Club Pilates

Bios

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  Claire Ripoll

  Pilates Instructor

  Claire Ripoll is excited to share her passion for Pilates and fitness to all of her clients. She believes the best reward in teaching is seeing her clients finish the class feeling empowered and confident. Claire has been a barre addict for the past 8 years. After having her two children she added Pilates to her regular fitness routine to help rebuild her core in a safe and effective way. She decided to follow her passion and became a certified barre instructor in 2013 and shortly after began her Pilates Mat, reformer and Cadillac training through the Pilates Sports Center. She is also a master trainer for DaVinci Bodyboard, a certified group TRX instructor and certified in Fletcher Pilates floor, barre, and towel work.

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  Elizabeth Rausch

  Pilates Instructor

  I was born and raised in Austin and therefore undoubtedly exposed to the athletic lifestyle that this city is famous for. My athletic adventures originated two months subsequent to taking my first steps, when I proved to be a natural swimmer at fifteen months. I joined the academy at Ballet Austin in 1990 at age four. Pilates first came into my life at age eight during my first year in Summer Intensive at Ballet Austin. At that time, it was strictly mat class. Sixteen years later, my ballerina identity shifted and I lamentably decided to leave the adored and arduous world behind because of relentless and acute physical pain. In addition to close to twenty years of dancing ballet, I was enrolled in jazz for ten years at Ballet Austin, dabbled in tap and gymnastics, and immersed myself in yoga at Castle Hill for ten years. In 2005 at ages eighteen and nineteen, my attendance in the Pilates studio at Ballet Austin was so frequent that my Pilates instructor suggested I become certified. I accomplished my first Pilates certification in December of 2006 and soon following, my new beloved career. The compassion I hold for those who are subject to physical pain like I am is what drives me to instruct Pilates. Making this low-impact exercise regimen routine in my life lessoned the aching and cramping of my muscles. I have a passion for helping others find relief so they may live without the frustration of constantly hurting, while at the same time finding their equilibrium and strength. I am certified in both Balance Body and Power Pilates.

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  Inessa Haas

  Pilates Instructor

  Growing up in the Republic of Georgia, Inessa trained at a Russian ballet school for many years before her family relocated to New York in 1996. Always an athlete, Inessa has competed in the Hawaii and New York City Triathlons in addition to multiple century rides and NYC Half Marathons. When a yogi family member suggested incorporating Pilates into Inessa’s training, she experienced how powerful Pilates exercises are for building strength and endurance as well for rehabilitating injuries by using deeper, intrinsic muscle groups that are not commonly worked on in a regular gym class. In addition to her enthusiasm for fitness, Inessa’s passion for helping others encouraged her to begin training to be a full-time Pilates instructor. Inessa completed her Pilates certification at Gramercy Pilates in New York City where she worked as an instructor for group and private classes. She received her pre-natal Pilates certificate from Kinected Center in New York City and continues to further her education in order to better assist clients with various physical requirements. Inessa wants to share her passion for Pilates with all her clients and for them to have an experience unique to their individual needs, to feel stronger and revitalized after each session, and most importantly to have a great time!

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  Christen Cabe

  Pilates Instructor

  I discovered Pilates while rehabilitating some injuries from horseback riding. I've been a lifelong equestrian, and my doctor shared with be the benefits of continuing a Pilates practice after physical therapy to stay healthy and injury-free. I found it so effective that I decided to get certified in mat, reformer, Cadillac/trapeze, and Exo chair. I plan on continuing with training in Barrel and Spine Corrector. I've been taking Pilates for 13 years, teaching since 2016. I love to teach because I want to bring awareness to people's bodies and help them connect with themselves. I like to help people relieve pain and then continue to stay out of pain moving forward. I admire people who have taken control of their lives and are making positive choices to be their best selves, and I like to do anything I can to enable this improvement. I provide clear instruction to help people visualize how to use their body and core for mindful movement. I provide safety cues and modifications as needed to help people understand proper form. If needed I will demonstrate a series of movements before coaching clients through execution so they have an idea of what's coming. My classes are generally moderately paced, with lots of flow and smooth transitions, a variety of body positions, many planes of movement, and creative use of the equipment and props for a continued challenge and innovation. Through my background in equestrian sport, I've developed a first-hand understanding of common body ailments in this type of activity. I also relate to common issues that arise from working at a desk or in a seated environment. I'm sensitive to low back and hip problems as I deal with those myself. Outside of work I'm into all things art, design, crafting, and anything horse-related. I enjoy cultural experiences, travel, music, nature, camping, hiking and cooking.

