The Trainers

The Body Gallery is a beautiful and soothing studio that's never over crowded with some of the most experienced trainers in the city. The studio is as wonderful as ever with nine amazing trainers and a range of specialties from injury recovery, pre/post natal to super challenging workouts. Come and experience it for yourself. We look forward to seeing you!

The Body Gallery uses the Pilates based method as the essential conditioning technique emphasizing quality of movement, breath, strength and flexibility. This integrated method strengthens the core musculature of the body, targeting the abdominal and back muscles and any muscular imbalances. The method practiced at The Body Gallery assists clients to a deeper understanding of postural alignment and body awareness. The long-term achievement is deep toning, pronounced flexibility and balance, shaping a healthy and efficient body.

The Body Gallery welcomes people of all ages and fitness levels and customizes a program to meet each and all individual needs. Expect to learn and have fun in the process.

Jesse Lindsey became involved in Pilates through her extensive dance training.  She began dancing in 1973 and later danced with Granite State Ballet and Nashua Ballet Company in New England.  She taught creative dance and ballet to children as well as adult tap and aerobics.  She was certified to teach Pilates in 1997 through The Physical Mind Institute and furthered her Pilates training and apprenticeship in San Francisco.  

Cassidy Moore/ Owner was introduced to Pilates when she suffered a dance injury. She used Pilates to recover from her injury and evolved her Pilates practice into fitness and preventive medicine. In 1997, she received the great news that she was pregnant and continued to study Pilates throughout her pregnancy and after. She was certified as a trainer in February of 1999 and continues an ongoing education. Cassidy creates personalized workouts to suit the needs and goals of her clients. She works closely and attentively with each client to help them achieve their goals. "It's so rewarding for both the client and myself to see the changes in the body and then to see the changes become a natural state of being, to see Pilates work outside of the studio in everyday life."

Jill Tracy began her adventure in Pilates in 1997, seeking to strengthen her own body awareness and posture for the stage. As a singer, musician and performance artist, she found Pilates not only re-educated, but reshaped her entire body. She quickly became an advocate, completing her Pilates Certification training through Physical Mind Institute, furthering her studies with master trainer Jean Sullivan. Jill Tracy draws from her colorful background and personal experience, sharing with clients everyday tips to achieve a strong, graceful physique and movement with ease and poise.

Jody Pettle Jody received her BA in Dance for the University of Kansas in 1994. After moving to San Francisco in 1997 she started taking Pilates to improve her stability and flexibility while she continued performing and teaching dance. She fell in love with the Pilates concepts of precision with fluidity and realized she wanted to learn more and become a teacher. In 1999 she received her Pilates certification and began teaching at The Studio in San Francisco and in 2000 she began teaching at The Body Gallery. Jody has had ability to take from such master teachers as Ron Fletcher and Kathy Corey as while as taken workshops on Feldenkrais technique. Jody finds Pilates as a method for not only toning and strengthening but also relaxing and centering the mind making for a truly balanced body.

Sonya Smith started life as a runner, competing as a state level hurdler and middle distance runner in high school In college, her latent interest in dance appeared and was fed by a minor in dance and a BA in Biology. Soon after graduation she was introduced to Pilates while dancing in Minneapolis. It seemed the perfect combination of strength, grace and bio mechanical accuracy. Sonya continued to study and perform, as well as practicing Pilates, over the next few years in Portland, OR. A move to the Bay Area was
completed to further both her dance and Pilates education. Sonya received her certification from Madeline Black at A Body of Work, Sonoma and has been teaching in the Bay Area since 2001. As a professional modern and aerial dancer, performing with such companies as Lizz Roman and Dancers, Zaccho
Dance Theater, Kim Epifano/Epiphany Productions, Project Bandaloop, and Eat Cake Productions Sonya continues to find everyday applications for the Pilates work, and a curiosity about the way the body moves most efficiently.

Jennifer Gwirtz teaches a restorative style of Pilates ideal for all bodies. She started learning Pilates as a way to recover from a decade-long back injury and has continued to study since 1996, receiving her certification through Integrated Teacher Training in 2003. Since then, she has studied Aston Patterning with Judith Aston and Ronnie Oliver and rehabilitation Pilates with Lizz Roman. She currently specializes in teaching pre and post natal women and is fascinated by the changes that occur in the female body before, during and after birth. Jen is a dancer/choreographer who co-directs Right Brain Performanceslab, and has performed for companies including Maxine Moreman, Mary Armentrout and Spinning Yarns Dance Collective. She spent six years as Technology Manager and Ergonomic Evaluator for the Department of Philosophy, University of California, Berkeley.

Trusha Apolinario teaches a meditative, mindful & challenging style of Pilates that emphasizes breath work and mind-body connection. A long time practitioner of yoga, Trusha discovered Pilates at a yoga studio in San Diego 4 years ago and was intrigued by both the similarities and differences of these two rich traditions. Trusha applies the time honored benefits of yoga into her Pilates sessions - creating an innovative style that will not only help tone and shape your body but also relax and calm your mind.
After completing an in-depth training & internship at Pilates Italia in 2003, Trusha began teaching private clients in Little Italy, San Diego. 2 years ago she re-located to the Oakland and currently teaches at the Body Gallery in Lower Pacific Heights. In addition to her teaching career, Trusha also teaches meditation, writes for MahaSiddha Dharma - a non-profit Yogic Buddhism organization based in Berkeley - and enjoys the richness and diversity of living in the Bay Area.

Christina McLain has been dancing ever since she was three years old and hasn't’t stopped yet. She received a BA in dance at San Francisco State University. She got her Pilates Certification at Synergy Fitness by Rebecca D’Amour. She loves working with clients in fitness and rehab of all ages and body types. At the moment her future goals are applying for grad school in Physical Therapy.

Kamryn Shada is a Stott Certified Pilates instructor with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and Psychology.
Kamryn began Pilate's following a chronic back injury. Pilates helped balance her body whilst she learned to maintain strength and flexibility. Commencing Pilate's certification and teaching in 2003 in Iowa, USA, Kamryn subsequently taught at the Stott Certification Center for two years. She specialized in working with students 1:1 and in small groups. Her students included people of all ages and backgrounds.
With a background in dance, she has been studying movement for over 17 years. With extensive experience in movement and with an eye for fine detail, Kamryn is able to identify and correct body alignment and muscle patterning problems, helping to relieve her clients muscle tension and pain.