Owner of Grasshopper Pilates NYC for 25 years. Second Generation Pilates Instructor, certified in 1996 at The Pilates Studio in NYC under Romana Kryzanowska and Bob Liekens. She was hand-picked by Bob Liekens to be the Regional Director of The Pilates Standard (TPS) USA and one of the lead Teacher Trainers. Gina’s very passionate about being a part of The Pilates Standard (TPS) Teacher Trainer team, to share her love and knowledge of Classical Pilates method “Contrology”, which was mentored and nurtured by Romana Kryzanowska, Bob Liekens, Phoebe Higgins, and Cary Regan over the past 30 years. She is an Internationally recognized Master Pilates Teacher Trainer, teaches for Pilatesology.com, and is PMA Certified.

Recently, Gina has furthered her knowledge of the body by training with Dr. Antonio Stecco, Dr. Stephan Oswald, and Dr Warren Hammer, in the Stecco Fascial Manipulation Method (FM) for the past 5 years and has been completed Level 3, working towards becoming a Stecco Fascial Manipulation Specialist. With this knowledge of the body's intricate fascial webbing structures, she looks for the densifications and dysfunctions of the fascial lines, and then will work to restore the glide and the proper function of the area.

Gina was a professional dancer for many years and still dances for fun. She has experienced pregnancy twice and has formal training in pre and postnatal Pilates. She enjoys sharing her knowledge with her clients to help them learn more about their bodies. This way, clients can work more efficiently and effectively. Gina makes Pilates a pleasurable learning experience that is simple, thorough, and effective. This is where change happens.

Pilates + Fascial Manipulation is a global approach to restoring the body's proper alignment which will help the body recover from injuries and poor biomechanics, and help prevent injuries.

“I love teaching Pilates because it allows me to share my passion for movement and wellness with others. There's something incredibly rewarding about helping individuals connect with their bodies, build strength, and improve their flexibility. I enjoy creating a positive and supportive environment where everyone can feel comfortable and empowered to challenge themselves. Watching my students progress and gain confidence in their abilities is inspiring, and it motivates me to continue improving as an instructor. Pilates also encourages mindfulness and body awareness, which I believe are essential for overall well-being. Being part of my students' journeys toward improved health and self-awareness is what makes teaching Pilates so fulfilling for me.“ Movement heals ~

See you in the studio - xx Gina

Nuno, a native of Portugal, has a background in Mechanical Engineering. After a slow recovery from spine surgery, Nuno’s PT suggested trying a Pilates session. One session is all it took for Nuno to realize that Pilates focused on the same postural muscles that protect the spine from the injury he had suffered, and thus the practice of Pilates would help overcome the body’s imbalances and compression that lead to spinal or other joint problems.

Realizing the dramatic changes in his body in so little time, he left his engineering career in early 2006 to become a Pilates Instructor, moved to The Netherlands and began the Romana’s Pilates Certification Program at The Pilates Studio The Hague, under the tutelage of Master Teacher Marjorie Oron and Jane Poerwoatmodjo. In late 2006 he moved to New York to finish his Certification at True Pilates under Joseph Pilates protégé Romana Kryzanowska, her daughter Sari Santo, and granddaughter Daria Pace, and was invited to teach alongside them.

After working in New York for a time he decided to travel around the world teaching Pilates at Certification Centers and various Pilates studios in Sydney, Oxford, London, Champaign and Miami. This experience allowed him to work alongside multiple teacher trainers and enabled him to work with clients of all levels, from professional athletes to people who are recovering from injuries, and those who just wish to improve their health and fitness levels so they can live their best lives.

Nuno is fluent in English, Portuguese and Spanish.

In 2014 he moved back to New York, a place he definitely calls home.

Master Teacher

Cary Regan began her training in the Pilates Method at S.U.N.Y. Purchase in 1975, under the direction of Master Pilates teacher Romana Kryzanowska. Cary received her B.F.A. In Dance from S.U.NY. Purchase and continued her Pilates training at the original Pilates Studio in New York City. Cary has been teaching the authentic Pilates Method since 1981. Over the years she has worked, both in New York and Seattle with physical therapists, chiropractors, orthopedists and dance companies. While on staff at RE:ab Studio in NYC. Cary served as Brooke Siler’s assistant for her Authentic teacher training certification program. Now a teacher for over 40 years, Cary still endeavors to teach the work of Joseph Pilates, so that the benefits, both preventative and rehabilitative, will become an integral part of our daily lives!

We’re excited that Cary brings her Pilates skills and stories to the studio every week.

Phoebe Higgins, PMA® Gold Certified, studied at the School of American Ballet and trained in various dance techniques including the Simonson technique and the Kevin Wynn Collection. She was first introduced to Romana Kryzanowska in 1967 and later resumed her Pilates studies with Romana at SUNY Purchase in 1976 to strengthen a spine weakened by scoliosis.

Phoebe worked at the original Pilates Studio under Romana’s guidance from 1980 until its closure in 1989, later contributing to the foundation of Power Pilates. She organized successful Pilates programs for professional students at both the School of American Ballet and Ballet Academy East.

Since 2006, Phoebe has worked independently, continuing to share her extensive knowledge through private sessions and workshops, with a vision of spreading the freedom of movement through Pilates worldwide.

Comprehensive Certified Teacher - The Pilates Standard

Certified in Classic Pilates at 74

Comprehensive Teacher, The Pilates Standard

At 74, Carol is a newly certified Comprehensive Teacher through The Pilates Standard, completing her training at Grasshopper Pilates in New York City and Pilates in Port in Port Washington. New York.

She credits countless hours of observation and mentorship from master teachers and trainers — Gina Papalia, Tricia O’Donnell, Cary Regan, Phoebe Higgins, and others — and the support of her fellow apprentices, for reaching this milestone.

For decades, Carol empowered world business leaders to elevate their voice on the global stage. Now, she helps clients find vitality and well-being through movement in the Pilates studio.

Carol approaches every client session as an opportunity to inspire people to move, breathe, and believe in what’s possible — at any age.

In addition, Carol is a Basic Trainer of the BALLance method of spinal decompression for immediate and lasting relief of back, shoulder, neck, lower spine and mental tension.

Melissa started practicing pilates in 2016 while living in Colorado.  It became a way to supplement her love of outdoor mountain activities - trail running, mountain biking, snowboarding, skinning up the mountains….  Pilates made her feel stronger, grounded, less constricted, and more proprioceptive.

What does she enjoy about pilates the most?  With consistency, the same movements are never the same. We feel different and are different on a day to day basis.  How we approach, interpret, question, the same movement is different each time and so that movement evolves and we progress deeper in the work.  It’s stimulating, challenging, exciting.

Her goals for clients are to meet them where they are today and to share all her knowledge on how to move better and live a quality life.   What’s better than being able to go out and live the best version of ourselves and live our best life.  

Melissa is certified through Core Pilates.  She is currently doing a secondary professional pilates advanced teacher training (PPATT) with her mentor Kathryn Ross Nash.  She specializes in postural alignment and bone/joint longevity.