Instructors

OONA NELSON
Whether it is competitive hunter/jumper riding, snowboarding, windsurfing, dirt biking, or scuba diving, I love staying active. My focused interest in Pilates has grown out of this need to keep my body in motion, my muscles strong and my lifestyle healthy. I am a certified Pilates instructor through Integrated Teacher Training (ITT). In addition to my Pilates knowledge, I am also certified as a Personal Trainer through the American Council on Exercise and a level III Riding Instructor through Pacific Grove Equestrian Center. Before opening Centered Body I was the staff Pilates trainer at San Francisco's Healthwell Physical Therapy Group. My approach is holistic and balanced for the entire body always remembering that training is as much mental and emotional as it is physical. This perspective is echoed in Joseph Pilates philosophies and techniques.


SARA BAGHERI DOWNS Manager
Sara began her Pilates practice in 2003 in San Diego, California and is certified through the Pilates Method Alliance and also holds a certification from Pilates of La Jolla. Sara developed her own studio in San Diego from the ground up and successfully shared her passion for the discipline of Pilates with a wide ranging group of followers. Upon moving to San Francisco, Sara has instructed in a variety of environments, from class room atmospheres to one-on-one personal training. All the while, Sara cultivated and maintained a reputation as a highly proficient and dynamic instructor. With a life-long background of varied athletic pursuits, to include soccer, swimming, gymnastics, and figure skating, Sara has competed at numerous state-level and national level competitions. With this experience, Sara understands full well the importance of a strong core and well centered body alignment.

SONYA LO
Originally from Taiwan, Sonya has toured the world as a professional dancer since the age of 14. In Taipei, she performed with the Four Seasons Ballet Company and throughout Europe with the Lan-Yang Dancers. After moving to the United States, she received the Creative Achievement Award in Dance while completing her Masters of Fine Arts at University of Arizona. She then went on to dance with Ballet Oklahoma as a lead dancer for many years. Sonya discovered Pilates after undergoing surgery to repair a severe hip injury. She rehabilitated her hip with Pilates and was so affected by her experience that she decided to launch a new chapter in her career and become an instructor. Through her extensive teaching experience and comprehensive understanding of the body, she is now devoted to sharing her knowledge of both Pilates and ballet.

ALISON WILLIAMS yoga and pilates
Alison completed her Pilates certification in 2006 in Brooklyn, New York at BodyTonic Gymnasium. She studied under master teachers Jennifer DeLuca certified by Romana Kryzanowska and Caitlin Cook certified by Madeline Black and the PhysicalMind Institute. This foundation has given her a well-rounded approach to her teaching and practice. Throughout a lifetime of studying dance with various masters of the craft, Alison has studied the body with passion. She has completed Lizz Roman's Pilates for Rehabilitation course. She is a certified Massage Therapist from the San Francisco School of Massage. She has completed two yoga teacher trainings, one with Ana Forrest and the other at Laughing Lotus in San Francisco. She also holds a Masters degree in Somatic Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies. Undoubtedly, she is fascinated by the correlations between physical health and overall well-being.

BLAIR BODIE yoga and pilates
Blair Bodie has over 17 years experience working with the body. She came into Pilates through dance and fell in love with the potential for movement it produces. She did her pilates training in Charlottesville, VA and then was later certified through The PhysicalMind Institute in Hong Kong. She has taught in Southeast Asia as well New York City. She graduated from Sarah Lawrence College with an MFA in choreography and received her BFA from Virginia Commonwealth University in dance. She teaches Ashtanga yoga, and has trained in Feldenkrais. She draws from her vast movement vocabulary to teach everything rehabilitative to athletic training styles of Pilates.

ANA MACIAS
Ana began her Pilates training in 2002 under the direction of Lisa Goldin in Walnut Creek, Ca. Being a dancer previous to Pilates, she found that her Pilates training helped her movements become more supported in ballet and modern dance, in addition to feeling stronger and more toned. Ana persued her dream of dancing professionally, and was accepted into UC Irvine's Dance Department. Still loving Pilates and taking classes throughout college, Diane Diefenderfer encouraged Ana to continue Pilates teacher training with her at Studio Du Corps in Costa Mesa, Ca. Ana received her Studio Du Corps' Teacher Training Certification in 2008, right after completing her B.F.A. in Dance Performance at UC Irvine. Ana then moved back to her home in the Bay Area, and started teaching Pilates. Wanting to continue her education, she also received her Prenatal and Postpartum Pilates Certification in 2010 through The Center for Women's Heath. Ana has also professionally danced with High Release Dance Company as well as Axis Dance Company, and has collaborated with local artists.

HONORINE LALOR
Honorine gained her Pilates instructor certification from ITT Pilates of San Francisco. Since her certification she has continued her education in the Pilates method by attending workshops with Pilates greats such as Amy Alpers and Debora Kowley. She further explored her interests in anatomy, kiniseology and rehabilitation by volunteering at physical therapy and chiropractic practices. Based on her volunteer work, she was invited to head the rehabilitative exercise program at Postureworks chiropractic offices, where she works in conjunction with the doctors to support patient rehabilitation. The deep understanding gained from this work has helped her to create individualized Pilates sessions that maximize each clients' fitness potential.