Ellie Herman

Founder of Ellie Herman Studios

Ellie has been teaching Pilates for since 1990.  She is an internationally recognized Pilates Instructor and author of eight Pilates books, including Pilates for Dummies. She also has a Master of Science degree in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine.

For more info about Ellie, click here for A Brief History of Ellie Herman

Anna Tibbetts

Senior Trainer

Anna began her career in movement when she entered the dance program at Marymount Manhattan College of Liberal Arts in New York City’s Upper East Side.  There she trained in both ballet and modern dance with a strong focus in the Martha Graham technique. After completing her B.F.A. in dance, she was introduced to the Kane School of Core Integration.  It was there that she discovered Pilates as an aid to better understanding movement in dance and everyday life.  When Ellie Herman decided to move her business to the east coast, Anna was part of the first teacher training program. Anna was certified and is currently a Senior Trainer at our Brooklyn Studio.

Liese Schneider

Rehabilitation Specialist, Senior Trainer

Liese played competitive volleyball in high school and college but walked away with a lot of injuries. After a long career as a political organizer, she discovered Pilates cured her of pain and strengthened her body. Liese continued to explore health and wellness and graduated from The Institute for Integrative Nutrition in 2007 as a Board Certified Holistic Health Counselor – she has been helping people create sustainable and healthy eating habits ever since. In 2008, Liese studied under Ellie Herman and was comprehensively certified. While teaching at Ellie’s, she taught Pilates to high school students at The Brooklyn Latin School. Liese is TRX certified and runs the best outdoor workout in Brooklyn – Bootcamp in the Park. She has worked with clients of all kinds – young, old, experienced or with special needs – to achieve strength, endurance, optimal body weight, balanced nutrition, and healthier lifestyles.

Chantall Brachmann

Rehabilitation Specialist, Senior Trainer,  intenSati leader

Chantall became a Pilates believer by experiencing it transform her own body. Being able to move free of pain, with ease and confidence changed her life. This transformation fueled her desire to learn and share this method with others. She studied with Lesley Powell CMA, Doris Pastelleur-Hall, Eric Franklin and Denise Vidal and is certified through Balanced Body.

Currently Chantallis deepening the commitment to her craftwith Brent Anderson, PhD, PT and studying kinsetetic anatomy with Irene Dowd. Her goal is to inspire and motivate people to move, by tailoring the sessions according to their individual goals and limitations. She hopes to help them gain awareness, and bring happiness and goodhealth into their lives.

Chantall completed the intenSati (satilife.com) leader training with Patricia Moreno in February 2010 and is excited and grateful to bring this body sculpting, heart pumping workout and method of creating awareness and intention through movement to the Ellie Herman Annex. Be prepared to break a sweat while having lots of fun. Looking to lose some extra pounds? This is the perfect workout for you!

Tara Frederickson

Senior Trainer, Rehabilitation Specialist

Tara Schoch Frederickson is a certified trainer at Ellie Herman Studio.  She studied dance and theater at The Boston Conservatory, and started practicing Pilates after an injury.  She received her certification through STOTT Pilates, and has been teaching since 2001. She studied anatomy with Irene Dowd, and also has experience in Alexander and Proprioceptive Movement Techniques.   She is both energetic and patient, and is great for clients looking to hone the basics, as well as advanced students seeking to deepen their training.

Nicole Watkins

Senior Trainer, Rehabilitation Specialist

Nicole is a modern dancer and certified pilates instuctor. She completed her certification with Ellie Herman Studio, and also holds a Mat pilates certification with Power Pilates. She has a passion for discovering and sharing the complexities of the body, as well as the knowledge it gives us. Nicole aims to help people find greater body awareness while providing a challenging workout at any fitness level.

Candice Brown

Senior Trainer, Rehabilitation Specialist

Candice first encountered Pilates in 2000 in New York. She fell in love! Candice has been performing professionally for the past 16 years. All the years of ballet, jazz, tap and acrobatics created obvious wear and tear on her body and she quickly became aware that all the doctors care in the world wouldn’t help. Finally, in finding Pilates she found a way to help her rehabilitate and increase the shelf life of her body.

Candice moved to San Francisco at the end of 2003 and was certified with Ellie Herman Studios, as well as studying the neuromuscular re-education work of Vladimir Janda with Lizz Roman. Experienced with all levels and bodies, including pre- and post-natal, she truly enjoys sharing the knowledge of the Pilates method with her wonderful, hardworking clients. Candice continues performing nationally with various musicals, only now she does it painlessly!

