Premier Pilates and Yoga is lucky to have truly amazing instructors, who are well-trained, fully-certified and who are able to bring in their years of experience into every session. Deborah Harris has a strong background in dance. Her insight into the mechanics of body movement tends to bring a unique perspective to a Pilates workout. She has selected instructors deeply committed to helping each client reach their fullest potential.
 
Pilates Instructors Yoga Instructors
Deborah Harris Kathy Metzler Melissa Dahbi
Danielle Conner Jeanette Patriarco Daniella Wrubel
Tara Kolbe Jen Murphy Toni Porrello
Kristin Beckert Kumi Dikengil

Deborah Harris - Studio Owner

      Deborah grew up in Lancaster, PA and has a very strong background in dance. She was completing her BFA in Dance at Temple University when she had a dance injury and used Pilates to rehabilitate from it. She was fascinated by the technique's unique ability to concentrate its healing in the specific area of the injury. She was also drawn in by the focus of Pilates on complete physical, mental and spiritual well-being.

     In 1999, Deborah was admitted into the highly competitive and intense New York City Authentic PilatesTM Training Program. Over the next year and a half she was instructed, trained, tested and, ultimately, certified by Romana Kryzanowska, an internationally acknowledged The Grande Dame of Pilates, who was a star pupil of Joseph Pilates in the 1940s.

     Deborah was also taught by such Certified Teachers of Teachers as Sari Mejia-Santos, Bob Likens and June Hines. As a part of her training, Deborah completed over 600 hours of practical instruction in her certification program and clearly demonstrated an excellence in working on all different Pilates apparatuses, as well as an ability to work safely and effectively with women and men at all levels of physical fitness and ability, including those with musculoskeletal injuries.

     Deborah started to teach at the Pennsylvania Ballet Pilates Studio in 2001. She worked closely with Greg Taylor, a physical therapist. This relationship and proximity to the world of professional dance gave Deborah a chance to apply her training and perfect her approach to clients with such varying conditions as dance injuries, scoliosis, multiple sclerosis, hip surgery rehabilitation, chronic pain syndromes, fibromyalgia, and low back pain. 

      While at the Ballet, Deborah has worked with Prima Ballerinas, principles from Cirque Du Soleil, members of Broadway shows "Fosse" and "Contact." Deborah enjoys the challenge of the rehabilitation work and is constantly amazed by the quality and  of improvement her clients experience with Pilates.

   


Kathy Metzler

     Kathy is a wife and mother of two.  She currently holds certifications through American Council on Exercise in personal training and group fitness instruction.  Her experience in these fields range from training high school athletes to the senior population.

     She was first drawn to Pilates when viewing a class at a corporate facility where she was a fitness associate.  After much research, she soon realized the many benefits it held for the body, mind and spirit and began to pursue a certification in Pilates.  During that process and the many hours of self-practice that are required she saw changes in her body that she was never able to achieve before.  Kathy has become certified through Peak Pilates in the instruction of Classical Pilates and never looked back!

     She feels very strongly about the positive impact that exercise, especially Pilates, has on our emotional health and physical well being. Her clients describe her as someone who truly knows her stuff and makes every person and every session feel wonderful and special.

Danielle Conner
     Danielle Conner has been certified in Pilates through Body Arts and Science International (BASI) since 2004. Originally a professional dancer, she graduated from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia with a BFA in Modern Dance.

     During her career as a dancer touring nationally and internationally with various production companies, she developed chronic bursitis and tendonitis in both of her shoulders. Due to the severity of her condition she began physical therapy. During her sessions, she noticed the similarities between her physical therapy and Pilates and decided to continue with Pilates after her therapy course was finished.

     Through Pilates she was able to strengthen her shoulders and get control of her condition. Realizing the benefits that Pilates has on the body, as well as on the mind and the spirit, she went on to become certified in Pilates so that she could help others.

     Since becoming certified Danielle has had the privilege of being the resident Pilates instructor for Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas and for the Broadway show The Producers. Her work experience includes a wide range of populations from young gymnasts and dancers to the elderly with such conditions as arthritis, joint replacement surgeries, osteoporosis, disc issues, scoliosis, etc.

     `anielle has recently moved back to New Jersey from Las Vegas with her daughter Giavanna to be closer to her family here. Danielle is excited to be a part of the Premier Pilates team and to begin the next chapter of her life.


