Energy Balancing Pilates Studio :: The Harmony Group

Since 1999, the PILATES STUDIO ENGLEWOOD - THE HARMONY GROUP STUDIOS has integrated the original Pilates method with many highly regarded movement methods and healing modalities to form a unique total wellness program. Our teachers hold outstanding qualifications in the field of fitness, wellness and movement training and hold certifications from The Pilates Studio of NYC, The PhysicalMind Institute/THEMETHOD PILATES and American College of Sports Medicine.

As teachers with over 28 years practice mastering movement, we address your individualized needs and goals by creatively and safely integrating the original Pilates Method created by Joseph H. Pilates with what your body needs.

AT OUR STUDIO, teachers allow you to find the right alignment for your body - taking into account your limitations as well as your strengths. We allow you to understand and feel in your own body the corrections that are suggested without the burden of over-analysis. Flow of movements with timely cues and corrections is what makes our program distinctive. Our philosophy is based on the fundamental principal that movement heals.

Once the core is strengthened, old postures, muscle memories and bad habits will slowly correct themselves so true healing is allowed to take place.

Methods integrated that expand the power of Pilates:


Alexander Technique Feldenkrais Method Bartinieff/Laban Fundamentals Zena Rommett Floor Barre Ballet and Modern Dance Technique Lotte Berk Bar Method Weight Training & TRX Suspension Training Power Plate Acceleration Training	Neuromuscular Reprogramming and Release Natural Force Healing Reflexology Aromatherapy Meditative and Movement Visualizations Applied Kinesiology ActivCore FEX Gyrotonic

Mary Kristi Sesso
Teacher/Founder

Kristi is the CEO/Founding Director of The Harmony Group LifeStyle Re-Sources, Pilates Studio Englewood – The Harmony Group Studios and its internationally accredited Pilates Teacher Training & Certification Program. Formerly named Energy Balancing Pilates Studio, Est. 1998 northern NJ’s 1st Pilates Studio. She continues to unite a team of talented individuals to fulfill the intention to bring balanced wellness to all people and true healing begins with understanding the source of power. Her methodology of wellness maintains The Pilates Method is an incalculable access to fulfilling this intention. Pilates Studio Englewood was awarded Excellence in Wellness Business in 2009. Kristi is a Master Pilates Educator all levels and specializes in pre/post-natal bodies, post-injury rehab, individuals with neurological disease such as Parkinson’s, RSD, Cerebral Palsy, Multiple Sclerosis, as well as with structural issues including Scoliosis, rotated pelvis, neck and sacral dysfunction as well as conditioning

Mary Kristi Sesso

professional dancers, actors and athletes. Kristi’s intuitive observation skill coupled with her clarity in communicating to her students works powerfully to challenge, guide and inspire each student through movement and the mind-body-spirit connection. Sesso successfully creates a personalized movement-wellness experience to meet the overall health and fitness goals of each person. Her life’s purpose is to guide people of all ages and lifestyles to new approaches in living life; including transformation of consciousness of the body, mind and spirit and to have the impossible become possible for every individual as well as at community, organizational, societal and global levels.

29 years ago, Kristi began her Pilates teacher training at The Pilates Studio, NYC under the tutelage of Romana Kryzanowska learning the Authentic Pilates Method; 1999 certified in TheMethod Pilates and further certified in Osteoporosis and Gait correction by PhysicalMind Institute/TheMethod Pilates, updates her certification every 2 years, is a member of the American College of Sports Medicine and Pilates Method Alliance; certified 2008 in Power Plate Acceleration Training® by Power Plate International, certified 2010 in ActivCore FEX by Pilates on 5th New York City and certified 2011 in Natural Force Healing by Dr. Kenneth Y. and Lisa V. Davis, Davis Advanced Healthcare, New York.

