MEET THE HARMONY TRAINERS

JENNIFER MARTIN was born and raised in Manhattan Beach, California, and has over 20 years of experience as a fitness coach, teacher, and trainer.
She is a certified Pilates teacher through the Physical Mind Institute, New York since 2004. She is also certified on the Power Plate, Kettlebells, weight training, TRX, the Bosu balance, and more. Jennifer studied dance and theater at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts and then continued her education at the University of Southern California, earning her Bachelors of Fine Arts Degree in Dance and Acting. While at USC, she taught at Jane Fonda's Workout, and later at The Spectrum Clubs, The Sports Club LA, and Equinox. She has been featured in many fitness DVDs and has taught abroad for Australia's TV show- "Fitness OZ style". Jennifer is dedicated to continuing her education to help her clients achieve their health & fitness goals through a safe, effective, challenging workout for the mind and body.

Jennifer believes that it's not stress per se that creates problems in the body, it's how you deal with and perceive your situation that can cause the damage. When you can change your perspective, you can lessen the impact it has on you. As Joseph Pilates said, "It's the mind itself that shapes the body"! Pilates has been of immense help to her in managing her scoliosis, a condition that causes curvature of the spine because Pilates involves the use of the core muscles. Additionally, she has guided many women through their pregnancies, as Pilates is known to strengthen the pelvic floor, thereby making delivery easier. 

Teaching Style:  Energetic, Technical, Creative, Inspirational. 
With her endless dynamic energy, Jen is our in-house cheerleader. A teacher with a loyal following, if you are ready to take your workout to the next level, get into one of Jen’s always popular classes. With an athletic edge and the perfect mix of classical and endurance, she delivers a solid kick-ass workout. 

 

What do you love most about teaching? I love teaching Pilates because it helps so many people in all Walks of life. 

 

What is your favorite exercise?  Feet in Straps!

 

Fun Fact: I’ve been doing voiceovers for many years and voiced the character Ms Sarah Bellum in The Powerpuff Girls cartoon & movie! 

 

Sign:  Sagittarius

CARLY ANDERSON, originally from Arizona, started dancing at the age of three. She trained in jazz, tap, ballet, hip hop, lyrical and contemporary until she graduated high school. She attended New York University’s College of Arts and Sciences and after just one year, she recognized her passion for performing and moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. 

Once in LA, Carly discovered she also had a love for fitness, especially Pilates. After exploring her passion by taking numerous classes all over Los Angeles, she ultimately decided to get her Pilates certification from Pilates Sports Center. Carly is excited to share her knowledge and incorporate her dance background and love for fitness into her classes.

Teaching Style:  Fun, Energetic, Creative.
Carly likes to push you but makes you laugh while doing it. You can expect a high-energy, motivational, endurance-based Pilates reformer class!

 

What do you love most about teaching?  I love the client interactions and seeing people progress with their practice over time. 

 

What is your favorite exercise?  Chest Expansion because it helps so much with strengthening the back and counteracting the effects of poor posture.

 

Fun Fact: I once saran wrapped a door frame to re-create the nsync it's gonna be me video. iykyk

 

Sign:  Capricorn

JOEY SANDAK found her way to Pilates and movement arts through her love of music and performance. Her joy for singing started at a young age with musical theater, and has since evolved into a diverse career spanning Rock, Jazz, and Contemporary/Hip-Hop genres. Originally from New York, she made the move to Miami, then Nashville, and now calls Los Angeles home.

 

To support her voice training, Joey has practiced Pilates over the last decade as a dedicated student and enthusiast. Like many others, she fell in love with the work which eventually led her to want to expand her reach in Pilates by teaching and training others, and she recently completed her Comprehensive Pilates training with Union Pilates here in West Hollywood.

 

Teaching Style:  Fun, Technical, Patient, Creative. 
With her calming presence and playful approach, Joey offers a fun, high-energy class while maintaining a comforting and relaxing vibe. She loves Pilates and it shows.

 

What do you love most about teaching? I love seeing clients gain confidence in their bodies through experience and feel more connected within themselves. 

 

What is your favorite exercise? Side-Lying Leg Series is one of my favorites on the reformer. I love the control it requires and how you can keep it fresh and exciting with different variations and props. Love that booty burn. ;) But also, Short Spine because it's so relaxing, and the embodiment of the Pilates mind-body connection. 

 

Fun Fact: I’m a jazz musician, and I have a dog named Kōhī (means coffee in Japanese) who definitely keeps life interesting! 

