Meet our Team

Kelly Nelson, OWNER

Creator, Lover, Traveler

  • Yoga and Pilates Teacher. Kelly's first yoga class was when she moved to San Francisco after graduating from the University of AZ with a Bachelor's degree in Communications. After that first class, she was hooked. She then took her practice international where she concentrated on her self study, "svadhyaya" while living in Southeast Asia. Through her extensive international travels, she discovered that no matter what ethnicity you are or what language you speak, Yoga is the universal language of unifying the mind and body. When she returned after about 16 months abroad, she received her 200hr Yoga Certification through Corepower Yoga in Costa Mesa. She loves creating space for people to move their bodies, slow down their minds and acknowledge and recognize their strengths and capabilities. Most recently, she completed her STOTT Pilates training and she enjoys the fun, fast paced workout that pilates has to offer.

    "My practice serves me in different ways every time I step on to my mat. Sometimes yoga is a way to help clear my mind and concentrate on my breath. Other times, I use my practice as more of a meditative station to help me focus on a certain intention or goal I may have for myself. Whatever the purpose or reason is for returning to my mat time and time again, I know for sure I will leave my mat feeling more purposeful and full of life than I did before stepping on."

    Astrological Sign: Capricorn

RENE BALDWIN

Length, Kindness, Warmth

  • Pilates teacher. Certification through Body Arts and Science Institute (BASI) October 2013. From her very first Pilates session, Rene knew she had found a passion. The more she practiced, the more she wanted to know, going deeper into what Pilates was, where it was from, and what it meant to her. This led her to study at the Body Art and Science Institute (BASI). She decided with all the training that you needed to be an instructor, teaching was what she needed to do. She loves sharing her joy and her passion of this practice with others and hopes to encourage each person she meets to find their balance, their purpose, and to understand their body through Pilates. Her sessions are formatted intuitively, whether more core work, lengthening and strengthening, or just a good stretch. Rene has an amazing husband and beautiful, witty teenage daughter that encourages her all the time.

    Astrological Sign: Aquarius

KATHERINE SLAY

Big Hearted, Creative, Fashionable,

  • Pilates teacher. Katherine Slay’s love for movement is infectious. With over 15 years teaching experience, she is a senior level Teacher Trainer in the Pilates industry and a master Teacher Trainer with BarreWRX USA teaching internationally and appearing in multiple modeling and fitness projects. Her dance career started in New York City at the age of 16 with the Joffrey Ballet, and her dance resume includes the title of Miss Dance California for Dance Masters of America, industrial performances with Tiffany and Co (Las Vegas, NV), and the movie The Big Lebowski (Hollywood,CA). She has served as a senior Teacher Trainer for Power Pilates and Classical Pilates Education and has been a presenter at both Pilates Method Alliance and IDEAfit conventions in the US. Katherine can be seen teaching a variety of workshops and classes in and around southern California including Pilates, Barre, and Yoga.

    "I love Pilates. It is a lifestyle that is about empowerment through movement: strength and flexibility in both the body and mind. Throw in some laughter to that equation and you have the perfect practice."

    Astrological Sign: Aries

Positive, Passionate, Caring

ANALISA WELLS

  • Pilates Instructor. Pilates has lit her passion for helping others brighter than she could have ever imagined. Assisting people through pain, guiding them through movements they thought were not possible and seeing people become happier versions of themselves drives her to do, learn and share more.

    She has always been inspired by the world of physical fitness and nutrition and how much it truly goes beyond just the exterior of the body. It brings such positive changes that truly impacts the lives of each person. In owning her own juicing company, she began to fall in love with helping others achieve their goals, physically and mentally. She wanted to do more, so she turned to something that had really helped her in her own personal growth through the years, Pilates!

    The science and movement behind Pilates and Contrology is so healing, helpful and building that it serves so many different purposes. From weight loss and physically toning to refining your golf swing and improving/correcting scoliosis, the limits of Pilates are endless just like her passion for helping others!

    Astrological Sign: Virgo

BRENDA DORSEY

Motivated, Secure, Breezy

  • Pilates teacher. Brenda’s inspiration to teach Pilates is the quality of life she’s been so fortunate to have and all of the opportunity that surrounds her. Pilates gives her positive momentum in her life and reminds her to be kind to her body when she struggles with being so hard on herself. Being too comfortable can be dangerous.

    “I want to create an atmosphere where letting loose and taking care of your body go hand in hand. When you experience the freedom of being your unadulterated self, that's when true mind body health comes to life.”

