Studio Instructors of Pilates

Jasmine de LaCruz-Simpson | Maureen Dunn
Cheryl Esch | Susan Hankinson | Terry Hendrickson
Kris Jaeckle | Aleda Keel | Tami Mostert
Tara Munjee | Melanie Murray | Carol Ordemann
George Watson | Steven Zarlengo

For information about personal training with these instructors,
please see the Personal Training page.


Jasmine de LaCruz-Simpson Pilates, On the Ball, Core & More, Hip Hop, Dance Fusion, Zumba™ Jasmine's website	Born in the Philipines and raised in Dallas, Jasmine has been active all her life. Enrolled in dance at the age of three, she studied classical ballet at Tuzer Dance Center in Richardson. She continued dancing and cheerleading throughout high school and at Loyola University. A knee injury her sophomore year forced her to the coaching side where she honed her choreography skills and produced many creative, high-energy routines. After graduation in 2001, she moved back to Dallas to open her own photography business. She became a certified fitness instructor through AFAA and began teaching dance and fitness professionally, specializing in hip hop aerobics, kickbox aerobics, Pilates mat, PiYo, strength training and aqua aerobics. She has been teaching at MoveStudio since 2003. Jasmine is certified by AFAA for group fitness instruction and personal training, FitTOUR for Pilates Mat and stability ball, Kaiser for indoor cycling, SCW Fitness for pre- and post-natal personal training, 24 Hour Fitness for PiYo, Reebok Core Board, YogaFIT, Nike Rockstar Instructor 2004-2006 (with Jamie King), and Moms In Motion. She attends continuing education workshops whenever possible, including Pilates with Siri Galliano and Stott Pilates. She is also the Dallas Representative for DanceLab.Us. Jasmine believes exercise should be fun! Everyone can dance, some better than others. However, the amount of fun you have doing it is up to you...

Maureen Dunn Pilates, Yoga Flow, 20/20/20 Universal Core, Core & More, On the Ball Maureen's website	Maureen has more than 20 years of experience as a professional dancer, choreographer, teacher, workshop facilitator, group exercise leader and personal fitness coach. She is certified for Pilates mat and equipment work through Physicalmind Institute. Maureen has a bachelors degree in Dance Performance from the University of Oregon and a masters degree in Choreography from the University of North Carolina. Her academic studies include anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, and a wide variety of dance genres and somatic techniques, with an emphasis on body awareness modalities developed by Alexander, Feldenkrais and Pilates. After beginning her career as a dancer, Maureen became interested in the health and fitness field 15 years ago when she realized that a regular cardiovascular, strength and flexibility training program can enhance well being, physical and mental acuity, energy, psychological clarity, emotional balance, and overall quality of life. She is currently pursuing her doctorate degree at Texas Woman’s University, researching creativity through movement expression and its role in facilitating enhanced transpersonal growth, spiritual awareness and psychological balance. Maureen’s aspiration is to help her clients achieve their physical goals and also appreciate the sustaining power of a holistic exercise program, everyday healthy lifestyle choices and focused, disciplined action.

Cheryl Esch Pilates, Core & More, On the Ball, Yoga Flow	Cheryl received her MA in Dance Education and BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography from Ohio State University. She danced professionally in the Pittsburgh area with Mary Miller Dance Company, Judy Steele Project, The Pittsburgh Opera and other independent choreographers. She also directed and founded a dance company called Selah. She has taught for colleges such as Kent State University, Kenyon College, LaRoche College, Belhaven College and Collin County Community College over the past 13 years. She has been teaching in the fitness and dance industries for 19 years. Cheryl is a certified Group Fitness Instructor through American Council on Exercise since 1990. She has certifications in Pilates Mat with PowerHouse Pilates, Pilates Reformer with Balanced Body Institute, yoga with YogaFit, and kickboxing with Thomas the Promise. She was a certified Personal Trainer with American Council on Exercise from 2001-2005. Cheryl teaches many types of classes including cardio dance, cardio hip-hop, Pilates, yoga, step, kickboxing, BOSU, Resist-a-ball, Chisel/strength training, and core training for adults and kids. Before moving to Texas recently, she was Youth Fitness Director for ages 8-12 at The Natatorium in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Currently, Cheryl is working on becoming certified as a Lifestyle and Weight Management Consultant.

