Cheryl Bigos has been teaching Pilates for eleven years, and is trained through Power Pilates of New York.  She was introduced to Pilates through Darien Gold at The Los Angeles Athletic club where Cheryl worked as a personal trainer and cycling instructor.  Her initial class made such an impact that she quickly started her teacher training and began teaching mat pilates at the LA Athletic Club, as well as, the Ketchum YMCA.  After more intensive Pilates training with Darien to further work on her own body, she became more committed to the work by learning to teach the entire system.  This included the 600-hour apprenticeship requirement.

Cheryl specializes in back and neck-related injuries for rehab and post-rehab clients, and focuses on maintaining a vigorous flow for the workouts of her more advanced students.  The former dancer enjoys working at In & Up Pilates to keep involved in the Pilates Method.  Cheryl is currently focused on building her new legal practice after passing the California Bar exam in 2015.

Sometimes in life we get more than we bargain for.

Dara Blaine had been living with back pain from a car accident for two years. So perhaps it was no accident that led her to agree to make a trade with Master Pilates teacher Niedra Gabriel—in exchange for photos for Niedra’s website, Niedra would give Dara Pilates lessons in her studio.

“After a few months, my chronic back pain was gone, and I was in love with Pilates!” Dara tells us. She decided at first that she would continue with teacher training just for herself, but quickly discovered that she truly loved to teach as well. “It was a life- and career- changing decision. My quality of life afterwards was dramatically better, and I’m continually grateful.” As a tall person, Dara says Pilates also helped her to stand up straight “after years of slouching.”

Dara received her teacher training through Power Pilates, and holds a definite teaching philosophy: “Pilates is about inspiring and empowering clients to achieve goals they might not even feel are possible in the beginning.” Dara considers it her business to help clients define their goals and break the work into small steps. “From there, anything is possible!” she says. “Some of my biggest successes have been when I can get clients to realize that they are stronger than they think.”

Motivation is easy for Dara: “I love that moment of awareness when a client finally makes a connection to an exercise and to their muscles. That’s the gold for me—helping someone feel more connected and powerful in their own body.”

Renda began her Pilates training in 1984 and after 600 hours of instruction in the Pilates Method of Body Conditioning, she graduated in 1997 under the direction of world renowned Mentor and Master teacher, Romana Kryzanowska. Ms. Kryzanowska was the direct protege of Joseph Pilates and training through Romana is recognized as the professional standard.

All instructors trained in the Authentic Joseph Pilates Method are held to the highest standards of ongoing professional training. Renda continues her training  through regular, rigorous classes and workshops with master teachers who include Sari Pace, Trish Garland, and Jay Grimes.

Renda’s background is as a trained classical ballet dancer. Her early training and dance were in Beirut, Lebanon where she was selected for a scholarship to study ballet abroad at the prestigious Legat School in England. In Los Angeles she continued her ballet training with the Los Angeles Ballet Company school.

It is Renda’s unique understanding of the use of body as form and the importance of precision in movement that led her to appreciate the fluidity, strength, and beauty achieved through the Original Pilates Method.

From the time Maria was three years old until her late teens, she studied classical ballet and gymnastics. At eighteen she decided to pursue a career in culinary arts. After being a professional chef for over fifteen years Maria knew all too well about the downfalls of this work. Coming from a place of pain and injury, she was encouraged to try Pilates. She soon realized this was the missing link to what her body truly needed to get strong again. Her search for healing led her to start on her classical Pilates training at In and Up Pilates in Los Angeles. Having studied Pilates for over three years she continues her education and is humbled everyday by its endless possibilities. She has also acquired her MELT hands and feet Certification in myofascial release which she likes to incorporate in her classes from time to time.  “I’m passionate about the classical Pilates System and want to motivate my clients to reach their goals in a patient and fun environment.” 

Crystal has had a lifelong passion for fitness and movement.  From early
childhood when Crystal was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, she has suffered from extreme tightness in her spine and muscles. For Crystal, movement has always provided healing and increased mobility. In 2008, she began learning the Pilates Method to improve strength and flexibility and following a serious RV accident in 2011, she intensified her practice of Pilates to aid her recovery.  

Wanting to share Pilates with other‭, ‬Crystal began her teacher training at In & Up Pilates in late 2015.  ‭Crystal is proud ‬to have profoundly improved the movement quality of one of her clients who lives with MS, drop foot, and lupus with the Pilates Method and other fitness and healing modalities.‬‬

In addition to Pilates, Crystal continues to study Yoga, Russian Kettlebelling, 
Tactfit, CST, Clubbelling, Aerial Yoga and Aerial Silks.  She worked for a non
profit called‭ ‭Movement Therapy Foundation‬‬ from 2010-2014 and learned about a ‬‬variety of Movement Therapy Techniques. In 2012, Crystal began personal training and in 2016, began teaching the MELT Hand and Foot technique.