Kristi's background of knowledge includes Neuromuscular Reprogramming, Acupressure, Proprioceptive Movement Techniques, Reiki, Reflexology, Alexander and Feldenkrais Techniques, Franklin Method, Laban/Bartinieff Movement Fundamentals, Applied Kinesiology, Energy Balancing, Hatha Yoga and Gyrokinesis®, Gyrotonic®, Aromatherapy and 38 years of ballet and modern dance as well as 22 years of choreography and theatre.

Kristi graduated cum laude from University of Wisconsin-Madison in Interior Design-Architecture as she worked on her B.S. in Dance Performance/Choreography. Formerly, Kristi was Executive Director of the Kanopy Performing Arts Center as well as Artistic Director of the Kanopy Dance Company from 1991-1995 and founder of the Kanopy School for Contemporary Dance & Choreography. Kristi has begun many curricula for movement learning including for the Kanopy Junior Company, CTM Theatre Arts School and Very Special Arts Wisconsin. She was Director of Dance and Theatre Arts at Beloit College from 1995-98 and lecturer at University of Wisconsin-Madison from 1985-95. She has presented her choreography and taught master classes internationally for children to adults since 1978. Kristi is a recipient of numerous grants for outstanding choreography, arts education and development.

Kristi has mastered drawing together many, alternative exercise and healing modalities under one roof, led by a well-practiced and educated staff. She has adeptly merged fine performing arts, education and healing arts to create a unique fusion of services and distinctive approach to delivering a full body renovation.

Ursula Verduzco
Teacher

Ursula is certified in GYROTONIC^® on the original Gyrotonic Expansion System^® the Gyrotonic Ladder, the Gyrotonic Jumping Board and Gyrokinesis^®. She has been teaching GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS® at Pilates Studio Englewood – The Harmony Group since 2003 and was editor of the first edition of The Harmony Group Magazine in 2007.

Ursula began Gyrotonic^® personal training in 1997 as a way to develop her body into a stronger and more flexible tool for her dancing career. From 2001-02 she studied Gyrotonic® and Gyrokinesis® Teacher Training in NYC with Master Trainer Bill Hedberg and was certified by Juliu Horvath (creator of Gyrotonic®) in 2003.

Ursula Verduzco

Ursula was awarded a ballet scholarship to the Ballet Austin Academy and to The Joffrey Ballet School from where she graduated in 1996. Since then, she has been dancing professionally with different companies including Connecticut Ballet, New York Dance Theatre, New York Ballet, Dance Theatre in Westchester, Dayane Faye Dance Theatre, River Ballet Company, Ballet New York, Ad Hoc Ballet and Ballet Neo. She has been a member of the Staten Island Ballet for the last six years, where she has danced soloist and principal roles in classical and contemporary ballets, some created specially for her. Ursula performed recently with the New York City Opera in the production of Cendrillon and last Nutcracker season with Staten Island Ballet, Eglevsky Ballet, Contemporary Ballet Theatre and Rebecca Kelly Ballet Nutcracker previews. She is a professional actress with experience in both television and stage acting since the age of nine.

Since 2008, Ursula is a faculty member at Ballet Forte in Chester, NJ a school dedicated to the art of ballet. Also since 2008, she founded and was curator of The Latin Choreographers Festival in NYC. She collaborated the talent and creativity of Latin choreographers from NY and abroad, creating an annual event with the intention to maintain and keep alive the beauty of dance and opportunities for creativity.

Ursula also is co-owner of UB Costumes and Dancewear. Ursula has been designing and constructing costumes and dancewear for the past 13 years.

Ivanova Aguilar
Teacher

Ivanova Aguilar is a certified teacher of both The Pilates Method and Gyrotonic® and has been teaching with Pilates Studio Englewood since 2005. Her teaching is gentle, yet rigorous and includes a depth of understanding of movement unsurpassed by many.

Iva is a graduate from The National Ballet School and The Royal Ballet Academy. She was awarded the Fund of National Culture Award to study ballet in New York City at The Joffrey School under full scholarship and is a former member of the Joffrey Ensemble, with whom she toured the United States as a principal and soloist. Since, she has appeared onstage as a principal guest artist with Ballet Clasico y Neoclasico de Madrid, the Shakespeare Festival in Washington D.C., International Norfolk Festival and with the Westminster Ballet in Baltimore.

