Instructor Spotlights
Here’s a fun Q&A so you can learn a little more about each of our Instructors!
Vicki Eyland
1. Favorite physical activity to do other than Pilates? swimming
2. What is your go-to meal you like to cook? My award winning Chili
3. If you had to eat only one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? If you mean type of food, then it would be Indian. If you mean one item, then it would be coconut!
4. If you had to describe your perfect Saturday, what would it look like? Wake up later than 4am. Go for a nice long walk with my pups, Cleo and Charlie. Meet a friend for breakfast. Maybe do a little shopping. Come home and cook a nice dinner and have friends over.
5. If you could be famous for something outside of work, what would it be? I've always wanted to be a singer.
6. If you could have any job for just one week, what would it be? I’d love to be a police woman for a week.
7. If you could spend a day with any famous person, living or dead, who would it be? Annie Lennox
8. What’s the most random thing you’ve bought online that you actually use? A sanitizer for my night guard!! That also cleans jewelry!!
9. Do you have a “guilty pleasure” TV show or movie? Not going to lie, I love a good reality show and I love Law and Order.
10. What are some things you do to increase your longevity? Eat healthy as much as I can. Try to exercise when I am not teaching. I also am learning to try not to let the small things in life that I cannot control stress me out! It’s not easy.
Lauren O’Malley
1. Favorite physical activity to do other than Pilates? Swimming
2. What is your go-to meal you like to cook? Not a particular dish I do but I love anything from Alex Snodgrass from The Defined Dish. She has three cookbooks and a website. I make her meals daily.
3. If you had to eat only one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? Steak
4. If you had to describe your perfect Saturday, what would it look like? A warm sunny day on the boat with friends.
5. If you could be famous for something outside of work, what would it be? A meteorologist on the weather channel.
6. If you could have any job for just one week, what would it be? A meteorologist/ weather girl
7. If you could spend a day with any famous person, living or dead, who would it be? Queen Elizabeth II
8. What’s the most random thing you’ve bought online that you actually use? Something I use everyday is my vegetable chopper from Amazon. Vegetable Chopper... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0764HS4SL?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
9. Do you have a “guilty pleasure” TV show or movie? Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
10. What are some things you do to increase your longevity? Exercise, get plenty of sun, drink plenty of water
Cynthia Xu
1. Favorite physical activity to do other than Pilates? Train pole sports or spinning aerial hammock (not the yoga type, the circus type where you can spin into oblivion).
2. What is your go-to meal you like to cook? Homemade wonton soup
3. If you had to eat only one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? Sushi!
4. If you had to describe your perfect Saturday, what would it look like? Sleep in... make some pancakes ... train on my pole... smash down some noodles for lunch... take the dog out for a hike... Japanese food for dinner... then chill on the couch with a good movie.
5. If you could be famous for something outside of work, what would it be? A famous landscape photographer... because that means I also travel the world
6. If you could have any job for just one week, what would it be? I would love to be a tour guide! Seeing people's joy as they discover new things is just so fulfilling for me.
7. If you could spend a day with any famous person, living or dead, who would it be? Leonardo Da Vinci. Preferably on a day when he wasn't grave robbing.
8. What’s the most random thing you’ve bought online that you actually use? I'm not a big online shopper so no random online purchases to speak of. However, I do have a super random in-person purchase from Good Will. It's a hard-shelled handbag that is shaped like a pig - snout, ears, curly tail, the works! I call him Wayne and he is so impractical that it's actually painful. You have to dissect him every time to put anything in or take anything out.
9. Do you have a “guilty pleasure” TV show or movie? Friends! Hands down.
10. What are some things you do to increase your longevity?
1) Eating well. I'm a trained dietitian so good nutrition has always been a part of my life. However, the enjoyment of food and the overall food experience is also super important to me so I'm not restrictive. I love a slice of good chocolate cake. 2) Meeting the physical activity guidelines 3) Travel - it's so good for the soul. It doesn't have to be to exotic or expensive places either. 4) Spending time with my fur baby. Snuggles with my dog just melt all stress away.
