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 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 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.

Darcy began her personal Pilates practice in 2002 and earned her comprehensive certification in 2004 with Power Pilates. Since that time she has been dedicated to exploring the progressive layers of Pilates and is devoted to personal and professional growth. Darcy feels that Pilates balances her life and helps her do everything better. She strives to provide her clients with a stable base and challenges their abilities by building on the method. Darcy has been a resident of Atlanta since 1975 and earned a Bachelor of Art degree from Auburn University in 1989. She currently lives with her husband.

Darlene has Beginner, Intermediate and Advance Level Mat certifications and a full 500-hour Classical Pilates Apparatus Certification. All achieved under the teaching, guidance and leadership from Juliet Harvey, President of Beacon Pilates, Beacon N.Y.  

She recently has become a resident of Ga. Prior to her relocation Darlene taught at Beacon Pilates, The Pilates Studio at Allsport, APG Pilates and facilitated Pilates Adult Education Programs at Marlboro Elementary School in Hyde Park N.Y.

Currently, Darlene has partnered with Athleta, Atlantic Station in Atlanta occasionally providing mat classes to Athleta’s Fitness Community.

Darlene is a graduate of the Institute of Integrative Nutrition with undergraduate and graduate certificates in Health Coaching endorsed by the American Association of Drug less Practitioners and the State University of New York, Purchase College. She also has a Master of Science Degree in Organizational Leadership, Mercy College. 

Darlene utilizes her skills and talent to empower, motivate and inspire her clients to push beyond their limits to achieve a lifetime of health and wellness.

Ed has been active in fitness for over 30 years. His martial arts background has always driven his passion for functional movement and desire to stay on the cutting edge of evidence-based physical training. He is a comprehensively trained Balanced Body Pilates instructor and Certificated Personal Trainer through the National Academy Of Sports Medicine. Movement is his passion and he's constantly developing his knowledge and skills about physical fitness and health-related topics. Ed has additional training in Pilates for Neromusculaar Conditions, TRX and ViPR Loaded Movement Training. He has lived and breathed Pilates since the day he witnessed how it can change lives for the better and he loves sharing his passion to help you find your strongest self.

Elizabeth received her Pilates certification from Power Pilates in 2002. Under the guidance of Bob Liekens and Susan Moran, she was the first person to receive Power Pilates comprehensive certification in Georgia. In 2009, Elizabeth completed Romana Kryzanowska's Romana's Pilates beginner through advanced training. 

Elizabeth believes that the discipline and grace learned through the Pilates method enhance one's overall quality of life immeasurably. She teaches with great emphasis on technique, efficiency, and grounded lightness. She ran competitively in college, still loves to run, and dances with Atlanta contemporary dance company, Crossover Movement Arts.

She was certified in Gyrotonic in May 2014.

Elizabeth grew up in Atlanta, and received a BA in Philosophy from Emory University. She lives in Grant Park with her husband, Stuart, and her two children, Edward and Tuesday.

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 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.

Ila is a lifelong athlete, born and raised in in Los Angeles, California. Sports and exercise have always been second nature. She ran track throughout her childhood, and continued to develop and showcase her talent at the college level. For over 10 years Ila was an avid gym rat, lifting heavy and not completely understanding the damage she was doing to her body. As a collegiate athlete Ila suffered injuries which brought her to Pilates and she immediately fell in love with the practice. Due to her spinal injury, Ila knew that Pilates would be the only thing that would allow for an active lifestyle with longevity. She wants to encourage those through her own testimony that Pilates can return any body to life.

Ila is a classically trained instructor, certified through Equinox Pilates Institute. She is certified in all levels of Mat, Reformer, Cadillac, High Chair, Wunda Chair, Spine Corrector and Ladder Barrel. Ila attends workshops frequently to further her knowledge and personal practice in Pilates. Her clients range from athletes to those seasoned in age. Her main goal with each client is to improve the way they feel which in return will improve the way they look. Effective and efficient movement for the everyday person to the toughest athlete.