Zoe Levine

Certified Personal Trainer and MELT instructor

Zoe Bowick Levine is a certified personal trainer and MELT instructor who specializes in pre and post-natal training and rehabilitative fitness. She has a degree in dance, is certified through the American Council on Exercise, and has been helping her clients reach their health and fitness goals for the past 8 years.   Her goal is to inspire and motivate people to move, bringing energy and health into all aspects of their lives.  In addition to training extensively with Sue Hitzman the creator of the MELT Method, she also recently enjoyed acting as the exercise specialist at Renew Physical Therapy under the guidance of women’s health specialist Isa Herrera and just this year has completed a Doula Training course.  Zoe is currently studying Craniosacral Therapy, and is always looking for ways to help people get out of pain and back into their lives.  She has been a dancer, yogi, and passionate student of the human body for most of her life and is part of a growing number of fitness professionals looking to redifine fitness. Fitness is no longer just about big muscles, superhero strength, and pounding yourself into the ground until you can’t walk the next day. Fitness is a body that is pain free, active, and healthy on a regular basis.

Lauren Maples

Children’s Yoga Instructor

Lauren Maples, the founder and director of Bija Kids Yoga, is a certified yoga instructor, professional ballet dancer and nanny with more then eight years experience working with children in various settings.  Bija Kid’s philosophy is based on the idea that all seeds or bija (in Sanskrit) have the ability to flourish with proper care and nurturing.  Classes instruct children in physical postures (asana), breathing practices (pranayama), and age appropriate meditation techniques in a lively and creative setting.

Patricia Maples

Certified Pilates Trainer & Yoga Instructor

Patricia Maples received her Pilates certification through Ellie Herman and is also an ERYT-200 certified yoga teacher with the Yoga Alliance.  She has studied with Paul Grilley and has completed Kula Yoga’s advanced teacher training.   She is currently finishing her 300hr teacher training under the tutelage of Alison West at Yoga Union.  Patricia is a certified massage therapist, experienced in Swedish, neuro-muscular and Thai yoga massage, and a Level 2 Reiki practitioner.  Patricia’s other passion is nutrition and the role it plays in a healthy lifestyle.  She is a graduate of The French Culinary Institute, specializing in gluten-free, Paleo and raw food cuisines.  Patricia utilizes her diverse array of skills and interests to assist her clients in achieving their wellness goals.  She holds bachelor’s degrees in both Political Science and Religious Studies, and before she became interested in human health, she worked as a veterinary technician for many years, tending to the health and happiness of the other members of the animal kingdom.

Batya Shiffeldrim

Rehabilitation Specialist, Senior Trainer

Batya is certified in the Pilates Method through California-based BASI (Body Arts and Sciences International) Pilates.  She certified comprehensively in apparatus and matwork with Tali Hanoch, student of Rael Issacowitz, in Tel Aviv, Israel.  She has been teaching since January, 2008.

Batya has studied and taught a wide-ranging clientele of all ages and fitness goals, developing a specialized focus on rehabilitative and post-Physical Therapy needs.  She brings sensitivity and dedication to her teaching, encouraging her clients to achieve self-awareness and precision in their workouts.  Batya believes in the client-centered workout, and structures each lesson to address each individual body.  She is described as knowledgeable, attentive and compassionate.

Batya cultivates a focus on posture and efficiency of movement.  She continues to deepen her study of the human body in space through coursework in anatomy, kinesiology and body mechanics.  Her teachers have included Marika Molnar (PT and Dance Medicine specialist,) Gill Solberg (clinical kinesiologist and diagnostician) and Yoel Shmueli (master trainer and kinesiologist.)  She has also completed two pre-Med. courses in Anatomy and Physiology.

Batya has taught in Tel Aviv and in New York and in addition to her work at Ellie Herman Pilates, runs her own Pilates practice in affiliation with a Rehab/PT office in Long Island. She is pursuing pre-Physical Therapy coursework, and has completed observation hours at several NY-area Physical Therapy clinics.  She holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Cornell University.

Tracie Matthews

Rehabilitation Specialist, Senior Trainer

Tracie Matthews is a senior trainer and rehabilitation specialist at Ellie Herman Studio. Her professional training includes kinesthetic anatomy with Irene Dowd, Somatic Movement Therapy with Dr. Martha Eddy, as well as numerous professional continuing education courses with the PMA, ACE, Pilates Style and others. In addition, she is experienced in working with pre- and post-natal, clients in post-rehab, dancers and other professional movers. Tracie’s keen observation skills coupled with her effortless skills as a Pilates communicator challenge and nurture her clients through the Pilates exercises. She is always working to guide, inspire and challenge her clients through movement and the mind-body connection. Tracie strives to provide a quality and personal Pilates experience to meet the health and fitness goals of each person.

