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 eight amazing trainers and a range of specialties from injury recovery, pre natal/postpartum to super challenging workouts.
Jesse Lindsey-Gibbons has been a certified Pilate's instructor since 1997. She has been teaching clients at The Body Gallery since 1999. In 2000 she received her certification as a Swedish massage therapist and a pre-natal massage therapist. Her teaching expertise includes pre and post-natal, working therapeutically with elderly clients, overall strengthening of core muscles (shoulders, abs and back) and toning and lengthening legs. Jesse divides her time between teaching and her family.
Cassidy Moore/ Owner was introduced to Pilates when she suffered a dance injury. In 1997 she received the great news that she was pregnant and continued to study Pilates throughout her pregnancy and after. She practiced Pilates to recover from her injury and the birth of her baby and has evolved her Pilates practice to specialize in fitness and pre natal workouts. She was certified as a trainer in February of 1999 and continues an ongoing education, most recently attending a workshop in August 2009 with master body movement educator, Eric Franklin, on the topic of the relationship between the spine and pelvis. 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.
Jill Tracy began her adventure in Pilates in 1997, seeking to strengthen her 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. She has been teaching at The Body Gallery since 2002. Highly focused on core work, (strengthening deep abdominals and back) correcting posture and poor movement habits, Jill Tracy customizes her sessions for the particular needs of each client. She especially concentrates on postural improvement, elongating the spine, regaining flexibility, mobilizing the low back--and creating long, lean muscles tone without bulk. Her full-body workouts will also target troublesome zones such as low belly, buttocks, hips, side waist, and upper arms. Her challenging, fun, and highly targeted approach to training is an innovative twist of classic Pilates exercises combined with yoga techniques, free weights, precision toning, stretching, balance, and the importance of mind/body connection. Jill Tracy draws from her colorful background and personal experience, sharing with clients everyday tips to achieve an ageless, graceful physique and movement with ease and poise.
Jody Pettle 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. She specializes in creating just the right fitness workout for you.
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. In 2001 Sonya moved to San Francisco to pursue a career in dance, as well as obtaining her Pilates certification with Madeline Black at
A Body of Work, Sonoma. and has been teaching in the Bay Area since 2001. Working as a professional modern and aerial dancer requires an ongoing study of the body, to find efficient, powerful and healthy movement patterns. Sonya enjoys working with clients as they work to find more effective ways of moving and gaining strength as they recover from injuries, surgeries, or simply lifestyle habits that have lead to restriction and often pain.
Jennifer Gwirtz teaches a focused 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, the psoas with Liz Koch, rehabilitation Pilates with Lizz Roman, Gyrotonic and Gyrokinesis with Teresina Goheen and further studies with master teacher Elizabeth Larkam. She specializes in redeveloping the core after injury, guiding her clients towards whole-body fitness from the center. She is also a mother and works with pre- and post-natal women. She 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 Performancelab, and has performed for companies including Maxine Moerman, 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 in 2002 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.
Trusha specializes and enjoys working with fitness clients, creating tailor-made fitness regimes that includes many challenging and rigorous exercises which target the major muscles groups in your body - abs, back, legs and arms. Throughout the hour, clients also lengthen their muscles through a series of guided stretches. Each session ends with passive stretching, leaving you feeling calm and tranquil yet energized and ready to step back into your life, refreshed as ever.
After completing an in-depth training & internship at Pilates Italia in 2003, Trusha began teaching private clients in Little Italy, San Diego. In 2004 she re-located to the Bay Area and currently teaches at the Body Gallery in Lower Pacific Heights. In addition to her Pilate's career, Trusha also teaches meditation, does freelance writing, practices Yogic Buddhism and enjoys the richness and diversity of living in the Bay Area.