Melissa Calmes, NCPT
MASTER INSTRUCTOR, FOUNDER & DIRECTOR OF MIND OVER BODY STUDIO + CORE3 PILATES
“Energized, confident, dedicated are words I live and work by. I am inspired by the ability of bodies to miraculously change through a simple practice of Pilates and by our team of instructors who are also passionate about changing bodies, changing lives!”
I have trained with some of the best teachers and programs in Washington, DC, Singapore, Jakarta, Arizona. I am determined and results driven.
Mind Over Body, our home studio, and Core 3 Pilates, our international teacher training program, is the sum of 14 years of training, teaching and research. We are modernizing the way clients and students learn. Our motto is work smarter not harder to get that change to happen in the bodies we teach. I cannot wait to share this work with you.”
Whether you come as a professional athlete, a healthy body, have chronic illness, an underlying condition, or even a stress or sports related injury, through attention to detail, each client’s individual goals will be achieved. Our goal for every BODY is a strong core, balanced muscle development, a lengthened spine and mobile joints to excel at your sport, achieve quality of life, or erase those nagging aches and pains!
Spring into your future! See you on the reformer.
Melissa studied internationally in Washington, DC, Singapore, Jakarta and Tucson, Arizona. She began studying Classical Pilates for a year in 2001 and Contemporary Pilates in 2010. She is a graduate of Balanced Body 2014, Fletcher Pilates Foundational 2015, Fletcher Professional 2018 and is nationally certified through NPCP 2022.
Laura Calmes
Owner
Laura received her 150 hr-RYT yoga certifications in Vinyasa Flow in June 2011 at Beloved Yoga in Reston, VA, and will complete her 500 hr-RYT by early 2018, which will include a Trauma-Informed Yoga Certification, Yin Yoga Certification, and Contemplative Yoga Certification. She also completed a 65 hr aerial yoga certification from Unnata of NYC and is looking forward to finishing a Warriors at Ease certification (Washington, DC) later in 2018 in order to assist the active and retired military. Laura enjoys studying when she can with Rosalyn Bruyere and Jennifer Stephenson McLamb in the field of energy healing and has participated in multiple donation-based healing clinics at the University of Kentucky Nurse’s clinic organized by Jennifer.
Amber Clay
Pilates Instructor
Amber Clary began taking Pilates 8 years ago with a group of friends. She fell in love with the challenge of incorporating Pilates Principles into her everyday life. She has completed Balanced Body’s teacher training with Master Teacher David Gensheimer in Nashville, TN. Amber also enjoys other styles of physical fitness such as weight training and functional training as well as a focus on mental wellness. She is a teacher of Special Education during the day and is excited to teach others how to improve their strength, mobility and mindfulness to live a balanced life. Amber is married and has 2 lovely daughters, Kelsey and Katie Ann.
Carla Barrowman
Pilates Instructor
After years of teaching dance and performance, Carla struggled with hypermobility and joint stabilization. She chose Pilates because of its therapeutic benefits. Since becoming a regular practitioner of Pilates, the pain, strains, and joint problems are a thing of the past. Carla was so inspired by how Pilates helped her that she chose to become an instructor. Her goal is to share these benefits with others. She is currently enrolled in the Balanced Body comprehensive instructor training and has completed Reformer 1,2,3, Trapeze Table, Barrel, Chair, and Mat 1,2,3 modules as well as Movement Principles, Anatomy, and Working With Injuries.
Carla Clevenger has worked for over twenty years in multiple capacities and with a number of Kentucky organizations that aid persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She currently owns and operates three companies that provide services to improve the lives of people with disabilities. Carla's passion is advocating for those who often can’t advocate for themselves. In her spare time, Carla likes to run, read, and spend time with her husband and three daughters.