“In 8 months she’s completely transformed my body. …I can’t imagine anyone guiding you through it better than Tracie.” Sitij Agrawal

Lauren Bernard

Certified Trainer

Lauren graduated from the University of the Arts in 2010 with a degree in Jazz Dance. Since moving to New York she has completed the Ellie Herman Teacher Training Program while continuing to pursue dance.

Meghan Frederick

Certified Pilates Trainer, Dance Teacher

Meghan has been dancing since before she could walk and is thrilled to be making a career of it in New York City. She grew up in coastal Maine and graduated from Hampshire College in 2007 with a self-designed degree in cultural studies. Meghan currently dances with the Brian Brooks Moving Company and is working on her Pilates Certification through Ellie Herman Pilates. Meghan is very excited to be teaching dance classes at the Annex; her class will draw from many current release techniques presented within a more traditional structure, ensuring that you get a chance to MOVE.

Kesa Huey

Certified Pilates Trainer

Kesa Huey is a professional dancer, teacher and arts administrator. She has been practicing Pilates for 16 years, and dancing even longer. Looking for ways to stay healthy and strong, she always winds around to more Pilates; she received her Pilates teacher certification with Ellie Herman.  Kesa has an extensive background in ballet and modern dance, and currently works with Ana Isabel Keilson (NY) and Anne-Sophie Fenner’s flowingdancecompany (Zürich). Kesa graduated magna cum laude from the University of Washington in anthropology and dance.

Shadia Marie

Student Pilates Trainer

Shadia Marie first discovered Pilates as an injured runner many years ago and fell in love after feeling all the benefits it had to offer. In 2007, she completed the Polestar Pilates training program in the Universal Pilates Reformer series. Currently she is deepening her Pilates education with Ellie Herman, working towards certification in Mat and Apparatus. She is a certified MELT (Myofascial Energetic Length Technique) Instructor, training extensively with Sue Hitzmann, the creator of the method. She has found that MELT and Pilates go hand and hand to increase body awareness, decrease pain, strengthen the core and improve overall alignment. She loves teaching and learning about the body through a range of methods. When she is not teaching Pilates and MELT, you can often find her practicing yoga and meditation.

Rebecca Maker

Certified Pilates Trainer

Rebecca Maker first encountered Pilates in 2003–she fell in love with the way it made her feel, and has been practicing ever since. She is received her certification through Ellie Herman Studios. She has a passion for helping people find strength, length and mobility and is particularly interested in helping her clients experience the functional benefits of Pilates. She enjoys working with clients of all levels.

Steve Dowdell

Certified Trainer, Teaches Pilates for Men

Steve has been an avid weightlifter and cyclist since his teens, and as an older adult also trained in martial arts. He turned to Pilates in 2007 on the advice of a physical therapist, after a series of injuries sidelined him from his weight-training regimen. Thanks to Pilates’ focus on training the whole body in an integrated fashion, he soon recognized, and learned to correct the imbalances and lack of flexibility that 30 years of conventional athletic pursuits had wreaked upon his body. He was hooked. A writer and editor by profession, Steve also had “workstation jockey” postural issues that Pilates also quickly cleared up.

Freddie Pearson

Certified Pilates Trainer, Rehabilitation Specialist

Rev. Freddie Pearson is a movement artist focused on the function and form of the human being, motor performance, and control. Earning his BFA in Dance from New York University, Freddie has also studied under Pilates Elder Kathy Grant, certifed under Pilates Master Trainer Ellie Herman, trained with Irene Dowd and Lynn Martin (Kinesthetic Anatomy, Ideokinesis, & Breathing Coordination), Dynamic Alignment and Imagery with Eric Franklin, and Yoga and Qigong Relaxation with Master Frankie Hart, along with many others.

Since 1993 Freddie has devoted his life to the study, discovery, and sharing of faith, body, mind, and spirit modalities. He is delighted to offer to you Pilates & Bodywork training bringing health, healing and vitality within your reach.