Ivanova Aguilar

She currently is a member of the Christopher Caines Dance Company, New Generation Dance Company, Janusphere Dance, C. Eule and Dzul Dance Company. Iva also teaches Pilates and Gyrotonic® at Pilates Shop Yoga Garage in NYC upper west side.

Hilary Marcus
Teacher

Hilary is a certified teacher of The Pilates Method, having begun as a student in 2003, then completing her certification in 2008, under the tutelage of Kristi Sesso, founder of Pilates Studio Englewood – The Harmony Group Studios and The Harmony Group Teacher Training & Certification Program.

Hilary has been working in the fitness industry for over 20 years, is a Certified Personal Trainer and a member of the American Council of Exercise. She has done extensive work teaching Cardiovascular Exercise, Weight Training, Kickboxing, and Spinning®. Hilary has a remarkable ability to motivate students to work efficiently and powerfully resulting in a satisfying and compelling experience. Hilary is a graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University with a B.S. in Marketing and Business.

Hilary Marcus

Hilary is also certified in the innovative exercise methodologies, Power Plate Acceleration Training® by Power Plate International and ActivCore FEX by Pilates on 5th New York City. She is the creator of a unique workout The Power Plate Boot Camp Series, combining Kickboxing, Pilates and Power Plate Acceleration Training®, exclusively offered at Pilates Studio Englewood.

Nancy Golike
Teacher

In 1999, while receiving her MFA in Dance from Temple University in Philadelphia, where she trained with Hellmut Gottschild of ZeroMoving Dance Company, Nancy began studying Pilates under the private tutelage of Master Teacher Karen H. Carlson. She was certified in 2004 by Ms. Carlson’s Advanced Teacher Training Program, and was awarded the title of Senior Teacher. Nancy has taught privately for the past nine years in Philadelphia, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and New Jersey, as well as in fitness centers, yoga studios, and in the Dance Department of Bryn Mawr College. She has also studied Bikram and Astanga yoga, Gyrotonic Expansion System®, and is a Certified Reiki Master.

Nancy Golike

Nancy has been a dancer, choreographer, performing artist and teacher for over 20 years. Nancy has presented in the Philadelphia area and by the CEC, New Dance Alliance, Harford Dance Theatre, Power Performance Project, Bryn Mawr College, and was supported by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. In 2001, she co-founded Octopus Experimental Performance Ensemble, and continued to perform and present work as a physical theatre artist in numerous venues including theatres, cabaret shows, galleries, fringe festivals, and on the street.

Since relocating to the NYC area in 2003, Nancy has immersed herself in the study of Afro-Cuban, Haitian, and Afro-Brazilian dance forms. She has performed with Oyu Oro Afro Cuban Folkloric Experimental Dance Ensemble and at SOB's in NYC. Nancy has been a senior Pilates teacher at Pilates Studio Englewood since 2006.

Kimberly Wexler
Teacher

Kimberly is a certified teacher of The Pilates Method, having completed her certification in 2006 under the tutelage of Kristi Sesso, founder of The Pilates Studio Englewood – The Harmony Group Studios and The Harmony Group Teacher Training & Certification Program. Kim is originally from Los Angeles, California having studied Photography at Santa Monica College and where she practiced Yoga for over 14 years.

Kim is a great student of life, which makes her a compassionate and attentive teacher that makes a difference for any student no matter what age or level. Kim is also the Studio Manager of Pilates Studio Englewood.

Kimberly Wexler

Kimberly is also certified Power Plate Acceleration Training® by Power Plate International and is currently studying Natural Force Healing developed by Dr. Kenneth Y. and Lisa V. Davis of New York, Davis Advanced Healthcare Systems.

