MEGAN
Megan Krauszer was first introduced to Pilates in high school as a part of her dance training. After receiving her BFA in Dance from The Boston Conservatory, she moved to NYC and began dancing professionally. Pilates kept Megan moving and performing through various dance-related injuries; she decided to share these benefits with others, and began teaching Pilates in 2008. Megan completed her classical certification through Power Pilates, under Susan Moran and Bob Liekens, and continues to train in continuing education workshops and with Peter Roël, Jan Phillips, and others.
Megan continues to dance professionally and draws on her lifelong movement experience to enrich her classes and sessions. She has been teaching at HSF for over 10 years and she is a senior level instructor.
What's she like as a teacher? Megan smiles her way through class so that you *almost* forget how hard you’re working. Because all work and no play makes Pilates a dull class!
"She's so sweet, you can't possibly hate her for how hard she makes you work! Megan pushes you to your limits and beyond, but always with a smile."
"What I love about Megan's practice is the way she incorporates movement and balance into the exercises. Her classes explore the relationship between precision, strength, and movement. "
SASHA
Sasha Welsh is a dancer and choreographer who began her study of Pilates in 1994 to help improve her technique and heal from injury. She has been teaching Pilates since 2004 and has vast experience working with clients with special conditions, including pregnant and post-natal clients, and those suffering from a variety of spinal and orthopedic problems.
Sasha specializes in anatomy, injury prevention, alignment, and conditioning for dancers. She is currently on the faculty of the dance programs at Princeton University and The New School. She has also been a student of, and assistant/demonstrator for, anatomist Irene Dowd for many years.
Besides HSF she has also taught Pilates at DeSales University, The University of the Arts, and Swarthmore College; to the cast of Cirque du Soleil’s Alegria and at some of the best Pilates studios in New York including Alycea Ungaro’s Real Pilates and Bridge Pilates. She has been teaching at HSF for over 10 years and is a senior level instructor.
She is a proud mother of two and is a long-term Brooklyn resident.
What's she like as a teacher? Sasha focuses on muscle balance, biomechanics, and awareness, working to realign and strengthen your body in each class.
"Sasha's teaching style makes me feel like my body is a musical instrument and she is the conductor. She fine tunes each of us differently and pays such close attention to our performance. She is always trying new, challenging, exercises that are simple yet very effective. "
"The best at fine-tuning. With Sasha, the focus is on form. She can pick up on anything and make the tiniest adjustments that change everything."
JAMIE
Jamie Graham is a Pilates instructor and performer. She was introduced to Pilates as a young dancer trying desperately to turn out her legs and has been hooked ever since. She began her Pilates training while a postgraduate student at CODARTS in The Netherlands under Marjorie Oron and Romana’s Pilates. After moving to NYC in 2006, Jamie completed her Pilates certification at True Pilates New York with Sari Mejia-Santo and Cynthia Shipley. She has taught at True Pilates East, Park East Pilates, Equinox and the Joffrey Summer Ballet Intensive.
Jamie has completed continuing education courses in Pre/Post Natal Pilates, Anatomy/Kinesiology with Irene Dowd and elevate education's one year advanced studies with Dianne Graci, Ashley Mathews and Anna Vollmar. Yes, class is Jamie's favorite place to be, whether the instructor or the student.
What's she like as a teacher? Jamie loves to get into the details of both biomechanics and the classical work, building from the basics to the advanced repertoire.
Jamie is a fantastic teacher, a lovely person and I spent the entire session in wonder at her ability to be so thorough and yet so clear. I felt clearer, more "upright" and more calm and present than I have in a long time. In short, most brilliant.
JANESSA
Janessa developed a passion for Pilates in 2001 in New York while pursuing her career as a professional dancer. Pilates was the only system of movement that kept her lower back pain under control and she was able to rehabilitate from other dance-related injuries much faster while reeducating her body to move with sounder biomechanics.
In 2005, Janessa became a certified Pilates instructor through Steele Pilates and later fully re-certified through BASI Pilates International. Always eager for knowledge, Janessa has completed courses for Pre/Post-Natal Pilates, Back/Hip Pathologies, Pilates for Scoliosis, and Pilates for Special & Aging Populations.
Janessa has taught Pilates throughout the US and abroad, spending the past six years teaching at her studio in Stockholm, Sweden. Happily back in NYC she is still dancing and is now studying to become a birth doula.
What is she like as a teacher? As a dancer and avid traveler, Janessa loves bringing her playful and challenging style of teaching Pilates to HSF.
“Janessa's Sculpt and Simmer class has truly improved muscle strength in areas of my body I never thought existed! She understands the musculature of the body incredibly well and targets specific areas from the neck down to your fingertips and toes. Janessa also teaches the class in rhythm to music, which helps keep the tempo fast and fluid, while maintaining a fun atmosphere. I love working with Janessa!”
“I love all of Janessa's class but Sculpt and Simmer is one of my favorites! I have really seen and felt the results of coming to this class regularly and Janessa's style of teaching is so encouraging and positive. Historically, I am not a fan of cardio at all and I NEVER want to miss sculpt and simmer! She also has excellent taste in music :)”