CORE Buckhead

After dancing for the Milwaukee Ballet Company, CandiceThompson received her Pilates certification at BodyTonic Pilates Gymnasium in Brooklyn, NY, under the direction of Jennifer DeLuca (Romana Kryzanowksa) and Caitlin Cook (Maggie Black). She feels lucky to have studied with Pilates elder Kathleen Stanford Grant during her earlier training at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. 
In addition to her work as an Instructor and Deputy Director of Pilates Teacher Training at BodyTonic, where she trained and mentored three classes of apprentices, Candice has continued her Pilates education with workshops by Susan Moran and Le...

After dancing for the Milwaukee Ballet Company, CandiceThompson received her Pilates certification at BodyTonic Pilates Gymnasium in Brooklyn, NY, under the direction of Jennifer DeLuca (Romana Kryzanowksa) and Caitlin Cook (Maggie Black). She feels lucky to have studied with Pilates elder Kathleen Stanford Grant during her earlier training at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. 

In addition to her work as an Instructor and Deputy Director of Pilates Teacher Training at BodyTonic, where she trained and mentored three classes of apprentices, Candice has continued her Pilates education with workshops by Susan Moran and Leslie Levy (Power Pilates), Claire Dunphy (Progressive Body Works), Junghee Won, and at the Pilates Method Alliance conference in 2012. She completed a college level course in Anatomy and Kinesiology from the Harkness Center for Dance Injuries as part of her undergraduate degree and has furthered her knowledge of anatomy and biomechanics with workshops by Enja Schenck, Irene Dowd and Steven Featherhuff. 

Most recently, she received an MFA in literary nonfiction from Columbia University and is a frequent contributor to Dance Magazine, Pointe, and Dance Teacher, writing often about health, fitness, and yes, sometimes Pilates.

Clare Gordon began her Pilates practice in 1999. She quickly realized how effective the practice was and in 2000 while living in Sydney, Australia Clare began her teacher training with Romana Kryzanowska. She completed her certification and began teaching Pilates in early 2002. Since then, Clare has gone on to become Power Pilates and Redcord certified and continually participates in trainings and workshops to deepen her knowledge of the body. Clare truly believes in the benefits one can reap from pilates and employs her expertise to her varied clientele. She strives to personalize every client's workout specifically to their body whether that be for back pain, neck issues, prenatal and postpartum work or ...

Clare Gordon began her Pilates practice in 1999. She quickly realized how effective the practice was and in 2000 while living in Sydney, Australia Clare began her teacher training with Romana Kryzanowska. She completed her certification and began teaching Pilates in early 2002. Since then, Clare has gone on to become Power Pilates and Redcord certified and continually participates in trainings and workshops to deepen her knowledge of the body. Clare truly believes in the benefits one can reap from pilates and employs her expertise to her varied clientele. She strives to personalize every client's workout specifically to their body whether that be for back pain, neck issues, prenatal and postpartum work or just simply getting fit. Through the use of precision and flow Clare challenges her clients to ensure that they leave their sessions feeling energized and exercised. Outside of the studio, Clare shares her life with her husband, Steffan and their two daughters Sophie and Isabel. She loves to cook, eat and spend time outdoors. A weekend often involves a hike with the family's dog, the neighborhood farmer's market and a dinner party for friends at her home.

Erika is originally from South Florida, where she began her dance training at the age of 3. She continued her studies in Dance at Florida State University where she graduated Summa Cum Laude, with a Bachelors of Fine Arts. While at school she was introduced to Kinesiology, Dance Science and a variety of Somatic Practices, for which she developed a growing passion. Throughout her four years she took numerous courses in GYROTONIC® and Pilates in order to maintain her physical condition, strengthen and prevent further injury for her rigorous dance schedule.
It was during this time that Erika discovered her love for the GYROTONIC® expansion system and decided to begin her certification in order...

