INSTRUCTORS

CERTIFIED INSTRUCTION

Pilates Denver offers the finest instruction in the Pilates method of body conditioning. All instructors at Pilates Denver are certified from the most extensive and internationally renowned Pilates Certification Programs offered. Our instructors are trained in the classical techniques of the work of Joseph H. Pilates in addition to contemporary and evolved modalities. With this enhanced education, Pilates Denver offers people of all ages and fitness levels the opportunity to learn Pilates with safety and effectiveness. Each instructor brings their dedication, wisdom, creativity and enthusiasm to their teaching within a non-competitive atmosphere. They are educated in applied anatomy and physiology and also have a deep knowledge of the body through their own movement experiences. They are excited and eager to teach you the most perfect total body workout.

STAFF

Amy de Sá
Amy de Sá, Pilates Denver

Amy de Sá, owner of Pilates Denver,  BASI Pilates Principal Faculty and NCPT (Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher)  has been a dedicated teacher of Pilates since 1995. She is a proud graduate of the internationally renowned BASI (Body Arts and Science International) Pilates® Comprehensive Teacher Training program and Master Legacy Program founded by Master Teacher, Rael Isacowitz and is a Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher through the PMA (Pilates Method Alliance). Amy hosts and teaches the BASI Pilates® Teacher Training Courses at her studio as well as internationally. She has taught the BASI Pilates® courses in Japan, China, Australia, South Korea, Argentina, Canada and in many cities across the United States as well as teaching Pilates as a guest teacher in the Dance department at Unicamp University in Brazil. She has also been the subject for a featured article in Pilates Style Magazine as well as for two front-page articles in the Rocky Mountain News Newspaper in Denver, Colorado. Amy has been a Presenter at the South American Pilates Conference in Brasilia, Brazil, the annual PMA conference in Denver, CO, the Learn From the Leaders Conference in CA, and at the AASFP conference in Beijing, China. Currently she also resides as a Faculty member with the Rocky Mountain Ballet Academy teaching Pilates.


As a professional dancer, performing and teaching with numerous dance companies in Chicago and Denver and with an additional gymnastics background, Amy connected instantly with Pilates. She began her Pilates endeavors in Chicago in 1995 where she received a previous Pilates Teacher Training Certificate from the Pilates Studio, Inc. under the personal training of Master Teacher and Elder, Romana Kryzanowska. She continues her Pilates studies and related movement therapies yearly in continuing education workshops and courses in addition to advanced studies with Rael Isacowitz. Amy has years of experience working with athletes and dancers as well as with clients with general functional imbalances, injuries and pathologies and pre and post natal.  She enjoys helping clients work towards full functional movement as well as enhancing athletic performance.  She has also instructed various celebrities including actors, musicians and Denver Broncos players. Amy is a member of the professional organization, the Pilates Method Alliance (PMA) and is the coordinator for the Colorado Pilates Organization. She  holds a B.A. in Dance and a B.A. in Psychology from Hope College in Michigan. Pilates became the perfect match and career for Amy, harmoniously combining the body with the mind.


Amy is very passionate about teaching Pilates and educating people about their bodies. She teaches with compassion and with intellect. She brings a smile and positive energy to every session and class and strives to offer each client and her staff a beneficial and enjoyable experience at her studio which she opened on May 1, 2001.

Jean Barker
Jean Barker, Pilates Denver

Jean Barker received her Teacher Training and certificate from BASI Pilates (Body Arts & Sciences International) at Pilates Denver Studio under the guidance of Amy de Sa. She began her pilates journey nearly twenty years ago when she was living in Michigan. Her then college daughter told her about Pilates which was incorporated in her theater program at Northwestern University in Chicago. At that time there was only one pilates studio in Saginaw, Michigan. Jean soon found it and began taking pilates lessons there. She was hooked! Jean has two daughters both of whom are also BASI certified pilates instructors.


Jean received her BS in Medical Technology from Ohio State University and recently retired from a career in laboratory medicine that spanned over thirty years, She has a deep appreciation for the health and strength benefits afforded by Pilates. She considers herself neither a dancer nor a jock, and wants the average person to know that it is never too late to start on the road to health and well being. "If I can do this, with dedication so can you!" is her motto. Jean finds it exciting to help both men and women, new to exercise or just new to Pilates, discover the joy of learning to use, control, and appreciate their bodies. In 2016 Jean received her certification in Pilates for Neurological Diseases from Mariska Breland. She looks forward to working with this special group of clients to help them maintain and regain strength and the use of their bodies. Jean also received a certificate for Pre and Postnatal Pilates from Carolyne Anthony of The Center for Women's Fitness. She has received special training in working with mature clients and is a member of the Pilates Method Alliance.

Sutton Anker
Sutton Anker, Pilates Denver

Sutton Anker, Pilates Instructor at Pilates Denver and BASI Pilates Graduate. Sutton has a strong passion for teaching. She is comprehensively trained and holds a BASI Pilates Teacher Training Certificate. Her interest began in dance medicine and science began at the University of Wyoming where she earned her B.F.A. in 2013 in Dance concentration of Science.


