Pilates on the Square

Lisa McKenna
Polestar Pilates Practitioner, PMA-CPT

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.

Nanci Patch

My name is Nanci Patch and I am a wife of 20 years and mother to 4 beautiful boys. I am from Houston, TX and graduated from The University of Houston in 1990. I first got interested in health and fitness 22 years ago to overcome a poor body image. I believe I am called to be a good steward of the body I was given, and do as much as I can to learn what provides health to my mind, soul and body. I have a passion to share what I have learned with others, and to help them achieve their goals. God gets all the credit for anything I accomplish in this life. I love God, spending time with my family, Pilates, Yoga, barefoot running, triathlons, cooking, studying, reading, and music.

In 2001 I read about Pilates in a fitness magazine. It specifically addressed some physical issues I was experiencing, including back pain. I began to include Pilates in my fitness regimen and eventually found Wendy LeBlanc Arbuckle’s studio in Austin, TX. Wendy gave me the opportunity to enter into her Core Connections Certification program in the fall of 2003. The certification process was intense and required a year and a half course of study. There were many trials and difficulties, but it has been one of the most life-changing experiences of my life. The requirements and deadlines, while raising a family, were daunting, but strengthened and challenged me to become the teacher I was intended to be.

In September of 2006, she asked to teach at her new studio, Pilates on the Square. I was very happy to have the opportunity to work in the town where my kids went to school, so I enthusiastically accepted the offer. Teaching in this studio has been a great joy and privilege. I continue to seek growth in my personal and professional life. I want to continue to grow and mature, so that I have more to offer in this life. I am a member of The Pilates Method Alliance. I am about certified through Balanced Body to be a teacher trainer and look forward to passing on to others, interested in teaching, the great joy of becoming a lifelong learner.

I am a firm believer in the life changing benefits of Pilates. I have such a heart to share the work and its practical applications. Pilates is only one way of discovering what our bodies are capable of. Perfection is not the goal. Learning how the body works, what is working for your body, and how this work relates to other exercise and functions is what I want to guide others in discovering. Taking the risk of looking within ourselves is I believe the measure of success. Mastery is a journey, rather than a destination. I carry on the mission statement taught to me, "to be engaged as creators of a pathway for people to generate an empowered sense of passion, purpose and vitality in their physical and personal wellbeing."

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

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

Misty Wright

Misty fell in love with Pilates in 2002 and knew right away that it would be a large part of the rest of her life. The increased strength and flexibility she obtained was only highlighted by the stress relief and relaxation that her Pilates practice afforded her. After obtaining her teaching certification from Peak Pilates in 2007, Misty joined the team at Pilates on The Square in Georgetown, Texas. She continues her Pilates education through Balanced Body University and is planning on obtaining her Comprehensive Certification in early 2011.

Gladys Cruz Nicholls

Graduate of the University of Puerto Rico Medical Science Campus in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico in 1981 with a degree in Physical Therapy Gladys has traveled the world as an Army wife. An active member of the American Physical Therapy Association specializing in orthopedics and sports medicine Gladys has encountered through her travels and working as a Physical Therapist people wanting to move, run, exercise and not hurt. No matter the gender or age this was a common goal.

Upon finally being able to take her first Pilates mat class in 2000 she fell in love receiving her Pilates Certification from The Pilates Center of Austin in 2001 with master trainer Wendy Le Blanc-Arbuckle. Gladys discovered a form of exercise that slowly eased patients back into form. Gladys discovered an exercise that allowed her to educate her patients in sequencing and correct movement patterns while eliminating pain. The greatest compliment Gladys can receive is having a patient tell her, "My friends tell me there is something different about me, I look taller!"

Gladys uses a holistic and integrative approach to her rehabilitation. She has been practicing in Austin for the past 14yrs. Mother of two adult children and 3 furry children. Emily Noel is about to graduate from The University of Oklahoma with a degree in Communications and Gregory Paul who is majoring in History from Baylor University. Three rescued shelties, Colby, Bachy and Daisy May round out her family.

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