Natalie Mirsky
Founder / Co-Director

As a classically trained ballet dancer Natalie Mirsky first utilized Pilates techniques to enhance her own dance training and quickly discovered its superior rehabilitative benefits. She then began formal training in Pilates and was certified in 2001.

Seeing the potential of Pilates for rehabilitation Ms. Mirsky worked with Physicians and Physical Therapists, helping to heal patients with Pilates techniques adapted for rehabilitation. During that time she was among the first Pilates professionals to work with disc replacement patients during the surgery’s clinical trials.

Gaining recognition in the Los Angeles medical community for her innovative approach to post-op rehabilitation, Ms Mirsky founded BodyWellness in 2004. The reputation of her work grew and BodyWellness began receiving regular referrals from The Spine Institute at St. John’s Medical Center and The Pain Center at Cedars Sinai. In 2006 BodyWellness became an authorized Medicare and health care provider.

As the Founder and Managing Director of BodyWellness Natalie achieved the vision of combining traditional Physical Therapy with the unique benefits of Joseph Pilates exercises. This combination proved to be successful in bringing patients and clients to new levels of healing and strength.

Today the focus of BodyWellness is to gather the different styles of Pilates under one roof and to make those styles accessible to a broader clientele, utilizing the style most appropriate to the client’s needs. BodyWellness offers everything from Classical Pilates to rehabilitative forms based on the Pilates method.

Natalie Mirsky holds a BFA in Dance from CalArts, and is certified in Pilates and GYROTONIC®.

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Heather Leon
Co-Director

Heather Leon is an instructor, trainer and movement educator, certified in the Traditional Pilates Method, the GYROTONIC EXPANSION SYSTEM® and GYROKINESIS®, with a total of over 30 years combined experience in dance and various movement disciplines. Additionally, Heather is a certified, GYROTONIC® Pre-Trainer and Pilates Teacher Trainer, who has conducted comprehensive Pilates teacher training programs since 2005.

Heather's background in ballet, jazz and modern dance includes intensive study at the Martha Graham and Alvin Ailey Dance Conservatories, and a work-study scholarship with the Bella Lewitzky Dance Company. Heather received her Bachelor of Arts in Modern Dance Choreography from UCLA in 1990, and subsequently taught, performed and produced dance concerts in the Los Angeles area.

Heather is currently a member of the Pilates Method Alliance and was a member of the New York Pilates Guild until its dissolution in 2003. She received a scholarship to complete her Pilates certification in 1995 under the tutelage of Master Instructor, Romana Kryzanowska, direct disciple of Joseph Pilates and one of five living “Pilates elders” in the world today. Heather is considered a “second generation” instructor and is highly sought after for her expertise in the classical form of the Pilates method.

In April 1998, Heather centralized her teaching efforts to Santa Monica, California, and has dedicated the past 11 years to upholding the highest standards of Pilates instruction. Heather received her certifications in the GYROTONIC EXPANSION SYSTEM® and GYROKINESIS® in 2001 and 2004 respectively; and has studied extensively with internationally acclaimed, Authorized GYROTONIC® Master Trainer, Lisa Marie Goodwin. As a certified GYROTONIC® Pre-Trainer, Heather conducts instructor trainee courses for students who wish to pursue certification in the GYROTONIC® Level I Foundation Teacher Training Program.

In February 2008, Heather joined forces with Natalie Mirsky, founder/co-director of BodyWellness, to fulfill her vision of providing superior Pilates and GYROTONIC® instruction to clientele in a nurturing, uplifting environment. Heather is currently pursuing a Master's of Science degree in Kinesiology.

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Janet Ruiz
Instructor

Janet Ruiz is a native to California, and having lived in Santa Monica for most of her life was introduced to Pilates at a young age. As a teenager she was privileged to begin study under 2nd generation Pilates instructor, Heather Leon, who has mentored her over the past ten years. Janet went on to attend The University of California, Santa Barbara where she earned her Bachelor's degree in Sociology. After earning her B.A. she became increasingly interested in the study of people and the power of exercise and physical movement on people, both physically and mentally. She was drawn to the Pilates ideology, based on concentration of the mind and coordination of the body. This interest ultimately led to her decision to become trained in The Traditional Pilates Method. She currently teaches Pilates and continues schooling towards an advanced degree in Physical Therapy. Her teaching stems from a desire to offer Pilates to all kinds of people for its healing and health benefits. Students should be prepared to direct attention to body movement, breaking a sweat, and having a good time.