  Tara Kolbe

     Tara graduated from Monmouth University with a B.A. in Communications and minor in Psychology. After working for a couple of years in Pharmaceutical Advertising, she had decided this path was not for her. She later attended Kean University and earned a teacher’s certification in Health and Physical Education.

     After the initial exposure to Pilates, Tara fell in love with this technique. She loved how her body felt after every class. She proceeded to get trained in classical Pilates. 

     Tara received extensive training in all aspects of the Pilates technique: from teaching mat and tower classes to working with the equipment. Following her rigorous training, she passed the examinations to get certified in both Pilates Mat and Pilates Equipment.

     Tara is presently a full-time Health and Physical Education teacher and is pursuing her M.S in Exercise Science. Tara has already taught at numerous New Jersey locations. She has been complimented on her flow, personal connection with the clients. Clients have enjoyed the way she ties in her knowledge of Pilates with the information acquired through her health and physical education courses. She is currently teaching the full spectrum of Pilates classes: Pilates mat, Tower, and privates. We are truly lucky to offer her skills, knowledge and expertise to our clients! 

Jeanette Patriarco

     Jeanette came to Pilates curious because of all of the hype that she's heard about this mind-body system. She took a mat class at a gym - she was not impressed and thought to herself there must be more to Pilates.  

     Then, Jeanette found our studio and from her first lesson she was hooked.  She continued to take classes, and do privates and fell in love with what Pilates was doing for her physically and mentally.  She then decided that she wanted to learn even more about Pilates and wanted to help others feel the way that she did. 

     She devoted herself to the Classical Pilates which promotes teaching the system just as Joseph Pilates had intended it to. Jeanette pursued her certification through Peak Pilates, an amazingly rigorous program that included intensive on-site training, extensive observation, teaching, and personal practice hours. Lastly, she had to demonstrate her full command of the Method by passing a rigorous written and physical exam.  

       Suffice it to say, Jeanette passed these with flying colors and is now a Peak Pilates Professional Certified Instructor.  Not one to rest on her laurels, Jeanette continues to take lessons and attend workshops to improve her own practice and to be able to pass on the benefits of the added knowledge to her students.  She considers herself a Classical Instructor and a student of the Method for life. She has never felt so strong or so in tune with her body as she does now.  

      "Finding the right instructor was what I needed to get me to commit to and understand Pilates, and I hope to inspire the same in my clients."


Kristin Beckert

    Kristin is a New Jersey native who grew up dancing ballet and modern with the New Jersey Dance Theatre Ensemble in Madison, NJ.  Through the dance world, she was introduced to the Pilates Method.  She found Pilates to be the perfect “cross training” technique for a dancer, and Kristin became very interested and focused on her Pilates work.

    After doing Pilates for a number of months and seeing the tremendous benefits of it first-hand, Kristin began an extensive apprenticeship and training program towards Authentic Pilates Certification under the direct guidance of Deborah Harris. Her instruction included everything from simple mat to super advanced Pilates exercises. Her flexibility and dedication to the technique made her an excellent student, her sharp eye for detail and her dedication to each clients made her an outstanding instructor.  She has a loyal following at the studio, especially among those who are really interested in furthering their knowledge of the Pilates Method.

    Following her completion of the Pilates training and apprenticeship, Kristin proceeded to obtain further education at the Loyola College in Maryland. Kristin teaches tremendously popular Pilates classes there and whenever she is home our studio has the pleasure of having her available for our students.


Jennifer Murphy

      Jennifer graduated from Susquehanna University with a BA in elementary education.  She went on to teach first and second grade.  After having her children she graduated from school-teaching to being a full-time mom.

      In 2005 Jen was turned onto Pilates while visiting a friend's studio in San Francisco.  She began practicing Pilates at Premiere Pilates and Yoga as soon as she returned from her trip!  She was absolutely amazed at the results that Pilates had on her body. Her body became more flexible and her occasional back pains disappeared.  She noticed herself standing taller and becoming more aware of how she carried her body. Jennifer decided that she wanted to know more about Pilates and how it could help other people.

     During her certification process Jennifer became aware of how life-changing the practice of Pilates could be for people.  She thoroughly enjoys watching her clients' bodies become stronger and seeing them do things that they never thought they could do. Jennifer has extensive experience working with beginner clients as well as people with stiffness and muscle weakness. Her attention to detail serves her clients well, as does her dedication to Classical Pilates and to helping each client reach there ultimate goal.