Cathy Heflin
1. Favorite physical activity to do other than Pilates? Walking. I try to walk each day. It’s great for clearing your mind, I listen to a book or podcast, get my daily dose of vitamin D and my steps in.
2. What is your go-to meal you like to cook? Hmmm. That’s a hard one. I cook a lot. A few regulars in the rotation right now are grilled chicken with lots of vegetables, tortilla soup, chicken cutlets on arugula salad and I am trying out more plant based meals.
3. If you had to eat only one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? My sourdough bread.
4. If you had to describe your perfect Saturday, what would it look like? A warm sunny day at the beach with my family. Start with good coffee and a walk, then a book on the beach for the day. Then we eat a yummy dinner outside and play games on the porch (our typical beach vaca day).
5. If you could be famous for something outside of work, what would it be? Not sure I’d like to be famous, but….maybe going with the next question, owner of a famous farm to table restaurant in a beautiful location.
6. If you could have any job for just one week, what would it be? I’d like to be a chef owner at a cozy restaurant (i.e. The Lost Kitchen vibes). And I think after a week that would be out of my system. ;-)
7. If you could spend a day with any famous person, living or dead, who would it be? Right now I would say Ina Garten (listening to her book now). I’m enjoying gardening, cooking, etc. these days and she is not only a smart business woman but has great style.
8. What’s the most random thing you’ve bought online that you actually use? I am a marketer’s dream. This list is too long to pick a favorite. Currently…my vertical garden.
9. Do you have a “guilty pleasure” TV show or movie? I love reality competition shows (The Traitors, Big Brother, Survivor, Top Chef, not picky and trash is ok with me). I know it’s mindless but I can’t look away.
10. What are some things you do to increase your longevity? This topic has been top of mind for me these last few years. I think about my 85 year old dad who bikes 25 miles several times a week. He’s the healthiest he’s been in his life. That inspires me. For me, that means making sure I move everyday in some way. I try to be very mindful of what I eat, focusing on foods that are healthy and beneficial to my overall wellness. (That’s not to say it’s all lettuce and cucumbers for me. Reminder…I have an obsession with sourdough and love a good glass of wine.)
Be sure to check out one of Cathy’s classes—Mondays at 1230 PM and Tuesdays at 1130 AM. Her approach blends classic Pilates exercises with a fun, athletic twist, all delivered with a calm and welcoming vibe.
Judith Tortora
1. Favorite physical activity to do other than Pilates? - Dancing
2. What is your go-to meal you like to cook? - Huevos Rancheros
3. If you had to eat only one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? - Chicken Burrito
4. If you had to describe your perfect Saturday, what would it look like? - Morning walk, brunch, reading a book, taking a nap in the sun.
5. If you could be famous for something outside of work, what would it be? - I would love to be a famous singer.
6. If you could have any job for just one week, what would it be? Pilot
7. If you could spend a day with any famous person, living or dead, who would it be? Josh Gates
8. What’s the most random thing you’ve bought online that you actually use? Stealthcore Trainer
9. Do you have a “guilty pleasure” TV show or movie? - It was Real Housewives of NJ, but now its Expedition Bigfoot or The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch
10. What are some things you do to increase your longevity? - Eat well, sleep well and Pilates.
Beth Graham
1. Favorite physical activity to do other than Pilates? YOGA!!! I like Pilates a lot for the strength and alignment focus I can bring to reformer, but I LOVE Yoga. I have a ruptured C5-6 disc from a car accident in 1987 and with alignment yoga have avoided a fusion. I also like to walk. Any other activities are jarring for my neck so I avoid.
2. What is your go-to meal you like to cook? I don’t really have a favorite meal. I have a rotation of things I cook. I wrote a blog in August about my 30 food evolution to where I am now. I buy most of our food from local farmers. The only processed food in our cupboards is some barley & wheat crackers, pasta from Italy & Ezekiel Bread. Its a lifestyle that my husband, Scott, & I committed to 30 years ago.
