Our Instructors
In the early days of Pilates, most instructors were from the dance world. Today, at Balance Within, we have staff and trainees from a wide variety of backgrounds. We encourage clients to experience all of our teachers’ unique potential to add to your Pilates experience.
Gail Anderson, Licensed Massage Therapist, Pilates Method Alliance Gold CertifiedGail holds a BA in Education and has drawn on her education, movement and bodywork background to create Balance Within Pilates Studio. She founded and directed Body Evolution in Minneapolis, MN, providing instruction in aerobics and conditioning as early as 1981. She began her work in Pilates in the early nineties under the mentorship of Elizabeth Larkam of St. Francis Hospital in San Francisco. She studied a more traditional Pilates with Cary Regan and formalized her certification through The Pilates Center of Boulder, CO. Balance Within was founded in 1995 and in-house teacher training and certification began in 1997. The training now draws in serious Pilates students from across the state. Gail continues to study and absorb the work of all the master Pilates teachers and prominent figures in movement she can find, and pursues ongoing studies in bodywork to bring as much knowledge as she can to her clients and students. Gail is a licensed massage therapist and studies at the URSA Foundation, where she completed the highly respected Silver Series. She is a Gold Certified member of the Pilates Method Alliance. The more she practices and teaches, the more Gail recognizes the essential connection between intelligent bodywork and functional Pilates. She firmly believes Pilates work is not an event, but a process – a lifelong process.
Kathy Campbell-Beldon, Certified Pilates Instructor, Physical TherapistKathy, of Asheville Bodyworks in Asheville, NC, began analyzing movement in 1985 through her work as a dance teacher. Kathy trained with Romana Kryzanowski and certified with The Pilates Studio in 1995. Pilates functioned as a natural transition between dance and physical therapy. Kathy gained her Masters of Physical Therapy and North Carolina Physical Therapist license in 2000. She continues to expand her knowledge through continuing education in movement and manual therapy techniques. Kathy began lecturing in Pilates training programs and seminars in 2000 and commutes from Asheville during a portion of each Balance Within teacher training to assist in teaching the Anatomy and Pathology portions of the program.
Mike AdamMike discovered Pilates by accident after his wife’s Physical Therapist recommended Pilates as a way to strengthen her back after an injury. After a series of duet lessons with his wife, Mike recognized Pilates as the best method for improving his strength, flexibility, posture and balance. Mike felt so strongly about the benefits of Pilates, he left behind twenty-five years in the corporate world and dedicated himself to teaching Pilates and sharing it with others. As a graduate of Balance Within’s Teacher Training program, Mike enjoys how strenuous, yet energizing, the workouts can be and has a special message for men—“C’mon guys! Real men do Pilates!” Mike is originally from New York and now lives in Bellevue with his wife Trich and son Chris. He enjoys photography, a good laugh and listening to music, and looks forward to maintaining his fitness through Pilates for the rest of his life.
Val BennettA former Human Resources manager and consultant for over twenty years, Val found Pilates at Balance Within after a prolonged illness. She used Pilates to help her literally get back on her feet. After recovery, and feeling strongly about the work, she was delighted to be accepted into the training program. She has devoted the last few years to acquiring and expanding her teaching skills and is now a staff member at Balance Within.
Kandace CarnathanKandace began studying the human body at the University of Colorado at Boulder where she earned a kinesiology degree. With a background in dance and movement, Pilates training was a natural next step for her. She completed the comprehensive teacher training program at Balance Within and is now a full-time staff teacher. She enjoys a wonderful rapport with clients and is able to inspire them with her eye for detail and form.
Kate InnesKate first began studying Pilates to find relief from chronic low back pain. She saw almost immediate results and knew it was something she would continue to pursue for her own well-being. Her positive experience led her to a career in sharing and teaching the work. She was classically trained through Power Pilates and has come to Balance Within to deepen and expand her knowledge of Pilates, movement, and bodies. A resident of Redmond since 2000, Kate holds a BA in History from Stetson University and an MA in Museology from the University of Washington. She enjoys hiking, bicycling, and is a hula dancer. Kate lives in Redmond with her husband, dog, and baby.