Margaret Blackler
Teacher

Margaret is a certified teacher of The Pilates Method, having completed her certification in 2006 under the tutelage of Kristi Sesso, founder of The Pilates Studio Englewood – The Harmony Group Studios and The Harmony Group Teacher Training & Certification Program. Margaret began her training in Pilates at Pilates Studio Englewood (formerly Energy Balancing Pilates Studio), in 2002 after hearing about the benefits as a rehabilitative form of exercise that could help her manage and combat her Rheumatoid Arthritis. After having tried many other forms of exercise to achieve wellness without much success, she fell in love with the Pilates method and realized she wanted/needed to continue to practice for the rest of her life. In teaching Pilates she has found a balance to her life that incorporates her desire to share with others the passion and well being she herself found. Her personal understanding of physical limitations makes her teaching compassionate and gentle, but don’t let that lead you to believe you wont enjoy a comprehensive and challenging session!

Margaret Blackler

Margaret is also certified Power Plate Acceleration Training® by Power Plate International and ActivCore FEX by Pilates on 5th New York City which she integrates into her Pilates sessions where the experience of the Pilates Method is enhanced exponentially. She is currently studying Natural Force Healing developed by Dr. Kenneth Y. and Lisa V. Davis of New York, Davis Advanced Healthcare Systems.

Margaret also works as a Graphic Designer both free-lance and with Westchester Magazine. She has a Bachelors degree in Fine Art with a minor in Marketing as well as an Associates Degree in Graphic Design from Pratt Institute in NYC.

Luis Gabriel Zaragoza
Teacher

In 2005, Gabriel received his GYROTONIC® certification in NYC at the Body Evolution Studio under the tutelage of Master Trainer, Billy Macagnone, a direct disciple of GYROTONIC® Inventor Juliu Horvath, and was one of the presenting Master Trainers at the first International GYROTONIC® Expo in Rome 2006. Gabriel is also a certified teacher of the Pilates Method, having completed his certification in 2010 under the tutelage of Kristi Sesso, founder of the Pilates Studio Englewood – The Harmony Group Studios and The Harmony Group Teacher Training and Certification Program.

Gabriel has also studied Applied Kinesiology and is currently a student at The Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies (LIMS) to be a Certified Movement Analyst (CMA) making a difference in the way people perform, communicate, observe, learn, and negotiate.

From Mexico City, Mexico, Gabriel studied dance and graduated Cum Laude with a BFA from the National School of Dance of Mexico (NSDM). He studied with internationally renowned teachers including Anna Sokolow, Jeff Duncan, Tim Wengerd, Jim May and Betty Jones. In NYC, he further studied contemporary dance at the Merce Cunningham Studio. He currently is a member of the Anna Sokolow Dance Company.

Luis Gabriel Zaragoza

Zoe Friedman
Teacher

Zoe is a certified teacher of The Pilates Method, having begun as a student in 2001, then completing her certification in 2010, under the tutelage of mater Pilates teacher, Kristi Sesso, founder of Pilates Studio Englewood – The Harmony Group Studios and The Harmony Group Teacher Training & Certification Program.

Zoe was born in London, England and raised in Los Angeles, California before moving to New York City where she began her modeling career in 1996. Her career has consisted of high profile runway, fashion & beauty as well as television and print advertising including numerous magazines; Russian Elle, Australian Harper’s Bazaar, Self, Fitness, Health and Prevention Magazines, Gotham, and Good Housekeeping.

Zoe Friedman

From an early age she was a long-distance runner, hiker, and mountain climber then later utilized the Pilates Method to maintain her modeling figure. After a short time studying Pilates, she quickly fell in love with the changes that were immediate in her body. The most apparent aspect was an increasingly toned physical appearance and self-confidence in carriage and posture as well as enhancing body knowledge – “knowing how the body works is critical to keeping it fit and lean”.

Zoe is a master Pre/Post Natal Pilates instructor and encourages young women to keep fit before, during and after pregnancy. She enhances and elevates her Pilates education every 3-5 months participating in mind-body workshops to ensure that each student is able to continue to evolve. She loves to bring her knowledge and passion to each student and does so in an energetic and positive way.