Michele S
Instructor
Michele loves to laugh! She describes herself as having a flexible mind but not a flexible body. As a child she couldn’t do a cartwheel or a somersault. The movement in her spine has always been limited.
Tennis was her favorite sport. Michele studied Physical Therapy at Wayne State University. Her PT jobs were physically demanding. Throughout her career she has been treated for back pain. In 1997 She had a successful surgery for a
large, herniated disc. The severe pain in her right leg was eliminated. After the surgery, she stretched, walked and did water exercise. As time went on life was busy with her family and her job. She was physically active but not taking the time to do the exercises she needed.
Fast forward in her PT career and she saw many older people who were in severe pain and out of shape.
She realized that could be her future. She knew that she lacked core strength. She was familiar with mat Pilates, but the exercises caused her back pain. She had never used a Pilates Reformer. She attended an Introduction Class at Club Pilates West Bloomfield, and she was hooked. 630 AM classes gave her more energy. Her flexibility improved, and the episodes of spasms in her back decreased. Her body shape changed. She found her abs!
Two years later Club Pilates offered a training program. At that time, she was looking for a change in her career. With support from family and friends she finished the 500-hour program in 14 months. Once she started teaching classes, she was able to change her PT job from full time to part time. Being a
Pilates Instructor is a compliment to her PT career. She uses the principles of Pilates with her PT clients.
Pilates also coincides with Michele’s training in a movement specialty called the Feldenkrais Method. Pilates and Feldenkrais both address the whole person, not just one joint.
During a Pilates class, Michele enjoys modifying exercises for the client’s needs. In private sessions she can teach beginners the basics, or go further to challenge her clients. She loves the laughter in the studio. She sees people making friends or bringing relatives to class with them. It’s a very social
atmosphere.