 

Sign:  Sagittarius

BRIAN FRETTÉ has been teaching Pilates since 1995 and is still amazed at its curative power. He was trained at Mari Winsor’s Pilates, who came from Ron Fletcher and Romana Krysanowska, protegé to Joseph Pilates. He made a very smooth transition to Pilates courtesy of his career as a professional dancer.

Brian was trained in the Cecchetti Method of Classical Ballet utilized as the basis of training in the Russian, English, and Italian schools of Ballet. He then went on to become a modern dancer at the Paul Taylor and Martha Graham schools in NYC. He also studied Jazz with Kate Leland of Luigi’s Dance Company of NYC.

Throughout his dance career he has come to know the human body and its workings, injuries, weaknesses, inherent strengths, and glorious connections. He works to alleviate the day-to-day pressures and tribulations of the incredibly vulnerable human physique and psyche. Through his vast experience he has helped clients overcome back pain, surgeries and brought many women to term, including twins. He has witnessed the Pilates Method correct the spine, alleviate pain and maintain a healthy organism.

 

What do you love most about teaching? I love when the light goes on in someone’s head and they realize that they are not just inhabiting a body, but that they can utilize it, change it, improve it and glory in the consequences of physical health and longevity.

 

What is your favorite exercise? All of the stretches possible on the mat, reformer, and the Cadillac machines. No one stretches enough and once you give in to it, worlds open in terms of physical possibility.

 

Fun Fact: I won First Place in the Health Division of the San Francisco Baby Pageant of 1962! Already singled out for my view towards a healthy lifestyle.

 

Sign:  Triple Virgo

MICHELLE PRESS is a third-year student in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Regis University. She is completing her final clinical rotation here in West Hollywood, where she hopes to stay after graduation. She graduated from the 950-hour advanced teacher training program at The Pilates Center of Boulder in January 2020 and has been teaching ever since. She is passionate about applying the knowledge from her doctorate studies to her teaching and wants to share this knowledge with her patients and clients. Her goal is to help every individual learn about their body so that they can feel confident in their movement as they go through life.

 

Teaching Style:  Inspirational, Creative, Playful, Restorative.
Michelle’s physical therapy training and unique perspective on movement provide an ideal opportunity for you to connect with your body and discover more efficient & effective movement patterns. Her classes are thoughtfully designed to engage every region of the body, and she takes the time to get to know her students, helping them make progress toward their personal goals. You can expect her classes to include a variety of exercises, offering challenges and opportunities for growth while ensuring a safe and supportive environment.

 

What do you love most about teaching?  I love helping my students learn about their bodies so that they can become confident in the way that they move, both inside and outside of the studio.

 

What is your favorite exercise?  Short spine. It is so effective for slowing down the nervous system and assisting with mobility for all spinal regions.

 

Fun Fact: As a teenager, I worked for my Pilates lessons by babysitting my teacher's kids!

 

Sign: Cancer

ELAINE RENSING is a Southern California native. Elaine holds a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. She received her Pilates certification under Marie Jose Blom at Long Beach Dance Conditioning while dancing professionally. She has assisted under Physical Therapist and Movement Educator Eva Nemeth, founder of EVA Movement and Physical Therapist Lillian Chen, known for her specialization in training Olympic athletes. Elaine has been featured in Vogue Italia, Pacific Standard Magazine, Penida Magazine and Sheer Magazine. She believes that when we feel good, we look good. Her focus is to create a mindful and sustainable approach to help her clients reach their health goals.

Teaching Style:  Technical, Energetic, Playful, Creative.

Elaine believes that the Pilates technique provides something for every person, no matter what age, background, or skill level. She enjoys creating sequences that flow and loves applying what she knows about biomechanics to balance the body, keeping her students focused on form.

 

What do you love most about teaching?  I love getting inspiration from my clients- it’s truly a collaborative effort.

 

What is your favorite exercise?  None of them! They’re hard! I guess if I had to pick Side-Lying Glutes because you are laying down and they make your butt look good.

 

Fun Fact:  I have ankle boots in almost every color of the rainbow. Almost.

 

Sign:  Gemini 

JENNIFER TILLETT, an Ohio native, earned her BFA from the University of Cincinnati. under Ivon Dahl she completed her comprehensive Pilates Certification in 1998. Passionate about continuing education, she obtained a second Pilates Certification through the Pilates Method Alliance in 2010. In 2013 she moved to Florida where she was the Head Instructor and Master trainer at Wave Pilates Studio in South Tampa. Life brought her back to California where she returned to teaching at Harmony Studios Pilates. She developed and implemented a successful comprehensive Pilates teacher training program, Union Pilates, where she has mentored, developed, and trained new Pilates instructors. 

