PILATES:

Nuhar Jaleel is a licensed physical therapist, having graduated from Quinnipiac University in Connecticut. She mainly practiced pediatric physical therapy after college.  Nuhar started The Pilates Principle in 2003 after completing her full, 600-hour certification in the Pilates Method of exercise through The New York Pilates Studio in Manhattan, under the apprenticeship of Romana Kryzanowska, Ton Voogt, and Michael Fritzke. She completed her GYROTONIC® Level 1 and Level 2 Certification with Cori Doetzer in 2009, and 2011 respectively. She also completed the Jumping Stretching Board, and the Leg Extension Unit certifications for GYROTONIC® exercise.

Nuhar grew The Pilates Principle’s name by teaching 11-hour days in a 400 square-foot studio, while concurrently designing the plans for our custom, 2,500 square-foot studio, which we inhabited in 2007. Nuhar expanded the studio to renovate and inhabit an upstairs space in the same building in 2009. After ten years of having GYROTONIC® exercise upstairs, and Pilates downstairs, we renovated yet again in 2020 so both studios and staff members can be in the same downstairs space!

Nuhar received the Business Review’s 40 Under Forty Award in 2014. She served as contributing editor for the Pilates Triadball™ exercise manuals, authored by Michael Fritzke and Ton Voogt. She has served on multiple local Boards of Directors.

Nuhar teaches Pilates and GYROTONIC® exercise, leads a large staff, is a wife, a mother, and was a foster parent in Albany County. She is especially thankful to her immigrant parents who have worked tirelessly, and have been such an inspiration in shaping her compassion, her drive, and her willingness to succeed in love, in life, and in business.

After years of study and performance with The Tampa Ballet Company where she achieved soloist level, Karen moved to New York City and began her teaching career at the prestigious Lotte Berk Method, immediately becoming known for her “eye for alignment.” She became an expert Active Isolated Stretch (A.I.S.) technician, and created a class for the dance world, which she taught at Broadway Dance Center for six years. This program was very successful as a master class at numerous esteemed workshops, including The Southwestern Regional Dance Festival. Since everyone can benefit from this specialized technique, Karen also introduced A.I.S. to various health clubs including: Chelsea Piers, Crunch Fitness, Equinox, and New York Sports Clubs. She produced her own DVD of this class that can help anyone by “Stretching to Strengthen”. In 2001, Karen became a fully certified Pilates instructor through Power Pilates. She studied anatomy and kinesiology with Irene Dowd, adding over 150 hours of education to her teaching technique and becoming the first manager of the Pilates Studio at The David Barton Gym on Madison Avenue while completing a certification with The National Academy of Sports Medicine.

Karen moved to the Capital Region and joined the staff at The Pilates Principle in 2005. She works full time as a Pilates/GYROTONIC® teacher. GYROTONIC® certifications include: Level 2 Cobra; Knee Extension Unit and the Jumping Stretching Board. She also teaches The Open Barre Workout, as well as Active Isolated Stretching, and has conducted teacher training workshops in both of these techniques. Certifications for these are from The Booty Barre® and Maximum Performance International. Karen was selected to teach Pilates at the NYSSSA New York City Ballet program under the artistic direction of Jenifer Ringer, in 2010, 2011 & 2012. She also worked with The Ajkun Ballet Theatre in 2011 & 2012.

Susan Stewart has been a part of the wellness industry for over 20 years. Susan’s interest in health and wellbeing started with training in massage therapy in 1992 and continued with a B.S. in Exercise Science from the University of Alaska – Fairbanks. Susan began to study Pilates while living in Alaska to improve the condition of her joints and decided it was a method of conditioning she would like to teach. She completed her Comprehensive Pilates training in 2004 with Susan Moran and Bob Likens in NYC at Power Pilates. She became GYROTONIC® Level 1 Certified in 2010, and GYROKINESIS® Level 1 Certified in 2012. Susan has also taken training for the Jump Stretch Board, Leg Extension Unit, and GYROTONIC® Level 2. She has had the pleasure to take GYROTONIC® courses with Cori Doetzer, Erika Hassan, and Juliu Horvath.

Susan has been a part of The Pilates Principle team since 2007. If not at the studio, she is likely to be playing out in the garden, cycling, hiking, or cross country skiing.

While in her mid-twenties, a congenital defect in both Niki’s knees was discovered. Niki underwent a number of surgeries, bone breaking procedures and an actual cartilage transplant in her right knee. A year of physical therapy, pain, and non-weight bearing brought her to discover the Pilates method. Pilates helped her finally re-align her abused body and she began to heal.