Throughout her time at Wyoming, Sutton participated in and co-coordinated various dance science research projects, while also spending time on the stage both during her four years and post-graduation. Her performance resume includes various other ballet, contemporary, modern, and vertical dance pieces. In 2015, Sutton graduated with her Masters of Science in Dance Science from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London, U.K. Sutton has presented two of her mirror research studies including her Master’s thesis, An Investigation of Pedagogical Rationales for Current Mirror Use in a Ballet Technique Class at the 2016 International Association for Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS) conference in Hong Kong.


Alongside teaching dance technique classes and Pilates, Sutton works for IADMS as the Programing and Marketing Specialist. She produces the IADMS annual conference and supports other programming for the organization. Her current training with BASI Pilates will help her to continue educating individuals from all backgrounds and experiences in addition to working with dancers towards personal wellness.

Katarina Wright
Katarina Wright, Pilates Denver

Katarina Wright first discovered Pilates in the mid-1990s, during a dance program in Stockholm, Sweden. She loved it instantly, captivated by how the precise Pilates movements helped her flexibility, overall muscle control, and core strength.  


Katarina received a Bachelor of Arts in Media & Communications at Uppsala University, Sweden, after which she moved to the U.S. and pursued a career in marketing within the television entertainment industry. Katarina also holds a Master of Science: International Business degree from the University of Colorado at Denver. Katarina rediscovered Pilates in 2014 when she left the corporate world to work as a marketing consultant for small businesses and once again had time to add structured movement into her life. In 2022, she started the BASI Pilates Comprehensive Teacher Training at Pilates Denver and received her certificate in 2023, sparking a change in her career.  


As an instructor at Pilates Denver, Katarina takes pride in creating a supportive and uplifting environment where clients of all ages can experience the benefits of Pilates: enhanced strength and mobility, while cultivating their mind-body connection. Katarina’s warm personality and keen attention to detail ensure that each client feels seen, heard, and encouraged to challenge themselves. After a session with Katarina, she wants clients to leave feeling brighter and a “little taller”, both physically and mentally. 


When she is not teaching, Katarina enjoys traveling around the world, hiking the beautiful Rocky Mountains, or hanging out with her dogs, two teenage children, and husband. 

Kirsten Kelm
Kirsten Kelm, Pilates Denver

Kirsten received her Comprehensive Teacher Training Certificate from BASI Pilates. She chose the BASI Pilates methodology for its precise and anatomical approach to movement.


In 2009, Kirsten Kelm discovered the positive effects that regular Pilates Mat classes have on the body. When she experienced her first private training session on the equipment in 2013, she was hooked for life! 


In addition to her love of Pilates, Kirsten’s fitness background includes ballet, interpretative dance, barre, yoga, and powerlifting. 


Kirsten is originally from the Northeast having lived in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Boston, and most recently New York City before finding home in Colorado. She lives in Westminster with her husband, two pups, and the occasional third and fourth (and fifth) foster pup.

Anna Hamilton
Anna Hamilton, Pilates Denver

Anna Hamilton joins Pilates Denver as a Certified Pilates Instructor and Front Desk Personnel. She received her BASI Pilates Comprehensive Teacher Training Certificate at Pilates Denver.


Anna graduated from CU Boulder with a BA in Physiology and is excited to be a part of the Pilates Denver team!


Anna has had an avid interest in exercise and human health since a young girl. After high school, Anna had goals of becoming a physical therapist. After studying Integrative Physiology at CU Boulder, she decided to pursue a new education endeavor. Looking for something that aligned with her interests and passion for sharing human health with others, she found Pilates!  Anna loves the feeling after a good workout. After her fist Pilates session, she discovered her abs like never before and knew there was something to be said about the Pilates method. She discovered BASI and quickly learned how beneficial Pilates can be for all. Becoming a part of the BASI community has been an amazing experience and she looks forward to continuing her studies to futher her career and passion and to spread positivity in health and fitness to others. 

Janice Armada
Janice Armada, Pilates Denver

Janice Armada received her Comprehensive Teacher Training Certificate from BASI Pilates, educated at Pilates Denver under Amy de Sa and staff and is a Senior Level Instructor at Pilates Denver.


Janice is a registered Diagnostic Ultrasound Tech, who is boarded in OB/GYN, ABD/PELVIS and specialized in Neuro Surgery and Infertility. Janice worked at University of Michigan Hospitals in Ann Arbor, MI. She has raised 3 boys and has now chosen a new career path integrating her medical knowledge.


Janice first started practicing Pilates to improve the strength of her pelvic floor after the birth of her last son. She is a living testimony that Pilates strengthens and tones. Janice is very passionate about teaching clients how to integrate Pilates into a daily routine to improve the quality of everyday life.

Jin-Ah Sung
Jin-Ah Sung, Pilates Denver

Jin-Ah Sung began her journey with Pilates in 2017 after being inspired to give it a try by her mom, who discovered Pilates a few years prior. At the time Jin-Ah was just about to graduate high school and start pursuing a bachelor's degree in Hospitality and Hotel Management. Her Pilates endeavors started off with a few mat classes, then some private sessions with a student teacher, and then came the suggestion to become an instructor. Her passion was always in Pilates as it grew from just a fun weekly activity to do with her mom, to wanting to know more details about every exercise and finding joy in learning new things every time she stepped foot into the studio.