Jennifer believes Pilates is truly teaching people how to move and use their bodies, not just a collection of exercises.  She has seen in her own body, the impact Pilates can have.  After a fall and herniated disk, she was told surgery was inevitable.  But with patience and Pilates, she rehabilitated her back and went on to complete multiple marathons.  Having taught full-time for over 25 years, she has taught all ages and ability levels.  

Teaching Style: Technical, Integrated, Classical, Focused.

Jennifer has an easy-going and patient nature, with strong attention to detail. She encourages people to explore movement possibilities in a safe controlled manner. Her class is always fun and she’ll make you work hard without realizing it! 

 

What do you love most about teaching? Helping people understand their bodies. Helping others find balance; flexibility, mobility, and strength.

 

What is your favorite exercise?  Legs in Straps - There is nothing like it and nothing that can replicate the feeling in your legs and body.

 

Fun Fact: Bernadette, the cutest Maltipoo ever, rules our household. 

 

Sign:  Capricorn

Catherine Spohn grew up in Upstate NY, which is where she discovered her passion and love for fitness (and hiking). She started swimming competitively as a child, and brings that competitive edge, instilled in her from a young age, to her day-to-day life. Her coaches began using mat Pilates principles in her dryland swim workouts as young as 12, unbeknownst to her.

 

She specializes in multi-planar movement and form, fusing classical and contemporary styles together for a holistic, dynamic, well-rounded routine, with emphasis on (and passions in) postural improvement, mobility, stability, core strength, tight hip/low back pain relief, and slow, controlled, yet killer workouts. Her years in competitive swimming and supplemental yoga instruction have shaped her into quite the motivational teacher, as she has picked up a thing or two from her many coaches and fitness industry mentors along the way.

 

Teaching Style:  Creative, Focused, Playful, Technical.
Catherine's dry sense of humor, and meticulous attention to detail and form will keep you on your toes and invigorate you, making you feel more lengthened, toned, and open (both mentally and physically) by the time you exit the Harmony door. One of her favorite quotes is that “strength without flexibility equals weakness.”

 

What do you love most about teaching?  I have always been surprised at how much creativity and problem-solving goes into teaching Pilates. I never plan out a class or private—I tailor it for the student(s) who are in front of me. The ability to constantly stimulate my mind, think on my toes, and multitask are a few of my strong suits, and I am so glad to be able to apply these personal strengths to Pilates instruction. 

 

What is your favorite exercise?  Wow, that’s such a broad question, how ever will I answer it fully! I think anything with a super light spring load and abs, or Elephant, because it really lengthens my spine (I have adult scoliosis and Pilates has helped me a ton with that). Anything that encourages a strong core and lengthens the tight hip flexors, especially in a car and work-centric city like Los Angeles.

 

Fun Fact: I am a freelance writer. I love going on hikes, and making gluten-free oat flour muffins. I have a very cute cat named Iverson (not after the basketball player).

 

Sign: Taurus

Originally from Dallas, Texas, MADDIE BARENBERG moved to California in 2018 and soon found her way to Pilates through physical therapy. Her PT clinic had a Cadillac, and she found that the exercises she practiced made such a difference that her physical therapist recommended adding Pilates into her routine twice a week. Maddie joined her local studio, quickly fell in love, and became a dedicated practitioner.

Her journey in the Pilates studio grew from client to staff, where she worked her way up to management and eventually became a certified instructor. Maddie is incredibly passionate about Pilates—not only for how it helped her heal physically but also for the strength and balance it brings to one's life. She loves sharing that passion with others and helping clients connect to and challenge their bodies in meaningful ways.

Teaching Style: Calming, Technical, Encouraging, Patient.
With her supportive and adaptable teaching style, Maddie’s keen attention to detail and focus on proper form will leave you feeling your best. She tailors exercises to each individual’s unique needs and abilities, ensuring that everyone can progress at their own pace, regardless of any challenges or limitations.

 

What do you love most about teaching? I love sharing my passion for Pilates and igniting that passion in others through teaching. Helping clients feel confident through movement. It’s important to me that there is a benefit behind every exercise I teach and that I help the clients understand the benefits (spinal mobility, deep core activation, glute strengthening, hip lengthening/extension, etc).

 

What is your favorite exercise? Teaser. This is my favorite exercise because there is always something to work towards, and there are so many different ways to challenge yourself and clients in this one exercise.

 

Fun Fact: I love to play tennis, just for fun. My favorite matcha spot is Holey Grail Donuts in Larchmont.

 

Sign:  Cancer