Carmel Trejo
Carmel Trejo believes that building awareness through movement is what brings about change in the body. Always in perpetual motion, she has a background in gymnastics, dressage, snowboarding, bodysurfing, yoga, and mountain biking. She particularly loves the synergy and correlation between Thai Massage and Pilates. She began practicing Thai Massage in 2001 and currently teaches classes at the International Professional School of Bodywork. She continually studies in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and recently co-wrote a Thai Massage book with Dr. Richard Gold. In 2007, she began training with Julian. Currently a trainer at the studio, Carmel also cares for clients through Thai Massage. This massage technique combines pressure point work with gentle stretching movements to rejuvenate the entire body.
Jessie Chatigny
Jessie Chatigny has been a student of movement her entire life. She has taught dance, gymnastics, surfing and rock climbing in the past, but it was only after she discovered Pilates that she felt she was truly supporting her body. After continuous Pilates training, she found she was better at all the things she loved to do! Certified by Julian through the PMA, she has been an instructor at J.L. Body Conditioning since 2006. She is also a grant writer. In her spare time, you can find Jessie at the beach.
Liv Isaacs-Nollet
Liv Isaacs-Nollet was born and raised in San Diego where she began dancing at the age of four. Her parents, Jean Isaacs and Patrick Nollet, are known for their work in the San Diego dance community, starting Three’s Company and Dancers in 1970 (now known as San Diego Dance Theater). Liv holds a B.F.A. in dance from the State University of New York at Purchase College and dances professionally with San Diego Dance Theater. She began doing and teaching Pilates in early 2007 and continues to learn through Julian and working with clients everyday.
Suzanne Wise
Suzanne Wise was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan where she began dancing at the age of four. Unable to continue dance in college due to injuries to her foot, she found an outlet through rowing and competed with Beach Crew at Cal State University Long Beach. Her passion for movement also lead her to yoga, African dance, kayaking, running, swimming and biking but it wasn’t until she discovered Pilates that she found a connection to her background in dance. After graduating from San Diego State University with a BA in Painting and Printmaking, she completed her Pilates certification through Julian Littleford. She has taken many continuing education courses through the Pilates Method Alliance (PMA) and is PMA Certified. Aside from teaching body awareness through movement with Pilates she pursues her other passions, art and nutrition, and runs a raw food catering business, Wise Living Foods.
Ginny Kaufmann
Ginny Kaufmann has been a life-long devotee to the art of movement. She grew up dancing and competing as a nationally ranked equestrian vaulter (a unique combination of dance and gymnastics on horseback) and discovered Pilates in 2002 to be the perfect complement to the physical demands of her lifestyle. After graduating from the University of Southern California in 2007 with a BA in fine arts, she received her Pilates teaching certification from Julian in 2007 and continued on as an instructor until she moved to Los Angeles to complete the professional designation fashion design program at FIDM. Ginny recently moved back to the area where she continues her Pilates career and pursues her dream of launching her own swimwear line. In her spare time, Ginny enjoys surfing, snowboarding, dance, and fashion.
Renata Cortina
Renata Cortina was born and raised in Brazil where nature is a way of life. She grew up participating in many sports and has always enjoyed working hard in order to achieve a goal. In 2002, after she had her first child, she began training individuals as a personal trainer. In 2006, she decided she wanted achieve a higher level of certification and became certified through ACE (American Council on Exercise). In 2009, she began to train with Pilates and realized that Pilates was what she was missing in life. She decided that she wanted to share her new found awareness with her clients and began her training with what she considers the best Pilates training studio in San Diego., JL Body conditioning. She fell in love with Pilates and she believes Pilates is a life style change not an exercise routine. Renata loves to dance and enjoy life to the fullest. When she is not training, she is spending time with her husband, children and friends.
Nathalie Brilliant
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Nathalie Brilliant has a history in dance, gymnastics, soccer, field hockey, lacrosse, track, surfing, and snowboarding. She found dance early on through her mother, a dance teacher, and now Pilates studio owner. In 2010, Nathalie graduated from Wesleyan University with a BA in Psychology, and continued on to teach snowboarding at Mammoth Mountain. After an injury on the slopes, Nathalie turned to Pilates, through her mother’s guidance, and came to J.L. Body Conditioning in 2011 to get back in shape, and reconnect with her body. This past year, in 2012, Nathalie began teaching and working with Julian through Balanced Body. Nathalie is a new mom, and enjoys taking her son to museums, listening to her husband jam on the guitar, painting and reading in her spare time. Nathalie believes body-mind awareness through Pilates promotes a balanced and beautiful way of life.
Megan Gjovig
Megan Gjovig was born and raised in Williston, North Dakota, where she was active in figure skating, sports, and music from a young age. In 2005, Megan completed her Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Music Business at Belmont University in Nashville, TN. Her lifelong love of fitness led her to the practice of Pilates in 2008. She loved the long, lean muscle development that resulted, and her new-found core stability provided relief to chronic low back pain. While working in sales and Real Estate, she decided to pursue Pilates as her career, and completed Balanced Body University’s comprehensive certification at Simply Balanced in Nashville, TN in 2012. Megan has since furthered her education by attending continuing education courses at Pilates on Tour and is also PMA certified. In search of mentoring and a deeper understanding of Pilates, Megan came to Julian Littleford in 2013 and completed his certification. Megan is most passionate about helping clients achieve their fitness and athletic goals through Pilates. In her spare time, Megan enjoys watching hockey, being active in her church, and walking or running at the beach.