Niki’s interest in teaching Pilates resulted when she met Nuhar Jaleel. The idea of teaching others the benefits of Pilates soon became Niki’s goal & passion. Niki completed her Systems Level 1 training certification through Power Pilates in Boston in 2009. She traveled back and forth to Boston for intensive weekends, putting in over 800 hours of training to achieve her certification. She received additional training personally from Nuhar. She trained countless hours for her Pilates Certification, while she still cared for her family. Niki will pursue the Comprehensive Training through Power Pilates in January 2014.

The Pilates Principle is her sanctuary. Everyone here has supported and guided her. She is grateful to them all. A special thank you to Nuhar Jaleel, her mentor, friend and boss!

Niki is married to David Brownell, and together they have two beautiful children, Cole and Kendall.

“I have been currently teaching at the studio since September of 2009! I have been learning and growing with my clients. I feel nourished by my clients every day! I LOVE to see body transformation. I am excited to say that I will be doing my Power Pilates Comprehensive Power Pilates Training come January 2014. I am looking to take you all to the “next” level with me! This will be a fun ride!

I love what I am doing …. I love where I work (can barely call it “work”), I love my clients and I thank God everyday…. I have the chance to give back all I have been given!”

Heather loves teaching and helping clients learn body awareness, feel open, connected and invigorated after their sessions. It is important to Heather to create a personalized session for the needs of each individual.

Heather received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Boston Conservatory, and brings twenty years of experience in teaching movements arts. Heather has traveled throughout North and South America, dancing and teaching GYROTONIC® exercise and GYROKINESIS®. She also obtained an Associate’s Degree in Occupation Studies in Massage from the Swedish Institute, and she has trained extensively for two decades on GYROTONIC® methodology under the originator of GYROTONIC® exercise, Juliu Horvath. Heather is a GYROTONIC® Pre-Trainer, and GYROKINESIS® instructor. She is certified to teach on the GYROTONIC® Jumping Stretching Board, and the Leg Extension Unit.

Heather has worked as a movement/massage therapist at Canyon Ranch and a teacher at CNW School of Massage Therapy.

Heather is thrilled to be a part of The Pilates Principle and GYROTONIC® Albany, working amongst the very talented team of practitioners who not only inspire her but are also good friends. Heather’s other passions are her two beautiful girls Tessa and Belle, with whom she learns daily how to move, live and love life.

After dancing and teaching ballet and tap for 7 years at Ballet Vera Bublitz in Brazil, Cristiane moved to New York City to further develop her dance career. She was accepted to the Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) with full scholarship, and soon after was asked to join the company’s Dancing Through Barriers Ensemble.

While at DTH, Cristiane discovered GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS® methodologies, becoming a certified instructor in both in 2002 under the guidance of Leda Franklin and Juliu Horvath. Cristiane taught these methodologies at Studio Riverside, Steps on Broadway, and Ballet Arts at City Center. She has also served as a guest teacher for the Hartwick College dance team, for the Ballet Hispanico School of Dance Summer Program, and for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre.

Cristiane completed the training for the level II of GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS® with Juliu Horvath in 2005. She is an authorized GYROTONIC® pre-trainer and certified in the following GYROTONIC® specialized equipment: GYROTONER®, Ladder, Jumping Stretching Board and Leg Extension Unit. She has also taken the following GYROTONIC® workshops: Applications for the Pelvic Girdle, and Pre and Post-Natal.

To enhance her knowledge of movement and the human body, Cristiane pursued a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology, graduating Summa Cum Laude from University at Albany in 2012.

In addition of teaching GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS® methodologies at The Pilates Principle, Cristiane is currently a ballet instructor at The School of the Arts at the National Dance Museum in Saratoga Springs.

A native of Lake George, NY, Cori carries a BFA from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. She has a background as a professional dancer in ballet and contemporary genres. In 1988, she received her certification to teach Yoga, and was Pilates certified in 1989. She also received her license to practice Massage Therapy in New York State in 1989. She founded and owned Corfitness, Inc. in New York City from 1990 – 2005. Other areas of training include Chinese medicine, Tui Na, and Qi Gong with Jeffrey Yuen. She has extensively studied anatomy with Irene Dowd, and Leslie Kaminoff.

Currently, she is a GYROKINESIS® Master Trainer and an Authorized GYROTONIC® Master Trainer, teaching all aspects of the GYROTONIC® curriculum, including all the specialized equipment (Archway, Leg Extension Unit, Gyrotoner, and Jump Stretch Board). This level of training enables her to travel nationally and internationally to teach certification courses.

