Deborah Marcus NCPT, MFA Dance
Deborah brings a career as a dancer/choreographer and 30 years of movement exploration and teaching to the Movement Refinery Pilates Studio. She is a Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher, an Educator for the Polestar Pilates Comprehensive Teacher Training Program, and a member of The Pilates Method Alliance where she served on the Exam Committee for 4 years. For 22 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 continues a 23 year run where it attracts beginner to advanced students. More recently, she has collaborated with CORA, (Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse), to create and lead trauma informed Pilates based mat classes in person as well as in the synchronous virtual world. 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. Academic Degrees:
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Katja Simona
Katja is a Balanced Body 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. |
Jeannette Opalski completed comprehensive teacher training through the PhysicalMind Institute and has been offering Pilates in the Bay Area for over 15 years, leading group classes as well as 1:1 training. Jeannette’s many mentors and influences include Tom McCook and Joni Weaver. She is delighted to be working with clients at Movement Refinery Pilates where Deborah and Katja are an inspiration and encourage an environment of knowledge sharing and growth. Jeannette’s passion is for clients to feel strong, balanced and free in their bodies, maintaining functionality and independence. Her style is influenced by yoga as well as her interest in the body-mind connection and movement. Jeannette is currently working toward completion of the Balanced Body teacher training program and the National Pilates Certification Program through the Pilates Method Alliance.
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