JODIE M. GORDON, LCSW-C

The mind-body connection is the root of my workout philosophy. I have been instilling this ideology in my clients: athletes, dancers, prenatal/postnatal women, perimenopausal and postmenopausal women, mature adults, men and anyone who wants to feel strong and confident since 1998.  

I credit my deep appreciation and understanding of the mind/body connection to my experience at the Kennedy Krieger Institute, where I helped children with significant medical, development and emotional challenges. It helped me truly understand the importance of movement and learn to view individuals based on their strengths rather than their limitations. My years of clinical experience influenced my philosophy and mission to help others achieve their physical, mental and spiritual goals.

I motivate clients to improve posture, flexibility, core strength, balance, and maintain strength and bone density as they age.

Credentials:
+ Peak Pilates, Boulder, Colorado — Mat, Reformer, Tower & Cadillac Levels I, II & III, Chair and Barrel Levels I & II
+ Stott Pilates, Toronto, Canada — Mat and Reformer
+ Physical Mind Institute, New York — Mat Pilates
+ Personal Trainer — AFAA
+ University of Maryland — Masters in Clinical Social Work
+ Continued study in other areas of body/mind work such as muscle activation technique, the behavioral aspects of weight loss and weight training, psychological treatment of trauma, and Perimenopause/Menopause

KRISTY SOLTESZ

Twenty years ago, Kristy began her Pilates and yoga practice to address posture, alignment, and flexibility — and what started as a personal journey quickly became a calling. That experience led to a daily practice and, eventually, a transition from student to instructor.

Kristy is trained through Balanced Body and brings extensive group fitness experience to every class she teaches. Her background is as unique as her teaching style — she holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Cleveland Institute of Art, where she majored in figurative sculpture and studied anatomy for medical illustration. That foundation gives her a rare eye for the body: she understands alignment, proportion, and movement in a way that translates directly into precise, thoughtful cueing.

What her clients notice most is the energy she brings into the room. Kristy approaches every class with creativity, enthusiasm, and genuine kindness — creating an environment where students feel challenged, supported, and genuinely glad they showed up.

LAURA ASHLEY WINELANDER

As a dancer, my love for movement started early in life. I moved to New York City in 2005 to pursue a fellowship with Alvin Ailey dance company. During my time dancing in NYC, I discovered a new passion, The Pilates method, where I gained new levels of flexibility and strength. In 2008 I received my full mat and equipment Comprehensive Pilates Certification through Power Pilates in NYC. I worked for several years at Core Pilates NYC and Equinox before starting my own concierge fitness business, Laura Ashley Pilates LLC. Always looking to grow, learn, and expand my knowledge of movement, I was certified through BASI (the Body Arts and Science International) Master Pilates Teacher program, in Costa Mesa, California in 2018. I have spent the last 3 years teaching Pilates, Barre, Spin, and TRX throughout South Florida. I am passionate about teaching to all fitness levels, ages, and pre/post natal through classical, mat, reformer, contemporary, and clinical pilates. I always leave clients feeling motivated, challenged and inspired.

Sonja Sugerman

Sonja is thrilled to be part of Embody’s incredible team supporting the Pilates community of Baltimore!  While Sonja has worked professionally in the non-profit world for her whole career, she has a kinesthetic understanding of the body and the ways it can move because of her years of dancing. She first started taking Pilates classes 13 years ago after the birth of her second child and fell in love! Her passion for Pilates grew over the years, and through her third pregnancy, and she believes it is a way to connect and reconnect to your body in an ever evolving way. Sonja is trained in the STOTT PILATES method through C2 Pilates, educated in both Mat, Reformer, Tower, Cadillac, Barrel, and specialized training in injury and aging. Sonja’s desire is to help people move with continued strength, flexibility, and ease through all stages of life.

Kelly Hirina

To sustain a professional dance career without injury, Kelly cross-trained in Pilates and yoga while living and working in Europe. Not only did she experience the benefits in both body and mind, but it also helped her increase her potential as an artist. When deciding to retire from performing in 2016, she completed the Pilates equipment training at a boutique studio in Amsterdam to learn to work with all bodies. She then returned to the U.S. to attain her M.F.A. at the University of Michigan and is currently an Assistant Professor of Dance at the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University.  She loves training a wide range of people from professional athletes to absolute beginners and hopes to ignite the joy for movement through the practice of Pilates.

Sikira Alexander

Krissy Link Fritz

As a registered respiratory therapist with eight years of clinical experience, Krissy has dedicated her career to helping others improve their health and well-being, starting with the breath. Her passion for movement began long before her healthcare career—she has been a runner since her teens and discovered strength training in college, where she developed a love for building strength, resilience, and confidence through exercise. During the COVID-19 pandemic, after experiencing firsthand the challenges and burnout faced by healthcare professionals, she felt called to make a greater impact through preventive health and wellness. This inspired her to earn her Personal Training Certification through NASM and help individuals improve their health through movement and sustainable lifestyle habits. Then she discovered Pilates and immediately connected with the practice. As a respiratory therapist, she was especially drawn to the powerful connection between breath and movement. She quickly experienced how Pilates enhanced her strength, balance, body awareness, and overall performance, inspiring her to begin instructor training through Balanced Body. Her teaching philosophy blends athletic conditioning with the principles of Pilates and emphasizes mastering foundational movement patterns. She believes strength, mobility, balance, and body awareness are essential building blocks for long-term health. Her goal is to help clients move with confidence, build lasting strength, and discover what their bodies are capable of achieving.