Meet the lovely ladies of Core Pilates Albany!!

I had a recent shoot with the instructors of Core Pilates Albany, here are a few of the shots that are  my faves, as well as some info about the ladies!!

This is such a great group of women who are super strong, kind, welcoming, and very knowledgeable about Pilates.

Core Pilates Albany, your Pilates powerhouse and home for smart exercise.

We encourage you to nourish your mind, body and soul through the Art of Contrology, the original Pilates method.

Through the works of Joe Pilates our Comprehensively Certified Instructors strive to thoroughly train each client with respect to their individual needs. Our instructors work consciously to inspire you to move in a mindful manner each day to enrich your overall health and being.

Core Pilates opened its doors in 2008. Owned and operated by Lisa M. Yakel, Core Pilates offers a warm and friendly environment that encourages and invites you to move your body in a more mindful manner. With a knowledgeable team of instructors who are comprehensively trained through highly accredited programs, we teach you the Art of Contrology, the way Joe Pilates intended.

Here at Core Pilates we teach Classical Pilates sessions that will best suit and challenge your fitness needs. We offer Private and Semi-Private sessions as well as Group classes such as Mat and Tower classes.

It is our mission at Core Pilates to inspire and educate you to connect your mind and body through thoughtful movement.

We would love for you to begin your smart exercise journey with us.

The studio is gorgeous, very clean, bright, and open.

Time to meet the instructors:

LISA YAKEL

- "Pilates enhances the mind, the body and the spirit"

Lisa M. Yakel (owner) has over thirty years in the dance and fitness industry.  She earned a B.A. in Dance Performance from Russell Sage College, performed with local dance companies, including Maude Baum & Co. and Dance Eclectic, taught at local dance studios, and Russell Sage College and choreographed for numerous school productions.  Lisa also founded In Motion School of Dance, as well as taught fitness classes for many years at The Sweat Shop of Albany.

Discovering the Pilates Method was an "a-ha" moment for Lisa...sensible movement. It gave her an empowering awareness of her body and mind and truly connected the two. While dancing and teaching fitness classes Pilates helped Lisa stay injury free. The Method had such a profound effect on her that she became Mat Certified through The Physical Mind Institute in 2001 beginning her journey of teaching her passion. Yearning for more knowledge she became Comprehensively Certified through Power Pilates of NYC in 2003. She had the blessing of learning the Method from Bob Liekens, a Master Instructor and 2nd generation teacher. Lisa credits Jeanette Somner for nurturing both her knowledge and love for the Method.

Lisa is committed to the teachings of Joe Pilates and is passionate about sharing it with her students!

JOAN COFFEY

Joan Coffey is a Comprehensively Certified Pilates Instructor having received her certification through Power Pilates in New York City in 2003.  Joan has had teaching experience in the Pilates Method since that time, has taken numerous continuing education classes through Power Pilates, and is continuing her love of teaching Pilates at Core Pilates of Albany.  While Joan's formal college education is not in physical fitness, her lifelong interest and activities have always centered around various forms of physical fitness.  These activities include alpine skiing (including teaching), cross country skiing, sailing, aerobic & weight training exercising, bicycling, hiking, swimming and tennis.  Once Joan discovered the Pilates Method in 1999, it has remained her number one favorite form of physical fitness.  She incorporates this method in every other physical activity, and encourages her students to do the same - the "Pilates Mind" is always present!

ANNE BETTE

Anne graduated from Fashion Institute of Technology and worked in various sourcing & product development roles for major retailers in NYC for 17 years. During this time, she also worked part-time in the fitness industry as a group instructor. In 2006, she began practicing Pilates and soon was hooked on the physical and mental benefits. Anne became a certified Pilates instructor from Power Pilates in 2012. In 2007 Anne was certified to teach Pilates mat through Power Pilates, and she completed the comprehensive certification in 2009 at Power Pilates in NYC.

LORI DONATO

Lori Donato has been teaching Pilates for thirteen years.  In 2001 she received her Pilates mat certification and continued her education to achieve her Pilates Comprehensive certification with Power Pilates.  Lori has been working in the fitness industry for the past twenty-five years and holds multiple fitness certifications for group exercise and personal training.  In the late nineties, Lori was the Manager at The Sweat Shop of Albany, were she started teaching group exercise classes.  In 1999 Lori became the Group Exercise Coordinator at the Southern Saratoga YMCA in Clifton Park.  After thirteen years as the Group Exercise Coordinator, she was promoted to the Wellness Director, where she managed 108 employees, the wellness center, all of the group exercise programs, and the Pilates studio.  Lori has attended multiple Pilates continuing education workshops and has had the opportunity to train with several master Pilates instructors during her Pilates career.  Her extensive fitness background and education has given her the ability to deliver smart exercise, through the Pilates method, to her clients.  Pilates has been a blessing in Lori's life, it has shaped the way she delivers her group exercise classes, mat classes, and apparatus sessions to her clients.  Lori believes that everyone should have the opportunity to exercise in a safe, non-intimidating atmosphere.  It's Lori's goal to give all of her clients a great experience every time they come to exercise with her.  Pilates has provided the opportunity for Lori to give the gift of wellness to all of her clients, no matter what their fitness level may be. 

PAULINE MORRIS

Pauline discovered mat Pilates classes in 2003 and was hooked right from the start.  In 2012 Pauline became mat certified by a national association and began teaching classes at a local gym.  She quickly realized she needed more in depth training and turned to Power Pilates.  In 2013 she became beginner & intermediate mat certified.  Pauline holds several other group fitness certifications however Pilates has always been her favorite class to teach and preferred form of fitness.  Wanting to continue learning about the Pilates Method she entered a training program through Beacon Pilates and became comprehensively certified in 2015.  Pauline has a communications degree from the University at Albany. 

SARAJANE LEARY

As a lifelong dancer and movement junkie, Sarajane studied and performed locally with NACRE, Dance Eclectic, YDC, Berkshire Ballet and Maude Baum & Co as well as performed in local theater with NYSTI, Park Playhouse, Steamer 10 and many others.  She was fortunate enough to train in NYC at Marymount Manhattan College and with the renowned Martha Graham Dance Company.  She was introduced to Pilates at a young age and always found it to be a great way to keep her body aligned and to help her recover from myriad dance and work related injuries. She is thrilled to be completing her training at Core through the Beacon Pilates Teacher Training Program and anticipates being Comprehensively Certified by the end of August 2016.  Sarajane truly believes and has first-hand experience in the fact that when the weight of the world- work, illness, injury, stress- brings you down, Pilates will help bring you back to life.  She can’t wait to help her clients feel as good as she does!