OUR INSTRUCTORS
Our Instructors are the reason that Kimmotion Pilates is a sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of the world outside. People may come to us for any one of a thousand reasons, but they come back because of our incredible teachers. Our staff understands the commitment that Pilates requires; not only the commitment of the student to the practice, but also the commitment of the teacher to the student. Our students represent every inch of the world around us with ages ranging from 16 to 90, men, women, athletes, dancers, people with injuries, limited mobility and everyone else. Our students are the reason we love what we do.
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Kimberly Kandra, OwnerKimberly Kandra, the owner of Kimmotion Pilates, is originally from Westchester County, New York. She graduated from Hamilton College with a BA in Dance Performance and began her career as a modern dancer, performing professionally and choreographing for companies in New York, Chicago and Annapolis, Maryland.
After the birth of her five children, including two sets of twins, she discovered that the Pilates method helped bring back the flexibility, strength and tone that she needed to dance. In the summer of 2010, Kimberly took her final on stage bow and made the leap to her second career as a Pilates studio owner. Kim began her apparatus training with Cameron MacDonald and completed the Peak Pilates Level II program. She bridged from Peak in order to complete the 600-hour comprehensive with Power Pilates in 2011, studying extensively over the years with Bonnie Grove and Bob Liekens. Kim is a specialist in Pilates for Multiple Sclerosis and other Neurological Conditions. With nearly 20 years of Pilates teaching experience, her strength is adapting for clientele with varying injuries and health concerns and her gentle and encouraging demeanor brings out the best in everyone, from beginners to the most advanced of clients. Possessing a keen eye for detail and subtle cues, Kim is creative in her approach and knowledgable about her subject. Passionate about continuing education, Kim is a Nationally Certified Instructor through the Pilates Method Alliance and she recently completed the Advanced Teaching Seminar with Clare Dunphy Hemani.
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Sara Sherman, STOTT InstructorSara is a certified STOTT PILATES instructor who was introduced to Pilates during her years of dance training. She holds a BA in Dance from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro and an MFA in Dance from The Ohio State University. After suffering an injury, Sara found her way back to Pilates in order to remain strong and find balance in the body while working safely and effectively. As an instructor, she enjoys working with clients of all levels to reach their goals whether it is for rehabilitation or personal health.
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Lindsey Bell, Mat InstructorLindsey dances professionally as a Soloist with Ballet Theatre of Maryland. She studied Ballet Performance at the University of Oklahoma, which is also where she was exposed to Pilates. Through the four years at school, she found Pilates to be a great cross training activity for her ballet career. Pilates also allowed her to keep in shape and remain heathy in her off season without too much impact on her joints. Lindsey recently got her certification in Power Pilates and is very excited to start expanding her knowledge of Pilates and sharing it with her students.
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Corinne Early, InstructorCorinne Early is originally from Knoxville, Tennessee. In 2014, she graduated from University of Cincinnati with a BFA in dance and a BBA in Finance. That same year, she began her career at Ballet Theatre of Maryland and danced professionally for 6 seasons. Throughout her dance education, Pilates was consistently incorporated as a form of cross training, and it became a pivotal part of her lifestyle during an injury that resulted in ankle surgery. Throughout the recovery process, Pilates helped her maintain and increase strength so she could comfortably return to ballet. Thanks to the impact it had on her life, in 2017 she became a certified mat instructor through Power Pilates. She hopes to help others achieve positive changes and reach health goals throughout their own personal Pilates journey.
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Eshael Johnson, InstructorEshael’s love of all things athletic began while watching Super Bowl III with her father. The way the athletes could will their bodies to twist, turn and contort always amazed Eshael and so began her quest for her own physical “thing”.
Eshael gravitated early to dance; tap specifically but dropped it to pursue basketball, learning by playing with the boys at school. Known for her accuracy, she played the center position her entire pre-collegiate career and added cheerleading to her athletic toolkit. A car accident that shattered her knee cap temporarily brought her athleticism to a halt. After college, cheerleading found her again. Eshael cheered and danced semi-professionally as the oldest member of Lady Mutiny (Virginia Mutiny, MDFL). Determined to be active as she approached her 40s, Eshael sought the assistance of a personal trainer and nutritionist to get in shape. Her knee again began to give her trouble. It was then that her trainer recommended Pilates. Eshael found Pilates allowed her to move with the grace she had before her knee injury; it reunited her mind with her body as she found it easier to move and develop muscle while strengthening her core. Eshael is currently a communications and policy professional with the U.S. Government and believes that Pilates can lead to “better living through strength and grace”. Known for her tough but empathetic approach to coaching and training, Eshael enjoys assisting clients to reach their goals. In summer 2020, Eshael will complete her Power Pilates comprehensive certification and hopes to begin Gyrotronic certification in spring 2021. |
