Pilates Instructors
Michael Crotty
Michael began to practice Pilates through his Ballet Training in 1998. Michael is a certified Pilates Instructor through the world renowned BASI Pilates Program (Body Arts and Sciences). Michael is certified to teach Mat Pilates as well as All Apparatus. He has continual certifications to teach Pilates for Athletes, Men, Pre/Post-natal Pilates and Pilates for seniors. Michael has extensive experience and a client base ranging from the Los Angeles Ballet to NFL Athletes. He is experienced to teach those clients with MS, arthritis, bursitis and other potential ailments. Michael is passionate about wellness and believes that all bodies are capable and ready to heal through a Pilates Practice. Through his professional dance career and its rigorous training, Michael follows a learned sense of precision while teaching. Applying creativity, communication and motivation, he utilizes an extensive dance knowledge combined with a strong academic base to properly instruct clients. Michael’s goal is to create a exciting, clear and dynamic Pilates experience that will satisfy each persons specific needs.
Check out Michael’s Pilates classes
Jo-Anne Krupa
Jo-Anne was trained as a professional dancer and through her personal experience of caring for joint injuries she discovered pilates. Her focus on exercise and preventive care for her injuries has spanned a lifetime. She came to Live Well because of the focus that our office offers to those with sports related injuries and the team approach we have to caring for each person’s needs. Whether you want a class that brings you to understand Pilates at a higher level or an intense core challenge she will challenge your body to reach new strengths.
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Leda Lum
Leda has been studying movement, dance, and various forms of therapy for over ten years. She has taught Pilates in chiropractic offices, physical therapy clinics and Pilates studios since being certified in 2000. Her technique is influenced by a wide variety of master instructors and her approach is very personal and thorough. Her clients often comment that Leda has an amazing skill for understanding injury and also how to rehabilitate the problem. Leda has a compassionate and gentle approach to working with clients that allows new and established clients to challenge themselves with skills they once thought of as inconceivable. She offers both class instruction and private sessions throughout the week.
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Michelle Merritt
Michelle has been a pilates instructor for approximately five years and has worked prior to this as a Rockette dancer in NYC. She has a keen understanding of form and the repercussions that an injury can have on one’s body. Michelle has been an athlete for most of her life and now is a mother of two young children. Her knowledge of dance, sports and pilates has also helped her body rebound from the challenges of pregnancy and a rapidly changed body. Michelle’s teaching style is “Classic pilates” with an emphasis on form. Her students have commented on the fact that Michelle challenges everyone in her class by giving individual attention to make sure that each student is improving at their own pace with a fun and motivating personality.
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Lauren Kokenes
A graduate of the University of Tennessee with a B.A. in Spanish, Lauren studied classical ballet, modern, and yoga while in her years at school, and was introduced to Pilates on the mat while on the Univ. of TN Equestrian Team.
Lauren has studied classical ballet under the instruction of Perry Brown, formerly of the School of American Ballet, and Irena Linn, previously of the Boston Conservatory and dedicated student of Mary Wigman.
As a passionate student of dance, Lauren connected instantly with Pilates blending the art of performance, body movement and mind awareness, with strengthening of the being as a whole. After several years of dedicated Pilates practice for herself, she decided to become a PhysicalMind certified instructor under Maria Leone of Bodyline LA, and uses her love of Pilates to help others reap the benefits of the exercise.
She brings energy and excitement to her classes and is enthusiastic to share a positive and beneficial Pilates experience with clients of all levels.
Donna Otten
Donna Otten started her career as a portrait photographer, graduating with a degree in Photography and working and mentoring with some of the worlds most accomplished photographers. In 2001 Donna was involved in a debilitating car accident that left her with multiple complex injuries. She started Pilates for rehabilitating purposes, gaining an immediate appreciation for the healing and strength building effects of practicing Pilates.
In 2010 after working as a professional photographer for over 10 years Donna took a hiatus from photography to focus on gaining a deeper understanding of the Pilates practice that helped build and strengthen her mind / body connection. In 2012 she decided to embrace Pilates by training to become a certified teacher.
Donna completed an intensive three month teacher training program with Maria Leone, who is one of the most sought after trainers in the United States lauded for her holistic, integrative approach to the Pilates Method. Having completed her apprenticeship with Maria through The Physical Mind Institute, Donna is now working full-time as a Pilates instructor.
A sampling of testimonials: “Donna is a naturally gifted teacher. Her background in photography really translated to teaching. Viewing clients through a lens has sharpened her eye and made her quick to spot faulty form with clients. ” – Maria Leone.
Check out Donna’s Pilates classes