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Anne Somoilov
Instructor

Anne has lived in Los Angeles long enough to call herself a native. She spent her first 10 years here working in the computer animation and entertainment industry. Unhappy with the amount of stress and lack of fulfillment working as a Producer brought her, she realized that her years of taking Pilates gave her a much needed break from the demands of production. It also stopped her from spending countless hours hunched in front of a computer! Four years ago, she made the leap out of animation and into a completely new life. Anne was trained by Maria Leone a well respected member of the Physical Mind Institute and general Pilates community. She also continues to increase her knowledge of pilates with courses taken with John Garey of Stott Pilates. Anne looks forward to focusing on further certification this year for work with Prenatal and Postnatal women — another piece of her pilates puzzle brought on by the birth of her daughter in 2008.

Anne loves spreading the word about pilates and training as many "newbies" as she can. She knows first hand how empowering and life changing pilates can be!

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Jeanne Rosato
Instructor

After completion of the Fitness Instructor Certification program from UCLA Extension and being privately employed for years, Jeanne completed her Pilates Certification with Kim Lee in 1992. In an early partnership with Ron Fletcher, a direct student of Joseph Pilates, Lee was among those initially responsible for promoting Pilates-based “ Contrology ” on the west coast. Some of Jeanne's other Pilates teachers were: Steve Giordano, instructors at the Santa Clara Pilates Expo. - Siri Dharma Galliano, Jillian Hessle, Colleen Glen, Beth Clark.

While living on O'ahu, Hawai'i from 1986-1989, Jeanne was a regular of BASIC TRAINING — a television fitness series shot at exotic locations on the island. Jeanne also participated in CONQUER FORT BOYARD— a pilot for a fitness competition television program based ON Fort Boyard, off the coast of La Rochelle, France. Jeanne's overall background of athletic experience includes some early gymnastics and dance training, four years' study of Tae Kwon Do, rock climbing, spinning, weight training, running, hiking, Pilates, and racquet games.   Jeanne specializes in program design, core conditioning, body sculpting, Pilates, as well as strength and flexibility training.

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Danielle Licht
Instructor

Danielle is a bright and charismatic teacher. She has her Masters in Spiritual Psychology with a concentration in Conscious, Health and Healing. She is the founder of ‘Enlighten', a business facilitating clients in physical practices and inner wellness and radiant health. Danielle is a professional dancer, and has classical training in jazz and ballet. She currently dances in a modern dance company, and is pursuing her own choreography projects. Danielle is also a certified Ashtanga, Anusara, Yoga teacher, and she earned her Pilates certification through Pilates Sports Center. Her Pilates practice is based in both East and West coast techniques, and she caters uniquely to each client. Danielle is excited to be a member of BodyWellness. She is enthusiastic to be part of a team providing health, fitness and personal empowerment!

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Megan Quinn
Instructor

Having recently relocated to Santa Monica, Megan plans to continue teaching Pilates and motivating others to improve their posture, increase flexibility and gain the strength and confidence to help with activities in their daily life.  While keeping the goals of her clients in mind, she focuses on giving a full body workout in every session. 

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Amy Aceto
Instructor

Amy Aceto has been an avid swimmer for her entire life. While searching for a great exercise that helped with lower back and neck pain she discovered Pilates. She took so many classes that she decided to become an instructor. Her classes are fast paced, challenging and fun (everything that she would want out of a class!).

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Erika Quinn
Instructor

Erika's interest in movement began at an early age when her mother insisted she take dance classes to counteract the "klutz gene."  But what started as an innocent attempt at grace soon became her passion.  Growing up, she studied classical ballet and modern dance, regularly performing with a regional ballet company near her hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee. Her love of movement and academics led her to Barnard College in New York City, where she graduated in 2001 with a BA in Sociology and Dance.  Erika then moved to Paris to study French, earning an MA in French Cultural Studies from Columbia University.  While in Paris, she began taking Mat Pilates classes and fell in love.  After relocating to Los Angeles in 2007, Erika decided to begin training to become a Pilates instructor and received her certification through STOTT Pilates.  She is passionate about the positive benefits of Pilates and sincerely believes it is great for everyone -- whether you're a seasoned athlete, recovering from an injury or just in need of a little exercise TLC.

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