      Jennifer is an amazing instructor who challenges all who take her classes or do sessions with her. Her educational background enhances her Pilates teaching.  It shows in the way she explains exercise and in the way she pays great attention to detail. Nothing gets by her and she always wants the best for her students.   She is available for appointments and group classes.


Kumi Dikengil

       Kumi began dancing at age 6 with The School of New Jersey Ballet. During high school she regularly performed with the professional company. They toured the east coast performing the Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, and La Bayadere among others.

        
In 2002 she received a BFA in dance from Tisch School of the Arts at NYU. Upon graduation she danced for a modern company called Refractions in NYC. In 2006 she was certified in Pilates mat and all apparatus through Physical Mind Institute. Currently she is pursuing a doctorate degree in physical therapy at Seton Hall University.


Daniella Wrubel


      Daniella Wrubel has been a certified yoga instructor and yoga therapist since 1999 and has been practicing yoga since 1996.

      She has studied yoga therapy and meditation with Joseph LePage and at the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center.

      She has taught classes in yoga and relaxation for employees of Bristol Meyers Squibb in New York, Johnson and Johnson New Brunswick, and locally at Murray Hill Health and Racquet Club, Mountain Fitness Center, and the YMCA in Summit.  In addition, she has taught privately at The Mind Body Wellness Center in Summit.


 



Melissa Dahbi

      Melissa has had an interest in yoga since she was 16 and would practice the Sun Salutation, as a compliment to her other activities throughout her life. 

      Later in life she moved to Asia and become more interested in this holistic healing practice and decided she wanted to deepen her body mind connection and learn more about philosophical side of this 5000yr old practice. She did her YTT @ Yoga Limbs of Hong Kong and is primarily a Hatha yoga teacher, highly influenced by the Iyengar and Ashtanga practice. She has trained with renowned teachers, such as Shiva Rea, Seane Corne, Duncan Wong-Yogic Arts, Aadil B. Palkhivala-Purna Yoga, Chuck & Maty Ezraty  and Peter Scott-Yoga Jivana. Her style is Vinyasa Flow and her classes are taught to develop body awareness, realign the posture and connect the body, mind & soul.

      Vinyasa Flow: Vinyasa is the synchronization of breath with movement, the postures are linked together in a continuous and challenging flow. Vinyasa is more than a simple set of physical maneuvers; the flow of the practice with the breath bring together the internal and the external. The practice engages prana, or energy found within the breath, and leaves the practitioner feeling energized, centered and more connected with their Higher Self. It includes the Sun Salutation and various postures that will challenge the body and mind. Each student will be individually taken to their level, all levels welcomed.

      Private Classes: Traditionally, yoga was taught one-on-one. The Private lessons provide a setting in which your individuality can be completely addressed and allows more time for the teacher to give you the attention needed to develop and deepen your practice at your own pace. The Yoga postures and breathing exercises are selectively chosen and developed to meet your specific needs. Learning and practicing postures and breathing exercises at your own pace and within your own range is the most effective way to realize the benefits of yoga.

Toni Porrello

     Toni has her B.A. in English from Kean University and is currently in grad school at Fairleigh Dickinson University obtaining her M.F.A. in creative writing.

     Years ago, she was first introduced to yoga and Pilates by her sister, Carly. When Carly took her to her very first yoga class, she never thought it would become such a big part of her life. She left the class feeling invigorated, with a sense of peace and accomplishment. Right away, she began a regular yoga practice. Before she had started yoga, she could barely touch her knees when folding forward. After just three months, she was able to touch the ground.
   That was just one of the many positive changes she began to notice throughout her body and mind. She knew yoga would be a life-long practice for her, and after years of deepening her practice she realized what a great opportunity it would be to share yoga with others through teaching.

   Working years for a chiropractor, she has a deep understanding of the body and of the importance of fitness and health. She studied yoga at Balance Yoga Center in NJ for her teacher training and plans on getting certified to teach Pilates mat in the new year.

  
Toni is also a musician. She is a singer/songwriter and plays the piano. She sang on the Grammy award winning children’s album, “Songs From the Neighborhood”. You can listen to her original music at www.myspace.com/tonirosemusic. Toni believes that meditation is a very important part of yoga. Music is her favorite form of meditation. In her class, she hopes to help you to find your favorite form.

   
She urges her students to remember, while yoga is a serious practice, most of all it is a time to get to know yourself and to enjoy all the benefits. Yoga should be fun!


Premier Pilates & Yoga - (908) 754 5901
 53 Mountain Boulevard, Warren, NJ 07059
 


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