hi! i want to help you reach your health and fitness goals.​

i'm stephanie. i'm a dancer, an artist, and a teacher. i've been teaching bodymind work for nearly 15 years and a mover all my life. from competitive gymnastics, to division 1 lacrosse, to all kinds of professional dance genres and performance, i've searched for movement experiences that create an expansive, holistic and connected landscape for my body. 

that's why at SAYEZZ PILATES & BEYOND we practice more than just exercise. through in-studio and online training, we better understand our body's story with contemporary, creative, and personalized movement programs in order to live free in movement, from pain, and to breathe deeply and remain calm under everyday stresses. teaching  and practicing this work is an absolute gift - I get to be a witness to your progress - that’s easily the best part of my job!

i love to collaborate on dance, film and modeling projects with my husband who took this photo and my friend who designed this dress

ludovic jolivet www.kineovision.com and megan monroe @clairvoyantxclaire

the pilates method is my first love.

helping Sylvia find her alignment during footwork on the PILATES reformer

​ i found it in 2001 as a college dancer, and my own creative path led me to a contemporary approach i now share with you. each session is designed to find the ever elusive and quite fluid "neutral" pelvis, reach the deepest breathing possible, and create a connection unique to you and your body for optimal posture, core strength, flow and harmony. Just like Joe Pilates himself led a creative path of discovery to the magic circle (he took the ring off a beer barrel) and the cadillac (he strapped springs to a bed frame), we too are on a journey to deepen our self-awareness - together. 

youtube channel

THE PILATES METHOD

the work and its benefits

​PELVIC STABILITY & DEEP ABS – to understand, “Hey! I have abs and a back – and I can use them together!” Core strength at its best and most efficient.

RIBCAGE STABILITY – to understand, “Hey – my arms are connected to my shoulders, which are connected to my ribs, which are connected to my diaphragm, which is connected to my breath!” Breath with movement, my friend.

LEG EXTENSION – to become aware that everything in Pilates – even getting long, lean legs – has to do with core strength and stability.

SPINAL MOBILITY – to pretend we are a cat, or a cow or a frog! Yup. Our spines have limits unlike those animals, but using their images helps us get a long, strong and above all, mobile spine.

MOVING PLANES – to learn that there are a seemingly infinite number of ways to move – in fact, there are 3 planes of movements and we want to work in all of them, all the time!
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FINISHINGS – to finish with connection, newfound awareness, and energized. Just say, “Ahhh. I feel soooo good.”

i found the GYROTONIC® method as a professional dancer.

giving hand's on to Carmen

on the GYROTONIC® tower.

​i've always loved how machines can help us find places and spaces in our body deeper than we may be able to find on our own, and this is exactly what the method does. the circles and spirals and big ranges of motion that gyrotonic exercise allows is just so yummy! "gyro" - spirals, "tonic" - healing is fantastic both physically and neurologically, helping us to stand tall, find our center, and yawn into length in our joints and muscles. it's a great complement to pilates work, and my understanding of each method continues to be informed by their differences and overlappings. 

THE GYROTONIC EXPANSION SYSTEM®

the work and its benefits
www.gyrotonic.com

ARCH & CURL – to realize, “Hey – I have a pelvis and it connects to my spine. Wait – I have a neck and it also connects to my spine. And I can move them all at the same time with balance and suppleness!” What a revelation.
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HAMSTRINGS – to understand 1) that we sit too much during the day, and 2) that this work makes our legs and hips feel oh so good, long and strong.

UPPER BODY SERIES – to remember that, “Oh yes. My arms connect into my torso, and wait – you’re telling me I can move my arms from my torso and pelvis??” Pretty darn cool.

LEG WORK SERIES – to become aware of how much you miss the Tower and its straps (yes, that same machine that initially looked like a medieval torture device to you) because it not only makes your legs longer but your lower back and hips feel amazing!

ABDOMINALS – need I say more? Strong deep abdominals = better posture, less pain and an openness that is totally contagious.

UPPER BODY OPENINGS – you never knew how good it felt to “pop” your sternum until you circled your arms overhead and felt it release as a swell of refreshing blood rushed to your brain. 

UNWINDING – balance, balance, balance. Let’s bring ourselves back to it, baby.

GYROTONIC® and GYROTONIC EXPANSION SYSTEM® are registered trademarks of Gyrotonic Sales Corp and are used with their permission.