About Us
We love Pilates. And movement, and stretching, and the community that builds on people improving their health, together. Established in 2010, and growing steadily since, we are committed to maintaining a safe, knowledgeable and friendly environment for our clients to practice the Pilates method. We welcome beginners, and the more advanced practitioners too, and everyone in between. Our clients range in age from teenagers to 80 year olds! Everyone can benefit from Pilates.
The Pilates Studio is fully furnished with traditional equipment from the most distinguished manufacturers in the field, including Gratz Industries, Pilates Designs by Basil and Balanced Body.
Everyone Is the Architect of Their Own Happiness.
-Joseph Pilates
Meet Our Team
Shannon Schroeder
Owner/Instructor
Shannon Schroeder
Shannon Schroeder, owner of The Pilates Studio, has been teaching Pilates for 10 years. She was first introduced to Pilates after the birth of her second child, and continued her lessons through her third pregnancy, deeply rooting her appreciation for the method. She loves Pilates not only for it's effectiveness, but also for it's self care element, and feels the time spent in the studio is beneficial for people on many levels, physically and emotionally. Shannon trained under second generation Pilates teacher, Risa Sheppard, and continues to sharpen her knowledge and understanding of movement through regular continuing education, including a Stretch Therapy Teacher certification with Kit Laughlin. She opened The Pilates Studio in 2010 and finds great joy in building a supportive space for clients and teachers to practice. She is a Glendale native, raising her 3 children in our community with her fire captain husband.
Cameron Jappe
Instructor
Cameron Jappe
Having taught for more than a decade, Cameron’s approach to Pilates training is enriched by a diverse movement background that includes knowledge and skills from the Gyrotonic Expansion System, the Feldenkrais Method, Iyengar Yoga, and Hanna Somatics. He appreciates the opportunity to continue to learn and grow along with his clients. Cameron holds a B.A. from Pepperdine University and an M.F.A. from The Theatre School at DePaul University, Chicago. In the Fall of 2018, he will fulfill another passion of his—film—by attending UCLA to earn a Masters in Library Information & Science with a media archival specialization.
Debbie John
Instructor
Debbie John
Debbie John is a certified Pilates instructor and dance teacher. She studied Pilates at The Pilates Body and received her Pilates Certification from Pilates Sport Center in Studio City. She received a Dance Scholarship at Joe Tremaine's Dance Studio, and discovered Pilates while training to become a professional dancer. Debbie appreciates how much Pilates helps with core strength, dance technique, toning, stretching, strengthening, balance, posture, and the mind- body connection. It has helped her heal injuries and ease her back pain. Debbie loves teaching Pilates and helping others!
Kristen Thames
Instructor
Kristen Thames
Kristen completed her Pilates teacher training with master instructor, Risa Sheppard. She has a joy of movement that stems from a background in dance and collegiate cheer leading. After her first Pilates lesson, she was hooked, and appreciates the mind-body connection, precision and flow of the method. She continues to sharpen her knowledge with continuing education in the field, fine tuning her skills. Kristen teaches both Pilates and Stretch work at the studio.
Taylor Rodman
Instructor
Taylor Rodman
Taylor Rodman has been studying and practicing movement for as long as she canremember. She earned her BFA in dance with an emphasis in improvisation and choreography at The Boston Conservatory. There she was introduced to Pilates as cross training to her movement studies, and shortly after graduating she obtained her 600-hour Pilates certification through Alycea Ungaro's Real Pilates program. Taylor was immediately drawn to Pilates for its ability to optimize her movement both inside the dance studio and beyond. She has a passion for empowering her clients to reimagine their own physical capabilities through the Pilates method. Her years of movement training enable her to deliver true results for her clients, whether they’re working out for the first time or furthering their current practice. Taylor recently relocated to Los Angeles from Dallas, TX and when she’s not in the Pilates studio can be found freelance dancing and choreographing.
Gigi Axelrode
Instructor
Gigi Axelrode
Gigi Axelrode is a Bay Area born, Los Angeles based, professional dancer and Pilates instructor. Gigi was introduced to Pilates over 10 years ago by her ballet teacher who insisted it would make her stronger as a dancer and she hasn’t stopped training since that first introduction. In 2013, Gigi left the Bay Area to attend Loyola Marymount University, where she earned a double degree in Dance and Communication studies, with an emphasis in Kinesiology. It was her time at LMU where her love for Pilates grew so much that it inspired Gigi to become an instructor. She earned her 470 hour apparatus certification in the classical Pilates method from Jill Cassady’s Pilates Technique Inc. in Santa Monica. As an instructor, Gigi is passionate about showing people how Pilates can strengthen the body in a way that is safe, effective, and life changing.
Marlene McCoy
Instructor
Marlene McCoy
Marlene McCoy came to Pilates via a performing arts career as a dancer, and studied dance with Pilates elders Romana Kryzanowska, Kathy Grant and Carola Trier as a teenager. After a second career in the corporate world, she found her way back into the arts, teaching ballet with the Alvin Ailey Arts and Education Program, and later, teaching Pilates. She has been teaching Pilates since 2014 and earned her certification from True Pilates in New York in 2016. Marlene studied Pilates directly with Sari Meija Santo and continues to study with master teachers and bring her continued education to her students. She appreciates Pilates for it's ability to help people feel mentally, physically and spiritually better, and see the results of concentrated, focused exercise. When not teaching, she is a certified advanced scuba and rescue diver, and volunteers with Best Friends Animal Shelter.
Mari Brown
Instructor
Mari Brown
Mari Brown was first introduced to the wonders of Pilates 10 years ago while recovering from an ankle injury. As a classically-trained ballet dancer, she was looking for a way to keep her body strong and well-conditioned while she waited for her ankle to fully heal. In her first session, she discovered that Pilates challenged her body in ways it had never been before. Upon her return to the ballet studio, she noticed significant improvements in her ballet technique simply from adding Pilates into her weekly routine. Years later, after receiving her BFA in Dance Performance and minor in Psychology from UC Irvine, she decided to get certified to teach Pilates through the Pilates Center of Orange County. Initially, she became certified as a way to support herself financially while pursuing ballet professionally. However, as she began teaching regularly, she fell in love with Pilates all over again. She believes Pilates truly is life-changing, and loves having the opportunity to watch her clients progress into stronger, healthier individuals. Mari still dances as a hobby and is now completing prerequisites for pharmacy school when she’s not in the studio.
Cara Newman Ruyle
Instructor
Cara Newman Ruyle
Cara Newman Ruyle completed her Pilates certification with 2nd generation, master instructor Risa Sheppard. A dancer and athlete growing up, and marathoner in her 30's, Cara found Pilates a bit later in life. As her love of the work grew so did her desire to share it. She is excited to help others reach their own health goals. Cara holds a BA from the College of William and Mary, and an M.F.A. from the Theatre School of DePaul University. She is currently preparing for the PMA exam and can personally attest to the healing powers of movement. Let's Move Our Bodies!