INSTRUCTORS
DANA
Hometown: Fairfield, CT
Playlist favorites: Spectrum (Say My Name) by Florence + the Machine and Calvin Harris, Meet Me Half Way, Black Eyed Peas, anything Rihanna
Favorite eFormer exercise: Anything with the foot straps and ice breaker to superhuman. Powerful!
What do you love about Evolve Modern Pilates? I love our teachers and the community we have been building. The support has been amazing. Oh, and how effective the method is at toning long lean muscles and developing true functional strength. Win win!
I have lived in Charleston for almost ten years, and I cannot imagine opening Evolve Modern Pilates anywhere else. I moved here with my family from North Carolina, and before that I lived in California and New York City. I've been helping male and female clients of all fitness levels change the way they look and feel since 2010. 1 found Pilates after ten years of chronic pain from a debilitating car accident. After trying everything else, Pilates healed my body and changed my life.
I was so inspired that I changed careers to help others. I completed The Advanced Teacher Training Program in 2010 through The Pilates Center, Boulder CO and have been a Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher with the National Pilates Certification Program since 2012. I have worked in Pilates and Pilates based Physical Therapy studios in California and North and South Carolina.
When not in the studio, you can find me cooking for my family and friends, playing tennis, boating around Charleston, and hanging out on the beach with my husband and teen daughters in the summer or snow skiing in the winter.
EMILY
Hometown: Greenville, SC
Playlist Favorites: I'm guilty... Tay is a fav!
Favorite eFormer exercise: Anything in the Core Block and Superhero-it just feels good to me!
What do you love about Evolve Modern Pilates? Well, there is a lot to love!... It is a beautiful space in a great location in Mt Pleasant, the eFormer is an incredible machine that I have been stoked to learn about, but more than that, are the other instructors and community that Evolve is bringing together. It is an opportunity for me, as a pilates instructor, to evolve my teaching and expand my audience in a group setting.
I was a cross-country runner and soccer player in high school and college, at age 25 I found my body too achey for its age. My mother-in-law suggested I try pilates and that's all she wrote. I was certified in classical Pilates in 2002. I have been fortunate to be able to continue teaching since then, and while raising my family. Its focus on alignment, breath and the mind-body connection resonated with me. I found what it taught me translated to every aspect of life, it made movement more efficient, the focus on breathing helped me control emotions and manage labor during 3 natural childbirths. The mind-body connection has given me a foundation to build and maintain strength for all other activities that my family and I enjoy. For me, movement is medicine, motion is lotion and your health is your wealth.
ALAINA
Hometown: Originally from Oklahoma, Alaina lived in Massachusetts, Kentucky, Maryland and Georgia before she moved to Mt. Pleasant over 9 years ago.
Playlist Favorites: Enrique, Usher, Nelly, Black Eyed Peas, Kongos and party tunes from the 80's and 90's
Favorite eFormer exercise: I absolutely love the kneeling and standing inner thigh work the eFormer allows us to accomplish. I love to feel the strength in the legs.
What do you love about Evolve Modern Pilates? I love the challenging workout and our clients! And love the dedicated crew of awesome instructors at Evolve Modern Pilates. We all bring something different to the studio, have our own unique vibe and will work you out in completely different ways.
Fitness is my passion and I am so excited to share it with our clients at Evolve. I'm an outdoors - loving wife, mom of 3 teenagers, bonus mom to 2 teenagers and dog mom to 2 (not teenage dogs, thankfully). When I'm not at Evolve, you'll find me instructing spin, barre and yoga as well as working as a personal chef and cooking for my clients, writing children's books (l've written 2), outside playing with my dogs or last but definitely BEST - spending time with my family.
My mantra: Challenge = Change!
JILL
Hometown: Phoenix, AZ (5th generation native)
Playlist Favorites: Anything Rap
Favorite eFormer exercise: Power Lunge
What do you love about Evolve Modern Pilates? The studio is beautiful, the community that Dana has created in such a short time is truly amazing: the instructors, the clients and the vibe is magical. There is something so special about a space that brings people together, at different stages in life, all with the goal of living better & healthier.
I met my southern husband while I was living in Los Angeles and moved to Augusta, GA, in 2015 where we owned a Pure Barre Studio. In 2019, we made the move to Mount Pleasant and couldn't be happier. Charleston checked all the boxes; the semi-mild winters, the warm summers, the amazing food, a fitness scene and a little west coast vibe - truly a lifestyle dream come true!
GRACE
Hometown: Charleston, SC
Playlist Favorites: Dua Lipa and country remixes
Favorite eFormer exercise: Bench press off of the back platform and deadlifts!
What do you love about Evolve Modern Pilates? I love that we are bringing a new and "modern" form of Pilates to the Charleston area. We have many different styles of pilates working together to bring you a great workout, in a calm and welcoming space!
I am originally from Charleston, but have lived in several different cities after graduating from Ohio State University. I have such a passion for the fitness industry and helping others reach their goals. Recently, I was living in Chicago instructing classes at a versaclimber studio, where I found my love for teaching. In my full time role, I work for a nonprofit that provides college scholarships to cancer patients and survivors. When not working or working out, you can find me hanging out on the water or with my English Bulldog, Bonnie! I can't wait to see you all in the studio.
KYLIE
Hometown: Green Bay, Wisconsin
Playlist Favorites: Anything and all-girl power songs
Favorite eFormer exercise: The mermaid. It's such a small movement but it's so mighty! You really can't work the obliques anywhere like you can on the eFormer and I love that.
What do you love about Evolve? I love that not only can you come in and get a killer workout, but there are also so many connections to be made! It is so fun to see all the different people that come in and get to know them and their stories. As someone newer to the Charleston area, it is such a great place to make friends!
I have lived around Wisconsin my whole life until about a year ago when my boyfriend and I decided to move to Charleston. Since moving here, I have made so many good friends, and some of them thanks to Evolve. I have been practicing Pilates for the last 4 years, and am passionate about its effectiveness for everyone and have been considering teaching for a while.
When I saw Evolve being built just around the corner from where I live, I knew it was a sign! I am so excited to start teaching and can't wait to see so many of your friendly faces in my upcoming classes!
ALYSSA
Hometown: Kensington, New Hampshire
Playlist Favorites: Jack Johnson!! During class l've been loving upbeat tunes that keep the energy flowing in the studio. Anything with a great rhythm to synchronize with the movements.
Favorite eFormer exercise: The Teaser on the eFormer is a personal favorite. It challenges oblique strength and upper body stability, it leaves me shaking!!
What do you love about Evolve Modern Pilates? | love how versatile the classes can be. Coming from a more traditional pilates background, it's so fun for me to mix it up and do some of the same moves on this machine with a modern twist. The classes never get boring to me, you can really do so much. It's amazing having the variety of slower classes to the faster and more intense classes. I can count on either class to give me a killer workout!
I'm always motivated by the healing power of movement. It's incredible to witness all that the body is capable of, especially when incorporating the right movements and breath work. It can be transformative! I love how Pilates really brings your mind in tune with the body so that each movement becomes more intentional and the mind-body connection just keeps growing.