Premier Pilates and Yoga is lucky to have truly amazing instructors, who are well-trained, fully-certified and who are able to bring in their years of experience into every session. Deborah Harris has a strong background in dance. Her insight into the mechanics of body movement tends to bring a unique perspective to a Pilates workout. She is deeply committed to helping each client reach their full potential and to get the most out of every session.
 
Pilates Instructors Yoga Instructors
Deborah Harris Carly Hamlette
Tara Kolbe Lisa Brand
Kathy Metzler Toni Porrello
Carly Hamlette  
Kumi Dikengil
 

Deborah Harris - Studio Owner

      Deborah grew up in Lancaster, PA and has a very strong background in dance. She was completing her BFA in Dance at Temple University when she had a dance injury and used Pilates to rehabilitate from it. She was fascinated by the technique's unique ability to concentrate its healing in the specific area of the injury. She was also drawn in by the focus of Pilates on complete physical, mental and spiritual well-being.

     In 1999, Deborah was admitted into the highly competitive and intense New York City Authentic PilatesTM Training Program. Over the next year and a half she was instructed, trained, tested and, ultimately, certified by Romana Kryzanowska, an internationally acknowledged The Grande Dame of Pilates, who was a star pupil of Joseph Pilates in the 1940s.

     Deborah was also taught by such Certified Teachers of Teachers as Sari Mejia-Santos, Bob Likens and June Hines. As a part of her training, Deborah completed over 600 hours of practical instruction in her certification program and clearly demonstrated an excellence in working on all different Pilates apparatuses, as well as an ability to work safely and effectively with women and men at all levels of physical fitness and ability, including those with musculoskeletal injuries.

     Deborah started to teach at the Pennsylvania Ballet Pilates Studio in 2001. She worked closely with Greg Taylor, a physical therapist. This relationship and proximity to the world of professional dance gave Deborah a chance to apply her training and perfect her approach to clients with such varying conditions as dance injuries, scoliosis, multiple sclerosis, hip surgery rehabilitation, chronic pain syndromes, fibromyalgia, and low back pain. 

      While at the Ballet, Deborah has worked with Prima Ballerinas, principles from Cirque Du Soleil, members of Broadway shows "Fosse" and "Contact." Deborah enjoys the challenge of the rehabilitation work and is constantly amazed by the quality and  of improvement her clients experience with Pilates.

   

Kathy Metzler   

     Kathy is a wife and mother of two.  She currently holds certifications through American Council on Exercise in personal training and group fitness instruction.  Her experience in these fields range from training high school athletes to the senior population.

     She was first drawn to Pilates when viewing a class at a corporate facility where she was a fitness associate.  After much research, she soon realized the many benefits it held for the body, mind and spirit and began to pursue a certification in Pilates.  During that process and the many hours of self-practice that are required she saw changes in her body that she was never able to achieve before.  Kathy has recently become certified through Peak Pilates in the instruction of classical Pilates.

     She feels very strongly about the positive impact that exercise, especially Pilates, has on our emotional health and physical well being. Her clients describe her as someone who truly knows her stuff and makes every person and every session feel wonderful and special.

  Tara Kolbe

     Tara graduated from Monmouth University with a B.A. in Communications and minor in Psychology. After working for a couple of years in Pharmaceutical Advertising, she had decided this path was not for her. She later attended Kean University and earned a teacher’s certification in Health and Physical Education.

     After the initial exposure to Pilates, Tara fell in love with this technique. She loved how her body felt after every class. She proceeded to get trained in classical Pilates. 

     Tara received extensive training in all aspects of the Pilates technique: from teaching mat and tower classes to working with the equipment. Following her rigorous training, she passed the examinations to get certified in both Pilates Mat and Pilates Equipment.
     Tara is presently a full-time Health and Physical Education teacher and is pursuing her M.S in Exercise Science. Tara has already taught at numerous New Jersey locations. She has been complimented on her flow, personal connection with the clients. Clients have enjoyed the way she ties in her knowledge of Pilates with the information acquired through her health and physical education courses. She is currently teaching the full spectrum of Pilates classes: Pilates mat, Tower, and privates. We are truly lucky to offer her skills, knowledge and expertise to our clients! 

Lisa Brand 

      Lisa was first introduced to Yoga by her third grade teacher.  “She was truly before her time.   Every morning we sat in a circle while meditating, practiced breath work and ended with modified sun salutations.”  The peace and serenity she experienced at an early age, set the stage for what would ultimately be her life passion.