To spread the love and passion for Pilates that she initially learned from her mom is the reason she teaches today. Having received the Comprehensive Teaching Training Certificate from BASI Pilates in 2021, Jin-Ah is excited to see where continued education will take her.

Emma Cumpston
Emma Cumpston, Pilates Denver

Emma Cumpston was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. Emma received a Bachelor in Fine Arts with a concentration in Contemporary Dance from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Since Emma was 5 years old she trained in dance styles including ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, and modern. Training competitively towards a professional career in dance.


Since graduating college, Emma found a love and passion for Pilates through connections from dance and injury rehabilitation. Emma received her Comprehensive Teacher Training Certificate from BASI Pilates and is excited to share her knowledge and experience through her teaching. She also works as part of the front desk personnel and is growing as a part of the Pilates Denver team.

Jacqueline Campos
Jacqueline Campos, Pilates Denver

Jacqueline Campos is a Certified Pilates Instructor, professional dancer, and dance educator.  She received her Comprehensive Teacher Training Certificate from BASI Pilates at Pilates Denver. Jacqueline was first introduced to Pilates through her early dance training where she used it as a form of cross training and injury rehabilitation. She soon discovered how important and beneficial Pilates was to her overall wellness in her everyday life.


Jacqueline graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a BFA in Dance Performance and a BA in Business Economics with a minor in Management. She is a faculty member at Colorado Conservatory of Dance and is a guest artist with Industrial Dance Alliance. Jacqueline strives to help her clients gain a greater understanding of their bodies through movement.

Sarah Poore
Sarah Poore, Pilates Denver

Sarah is a certified Pilates instructor who completed her comprehensive teacher training through BASI Pilates under the guidance of Amy de Sa. Sarah was introduced to Pilates from her profession as a Physical Therapist. 


Sarah  received her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Regis University in 2016. She specializes in treating individuals with cancer diagnoses. This includes impairments that may occur during or after cancer treatment and includes all kinds of cancer diagnoses. Her passion lies in working with individuals with breast cancer and she enjoys teaching and mentoring other clinicians in working with this patient population. She is also a certified lymphedema therapist.


She pursued her Pilates certification as a means of expanding her skill set to further help her patients. She was amazed by how the Pilates method resulted in powerful changes in one’s body and enjoys guiding individuals toward these changes.


Sarah is a Colorado native who spends her free time recreating in the outdoors, including skiing,

biking, hiking, and running with her husband and dog.

Laura Bouche
Laura Bouche, Pilates Denver

Laura is a Yoga and Meditation instructor in the Ashtanga Yoga method and current Body Arts and Science International (BASI) Pilates student and apprentice teacher. She graduated with at B.S and M.S in Engineering from the University of Texas. Her passion for Ashtanga Yoga began while residing in Switzerland. She then continued her Ashtanga studies in Boulder, Colorado. Subsequently becoming certified under the tutelage of prominent teacher Richard Freeman. The depth of these yoga studies led her path to a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction certification (MBSR) from Naropa University in Boulder, CO.


Her strong curiosity about body mechanics and structural alignment along with an understanding of the effects of the mind-body connection ultimately inspired her to pursue a comprehensive teacher training certificate from BASI Pilates which she is currently undertaking at Pilates Denver.


She enjoys teaching yoga meditation and Pilates to students of different backgrounds and skill abilities. When not teaching, Laura enjoys various outdoor activities such as rock and ice climbing, trail running, hiking and skiing.

Camryn Brewer
Camryn Brewer, Pilates Denver

Camryn came to Colorado in 2016 to attend college where she earned a degree in graphic design. After losing her dad in 2020, she found how beneficial Pilates can be for both the mind and the body. She wanted to further her Pilates education and become a qualified instructor with BASI to share the beautiful art of Pilates with others. 


She has received her Comprehensive Teaching Certificate and is also a part of the front desk staff at Pilates Denver.

She is excited to share her knowledge and experience with people of all ages, backgrounds and levels.

Kate Fisher
Kate Fisher, Pilates Denver

Kate Fisher grew up in Houston, Texas and attended Washington and Lee University in Virginia. She graduated in the spring of 2023 with a BS in Business Administration and Digital Culture & Information as well as a minor in Dance. Since she was the age of two, Kate trained in dance styles such as jazz, contemporary, ballet, and musical theater. 


In 2012, she was introduced to aerial silks and lyra, and she immediately fell in love. She trained with Cirque Du Soleil in the summers through high school and middle school and performed, choreographed, and taught with her School’s Aerial Dance Company. As she got older, she realized the lack of sustainable practice emphasized in dance training. 


After graduating college, Kate discovered how beneficial Pilates can be as a cross training method for performers. Because of her regimented background in dance and the aerial arts, she was immediately drawn to the BASI values of precision and control. After her BASI training, Kate hopes for the opportunity to educate young dancers on ways to preserve their physical health during and after their performing days.


Kate is a member of the Front Desk Staff and is working toward her Comprehensive Teacher Training Certificate!


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