Club Pilates

Instructor Bios

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  SUSANNAH MARCHESE

  Susannah was just 16 years old when she first learned about Pilates from her Grandmother, a dancer and student of Joseph Pilates. Susannah received her Pilates training in New York City with Peter Vaillancourt and Moira Stott, and later became one of the first PMA Gold Standard instructors. “The most gratifying aspect of teaching are the little ‘a-ha’ moments, when a client suddenly connects. I love to see that progress, no matter how incremental.” Discovering the power of Pilates at such a young age led Susannah to have a long and injury-free career in ballet. After dancing with Hartford Ballet, Ballet Omaha, New York City Opera, Radio City Music Hall and The Phantom of the Opera, she opened PHIT Pilates Studio in Hartford where she spent 14 years teaching and training. Susannah continues to teach ballet in the Hartford area, and appreciates the strong crossover to Pilates. “Form is everything!”

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  JENNIFER PASCALE

  Jennifer, a former athlete, found Pilates after a back injury and has been practicing Pilates since 2006. She has been working in the fitness industry since 2002 teaching spinning, body conditioning and core classes at various gyms. She began Pilates training with Balanced Body in 2007. She completed Pilates mat work in 2008, followed by reformer, cadillac, and all equipment training in 2009 with Balanced Body Pilates. In 2011, she finished up her training with Anatomy and 200 observation and apprentice hours. She became a fully certified Balanced Body Pilates instructor in 2011 and has been teaching Pilates since 2008 at various studios in the greater Danbury/Waterbury area. Since Jen has had a back injury herself, she continues to educate herself to work with specialized populations and has worked with joint replacements, as well as osteoporosis and arthritic clients. She has also trained athletes with off season conditioning and helped them rehab from injury.

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  YI LIU

  Yi grew up in China, where she graduated in dance performance from the Nanchang Institute of Technology. She has been practicing as a fitness trainer since 2007. In 2009, Yi started her Pilates instructor journey, learning the traditional Pilates method from prominent Pilates professionals such as Mary Bowen (one of Joseph Pilates’ students) and Zoey Trap. She focuses on her clients’ well-being, and is proud to bring health and happiness to them through physical exercise. Yi is passionate about healthy nutrition, and in her spare time, enjoys cooking healthy food for family and friends.

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  LEAH PFROMMER

  Leah is a CT shoreline native who grew up as a competitive gymnast as well as a college athlete. She was a sprinter and long jumper on the NCAA DI Track and Field team at Quinnipiac University where she received her Bachelor’s of Health Science, and a minor in Spanish, in 2018. She is currently completing her Master’s degree at the University of Connecticut in pursuit of becoming a Registered Dietitian. Leah became a certified Pilates instructor in 2017 when she discovered the power of a consistent Pilates practice in rehabilitating injuries attained from intense sprinting and jumping in college. Leah has taught Pilates for over 2 years in CT as well as in Western Australia. Through athletics, education and employment, she has gained a wealth of experience and knowledge in strength and conditioning, nutritional health, and physical therapy. Leah is intensely passionate about both the health and fitness industry, as well as helping others who have the aspiration to make a better version of themselves! You can expect a fun and athletic approach to Leah’s classes while keeping it challenging!

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  CAMILLE DIGENTI

  Camille (Cammy), is a native New Englander from the burrows of Western Massachusetts. Her love for pilates started when she was attending college at Temple University, studying as a marketing major. When faced with the well-known dilemma of just way too many people at the gym, she made-do with Youtube videos and Pilates workouts online on the floor of her tiny apartment. This situation perfectly illustrates what she loves most about Pilates, the versatility, but also the adaptability of Pilates for every body-type, fitness level, and its use for rehabilitation. Cammy went on to graduate with a B.A. in Marketing and Communications. A short while after graduating and moving to Connecticut, Cammy completed her Pilates certification in Boston. Shortly after becoming certified Cammy discovered two things: the first was that Cammy and her partner were expecting a baby, and second, that she had suffered a spinal injury in the form of severe sciatica stemming from a bulging disk in her lumbar spine. The pain and frustration of the injury, combined with the pregnancy, was a recipe for a dark few months. In the end, the rehabilitative qualities of Pilates (and a very courageous surgeon) worked miracles, and she recovered in full health. After a long recovery, the birth of her son, Bodhi, and a full year of teaching Pilates in the Connecticut area, Cammy is beginning her journey with Club Pilates in Avon with passion and excellence, and brings with her a keen knowledge of Pilates and its use for rehabilitation, as well as its benefits for all fitness levels!