Nancy ItoNancy became a Pilates devotee in 1992 when she discovered that Pilates could help her balance stretching and strengthening with her running program. Although she maintains her full-time day job, she has been teaching for over ten years, and received her certifications through both the Pilates Center of Boulder and Balance Within. Teaching a few hours a week helps her to balance her daily work stresses with a love of people and movement.
Katie Nichols, Licensed Massage TherapistKatie, a long-time equestrienne, started as a client at Balance Within to polish her riding skills and was inspired to learn more about Pilates and share that knowledge with others. She joined the Balance Within studio training for teachers and has flourished as a teacher ever since. A few years after completing her certification she graduated from massage school, which has enriched what she can bring to clients as a teacher. Katie is the senior teacher at Balance Within and assists in the training program and mentors new trainees. She is also available for bodywork sessions and continues her training in that field with the URSA Foundation and the Upledger Institute.
Malia Peck, Licensed Massage TherapistMalia began practicing Pilates in 1993 to rehabilitate an injury sustained while dancing ballet. After five years of Pilates practice, Malia attended the prestigious Brain Utting School of Massage in Seattle, WA. Since beginning her massage practice in 2000 at Balance Within Movement Studio, Malia has gained a reputation as a highly intuitive and knowledgeable treatment practitioner. She focuses on a whole body approach integrating a wide variety of manual techniques specific to the needs of each client. Her in-depth knowledge of movement and treatment assists each client in getting the most out of their bodywork and Pilates sessions.
Alessia Ramirez, Physical Therapist AssistantAlessia was a Physical Therapy Assistant before she became intrigued by Pilates movement and its potential for rehab applications as well as its intelligent movement components. She completed the Balance Within Teacher Training and happily merges the two modalities in her work in both fields. She is also a graduate of the URSA Foundation Silver Series, and continues to study at URSA and all other opportunities she can find to keep on learning.
Ann Marie SnowdenAnn Marie Snowden has a life time of physical activity and a health conscious outlook. She has a broad background of interests and skills, including fashion design, professional cooking, mountaineering, and image consulting. After a personal transition in 1999 she tried a Pilates mat class and discovered her future. She recognizes the ability of Pilates to build inner strength and radiate it outwards, while lengthening and strengthening the body, and how the work can be fully customized to the individual. She began teaching in 2003, after receiving her certification from both traditional and Power Pilates. She felt the need to expand her knowledge to better serve her clients, and discovered the “graduate work level” of Balance Within teachers. She plunged into the training at Balance Within, and is now an integral member of the staff.
Kara StaffordKara began taking Pilates as a 14-year-old dancer. She fell in love with the work and began her apprenticeship at age 17 at Balance Within and received her certification through the Pilates Center at Boulder in 1997. Through the years she has also taught mat classes at various clubs on the Eastside while she earned her Associates of Arts and Science degree, as well as Associate of Arts degree in Diagnostic Ultrasound. She also works as a pediatric sonographer at a local hospital. Kara enjoys teaching and watching her clients grow through the Pilates Method. When not teaching she loves dancing, karate, and playing with her two boys.
Debra ThomasDebra tried Pilates and was instantly hooked by her amazing gains in strength, energy, and stamina. Her passions for the work and her desire to help other people attain their goals led her to attend and complete a teacher training program through Power Pilates. She discovered Balance Within with some of her colleagues and joined them in seeking expanded knowledge of the body and depth in the work that she could offer to clients. Recently, she completed her second certification through Balance Within. She brings an energetic love of Pilates to her learning and teaching and still finds time to enjoy the active lifestyle she has always pursued: she still runs whenever possible and loves moving in general! Deb lives in Redmond with her husband, three children, and two dachshunds.