Erika is originally from South Florida, where she began her dance training at the age of 3. She continued her studies in Dance at Florida State University where she graduated Summa Cum Laude, with a Bachelors of Fine Arts. While at school she was introduced to Kinesiology, Dance Science and a variety of Somatic Practices, for which she developed a growing passion. Throughout her four years she took numerous courses in GYROTONIC® and Pilates in order to maintain her physical condition, strengthen and prevent further injury for her rigorous dance schedule.

It was during this time that Erika discovered her love for the GYROTONIC® expansion system and decided to begin her certification in order to expand her knowledge. Erika completed her Level 1 GYROTONIC® certification in May 2015 after studying intensively with Master Trainer Anjali Austin. During her training she spent five months interning at Kinespirit a GYROTONIC® and Pilates studio in New York, under the direction of Master Trainer Chantal Deeble. While in New York, Erika taught a four week progressive GYROTONIC® group class, focusing on the fundamentals of the system.

After graduating, Erika took several months this summer to travel through Europe. While there, she had the opportunity to enroll in an update course, GYROTONIC® Application for the Shoulder Girdle taught by Master Trainer Uwe Herbstreit. This course helped Erika with maintaining and preventing further injury to her thoracic spine and shoulder girdle, as well as gaining valuable knowledge that she hopes to have the pleasure to share to all whom she works with.

Outside of her work at CORE, Erika works for StaibDance, a contemporary dance company here in Atlanta. 

Hailing from the windy city, Falashay moved from Chicago to Atlanta for an acting internship with Actor's Express Theatre Company in 2014. Prior to moving to Atlanta, Falashay graduated Cum Laude with a BFA in Acting from DePaul University's prestigious Theatre School. A huge part of training at The Theatre School (TTS) is movement and body awareness. The program uses many techniques such as yoga, Feldenkrais, African dance and viewpoints among others to help students achieve a high level of awareness through movement. Falashay has a passion for yoga and kickboxing as well as other varied physical pursuits. This mixture of the training received at TTS and Falashay's continued personal wellness pursuit...

Hailing from the windy city, Falashay moved from Chicago to Atlanta for an acting internship with Actor's Express Theatre Company in 2014. Prior to moving to Atlanta, Falashay graduated Cum Laude with a BFA in Acting from DePaul University's prestigious Theatre School. A huge part of training at The Theatre School (TTS) is movement and body awareness. The program uses many techniques such as yoga, Feldenkrais, African dance and viewpoints among others to help students achieve a high level of awareness through movement. Falashay has a passion for yoga and kickboxing as well as other varied physical pursuits. This mixture of the training received at TTS and Falashay's continued personal wellness pursuits have led her to CORE. Above all else, Falashay appreciates the individualized and small group approach to wellness at CORE and loves that the goal is to empower all clients to achieve mind body wellness.

Jessica founded CORE’s flagship location in Buckhead in 2006 in an effort to create her own ideal work environment: a positive, friendly and professional movement studio that attracts and retains outstanding teachers while providing exceptional customer service. Her mind-body wellness journey began in Washington, DC, in 1998 where she took Pilates mat classes at Excel Movement Studios while working as an editor for a public policy oriented publishing firm. After experiencing the transformative effects of the Pilates Method, she left the policy world to teach Pilates full-time.
After studying Pilates for six years, Jessica discovered Gyrotonic® exercise in 2004. She loved how Gyrotonic com...

Jessica founded CORE’s flagship location in Buckhead in 2006 in an effort to create her own ideal work environment: a positive, friendly and professional movement studio that attracts and retains outstanding teachers while providing exceptional customer service. Her mind-body wellness journey began in Washington, DC, in 1998 where she took Pilates mat classes at Excel Movement Studios while working as an editor for a public policy oriented publishing firm. After experiencing the transformative effects of the Pilates Method, she left the policy world to teach Pilates full-time.