Susan Hankinson Pilates	Susan has many years of experience training a wide variety of clients, including those with special rehab needs. She is certified in classical Pilates Method matwork and equipment training through Power Pilates (2005), Romana's Pilates in NYC with Joseph Pilates' protege Romana Kryzanowska (2002), and PilateSystem with Colleen Glenn (1998). She is a member of the Pilates Method Alliance and has attended continuing education workshops with Pilates luminaries Romana Kryzanowska, Jay Grimes, Susan Moran, Bob Liekens, Peter Fiasca, Siri Galliano, Kathy Grant, Michael Miller, Howard Sichael, Colleen Glenn and Karen Sanzo.

Terry Hendrickson Pilates	Terry believes in playing hard for fun. She has participated in team sports since childhood and has competed in several triathalons. After being sidelined with a knee injury, she discovered Pilates. The non-impact exercises improved her flexibility, balance, agility, core strength, and endurance, and also introduced her to a new career. Terry continues to challenge herself, balancing family life (and raising three boys!) with her athletic endeavors. She strongly believes Pilates can enhance any athletic or physical performance. Terry is certified by Stott Pilates and Michael Miller Pilates. She has been teaching at MoveStudio since 2004 and hopes to share her joy of play with her students!

Kris Jaeckle IM=X Pilates®, Yoga, Zumba™	Kris' experiences with IM=X® Pilates in New York City healed her back and allowed her to begin running again. She became certified in both mat and equipment IM=X Pilates, working her way up over the last five years to “Master Trainer” level, which allowed her to travel around the country certifying others to teach IM=X. Much of her teaching experience has been both in Dallas and in New York City, including helping to establish a pilates studio at Goldman Sachs on Wall Street. Kris has also trained in yoga in both Dallas and New York City, as well as holding Cooper Institute Physical Fitness Specialist and Biomechanics of Resistance Training certifications. Most recently she has added Zumba to her certifications.

Aleda Keel Core & More, Yoga	Aleda has been teaching fitness classes for more than 20 years and has been practicing yoga since 1993. After experiencing a back injury, she immersed herself in the study and practice of yoga to heal her injury. This started her on the journey to learn to teach yoga to others. As an active dancer and fitness enthusiast, yoga had shown Aleda the connection of mind, body and breath in a new way, giving her increased energy, strength and concentration. Her passion is to touch as many people as possible with the joy and healing power of yoga. Her teaching style is influenced by the many master instructors she has had the good fortune to learn from; this includes teachings from B.K.S. Iyengar, Vanda Scaravelli, Rod Stryker, Ana Forrest, Anusara Yoga and the Pilates Method. Her class is “down to earth,” allowing her students to achieve their best in a relaxed atmosphere. Aleda is a Registered Nurse and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Physiology. Her education and training allows her to adapt the practice to the individual needs and abilities of her students. She received certification to instruct yoga in 2003 and continues to take classes and workshops, believing that her training is never completed.

Tami Mostert Pilates	Tami is a professional dancer and Pilates instructor with a Comprehensive Certification from Peak Pilates. She truly enjoys teaching Pilates and strongly believes in the method and the positive results that come from it. Tami began her dance training at Cindy’s School of Dance at the age of two and danced with the Encore Dance Company until she graduated from high school. She went on to Oklahoma City University where she received a Bachelor of Science in Dance Management. She has danced professionally for Carnival Cruise Lines and Mary Kay, and she currently performs Mayan dance ceremonies with Grupo Pakal at the Dallas World Aquarium.

Tara Munjee Pilates photo credit: Dave Shafer	Tara has been a Pilates practioner for fifteen years, teaching group and private sessions in studio and college settings. She incorporates Bartenieff Fundamentals, Body/Mind Centering, and Ideokinesis in her Eve Gentry-based Pilates practice. Tara has also had an active career in performing, teaching, and choreographing dance, and is completing coursework for her doctoral degree in dance at Texas Woman's University. Tara is certified in mat, apparatus, and standing Pilates work from the PhysicalMind Institute, and she has also studied with certifying teachers Michelle Larson (Santa Fe), Carol Amend (Mill Valley, CA), and Jean-Claude West (San Francisco and NYC).

