Instructor Bios

Cynthia Latimer, RYT: Yoga
Cynthia realized the power that yoga had the minute she stepped onto a mat. Intrigued by the teachings and the beauty of the practice she did her first teacher training at the Himalayan Institute in Honesdale Pennsylvania. She works continuously with her most valued teacher from the institute to put the lessons of yoga into practice in her daily life; themes she incorporates in all her classes. In the beginning of 2007 Cynthia finished her second training at Moksha Yoga Center Chicago. She currently teaches full time in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs.

Cynthia has had the wonderful fortune of studying with teachers from all over the world but has been greatly influenced by; Pandit Jerome Smith, Ana Forrest, Tias Little, Gabriel Halpern, Sandy Anderson, Rolf Solvic, Daren Friesen, and Sean Corn.

Cynthia's classes are influenced by Iyengar, Anusara and Vinyasa styles of yoga, leaving her students feeling rejuvenated and centered, and in that presence, finding the strength to let go of what is no longer needed and discover the personal power and grace that we all possess.

Brian Carmany: Yoga
One day, Brian wandered into a yoga class at his gym on a lark; suffice it to say that he was instantly hooked and his gym membership soon cancelled. Brian is grateful to share yoga with students at all levels, striving to create an environment that provides each student with an empowering, rewarding practice. He believes in the power of yoga to enrich, expand, and complement one's life regardless of age, flexibility, size, and physical abilities. His classes encourage others to strengthen and have fun, all the while integrating the body and mind. Having completed his Teacher Training at Yogaview, Brian counts himself blessed with having had the opportunity to study under a number of amazingly gifted instructors, among whom he counts Joey Tran, Alie McManus, Claire Mark, and Sue Rexford.

Carol Horton, Ph.D., RYT: Yoga
Over the past 12 years, Carol's involvement with yoga has grown from a once-a-week add-on to working out at the gym into a daily practice that is a centering force in her life. After studying a variety of methods, Carol settled on Forrest Yoga as the path that leads her most directly to the many profound benefits of yoga. Studying yoga has enabled her to experience life in new ways, shifting from a focus on the "life of the mind" to an entirely new appreciation of the wisdom of the body. Over time, Carol has come to trust yoga as a means of working toward living a more holistic, empowered, and authentic life.

As a teacher, Carol encourages students to connect with the positive energy of yoga and use it in ways that most benefit them. While emphasizing proper bodily alignment, she believes that what's really important is not "getting the pose right," but rather making it work for you. Her goal is to enable students to leave each class feeling not only physically and mentally refreshed, but also more in touch with their own power, potential, and connection with life.

Blanca Aviles: Yoga
Blanca recieved her teaching certification from Moksha Yoga Center in 2003 at the young age of 18. It was her mother who first inspired her to pursue the path of yoga and has supported her journey ever since. Blanca has studied with master teachers: Shiva Rea in Vinyasa flow, and Purna yoga from Aadil Pahkivala. Her recent study with Ashtanga teacher Kino Macgregor, has sparked a passion for ashtanga yoga. She has dedicated her daily practice to this traditional form.

Blanca has a degree in dance from Columbia College Chicago and also intensively trains the Brazilian martial art Capoeira. It is no surprise to experience a blend of these beautiful practices within Blanca’s creative vinyasa flow classes. Her priority as a teacher is to offer a space where her students can deepen their practice through pranyama, asana, and meditation, and leave class with an overall feeling of ease and wellbeing

Kelly Landrigan: Yoga
Kelly loves the wonderful synergy of holistic health, heartfelt spirituality, and open minded philosophy within the world of yoga.

Kelly began her study of yoga and meditation in 2000. She tried many different styles and because she loved the journey so much she decided to share the benefits of yoga with others. She received her 200 hour teacher training from Global Yoga Center under the caring guidance of Rhonda Kantor. She continued her training both as a teacher and a student (after all, one never really stops being a student!) directly after receiving her certification, spending time with great teachers such as Ana Forrest and Aadil Palkhivala, and continuing to refine her skills with Anusara certified teacher Rita Knorr on a monthly basis.

Currently, Kelly is deeply committed to daily study of Anusara Yoga, founded by John Friend. The life affirming philosophy, universal principles of alignment, and the celebration of kula (community) in Anusara resonate fully with her. (For more information go to www.anusara.com). Kelly gives thanks to the Chicago area Anusara and Anusara-inspired teachers and to her teachers Todd Norian and Ann Greene for their dedication and support.

Blessings of health and fun to all! Namaste.

