available for private Pilates instruction on Wednesdays from 7:30am-2:00pm and on Thursdays from 8:30am-9:30am and 11:30am-2:00pm. She also teaches Intermediate Pilates Props mat class on Thursdays at 9:35am and is availalbe for Refomer classes and all private lessons thereafter. Debbie is taking clients on Friday morngins when Emily goes on maternity leave.

Certified Pilates Instructor Katie Cole

Bio Coming soon!

Certified Pilates Instructor Karen McDonald

Karen McDonald is a Core Dynamics Certified Instructor who has been practicing Pilates intensively for 5+ years. She is a graduate of Kenyon College, where she was a two-time All-American in Swimming. A life-long competitive swimmer, she eventually retired from the sport due to a shoulder injury. After being introduced to Pilates, Karen was surprised to find it as engaging as swimming, yet physically restorative. Karen believes that Pilates simultaneously requires both physical and mental attention and an acute awareness of how one’s body moves through space. Karen feels that, done well, Pilates can improve physical health and general well-being. She enjoys helping clients gradually develop an increased awareness of their body, movement patterns, and physical capabilities while providing a mental respite from the business of daily life.

Prior to pursuing her Pilates certification, Karen was a Montessori Elementary teacher. Now, having completed all four levels of Core Dynamics training for her certification in 2007, teaches private lessons and works with pre- and post-natal women. She has two daughters and lives in South Euclid.

Certified Pilates Instructor Lisa Lansing

[read about her here]

Pilates Apprentice Mary Tramonte

Bio coming soon!

Certified Pilates Instructor Lisa Smith

Lisa Smith practiced Pilates for four years under the instruction of Lisa Lansing and received her full certification through the Core Dynamics Teacher Training Program in 2008.

Lisa loves practicing Pilates and is driven to bring the power of Pilates to others through her teaching. She feels the Pilates Method helps level the playing field and is extremely accessible to everyone. She sees the difference Pilates has made in her lifestyle and appreciates the fact it can be applied to individuals across the board.

Her approach to teaching is to help students achieve as much from the Pilates work as possible, while enjoying the time they devote and making it a part of their lives. She brings not only a great workout to her students, but also hopes they share her enthusiasm.

Lisa has a bachelor’s degree from John Carroll University and a master’s degree from Case Western Reserve University. She works for Tri-C in the Marketing Department and lives with her husband in Cleveland Heights.