Nuhar Jaleel is a licensed physical therapist, having graduated from Quinnipiac University in Connecticut. 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 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 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.

email: km@karenmillard.com

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 taught at Broadway Dance Center for six years.  In 2001, Karen became a fully certified Pilates instructor through Power Pilates. She studied anatomy and kinesiology with Irene Dowd, and became 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 and GYROTONIC® teacher. GYROTONIC® certifications include: Level 1 and Level 2 Cobra; Leg Extension Unit, and the Jumping Stretching Board. She also teaches The Open Barre Workout.  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.

email: Synergymovementspace@gmail.com

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 is also certified in the Kundalini Yoga method.

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.

Email: nikolabrownell@yahoo.com

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 completed her Systems Level 1 training certification through Power Pilates in Boston in 2009.  She trained countless hours for her Pilates Certification, while she still cared for her family. Niki pursued 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!

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!”

email: hjkenneally@gmail.com

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, 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.

email: sgardeski@gmail.com

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.

email: melissa.dergurahian@gmail.com

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.

email: ldonato59@gmail.com

Athletics and movement have always been an important part of Lori’s life, which led her to her own Pilates practice in the the late 1990’s. After experiencing the amazing effect that Pilates had on 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 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.  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.

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.