Here’s How A Biology Student Turns into a Pilates Instructor

I’m so glad you’re here and I can’t wait to start sharing with you! As you’ll learn, one of my main passions is to help others move & feel better so that you can live the active & pain free life that you deserve. 

Chances are you’re here because you’ve already experienced the magic that is Pilates and want more or you’ve heard about all of the amazing benefits of Pilates and are ready to experience them for yourself. I know that especially when you are dealing with chronic pain or an injury, that they almost seem too good to be true. 

I totally get it – when I was injured thinking I was going to be weak, broken and in pain forever because nothing else had helped me yet, I was skeptical, too. But let me tell you, the benefits are real! 

I promise it will get better, and I am here to support you anyway I can so you can live your most vibrant, active, and impactful life.

So let’s get to know each other!

Hi! I’m Alyssa! I’m a bit of a science nerd (you will learn to love that about me), but I’m also an artist. Once a dancer, always a dancer! 🩰

I have always been fascinated by how the body works, both inside and out. It was truly meant to be for me to go to college for both dance & biology and end up combining my two passions as a Pilates Instructor where I get to help my clients move better, get stronger, understand how their bodies work and get out of pain all at the same time.

I will never forget in college when I began to work as an undergraduate research assistant. It was my first day and the PhD student I was going to be assisting with his thesis was giving me a tour of the lab. We were just making small talk, and he said “I heard that you are a double major. What’s your other degree besides Biology?” And I responded with “Dance”. And he immediately burst out laughing and then he profusely apologized. It was honestly just the last thing he expected me to say and so he was shocked. We still joke about it to this day (and yes he still feels bad after 13 years!).

I know – I’m a rare breed. I admit it is an odd combination to love biology and ballet, but it’s the heart of who I am. I love art, I love movement and I love science, and Pilates is the perfect blend of everything!  

My background as a dancer has definitely played a role in my fascination for how the body works, what causes injuries and diseases to happen, and how we can prevent it from happening.  So now I pour my curiosity and passion into helping my clients get out of chronic pain, reduce their risk for future injuries and exceed their fitness goals.  I was always injured when I was dancing, and I know what it’s like to feel hopeless like you will never be able to do the things you love to do again, and I don’t want that for anyone!  You may feel like you will be broken forever, but I am here to show you that you won’t be. I am living proof! 

Like most instructors, my love for Pilates began when I was rehabbing an injury and my life has forever been changed. I suffered a bad hip injury when I was 17 and had to have surgery for a torn labrum (the cartilage in my hip). It was horrible at the time, I thought my dancing career was over. But looking back at that experience now, it was really a blessing in disguise because it led me to Pilates.

After the surgery, I did the prescribed physical therapy, but I still wasn’t getting better. My amazing mother saved the day though! She found a physical therapist who specialized in treating dancers and was also a certified Pilates instructor. For the first time ever, I had someone teach me about breathing and core stability. She focused on looking at how my whole body was working together, not just on where I was feeling my symptoms. And for the first time in years, I had no hip pain! From that moment on I was obsessed with Pilates and wanted to help others like my Pilates instructor helped me.

After graduating from college, I began training to become a certified STOTT PILATES instructor in 2012. I loved teaching clients so much, I decided to take my career to the next level and I became an Instructor Trainer in 2016 so I can pass on my knowledge and experiences to aspiring instructors and help them become caring, supportive instructors. 

Pilates has forever changed my life! I sometimes have to pinch myself thinking that this is actually my career! I never get tired of helping people get out of chronic pain, reach their fitness goals and realize what their body is capable of. 

I can’t wait to share with you everything that I’ve learned from my 10+ years of experience helping my clients, the frequent issues they encounter, my personal experience with my own injuries & rehab, as well as answer the questions I am asked by you. If I can help you enjoy moving your body, get out of pain, and finally get the results you have been wanting by writing a newsletter or blog, then that is what I will do! So ask me all of your questions and help me help you the best that I can! 

Now let’s get to know each other even better!

More fun facts about me….

1. I love landscape/nature photography 📷 I have an obsession with waterfalls, especially in the Pacific Northwest! Pilates helps me stay in hiking shape so I can get to the most remote places and get the perfect shot.  I am totally guilty of planning my vacations around waterfalls I want to photograph.

2. I enjoy baking, and eating everything I bake🍪 I have a big sweet tooth and am not ashamed to admit I eat chocolate everyday! My fiancé has celiacs, so all my baking is gluten free. If you need a good recipe or if you have one that you recommend, I can’t wait to hear from you!

3. I love binge watching a good crime/mystery show 📺  And The Real Housewives is definitely a guilty pleasure of mine. Beverly Hills is currently my favorite.

4. Classic rock is my jam 🎸 Queen, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin… I love them all. Queen is definitely my all-time favorite!

5. I saved the weirdest for last! I have chronic hiccups. I get 1,2 or 3 at a time, all day long. So you may hear some hiccups if you take class with me, but after a while I swear you won’t notice them anymore.

I’m so happy you’re here!

I would love to hear more about you! Book a free connection call here!