    Astrological Sign: Aquarius

TARA GILLFILLAN

Warm, Philosophical, Playful

  • Tara believes movement is medicine and her practice is an homage to the roots of yoga and the culture it derives from. She uprooted her life in NYC to spend an immersive month living in India where she received her 200hr YTT at Vinyasa Yoga School in Rishikesh. She also has over a decade of experience in the fitness industry as an NCSF Certified Personal Trainer. This duality of yoga and fitness inspires her approach to her classes, as well as her life: the delicate balance of efficient diligence and unabashed playfulness. When not in the studio, you can find her nurturing her artistic heart with music, singing, and painting, or nose deep in a book. She considers herself a Forever Student and seeks to learn as much from those she teaches. She aspires to share the sacred medicine that is yoga and to leave you feeling nurtured, supported, and a little bit better than when you walked in the door.

    Astrological sign: Taurus

Strong, Loving, Calm

JULIE LEIGH

  • Yoga & Pilates Instructor. A 200 hour-RYT through Yoga Alliance, Julie Leigh has been teaching yoga for 10 years, practicing yoga for 20 years and has a background in gymnastics and cheerleading. Currently completing the Pilates Certification Program at Orange Coast College. Julie graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Commerce from the University of Virginia.

    Julie has been fortunate to learn from yoga teachers all over the world. She was originally drawn to yoga while she was living in London, far from a family support network and raising newborn twins. After a traumatic birth experience left her in the ICU, Julie needed something that would help her recover physically and mentally. She credits yoga for not only helping her build a stronger body, but also helping her experience increased mental clarity and mindfulness - striving to live each moment of life fully present and aware.

    In addition to her vinyasa yoga training, Julie has completed several intensive college-level anatomy and physiology courses as well as yin yoga training with Paul and Suzee Grilley. She has studied yoga with notable teachers including Dharma Mittra, Kino MacGregor, Kathryn Budig, James Brown, Bryan Kest, Baron Baptiste, Shiva Rea, Matt Giordano and Diana Christinson.

    Julie has a strong background in partner work. She cheered in high school and at the University of Virginia, and taught for Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) both in the United States and Japan. While working at an international public relations firm in Chicago, she also coached Northwestern University cheer and judged the national high school and college UCA competitions on ESPN. Julie has trained with some of the best acro and cirque performers in the country, and she and her acro partner have taught workshops and performed exhibitions at various events in Los Angeles and Orange County. Acro yoga has challenged her to explore the boundaries of physical strength and flexibility, all while requiring the development of a deep trust and creative partnership with another person.

    Astrological Sign: Capricorn

  • Yoga Instructor. Hilary offers an athletic style of yoga that is suited for All Levels. She wants you to walk out of your yoga practice feeling better than when you walked in. She will make sure to create a space that is considered a “no judgement zone”. Hilary takes pride in creating choregraphed flows and making uplifting playlists because she knows that music moves people! Yoga is her passion, she focuses on breath, flexibility, mobility, strength and perhaps a little sweat dripping.

Hilary fischer

Darren obong

Intuitive, Nurturing, Heart Centered

  • Darren has a in-depth education specializing in yoga therapeutics. His studies include yoga anatomy, trauma informed yoga, pre-natal yoga, yin yoga, restorative yoga, meditation, and functional movement and mobility. He has experience assisting in 200hr teacher trainings and facilitating workshops and events. 

    ‘The practice of yoga has allowed me to form a deeper relationship with myself and it is through this lens that I share the practice. In my classes my intention is to curate a space where you can find more awareness in your body. With an emphasis on breath, alignment, and ease we cultivate a practice that stabilizes and strengthens the mind and the body.’ 

Energetic, Consistent, Nurturing

jill burns

  • Pilates Instructor. Jill is a classically trained dancer and danced competitively until she was 21 years old. She also studied ballet and modern dance throughout college. Jill started as a student of Pilates in 2012 and was immediately drawn to the practice. She began her study at John Garey Pilates on STOTT Merrithew and finished at The Focus Method of Integrated Body Balancing and Fitness. Jill continues to educate herself to better serve her clients.

    Astrological Sign: Aries

Kristen Concannon

Fun, Kind and Patient

  • Pilates teacher, Kristen was an avid dancer from a young child through her teens. Prior to teaching Pilates, she had a career in the financial industry, during which stayed healthy and fit through all forms of exercise. It wasn’t until she found Pilates that she discovered the passion she once experienced as a child through dance.

    Teaching Pilates since 2013, Kristen is NCPT certified under a Balanced Body training, she found herself forever inspired from the practice. You will find her classes creative and always adding some new moves to help challenge and change your body, mind and spirit.

    She is very excited to be part of a practice that can bring such value to life. Out of the studio, Kristen loves traveling, yoga, barre, Golf, hiking, SUP, snowboarding and spin.