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  Erin Finney

  Pilates Instructor

  Bio Erin Finney - Club Pilates Erin has had a lifelong love for all forms of movement and athletics. She began with ballet, soccer, and softball as a youngster and eventually enjoyed high school varsity basketball, track, and dance. After exploring bodybuilding for a decade, she stumbled into a yoga class and began a consistent yoga practice, including teaching, at Yoga Yoga in Austin, Texas. In 2013, Erin walked into her first Pilates class at Joymoves in Austin, Texas and knew she had found the perfect movement practice blending low impact strength training and body, mind, and breath connection for full body fitness. After a year of consistently practicing the challenging classical Pilates repertoires, she was thrilled with the noticeable results in her muscle and core strength, posture, and body awareness. As an instructor, Erin strives to share her passion for Pilates with students through effective and challenging workouts designed around the classical repertoires. She earned her Comprehensive Certification through Peak Pilates and has apprenticed at Joymoves and Redbird Pilates in Austin, Texas. Have a great day!

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  Jessica Duffey

  Pilates Instructor

  I took my first pilates mat class in 1999. I was in love from the start. I have always worked in an office at a desk job. In 2017 I decided to change my career and do something I loved. I wanted to be one of those people that loves their job so much that it does not feel like "work". I became a certified pilates instructor in June 2018. I will be pursuing my Pilates Method Alliance Certification in 2019.

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  Elisabeth Kristof

  Lead Instructor

  Elisabeth Kristof has dedicated her life to movement because she believes the quality of your movement determines to the quality of your brain function, enjoyment of life and overall well-being. She began her fitness career in 2006 as personal trainer and prenatal instructor. In 2007, she became a Body Arts and Science certified Pilates teacher and, in 2013 a Pilates Method Alliance certified Pilates teacher. Elisabeth has a large and loyal clientele that has been with her for many years. She enables lasting change for clients through education, sustainable and progressive training programs and supportive communities. A passionate researcher, teacher and Z-health neuro-biomechanics certified trainer, Elisabeth brings neuromuscular re-education to the Pilates curriculum. She believes that true change in fitness level, athletic ability, pain reduction, and behavior comes from precision movement that addresses the brain and nervous system. Elisabeth co-created and teaches for her own national Pilates teacher training program. She is also a guest lecturer at Texas State University Physical Therapy School. Elisabeth earned a Bachelor of Art’s degree in international affairs from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a Master’s degree in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin, where she received a Carnegie-Knight News21 fellowship for her reporting and writing on public health.

• Lindsey Wall

  Pilates Instructor

  From an early age, Lindsey was a competitive soccer player and runner. Her strong leadership and belief in supportive team building led many of the teams she competed on to statewide victories. While she continued these athletic pursuits through college, she also discovered her passion for dance. It was through Salsa, Lindy Hop, West African, Blues, and Tango dancing that Lindsey learned the real joy of movement and how deep mind-body connection and core strengthening can promote newfound confidence. However, in 2012 Lindsey’s dancing and athletic training came to a brutal stop as she struggled with a thyroid imbalance and excruciating sciatic nerve pain from hypermobility in the hip and pelvis. After four years of striving to regain her health, Lindsey finally found Pilates and been able to revive her passion for movement and the confidence she lost during this difficult period. Lindsey has been teaching Pilates since 2017. She loves sharing this passion and helping others feel their best at Club Pilates. Do Pilates. Do life.

• JenniferW Wallace