Dina Stogsdill
Pilates Instructor
For Dina, fitness has been a lifelong endeavor. She started her athletic career in Russia as a rhythmic gymnast at the age of 8. After two years she moved to Moscow where her skills were noticed by the head coach of the Central Sports Club Army. By age 11, she became a professional athlete as a member of the Soviet National Team and won a gold medal at her first international competition in Prague. She went on to win many gold, silver, and bronze medals in international competitions in Bulgaria, Ukraine, Latvia, Estonia, and the Czech Republic. National championships include 8 times champion of the Soviet Army, 3 times silver medalist at the Soviet Nationals, and absolute Moscow Champion. In recognition of her career achievements, she was awarded the prestigious Master of Sport for Rhythmic Gymnastics when she was only 14.
After a career in Rhythmics taking her to 27 different countries around the globe, Dina went on to coach other prominent athletes in the sport. Of her students, several went on to join the Russian Team, win such competitions as the European Championships in Greece, and even become Master of Sport themselves. Having earned her bachelor’s degree from the Moscow State Academy of Physical Education and a passion to spread fitness and wellness, Dina moved to New York in 1995. To further her existing body of knowledge, Dina completed 2 years of study at The Kane School of Core Integration gaining a comprehensive certification as a Pilates teacher. Dina is also certified in resistance training with a specialty in Russian kettlebell training - a longtime training tool for the Russian military and Olympic teams. With a commitment to giving her personal training clients the same quality of training as her former elite athletes, Dina quickly became a standout in the fitness industry in New York. She has been featured in The Daily News, the WB Morning News, and Fitness Magazine.
Dina firmly believes that if any client, regardless of their age or fitness level, brings the proper dedication, she can lead them through the evolution of a better body. Her client's goals range from building firmer, stronger bodies, losing weight, increasing flexibility, and gaining proper alignment in their bodies. Dina has done exceptional work with clients who have suffered limitations from past injuries. Her client, Jeremy Boal, M.D. of Mount Sinai School of Medicine, says of Dina, "She is a truly gifted teacher with an incredible depth of knowledge...she is an outstanding listener who works very hard to understand her client's needs and concerns.”
Karlette Barnhart
Studio Manager/Pilates Instructor
Karlette was first introduced to Pilates after a knee injury. While recovering from her surgery, Pilates became an indispensable tool in taking back her excellent health and vitality. After experiencing her own success with Pilates. Karlette wanted to help others see the extraordinary benefit Pilates offers.
She trained to become a Pilates instructor through Balanced Body including Reformer 1, 2, and 3, Chair, and Mat. Karlette believes that Continuing Education is extremely important for a Pilates instructor.
She thrives on learning and takes every opportunity to apply the skills she continually learns. One of the biggest benefits for Karlette is the wonderful people she has met through teaching her classes.
She takes great joy in not only teaching the wonderful benefits of Pilates, but she also takes great joy in getting to know those she instructs.
Katherine Howe
Pilates Instructor
Mabel Todd, author of The Thinking Body, reminds us “for every thought supported by feeling, there is muscle change.”
Rehabilitative exercise can face us in new and positive directions – informing us of habitual movement patterns that no longer serve us and creating new knowledge of movement more suitable to our present circumstances.
I believe you can unravel disruptive habits and patterns of movement, not only through strength and flexibility, but by gaining a knowledge of your body.
Our physical bodies can appear “simple” to us as long as it is doing what we wish or desire. But for most of us, there is a moment, when even the most mundane activity can produce pain or not allow us to participate in activities we enjoy.
Aging, illness, and injury are the common culprits, but our “habits of movement” can and almost inevitably contribute to these (new) difficulties as well. With closer inspection and focus on some of these habits, my goal is to help you move more efficiently again. The Pilates Method focuses on the breath, deep core stability and general strengthening and flexibility.
So that’s what I do; I take the time to look a little closer, slow down, teach you to breathe with intention, and then learn how to move after we have strengthened the deeper core musculature. Or to state it more simply; I hope to help clients learn new habits of movement; healthier ways to move.