    Astrological Sign: Libra

Leslie rothman

Kind, Grateful, Grounded

  • Yoga teacher. Yoga became a way of life for Leslie after her first Yoga class, she was hooked! She loved that she was able to have an hour or two out of the day to dedicate to the presence of her body and breath. She soon became a regular on her yoga mat, practicing any free time I had. She appreciated how yoga challenged her, at the same leaving her with a sense of peace and contentment.

    She decided to become certified to teach Yoga in 2016.  After completing training she dove right into teaching here in the OC and on a 10 day Yoga retreat in Thailand.   Her Hatha/Vinyasa Yoga style is centered on flowing breath to movement with attention to cuing and alignment.  She is encouraging to her students, creating a safe space that is free of judgement. It’s a place to find acceptance, let go, and surrender into a beautiful state of being. 

    Leslie’s classes are influenced by the philosophy of Yoga and she loves to integrate a theme or intention throughout the class. She truly believes that Yoga is a work in and she is so grateful to share the practice.

    Astrological sign: Virgo

Caring, Helpful, Determined

jasmine adele

  • Pilates teacher. Jasmine Adele has been a Pilates instructor in the Orange County area for 16 years.  Through her private and group training, she shares her knowledge of Pilates, health, and wellness with her clients of all fitness levels and backgrounds.

    Jasmine Adele has also been in the LA entertainment industry for many years as a dancer and actress. After sustaining a significant knee injury while performing as a young nationally competitive dancer she turned to Pilates. Not only did Pilates completely rehabilitate her knee unlike anything else, but it also set her up to be fit, more bodily aware, and stronger than she could have ever imagined.

    Jasmine received her B.A. degrees in Dance Performance and Sociology from the University of California, Irvine. 

    She is educated in multiple forms of fitness and holds certifications that include certifications in the Classical Pilates Method, pre/post natal instruction from the Center for Women's Fitness at BASI, Bodhi certification from Balanced Body University, and her CPT and nutritional consultant certification from the National Personal Training Institute. 

    Jasmine believes that Pilates is truly a  great way to give your body the mental and physical nourishment you need to live a happier and healthier life for you!

gabby mazza

Grounding, Mindful, Patient

  • Yoga & Sound Instructor. Gabby's journey with yoga began in 2015 when she yearned to connect her mind and body. Over the years, her dedication and passion for the practice deepened, leading her to complete her 200 Hour Vinyasa training with Ra Yoga Studio in Costa Mesa in Fall 2020. Since then, Gabby has expanded her skillset by becoming certified in Yin, Sound Healing, Prenatal Yoga, and Meditation. She has also received her attunement for Reiki Level I and II. Gabby considers herself a lifelong student of yoga and plans to pursue more certifications in the near future. Attending any of her classes guarantees a sense of grounding and connection to your personal yoga journey. You have the freedom to arrive just as you are, without judgment or expectation.

    Astrological sign: Taurus

Lily Young

Adventurous, Passionate, Loyal

  • Pilates Instructor. Lily was born and raised in Austin, TX, but recently made the move to beautiful Newport Beach. Her passion for health and movement is what led her to a career in Pilates. The ability to share this incredible practice with her clients and make them feel better in their bodies is so special to her. When she’s not in the studio, you will find her at the beach, cooking, walking/ biking down the peninsula and hanging with friends.

    Astrological Sign: Aquarius

Keely Wallis

Passionate, Nurturing, Adventurous

  • Keely is a Somatic Therapy Practitioner, Integrative Nutrition Holistic Health Coach, and a Breathwork Facilitator. As a practitioner she incorporates various holistic healing modalities, such as breathwork, reiki, sound healing, and meditation, to assist her clients in finding balance in their busy and often stressful lives. In her breathwork classes she focuses on helping you regulate your nervous system, move trapped emotions out of the body by putting our bodies into a parasympathetic state. She thrives off creating a fun and vibey class environment through upbeat music. Keely is a mother of two young children and enjoys spending time with her family, friends, cooking, traveling, and being in nature.

Keeley Mahdi

Compassionate, Playful, Soulful 

  • Keeley Mahdi is a Somatic Therapy Practitioner, Breathwork facilitator, Certified Sound Healer and Reiki Practitioner. Keeley has a background in Public Health and has been working in the wellness industry in various capacities over the past 10 years. She discovered Breathwork a little over a year ago and was absolutely hooked after the very first class! Keeley is passionate about helping clients release stored trauma, regulate their nervous systems and reclaim their sense of self so that they can show up in their lives as fully present and embodied humans. Keeley loves to create and hold sacred space for her classes and her clients by infusing beautiful ritual and ceremony into everyday life. When she’s not facilitating Breathwork you can find her out soaking up the sunshine, playing in the ocean with her three boys and doing yoga at Villa!