Bio
Michelle is a faculty member with Kansas City Ballet teaching Yoga, a Teacher of Functional Movement/Pilates/Yoga with the athletes of French Soccer Academie in Kansas City and runs her own on-line “Studio” with daily classes on Zoom as well as private instruction.
Michelle’s passion for exercise goes back to her days when she started dancing at age five. She trained at City Ballet of Houston, High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston, Texas, Boston Ballet and the National Hungarian Ballet School in Budapest. Michelle received further training at The North Carolina School of the Arts and SUNY Purchase where her focus shifted to modern dance. Both institutes used The Pilates Method for conditioning and rehabilitation. This experience was Michelle's introduction to Pilates.
While studying at Paul Taylor Dance Company and Merce Cunningham Dance Company in New York City , Michelle started interning for her Pilates certification with Jennifer Kriess, a second generation teacher under the lineage of Romana Kryzanowska. Following Michelle’s professional dance career, Pilates instruction was a natural transition. Understanding the musculoskeletal system and helping people live without pain became a passion.
From 1996 to 1999 Michelle was an ACE certified master trainer for New York Sports Club where she also received her certification from AAAI in Pre/Post Natal fitness. Beginning in 1999, Michelle’s Pilates mat class packed studios all over New York City in gyms such as Reebok/Sports Club LA, Equinox Fitness, HBO Corporate Gym and New York Sports Club.
In 2003 Michelle moved to Austin, Texas where she married her New York sweetheart and began instructing private classes at the exclusive Mecca Gym and Spa. During that same year Michelle trained in level 1 Gyrontonics with master teacher Juergen Bamberger.
After moving to Los Angeles in 2005, Michelle quickly picked up where she left off in Texas. She started teaching private clients at the famous Mari Winsor Pilates Studio located in West Hollywood. Mari and her determination to keep the classical repertoire alive was another inspiration in Michelle's life.
After giving birth to her second child in May, 2008, Michelle started a Baby and Me class in the park which sparked the creation of SyntheCore Pilates & More, Baby & Me DVD. Creating a thorough workout that promoted bonding between mother & child was incredibly special. SyntheCore Baby & Me DVD has been purchased by customers from all over the world! Babies in 12 different countries, on four different continents along with 24 states in the US have been a part of our workout!
Michelle's gratitude for the wonders of regular yoga practice began in 2000. While living in New York City she stumbled upon Jivamukti Yoga Studio. In 2012 the time was right to become certified as a yoga instructor through300 hr YTT The Yoga Institute with Lex Gillan then 2019 another 300 hr YTT with Zen Zone Yoga. Sharing her passion for yoga with her Pilates students has been a fullfilling journey.
Michelle is a dedicated advocate for attachment parenting and for those who strive to stay healthy while spending quality time with their young children through play. Being an environmentalist is also a high priority for Michelle and her family. Spending time at the beach or climbing big rocks with friends & family is simply magical.
"We do not inherit this land from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children"
Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu: May all beings everywhere be happy and free, and may the thoughts, words, and actions of my own life contribute in some way to that happiness and to that freedom for all.