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 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.

As a result of her extensive studies in dance, Ms. Cook developed a strong sense of discipline and earned Juris Doctor Degree in Law. In her work as a Pilates instructor, she combines her gifts, passion and zeal for the arts to encourage clients to develop and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Ms. Cook has taught and performed in numerous venues across the United States and internationally, including the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa, Carnegie Hall in New York City, and the Independence Day Celebration in Washington, DC. Ms. Cook also works with Donna Richardson Joyner in leading fitness workshops internationally and nationally in schools, churches and health organizations.

Kristen grew up with a passion for performing, especially in dance.  She attended St. Petersburg College in Florida and pursued a degree in Theater, which then led her to auditioning for Universal Orlando.  After twenty-three years in working with the theme park and booking numerous commercials, tv, and film roles, she packed up her family to move to GA to be closer to her acting career. She knew she always leaned toward a fitness career as a side business, but little did she know getting certified in Classical Pilates would open her heart to a whole new passion.  She was diagnosed with scoliosis at a young age and high impact workouts are no longer her friend. Kristen always liked pilates but fell in love with it during her certification under the teachings of Joel Crosby at Vitality Method in Duluth, GA. She has been teaching at Lifemoves Pilates Studio in Buford, where she currently resides. Even though it’s a commute, she is excited to grow her career at CORE and add a RedCord certification under her belt. 

Maru started her Pilates practice at age 12. She has been practicing the Pilates method for 22 years under the tutelage of Lolita San Miguel and has taught in Puerto Rico and the United States for 14 years. She is a Second generation teacher of Joseph Pilates and disciple of Lolita San Miguel. In 2008 she founded her Pilateros studio and has been teaching ever since. 

Maru was a solo dancer of Ballet Concierto de Puerto, founding member of Balleteatro Nacional de Puerto Rico, dancer of the contemporary company Apoc Apoc in the Federal District of Mexico and finished her dancing career with the contemporary company Andanza upon her retirement in 2014. She is a representative of Lolita’s Legacy Teacher Training Program in Puerto Rico. She is certified as a teacher under Polestar Pilates and the Lolita San Miguel Pilates Master Mentor Program and is part of Lolita San Miguel's Master Teacher and 2nd Generation Joseph Pilates Teacher programs.

Maru has participated in Pilates conventions in Brazil, the United States and Germany. She currently resides between Puerto Rico and Atlanta and owns two Pilateros studios, located at Suchville Gallery in Guaynabo and Ashford Ave. in Condado. In Atlanta, she is currently a member of the CORE Buckhead team, Pilates Club and is a private instructor of professional athletes.  She has posed as a Pilates model in manuals and videos of Lolita’s Legacy Teacher Training Program. Maru has also has certified 10 Pilates instructors in Puerto Rico under the Lolita’s Legacy Teacher Training.

Tess Kuether is a friendly teacher with a passion for wholistic healing. Her background in dance and Thai Yoga fortifies her Pilates training. Tess graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a B.S. in Fine-Arts Dance, and completed a 425 hour Pilates Teacher Training Program. She traveled to Chiang Mai to complete an advanced-level Thai Yoga Certification. While teaching, Tess incorporates modifications and props to encourage proper body mechanics. She uses creative cues and inventive exercises to build fluid, invigorating lessons. By giving hands-on assists and traction throughout workouts, she makes her students feel longer, more relaxed and balanced.

Tori Vincent is a native of Lafayette, Louisiana and has recently relocated to Atlanta, Georgia to further her research and creative explorations within her dance career. She received her BFA in Dance from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 2018, and began her professional career in 2017. She traveled to Italy in 2018 to attend the Staibdance Summer Intensive. She is currently a dancer with Zoetic Dance Ensemble and an intern with Fly on a Wall. She is continuously searching to connect dance with numerous art forms and deepen her research within her work. Tori has also worked in the customer service industry for five years and is thrilled to bring this experience into being part of the Client Care Team at Core Buckhead.