Deborah Marcus
Deborah brings a career as a dancer/choreographer and 25 years of movement exploration and teaching to the Movement Refinery Pilates Studio. She is a Pilates Method Alliance Certified Pilates Teacher and a Mentor/Educator for the Polestar Pilates Comprehensive Teacher Training Program. For 16 years her studio has welcomed students of all ages and abilities, positively transforming and refining the movement capabilities of each individual. In addition, her Pilates Mat Class at the Peninsula YMCA, now in its 18th year, draws beginner to advanced students as well as Pilates teachers-in-training through the YMCA Pilates Intern Program. She is particularly interested in learning styles and how they affect the acquisition of movement skills. When not teaching, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, taking movement classes of any kind, seeing live performance, cooking and hiking. Other Degrees:
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Katja Simona
Katja is a Physical Mind Pilates and CoreAlign instructor, Franklin Method Level 1 Educator, Personal Trainer and Aikido Black Belt. She was introduced to Pilates as a way to recover from an Aikido injury and quickly realized how it helped her to heal faster, move more efficiently and develop a better understanding of connections within her body. Katja received her formal Pilates training with Tom McCook at Center of Balance and found her path to teaching by integrating her skills as a former teacher in the Swiss school system, her fitness background, and her 12+ years of Aikido experience. She believes that Pilates is a strong tool that enhances movement awareness and efficiency and allows the body to express its natural strength and beauty. In her teaching, Katja tailors her sessions to the individual and is observant, precise and patient. |
Iddy Thompson
Born to move, Iddy began her life happily bouncing in a springy chair and energetically dancing off the couches of her parents’ living room. Many years later, she discovered the wonders of Pilates while studying dance at Saint Mary’s college and went on to study Pilates Mat with Integrated Teacher Training (ITT), equipment training with Tom McCook through Physical Mind Institute, and completed the Teacher Training Program at Pilates Education Lab. Iddy is certified in Level 1 Gyrotonic and Level 1 Franklin Method. Other studies include human anatomy, massage, Alexander Technique, yoga, Feldenkrais, dance, TRX, trampoline, swimming, surfing, functional movement patterns, tabata, muscle confusion, and total body fitness. Iddy also teaches Dance for the Rhythm & Motion Program and GIT FIT at The Corner Studio in SF. She has an extensive background teaching swimming, dance and physical education to children. Known for her warm and passionately intense personality, Iddy combines athleticism and fluidity in her approach to teaching that promotes freedom and precision of movement. Her classes have been described as “challenging and delightful”. |
Susan Foianini
Susan has been involved in some form of physical activity her whole life. With a love for the outdoors and nature, as well as at least some natural ability, she has enjoyed many athletic pursuits. Over time, she has developed a deeper, spiritual connection to movement. Whether it has been tree-climbing, running, gymnastics, swimming, riding a bicycle, hiking or even roller-skating, physical activity has helped her find strength and self-knowledge, inner peace and a sense of freedom from within. For her, a good session of rhythmic, whole-body movement is a great get-away! Her personal Pilates journey began over 13 years ago. Curious, and not even knowing how to pronounce 'Pilates', she went to a mat class taught by Deborah Marcus at the Peninsula YMCA. There, she began to see that just doing a particular exercise might not be as important as how one did that exercise....and she was hooked. She loves the challenge of continuing to deepen her understanding, refine her technique, and increase her sense of mastery of the Pilates exercises. She is a recent graduate of the Polestar Pilates Comprehensive Studio Program. She has been teaching movement for over 25 years in Aquatics as a Masters Swim Coach, swim instructor, and Aqua Aerobics instructor. She has incorporated her early Pilates experience into that teaching with excellent results. As an instructor, Susan is motivated by the teamwork of helping people reach their goals, and is grateful to be able to learn from each and every one of her students. |
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