      Lisa earned her BA from the University of Maryland with a double major in Psychology and Sociology. “I always found human nature fascinating, I love to meet new people and experience the joy of friendship”.  Shortly after getting married, Lisa and her husband opened a business and have watched it grow and prosper for the last thirteen years.

      Lisa is truly blessed with three beautiful and healthy children, who look forward to nighttime Yoga with Mom.   “Throughout my life I have practiced many different forms of exercise. Yoga, however, taught me how to respect my body and at the same time honor both my strengths and weaknesses.  I learned how to stop judging myself and how to remain calm in a chaotic world.”  

      After, experiencing the wonderful grounding and peaceful effect Yoga has had in her life, Lisa decided to become certified to share her knowledge and experiences with her students.  Lisa is a Registered Yoga Teacher at the 200 hour level and is currently enrolled in a 500 hour certification program to gain greater knowledge.   Lisa’s instructor and Guru is, Ranjitha Sandeep (Yoga-Sutra For Life), who trained under Sri Dharma Mittra.  Lisa brings an eclectic mix into her teaching and embraces all ages and physical statures.  Lisa feels Yoga is for everyone and every Asana pose has a modification that can be made to fit each  individual.  “I feel truly blessed and honored to be called a Yoga Instructor.  What we teach people on the mat, permeates into their lives off the mat.  To be a part of that is truly a gift.”


Carly Hamlette
 
      Yoga has been part of Carly's life since she was a child.  She was introduced to yoga by her mom, who taught yoga for children.  Carly began teaching yoga six years ago and is a registered and certified Yoga teacher through Stefani Pappas's Devalia Yoga.  She teaches various forms of yoga including Hatha, Vinyasa, Yoga Sweat & Freedom, Yoga for Seniors, and Iron Yoga Fusion.

      She has worked extensively with all different types of bodies and has always felt that the key to a good yoga practice is finding playfulness and fun. 

      Then, six years ago, Carly began to suffer from low back pain and read that Pilates can help to cure these types of ailments.  After just a few sessions, her back pain decreased significantly and she was hooked!   Carly was so intrigued with the way her body looked and felt that she decided she wanted to share her experience with others.  She became certified in Mat Pilates through Pilates on Fifth/ Pilates Academy International and has been teaching others this classical method on the mat for five years.   
 
      Though practicing Pilates and Yoga, she believes that the body can be healed, nurtured, and can transform into a stronger, healthier being. 


Kumi Dikengil

       Kumi began dancing at age 6 with The School of New Jersey Ballet. During high school she regularly performed with the professional company. They toured the east coast performing the Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, and La Bayadere among others.

        In 2002 she received a BFA in dance from Tisch School of the Arts at NYU. Upon graduation she danced for a modern company called Refractions in NYC. In 2006 she was certified in Pilates mat and all apparatus through Physical Mind Institute. Currently she is pursuing a doctorate degree in physical therapy at Seton Hall University.

Toni Porrello

       Toni has her B.A. in English from Kean University and is currently in grad school at Fairleigh Dickinson University obtaining her M.F.A. in creative writing.

       Years ago, she was first introduced to yoga and pilates by her sister, Carly. When Carly took her to her very first yoga class, she never thought it would become such a big part of her life. She left the class feeling invigorated, with a sense of peace and accomplishment. Right away, she began a regular yoga practice. Before she had started yoga, she could barely touch her knees when folding forward. After just three months, she was able to touch the ground.

        That was just one of the many positive changes she began to notice throughout her body and mind. She knew yoga would be a life-long practice for her, and after years of deepening her practice she realized what a great opportunity it would be to share yoga with others through teaching.

       Working years for a chiropractor, she has a deep understanding of the body and of the importance of fitness and health. She studied yoga at Balance Yoga Center in NJ for her teacher training and plans on getting certified to teach pilates mat in the new year.

       Toni is also a musician. She is a singer/songwriter and plays the piano. She sang on the Grammy award winning children’s album, “Songs From the Neighborhood”. You can listen to her original music at www.myspace.com/tonirosemusic. Toni believes that meditation is a very important part of yoga. Music is her favorite form of meditation. In her class, she hopes to help you to find your favorite form. 

       She urges her students to remember, while yoga is a serious practice, most of all it is a time to get to know yourself and to enjoy all the benefits. Yoga should be fun!



( Premier Pilates & Yoga - (908) 754 5901
.  53 Mountain Boulevard, Warren, NJ 07059
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