Melanie Murray Chakra Flow Yoga, Pilates, Yoga	Melanie is certified in mat and equipment work by Stott Pilates and the PhysicalMind Institute and has been teaching since 2000. She began training with Joseph Pilates' protege, Romana Kryzanowska, while studying dance in New York. She also directed a Pilates studio in Minneapolis at the Minnesota Dance Theatre. Melanie danced professionally with several ballet companies after training extensively at some of the most prestigious schools in the country, including Joffrey and American Ballet Theatre. She earned her Bachelors and Masters degrees in Modern Dance from Texas Christian University, including advanced training in anatomy and kinesiology, and taught dance for several years at the college level. A yoga practitioner and teacher since the early 90s, Melanie has a daily meditation practice that includes chakra energy healing and breath work. She is certified by the White Lotus Foundation in Santa Barbara and has studied extensively with master yoga teachers such as Tias Little, Judith Lasater, Gary Kraftsow, and Elise Miller. Melanie has a Masters in Counseling Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute and is also experienced in energy healing and somatic psychology. She uses all of her training and experience in her teaching, which she considers a healing art form.

Carol Ordemann Pilates, On the Ball, Core & More	Carol is a native New Orleanian with more than 20 years of experience as an exercise instructor and personal fitness coach. Starting in high school with ballet and Hatha Yoga, she continued to pursue other areas of fitness when she became certified in group fitness through AFAA, personal training through IAFP, and Pilates Mat through the PhysicalMind Institute. Carol rounds out her core training with an active aerobic lifestyle that includes tennis, running (she has completed 5 marathons), biking and hiking. Carol has a graphic design background and is an abstract artist. Her paintings are on display in Carmel and Dallas, including the MoveStudio Abundance Boutique. In May 2009 she exhibited at the D Art Slam at the Fashion Industry Gallery.

George Watson Pilates, On the Ball George's website	George Watson embodies more than 25 years of professional experience in the fitness industry as a personal coach and athletic trainer to career athletes and sports enthusiasts. His current focus is in the application of the Pilates Method to traditional athletic and sports conditioning techniques in order to help athletes sustain the rigors of sports competition. George is a master personal trainer certified through the Cooper Institute. He earned his Pilates certification through Oasis Mind Body Conditioning, and he has NeuroCoreKinetics Phase I and II certification from T.A.N.K. (Training Athletes Neuro Kinetically) based in Houston. George has a Bachelor of Science degree from California State University in kinesiology and sports medicine. While earning his degree he served as Assistant Coach and Conditioning Specialist for the Santa Monica College Women’s Track Team under Tommie Smith, Olympic Gold Medalist and George’s longtime mentor. At Santa Monica College he also conducted physiology testing and fitness assessments, developed conditioning programs for injury prevention as well as therapies to minimize permanent injury-related damage, and worked in the physical rehabilitation department administering exercise programs for the disabled. Currently, George teaches and trains throughout the Dallas metroplex. He especially enjoys working with the football, basketball, baseball and crew teams at Jesuit Preparatory High School, applying his experience and knowledge of fitness conditioning to empower young athletes. As an athlete himself, George truly understands the value of proper conditioning. He knows when athletes are conditioned properly they are more likely to reach their fullest potential in their athletic pursuits with fewer injuries, whether competing professionally or just for fun. Find out more at his website, Get Fit By George.

Steven Zarlengo Pilates	Steven is an experienced Pilates teacher working toward his full certification. He was trained directly by Master Pilates Instructor Jean Sullivan at the prestigious A Body of Work Studio in San Francisco. He has also trained under Romana Kryzanowska in the Classical Pilates Method and Chris Robinson of the Core Coach Center. A certified personal trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine, he has formal training in yoga, boxing and martial arts. He’s a lifelong athlete and an ardent snow-skier and wake-boarder. Steven strives to understand his clients’ goals and objectives and uses customized techniques to achieve them. He prides himself on classes and instruction that create energy and well-being.