“The work is……. not to demystify the body, but to help embody the mystery.” Andrea Olsen (dance artist, author, and educator)
Katherine primarily trained with Mary Bowen, one of the last “Elders” in the Pilates Method; Mary trained directly with Joseph Pilates. Mary emphasized strength and wellness; that the body and mind are deeply connected, and that anyone can benefit from the Pilates Method.
Mary, at 93, continues her work - mostly online now - but will spend time with anyone wanting to learn more about Pilates and she still practices the work daily. Mary is also a Jungian psychologist and continues to council and dive into dreamwork as part of her regular practice. In 2003 Katherine graduated with a Masters in Physical Therapy - enriching her ability to help others heal as they embrace movement and wellness through the Pilates Method of Conditioning. Katherine has been teaching and learning through the Pilates Method for 35 years.
kathleen robinson
Pilates Instructor
Kathleen started her journey with Pilates in 2013. While recovering from a knee injury, Pilates became a healing form of exercise for her. She fell in love with the process and decided to expand her knowledge. Kathleen has training and certification in Booty Barre and Balance Body training, which includes: Reformer 1, 2, & 3, Trapeze Table, Barrel, Barre, and Mat. Kathleen is a lover of health and nutrition, and the importance exercise has on our mental health. Kathleen loves how Pilates challenges your mind, muscles, and breathing all at once. Kathleen loves to travel and is a huge dog lover! Never be shy about sharing pics or stories about your pooch! 🙂
Kiri van haaren
Excited to be back and teaching!! Fitness Professional for over 30 years. Mom to 4 fur babies and 1 college kid and a teenager. Certified Yoga instructor with Yogafit out of California. Obtained Pilates certification through Pendleton Pilates in Cincinnati, Ohio. I love to travel and I play a lot of tennis.
Mary Beth
Pilates Instructor
Mary has been a student and teacher of movement, including dance, yoga, and Pilates for more than thirty years. A native of Ashland, Kentucky, she received her dance training at North Carolina School of the Arts, The Harkness House in New York, and The Bournonville Academy of the Royal Danish Ballet, Copenhagen. She performed with Ballet Met, Columbus, Ohio, the Harkness Dance Theatre, and with Paul and Yvonne Goube in Paris, France.
Mary initiated her study of Pilates in 1980 with Pilates elder Carola Trier in New York. Over the years, Mary has drawn on Carola’s teaching of the Pilates method with a wide range of individuals. At Southampton Hospital, she spent three years teaching mat classes for employees and outpatients in the Ed and Phyllis Davis Wellness Institute. She also applied Pilates principles to the training of many young performers at the First Act Children’s Theatre in New York and the Southampton Ballet.
Mary holds teaching certifications from the Physicalmind Institute and Balanced Body University. She received her BA degree from SUNY Empire State College in New York. She is happy to be a part of the Pilates community in Lexington.
Ashtin Morgan
Yoga Instructor
Ashtin is a native Lexingtonian. She attended the University of Kentucky and was introduced to yoga during her college career. She lived in Spain for 3 years to immerse herself in a different culture. After completing the third year, she completed her 200 hour YTT in Rishikesh. If she’s not on the mat, she’s traveling or listening to music. Yoga has something for everyone - come practice :)
in loving memory of our beloved tashi
I am Tashi, the Lion King, and am slightly imperial. I have a heart full of gold, and though I may roar, please know I can also melt yours. I love to sit and help correct alignment and cheer and support each client. You are all very important to me. When you greet me with such enthusiasm it really makes my day. I'm so happy to be here to lend a helping paw 🐾 Be on the lookout for my social media posts, they call them Tashi's Teaching Tips!
fIEval
My name is Fieval! I was a rescue and out on my own in the streets of Nashville before I came to the Bluegrass when I was just a year old. I love my new family and all of the extended family at Mind Over Body. I am the giver of LOVE and spreader of JOY. Feel free to pet and love on me as much as your heart’s content, I give back in untold ways! You might find me scampering from Reformer to Reformer, greeting everyone with boundless enthusiasm, or just chilling in my supremely zen-way.