3. If you had to eat only one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? I shared on my orthopedic surgeon brother’s podcast (House Calls the Podcast) that I don’t have a favorite food or meal. My food is more organized into groupings of what do I need to eat nutritionally. I just ate two pasture raised eggs on Ezekiel Bread. Probably will have raw dairy Kefir when I’m hungry next. My largest meal is always dinner with grass fed beef, wild salmon or pasture raised chicken, lots of veggies and sometimes winter squash, potatoes or rice and occasionally (once a week pasta). I eat a little fruit apples in winter & more in the summer in my seasonal approach.
4. If you had to describe your perfect Saturday, what would it look like? Coffee outside in the morning sun, taking a yoga class, needlepointing or cross stitching on the deck, taking a walk, having friends or my family over for dinner on our deck…all outside except yoga! Add in the bonus of time with my 4 month granddaughter and life doesn’t get much better (except if it could all be done in Nosara, Costa Rica and not Baltimore lol!).
5. If you could be famous for something outside of work, what would it be? I don’t think I’d ever want “fame”, but if I could sing…I mean really sing and belt it out, that would be cool.
6. If you could have any job for just one week, what would it be? Wow! Light bulb moment. And beyond grateful - I already have it. Teaching yoga at an amazing resort in Costa Rica. Truly one of the best weeks every year.
7. If you could spend a day with any famous person, living or dead, who would it be? Mary because her courage and grace are something I look towards daily.
8. What’s the most random thing you’ve bought online that you actually use? Torches that are solar power and look like fire. I LOVE them!
9. Do you have a “guilty pleasure” TV show or movie? Not really. Scott and I are still watching Law & Order from 1990 & Perry Mason! I do love Clarkson’s Farm and am waiting for the next season.
10. What are some things you do to increase your longevity? I recently saw only 10% of Americans eat healthy (whole & unprocessed) and move/exercise daily. I’m a firm believer that food is our true Health Care. I’m also a medical news “junkie”. I grew up in a medical family and have worked in medical offices. There is so much information available today with podcasts and social media. I’ve always got a doctor or scientist podcast that I’m listening to in the car or while doing things around the house.
Nancy Carlen
1. Favorite physical activity (other than Pilates)? I love spin classes and I also do some lifting at home on my vibration plate for a bit of variety.
2. Go-to meal to cook? I like to keep it simple—either grilled steak or chicken with a big salad. Pan-seared salmon is also a favorite, paired with a hearty salad, of course. My salads always include lots of chopped veggies, a homemade lemon garlic vinaigrette, and some classic croutons.
3. If you had to eat only one food for the rest of my life? If I could get all the nutrition I need, I’d go for marshmallow donuts from Simon’s Bakery. But if I need something with a little more balance, it would probably be some version of a taco salad!
4. Perfect Saturday? It would start with a short workout, followed by making breakfast with my daughter. Then, we’d spend the day at the beach, and end it with dinner outside, with live music and a few cocktails sprinkled in throughout the day.
5. If you could be famous for something outside of work? I’d love to be an author—writing books that resonate with people sounds amazing.
6. Any job for just one week? I’d love to be a touring singer, traveling and performing for a week sounds like so much fun!
7. Spending a day with any famous person? I’d spend a day with Betty White—it would be a hoot! Or maybe Lady Di, her story would be fascinating to hear.
8. Most random thing ever bought online? Boka toothpaste!
9. Guilty pleasure TV show? I’m a big fan of Young and the Restless—I’ve watched it since I was a kid! I also love Law and Order SVU; I can watch it any time of day, whether I’ve seen the episode before or not.
10. Things you do to increase longevity? I try to exercise 5-6 days a week, drink lots of water, and eat healthy most of the time. I could probably get more sleep, though. But hey, no one's perfect, right?