Jean Sullivan, owner and director of A Body of Work, has an extensive background in movement education and corrective exercise. Jean has been teaching Pilates since 1994 and Pilates Certification programs since 1998. She was certified in Level 2 of the Gyrotonic Expansion System® in 2001. Jean has studied with Jean-Claude West, Ann Schmitz, and Marika Molnar; integrated Pilates into her work as a physical therapy assistant; and developed Pilates-based rehabilitation programs for chiropractors in the Bay Area. Jean is a founding member of ITT Pilates, the Integrated Teacher Training Program.

Julia Lauren Abel is an ITT certified Pilates instructor. In May 2009 she received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Dance from San Francisco State University where she co-directed the University Dance Company. She began studying dance at a young age and continued to dance throughout College. Her dance training includes ballet, jazz, contemporary, as well as modern in the Limon and Horton techniques. Julia was introduced to Pilates as a means to emphasize proper body mechanics and strengthen her own muscular endurance. She found that it helped to stabilize and strengthen her deep core muscles while adding grace and stamina. Julia brings an energetic and motivational quality to her sessions. She helps her clients to understand and realize their bodies' full capabilities and enjoys watching them improve their Pilates skills. She believes physical movement is the means to a healthy and fulfilling life, and to achieve this, she stresses the importance of proper body alignment. In her free time Julia enjoys hiking, running, swimming and bicycling. She believes that being outdoors is beneficial for her overall well being. Julia also loves to entertain. She takes pleasure in creating healthful meals to share with friends.

Alex Alexander has been working with the body since 1989. She is a nationally certified massage therapist and personal trainer and is an ITT certified Pilates instructor. In her spare time she pursues acting on stage & in film. Alex loves teaching about and studying the body and was an instructor for 3 years at the National Holistic Institute. A chronic knee injury and a car accident introduced her to the many benefits of Pilates about 8 years ago. She now enjoys helping her clients to explore & achieve these benefits as they reeducate, strengthen & lengthen their bodies.

Nicole Bonadonna has been a professional dancer for 20 years, exploring many disciplines of dance, nutrition, health, and body work, incorporating the art of healing into each modality. She is certified in the Method Pilates and Gyrotonic®.

Diana Broker had her first Pilates mat class at San Francisco State University where she earned a Bachelor's Degree in dance performance and choreography. She carried her Pilates experience with her into the world of modern dance, and became a certified Pilates instructor through the Integrated Teacher Training Program in 2008. She finds inspiration in studying the human body and loves helping people move through their lives more efficiently. She is also a book worm and loves to be outside, enjoying nature.

Teresina Goheen joined A Body of Work in February of 2006. Along with her Gyrotonic® certifications, she also holds a BA degree in dance. She was a professional dancer formerly with companies such as Fort Wayne Ballet, Ballet Hispanico of New York, Dayton Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet, and Tulsa Ballet. As a dancer, she has worked in Las Vegas with the Siegfried and Roy Show and with Michael Crawford in EFX. She finished her dance career as a cruise ship dancer traveling around the world. Teresina believes the foundation of her long career was Gyrotonic® and its principles.

Alexis Iwasaki received her Pilates mat and apparatus certification from the Kane School of Core Integration in New York. As a former dancer, she came to Pilates several years ago as a way to improve her strength for ballet. After a knee injury forced her to stop dancing, she attended New York University and received a B.S. in Communication Studies. Yearning to stay in the performing arts world, she worked for several years at a major arts management company as a Booking Associate in New York. She began taking Pilates again in 2003, simply as a form of exercise. She came to Pilates this time with a new perspective and passion for the method. She decided to switch careers and dedicate herself to teaching others Pilates. As an instructor, Alexis is very cognizant of proper alignment and form, at the same time challenging each student to reach their fullest potential.

Laura Marquit specializes in rehabilitative and fitness-oriented Pilates. She has an extensive background in Pilates, yoga, and Feldenkrais movement. In addition to her formal Pilates training under veteran Madeline Black, she has studied Muscle Energy Technique with Jean Claude West. Laura focuses on total body healing, and has completed coursework in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Anatomy, and Physiology. Laura has also worked for the YMCA as a Fitness Instructor and taught classes there in Pilates, yoga and aerobics. In addition to doing her own Pilates during and after her pregnancies, Laura has worked with many clients on both prenatal and postnatal Pilates.

Jessica McKee graduated Cum Laude with a BA in Dance in 2007 from the College of Creative Arts at San Francisco State University, where she was awarded for her achievement in Performance and Choreography. Jessica has enjoyed the opportunity of performing for various dance companies in the Bay area, as well as choreographing and performing solo work. Jessica discovered Pilates through practicing aerial arts and was impressed with its subtle yet effective way of improving body awareness, alignment, ease of movement and endurance. Certified in Pilates Mat and Apparatus through the ITT program, she is an encouraging and supportive instructor.

Fran Sholly began her 20-year journey into the world of bodywork as an actress and singer seeking to create a balanced, strong, and fully expressive body. She brings the fruits of this enriching exploration to her teaching of the "P" method, also drawing upon Yoga and the Feldenkrais method. Fran was certified in the Gyrotonic Expansion System® in 2001, the Hendrickson Method of Orthopedic Massage and Manual Therapy in 2005, and also Trager bodywork.

Sonya Smith started life as a runner, but discovered dance while earning a degree in Biology from Macalester College. Soon after graduation, she was introduced to Pilates while dancing in Minneapolis, finding the work an excellent balance of anatomical precision and awareness in movement. Sonya entered the Integrated Teacher Training program and received her certification from Madeline Black in 2002. 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.

Margaret Tappan is an experienced Pilates instructor and a certifying instructor for the ITT Pilates training program. A retired  professional ballet dancer formerly with Scapino Ballet Rotterdam and the Pennsylvania Ballet, Margaret was first introduced to Pilates as a young student at the Houston Ballet Academy. As a result of the inspiration and strength the Pilates work gave her throughout her career, she pursued her certification through the Physical Mind Institute's course taught by Madeline Black. An eleven year veteran with ABOW, she is proud to be a part of such a high quality studio and knowledgeable staff. Margaret is also certified in the advanced methods of the Gyrotonic Expansion System® taught by Debra Rose and Juliu Horvath. She has recently added Gyrokinesis® yoga classes to A Body of Work's class offerings.  Margaret is on staff at the San Francisco Gyrotonic® studio where she enjoys instructing the talented pool of pre-professional dancers at the LINES Ballet school as well the LINES/Dominican University's BFA program. Margaret is an avid and enthusiastic teacher of movement. She has a keen understanding of the  dynamics of the human body, drawing from her dance background and her studies in experiential anatomy. She continues to deepen her understanding of the body through specialized medical workshops, therapeutic body corrective methods taught by Kinesiology specialist Jean-Claude West and through mentorship from an array of highly skilled professionals and fellow instructors.