Cori relocated to the Capital District in 2009, and as a result, GYROTONIC® Albany was born! She looks forward to establishing a regular client base here, and is thrilled to be a part of The Pilates Principle & GYROTONIC® Albany team!

After experiencing the benefits from regularly attending classes at Nuhar’s studio, Pilates quickly developed into a passion. For Sarah, the Pilates method has offered the ideal fusion of strengthening, stretching, and connecting the mind and body. In 2011, Sarah completed her Beginner and Intermediate Mat Certification under the instruction of Susan Moran in NYC. Sarah became Power Pilates Comprehensive Certified in 2012 after completing her apprenticeship hours at The Pilates Principle and Beacon Pilates. Sarah went on to complete the GYROTONIC® Level 1 teacher training in 2018, and is also M.E.L.T. Method certified (myofascial energetic lengthening technique).  When she is not working out or teaching at The Pilates Principle, Sarah is often found playing at life in Keene, NY, and works as a Visual Merchandiser and freelance Graphic Designer.

Sandra found Pilates after the birth of her second child in 2008.  An injury and 2 pregnancies meant she needed to find an alternative form of exercise to her usual running and weight training.  Through her own practice she embraced Pilates as it helped her to safely get back into all forms of physical exercise and heal her from her injury.  Sandra wanted to share the positive results she found from Pilates and went on to complete her mat certification through Power Pilates in 2012.   She completed the Comprehensive Training through Power Pilates in January 2014, and she continues to refine her teaching through her own practice. She has gone on to further her studies to include Scoliosis Applications for Pilates, and is now one of The Pilates Principle’s lead instructors when it comes to addressing appropriate modifications for scoliosis.

Nancy has been a physical therapist specializing in Myofascial Release and Cranial Sacral Therapy for over 30 years. In 2014, she completed the Polestar Comprehensive Pilates Training (a rehab-oriented Pilates curriculum). She went on to study with Karena Thek, and specialized in Scoliosis applications for Pilates. She is The Pilates Principle’s lead instructor for evaluating a Pilates regimen for clients with scoliosis. She joined The Pilates Principle’s team in 2014.

Melissa started dancing at age 5.  From age 11-18, she studied at The Dance Center of Queensbury under Barbara Tebeau.  She received her BFA in Dance Performance from the Boston Conservatory in 2004, performing works by Lar Lubovitch, Jose Limon and Martha Graham.  At the Conservatory she trained with Yasuko and Emi Tokunaga (Martha Graham Dance Company), Jennifer Scanlon (Limon Dance Company), Sandy Stone (Paul Taylor Dance Company) and Donna Silva (Joffrey Ballet).  She began her professional dance career with The Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company. Ellen’s company has been the resident dance company at The Egg in Albany, N.Y. for over 30 years.  After 10 years with Ellen’s Company,  Melissa retired to teach dance at The Dance Center of Queensbury, and she holds the title of Choreographer/Rehearsal Director for The Adirondack Ballet Theater.  She completed her certification in the GYROTONIC® exercise method in 2016. Melissa is pleased to be a part of The Pilates Principle family!

GYROTONIC® is a registered trademark of Gyrotonic Sales Corp and is used with their permission.

Athletics and movement have always been an important part of Lori’s life, which lead her to her own Pilates practice in the the late 1990’s. After experiencing the amazing effect that Pilates had upon her, she knew she wanted to become a Pilates instructor so she could share her passion for this amazing form of exercise with others. Lori has been teaching Pilates for the past sixteen years. She received her Pilates mat certification in 2001 and then went on to complete her Pilates apparatus certifications from Power Pilates, Level I in 2004, and her Comprehensive Certification in 2012. Lori also teaches group exercise classes for the Capital District YMCA. She is an AFAA certified group exercise instructor with additional specialty certifications in Step aerobics, Spinning, Barre, Kickboxing, Kettlebell training, Stability Ball training, Yoga, Aqua Fitness, and Silver Sneakers. She is also an AFAA certified Personal Trainer.

Lori was the Group Exercise Coordinator at the So. Saratoga YMCA in Clifton Park, NY for thirteen years from 1999-2013. In 2013, she was promoted to Wellness Director, where she managed the Wellness department for the next two years. In 2015, Lori resigned her administrative position at the YMCA so she could teach Pilates full-time. A long time passion of hers, Lori enjoys teaching and sharing the gift of Pilates with her clients, helping them to live healthy, pain free lives through their Pilates practice. She joined The Pilates Principle’s team in 2016.