After studying Pilates for six years, Jessica discovered Gyrotonic® exercise in 2004. She loved how Gyrotonic complimented her Pilates training and challenged her to take her work – as a practitioner of the methods and as a teacher – to a much deeper level. She has completed certifications for Gyrotonic, Gyrokinesis and all of the specialized Gyrotonic equipment. She was fortunate to be certified in both systems by creator Juliu Horvath. She is an Authorized Gyrotonic Pre-Trainer and Master Trainer.

Jessica believes that continuing education is crucial to every Pilates and Gyrotonic instructor’s continued growth. She has taken hundreds of hours of continuing education courses around the country covering a wide variety of subject matter including working with post-rehab clients who experience back and shoulder pain, refining her use of voice and touch, teaching Pilates to pregnant and postpartum women, modifying exercises for those with osteoporosis and challenging elite athletes with the Gyrotonic method.

A passionate entrepreneur, Jessica currently focuses on setting vision and direction for the studio and manages its operations. 

Jessica is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Allegheny College, where she earned a B.A. in political science in 1997. She also holds a Master of Public Management degree from the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland at College Park. A Decatur native, she lives in Ormewood Park with her husband and children.

Certifications

• Comprehensive Pilates Certification, Excel Movement Studios, 2002
• GYROTONIC® , Level I, 2006
• Gyrotonic Jump-Stretch Board, 2006 & 2007
• GYROKINESIS®, Level I, 2007
• Comprehensive Pilates Certification (Bridge), Power Pilates, 2007
• Pilates National Exam, Pilates Method Alliance, 2007
• Gyrotonic for Golf, 2007 & 2010
• Gyrotonic Leg Extension Unit, 2007 & 2009
• Gyrotonic Pre-Trainer, 2008
• Gyrotonic Archway, 2009 & 2015
• Certified Pre- and Post-Natal SpecialistTM (Pilates), 2009
• Gyrotonic Gyrotoner, 2009 & 2010
• Therapeutic Gyrotonic Applications for the Shoulder, 2010
• Annual Gyrotonic and Bi-annual Gyrokinesis Update courses
• Gyrotonic Master Trainer, 2014
• Advanced Teacher Training Program (Bridge), The Pilates Center, 2014
• Host Studio Advisor, The Pilates Center, 2014
• Gyrotonic Level 2, 2015

Kali is originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where her love of fitness began as a competitive gymnast and dancer.  She continued to dance in the Vassar Repertory Dance Theater at Vassar College where she graduated with a B.A. in Biology.  She went on to embark on a career in medicine, graduating with honors from Meharry Medical College. As an athlete who had sustained several injuries, Kali noticed there was a paucity of doctors who understood the unique injuries of dancers and gymnasts. She was inspired to become an orthopedic surgeon to help athletes like herself. After completing her orthopedic surgery residency she finished a fellowship in foot and ankle reconstructive surgery before rel...

Kali is originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where her love of fitness began as a competitive gymnast and dancer.  She continued to dance in the Vassar Repertory Dance Theater at Vassar College where she graduated with a B.A. in Biology.  She went on to embark on a career in medicine, graduating with honors from Meharry Medical College. As an athlete who had sustained several injuries, Kali noticed there was a paucity of doctors who understood the unique injuries of dancers and gymnasts. She was inspired to become an orthopedic surgeon to help athletes like herself. After completing her orthopedic surgery residency she finished a fellowship in foot and ankle reconstructive surgery before relocating to Atlanta to join a private practice group. 

Throughout her medical studies, fitness remained a constant in her life through Pilates, yoga, tennis, and weight training. Her Pilates instructor encouraged her to obtain her Pilates certification, and she completed her teacher training through the Power Pilates program and began teaching at large fitness clubs and boutique fitness centers in the Atlanta area. 

Kali is thrilled to be able to merge her love of fitness and her extensive medical knowledge of injury treatment and prevention to help a variety of clients through Pilates.