Lisa McKenna

After a life changing 150lb. weight loss in 1983, I acquired a love of movement and began my career in Fitness. In 1984 I became certified as an aerobics instructor working in Denver teaching aerobics for Richard Simmons. I discovered my personal calling, to share my love of movement with anyone willing to listen. 1n 1990, I received my degree in Sports Medicine, followed by certifications as a Health Fitness Instructor with the American College of Sports Medicine and as a Personal Trainer with the American Council on Exercise.

During the years spent training clientele in traditional fitness protocols, I continually saw imbalance issues resulting from conservative strength training and aerobic movement programs. In 1997, Pilates changed my view on training forever. My Pilates career began with teaching Pilates for Body Blast Specialty Fitness, a private fitness studio in Littleton, Colorado. In my continued pursuit of Pilates knowledge I found Polestar Education with whom I maintain dual certifications as a Pilates Practitioner.

After moving to Georgetown Texas in 2001, I began my Pilates business, Pilates In Georgetown introducing Pilates to the Georgetown Texas community by training clients in my home. In January of 2003 I began running the Pilates Program at Southwestern University and continue today teaching Pilates for the University. In 2004 I joined efforts with a local physician, and ran the Pilates program for her Yoga Studio, Main Street Yoga. Our successful Pilates program continued to grow, and in 2006, I opened Pilates On The Square. In December of 2006 I was honored to become Faculty for Balanced Body University. Pilates On The Square is the primary central Texas host site for Balanced Body University offering comprehensive Pilates Teacher Training.

My personal philosophy in regard to fitness is EveryBody can become more fit. Everyone has potential for better health through physical movement, one breath, one step, and one day at a time.

Leticia Olivarez

Leticia was introduced to Power Pilates© in 2007; a unique program that teaches the exercises and principles created by Joseph Pilates through a classical - systematic - integrative approach. This classical system allows the body time to heal, balance and change naturally through movement. Leticia is certified through the Power Pilates© and currently enrolled in the Balanced Body© certification bridge program.

Leticia was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes in 2001. It was a huge wakeup call – at that point in her life, she was stressed, sedentary and overweight. A lifestyle change was in order -- she wanted an alternative, gradual and life-long mind/body exercise rather than just ‘getting back to the gym’. Fortunately, a friend of hers was enrolled in a Pilates Instructor certification program and asked Leticia to work with her as a ‘practice body’. It was of mutual benefit – her friend fulfilled her certification hour requirements and Leticia fell in love with Pilates.

Along with diabetic education, dietary changes and exercise – soon she began to feel stronger, healthier and more confident which resulted in the addition of other forms of exercises such as Yoga, ‘running’ 5K, swimming, golf and recently became a triathlete.

Leticia decided to pursue a Pilates Instructor certification, so she could share her love for Pilates with others who may have the same thoughts about 'conventional exercise regiments' like she once did. She is looking forward to sharing her enthusiasm and ever-growing knowledge of the Pilates method.

“Follow your bliss - don’t be afraid, and doors will open where you didn’t know they were going to be.” –Joseph Campbell

Anna Easterling

While studying theatre performance at Southwestern University, Anna developed a passion for conscious movement and began exploring the Alexander Technique, yoga, dance and pilates. This exploration lead Anna to certifying as an instructor of pilates and yoga. She has trained in the modalities of Balanced Body Pilates Mat and Reformer, Hatha Yoga, Integral Hatha Yoga, and Dharma Yoga. In her classes, Anna fuses these eclectic styles to create engaging and inspiring sessions for students of all levels.

"Stress is basically a disconnection from the earth, a forgetting of the breath. Stress is an ignorant state. It believes that everything is an emergency. Nothing is that important. Just lie down." -Natalie Goldberg