Rachel Harvest

Senior Pilates Trainer

Rachel found Pilates during her training and professional career as a ballet dancer as rehab and core strength to combat the challenging demands ballet placed on her body. The benefits of Pilates were so apparent to her dancing and the overall health of her body that, after turning in the Pointe Shoes, she decided to train to teach. Rachel was certified at the Kane School in 2007 and has been teaching full time in the city ever since. Her teaching style is fun, encouraging, and challenging. You’re not getting away with excuses, and you’ll thank her for it when the hour is done. You’ll sweat and laugh and leave feeling longer, leaner, and stronger. Rachel’s dancing and continued education about the mechanics of the body, rehab, and injury prevention allow her to tailor every session to work on what needs to be worked on, treating the body gently, but making sure to challenge clients to take it to the next level.
Rachel has been studying for her Master’s in Clinical Nutrition at NYU and has recently started working in the field. Her enjoyment and connection to teaching Pilates was something she wanted to keep up and continue to share, which brought her to us at Ellie Herman. Rachel will be a senior instructor at the new Court Street space on weekends.

Lauren Brandl

Certified Pilates Trainer

Lauren is originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania were she began dancing at an early age. She received her B.A in dance from Point Park University. Lauren was introduced to Pilates while in school and after several years of performing she has made transition from Pilates student to teacher. She has completed her certification training with Balanced Body University. With having a passion for movement she excited to share her enthusiasm and knowledge with her clients! 

Sarah Hirshan

Certified Pilates Trainer

Sarah Dey Hirshan first encountered the Pilates reformer in her living room as a kid. Both her parents were avid Pilates students so of course Sarah swore off the whole thing. Fortunately, after moving to New York, a friend convinced her to take a mat class and she’s been hooked ever since. She became a certified instructor in 2003 through Sal Anthony’s Movement Salon and has continued her education at the Kane School of Core Integration and Ellie Herman Pilates. Sarah is dedicated to helping her students deepen their understanding of and connection to their bodies. She has taught Pilates to a wide range of people from acrobats, to new moms, to people who are exercising for the first time in their lives. One of her favorite things about teaching is finding the best way to shape the work to each student’s personal needs. She has experience in rehabilitation and pre and post-natal Pilates.

Sarah has a background in physical theatre and has been a member of the all female acrobatic/dance troupe LAVA since 2010. She also teaches Handstand and partner acrobatics classes at the LAVA Studio in Brooklyn.

Karina Banta

Certified Pilates Trainer, Rehabilitation Specialist
Karina is a Polestar Pilates certified instructor. She also trained as a classical dancer with Delta Festival Ballet and The Boston Ballet School and received her BFA from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. She went on to assist Ann Reinking in numerous projects and performed in musicals, plays, and operas throughout the U.S. and Europe. Through her experience as a Pilates practitioner and dancer, Karina has gained a great understanding of anatomy and injuries and is passionate about guiding clients on their journey to wellness. Her energetic and creative approach motivates clients to reach their greatest potential and she enjoys being a part of their discovery and joy!
She is also a contributing writer for The Levo League. 

Lisa Schoenholt

Certified Pilates Trainer

Lisa became certified in Pilates in 2001 with the Ron Fletcher Pilates method. She holds a MA in Dance Education from New York University and a BFA in Dance along with a BA in Education from the University of Arizona. In 2007, she obtained her CMA, certified movement analyst degree from the Laban Institute of Movement Studies. Lisa brings her extensive knowledge of anatomy, dance, movement analysis, and yoga into her instruction. She has taught Pilates throughout the United States as well as Europe and has designed Pilates, yoga, meditation, and nutrition programs for multiple NYC public high schools.

Emily Adams

Professional Dancer, Dance Teacher & Choreographer 

Emily SoRelle Adams is a Brooklyn based freelance dancer and teaching artist. She attended S.M.U.- Meadows School of the Arts before dancing with Ballet Austin and the Washington Ballet. Since moving to the city she has performed with companies including the Metropolitan Opera, New Chamber Ballet, Connecticut Ballet and Rebecca Kelly Ballet to name a few. Along with her performing career, Emily has developed her passion for teaching by instructing students of all ages at The Huntington Ballet Academy in LI, The Ballet Class in Rye, NY, Kids Co-Motion in Soho, Discovery Programs in NYC and at the Riverdale Y. Emily is excited to be teaching at the Ellie Herman Studios and looks forward to the beginning of a wonderful new dance program!

 Rachel Priebe

Senior Pilates Trainer, Rehabilitation Specialist

Rachel Priebe has been a Pilates Instructor since 2000. She is a Polestar Pilates and GYROTONIC® certified instructor. Along with her many years of teaching experience, Rachel has studied at the Kane School of Core Integration, with renowned anatomist Irene Dowd, and was a longtime student of Pilates Elder Kathy Grant.