Marcy: Pilates Mat and Equipment
Marcy's Pilates certifications are through 'Power Pilates' and Bally's Total Fitness. She teaches Classical Pilates on both the Mat and Reformer. Classical Pilates is a proven method for increasing total body strength, developing core muscle control, elongating the spine while improving posture, and increasing over all flexibility. Her classes emphasize proper form in order to get the most benefit from each exercise. Marcy and her husband raised their four adult daughters in Hyde Park. In her life outside Pilates she runs her own garden consulting business and is involved in the community, serving on various boards and volunteering in the public schools and on several gardening projects

Marylee Brussard: Pilates Mat and Equipment
I began my Pilates journey in the year 2000. Like many people, I came to Pilates via physical therapy. In my case, it was hyper-mobility, a condition of being too flexible, exacerbated by a steady diet of dance and yoga stretches, which led to my injuries. Therapy showed me the importance of balancing flexibility and muscular strength. Consequently, I became an avid fan of Pilates, and in 2004, certified in Pilates Mat through the Physicalmind Institute. For two years I taught extensively throughout Sarasota, Florida. Upon moving to Chicago in 2006, I enrolled in the year-long Power Pilates certification program. Since my journey began, I have observed hundreds of bodies over thousands of Pilates sessions. I am constantly honing my skills through self-study and continuing education with the leaders in the field.

Power Pilates is a classical system of training. It stays true to the original ideas and intent of Joseph Pilates, an approach that I feel, best equips the instructor to stay focused on what's most important-conveying the fundamentals. In my sessions, you will learn through moving and sweating… in other words, you'll come to understand the concepts in your body and then your brain… and you'll get a great workout! Through constant dialogue and observation of your body in motion, we will identify and correct postural issues, muscle imbalances, misalignment, and breathing patterns.

Erika Nolan: Pilates Mat
Erika has had a devoted Pilates and Yoga practice for over 9 years. Erika discovered Yoga while in Indonesia on her honeymoon. Once returning to Chicago, Erika was determined to bring the balance and spirituality of Yoga into her daily life. The studio at which she practiced Yoga also offered Pilates classes. After her first Pilates mat class she was hooked! She was instantly amazed on how both Pilates and Yoga together balanced not only her mind but her physical body. After 15 years of a stressful retail career and 2 amazing children, Erika decided to leave her executive life behind and focus on her family. Erika had always dreamed of teaching either Yoga or Pilates. She recently fulfilled that dream and received her Pilates Mat certification through the Power Pilates program at Body Endeavors in Chicago.

Erika's style is a fusion of all the amazing teachers who have influenced her throughout the years. Erika's classes focus on the classical Pilates approach to teaching, in a movement-based, systematic yet flowing style. As Joseph Pilates once said "Movement Heals" and Erika likes to live by that mantra and hope that her students will too!

Joia Benson: Pilates Mat and Equipment
A certified Pilates instructor since the year 2000, Joia was trained in Los Angeles through the Balanced Body Teacher Training program and owned her own studio in Santa Monica, CA. During those eight years of teaching she worked with all types of clients: from teenagers to seniors, from beginning to advanced levels, pre- and post-natal women, as well as clients with physical rehabilitation needs. Using her training in classical Pilates, she designs challenging and fun Pilates programs for her students which get results. She also enjoys helping her clients create an individualized health and fitness plan, utilizing her background in the study of nutrition. In 2008, Joia graduated with an MFA in Painting and Drawing from Claremont Graduate University in California. She is excited about being back in her hometown of Chicago and to be part of the team at Three Pillars.

Tim Wang: Tai Chi and Group Kickboxing
Tim Wang is the founder and director of the Three Pillars Wellness Center. He teaches the Tai Chi classes and has been practicing since 1995. His college background is in Polymer Engineering but hasn't been in that field for a long time. Since 1992, he has been a full time Personal Fitness Trainer and Shiatsu Massage Therapist. As a continuation of his long-term work with his massage and training clients, he became a Life Coach in 1999 and is a CoachU graduate. The Three Pillars Wellness Center is an extension of Tim's passion for teaching people how to connect with their bodies and live happily in them, and how a healthy body is one component of a healthy, well-balanced life.

V'la Gonzales: Tai Chi for Seniors
V'la studied Tai Chi for Health (Yang Style) and an abbreviated form designed to benefit dancers and actors under the instruction of Hubert H. Lui in Chicago, at Columbia College beginning in 1972. As her interest in Tai Chi deepened, she continued her studies while carrying her second child and noticed that she was able to maintain a very comfortable weight throughout her pregnancy as well as practice with grace and balance to full term. She broadened her research and experience by traveling to China in 1980. Since that time she has taught Tai Chi and Hatha Yoga in dance centers, theatres, YMCAs, community centers, Wellness Day Seminars, corporate offices and the Ebony Fashion Fair National Tour.

Summer: Belly Dancing
Summer has been dancing Raks sharki, professionally for over 4 years. Raks is the Arabic word for dance. Raks sharki is North African/Middle Eastern style cabaret dance (belly dance). Summer has studied with many teachers in this dance form but her main instructor is Khalidah Kali of Khalidah's North Afrikan Dance Experience. Summer does Raks Sharki and folk dances of the Middle East & North Africa. Summer's teaching method is incorporates technique, breathing, cultural information and just plain fun. It's a fun and exciting way of learning to belly dance while exercising and relieving stress. This dance form provides a low impact total body workout, is energizing, and is wonderful for women's physical and emotional wellness.