Keysha Bradford was born abroad and spent most of her younger years in California & Germany, but she now calls Birmingham her home after moving here to attend UAB where she received her BA in Journalism. After working in sales for several years and most recently as a pharmaceutical representative, she fell in love with Pilates while attending Power Pilates classes in New York City. With that said, she had the desire to help grow Pilates in the Birmingham area while making it affordable and family oriented without sacrificing quality. She received her Pilates training certification from Power Pilates in Atlanta which is based on the original teachings of Joseph Pilates. Keysha is an active member of the Pilates Method
Alliance.
Suzanne Graham combines a flowing style with a focus on strength, breath, lightheartedness and a quiet spirituality. She finds that Yoga provides the connection between the physical body, the true self, and divine energy of the universe. Suzanne is a two hundred hour Kripalu certified instructor, a member of the Yoga Alliance, and a level II Thai Yoga practitioner. Suzanne is also the daytime studio manager for SoHo-PiYo.
Krista Jones has always been interested in a healthy lifestyle and a sense of well-being. For her this lifestyle is possible through her yoga practice, which has been going strong for many years. She first fell in love with yoga during her college years when she discovered how well it enhanced the pastimes she already enjoyed - Rock Climbing, Trapeze, and Belly Dancing. After graduating from the University of Georgia with an Anthropology degree, she decided to go into education. Krista is currently a Montessori teacher at Hilltop Montessori School, where she enjoys working, playing and practicing yoga with the 3 through 6 year-olds. As she became more comfortable with her day job, she then decided thatto share her passion for yoga by teaching part time in the community. Krista attended the Tallapoosa Center for Inner Arts in Carrollton, Georgia, where she received her Yoga Alliance 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training certificate. Shortly thereafter, Krista enrolled in the Mamaste Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training Program, which conforms to the safety guidelines of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). She enjoys teaching many different styles of yoga including Hatha, Partner, Prenatal, and Mom & Baby.
Robin Bidleman lives in Homewood, Alabama and is the mothes of two children. Her interest in Pilates started about 9 years ago. She was a student for 4 years. Then her love of Pilates and her son's getting his driver's license made it possible for her to get her certification. Besides Soho/Piyo, she also teaches at Protective Life and the YMCA. She has additional certifications in Body Flow, Gravity and Gravity Pilates. She has also enjoyed sharing ideas and taking classes in Denver, Las Vegas, and other cities. She finds teaching very gratifying and enjoys watching each student improve and become increasingly confident in their skills. She is extremely pleased to have joined the team at Soho/ Piyo.
Robin Meche first became interested in pilates around 2000. Robin really started attending classes when she was 4 weeks pregnant with my 2nd child. I wanted to see changes in my pregnancy and recovery with a second c-section. Even though I was active in step aerobics, kickboxing, spinning and BodyPump, Robin immediately saw the difference in Pilates. She knew there was something special about Pilates because she lost the baby weight within 1 week and saw so much improvement in every aspect of my life. Robin stood taller and could go through all crisis calmly. She was certified in 2005 and began teaching at the YMCA's of Birmingham. Robin loves to teach classes and get to know students and see their improvement and strengths grow. She continually studies Pilates and learns more everyday through DVD, internet and books.
Jasper Elliott-Wolfe is a certified Yoga instructor.... more info coming soon
Gabriela Pomplova first studied Yoga in the Czech Republic at Prague Yoga studio in an interdisciplinary style receiving 200 RYT, registered with hte U.S. Yoga Alliance. In the early days of her prace, when she still was working "in an office from 8 to 5, yoga helped her release and balance the fluctuating flow of her emotions besides the physical workout. In time, the workOUT transformed into workIN experience. To further her yogic experience she has attended workshops while traveling and teaching in Costa Rica, Turks & Caicos, and New Zealand. She going to complete 500 hours of teacher training with Shiva Rea this year, concentrating in Chakra, Five elements and Vinyasa Flow yoga. While she was in New Zeland she volunteered with IHC (The New Zealand Society for the Intellectually Handicapped). The students, many of whom have down syndrome or autism, were able to experience art and yoga with Gabriela. Getting involved with hte community through volunteering or with the Global mala (in West Palm Beach, FL and Birmingham, AL) is a way to communicate her passion for yoga with a broader audience. She tries to communicate in a similar way through her artwork the PRANA/life energy, in each painting, mosaic or graphic project. She looks forward to sharing her creativity and yoga with you!
Norma-Jill Jacobson began practicing yoga as a young child in South Africa as a student of Kavi Yogiraj Mani Finger and later with his son Yoga master Alan Finger (Yoga Zone). Although Norma-Jill followed the Sivandanda tradition for many years, her practice evolved over time to a more eclectic approach as she found inspiration from teachers of many disciplines. In addition to her formal teacher training program, she has participated extensively in workshops with yogis including Rodney Yee, Doug Keller, Sean Tebor, Max Strom and Arthur Kilmurray. "To me Yoga becomes a way of life. Although the first noticeable changes are increased physical strength and flexibility, the committed student begins to notice subtle shifts spiritually, emotionally and mentally. By focusing on the profound inner lessons of yoga, life becomes more joyful, harmonious and meaningful over time." Norma-Jill has been teaching for almost 20 years. Classes tend to be gentle and are suitable for new students as well as for seasoned students wishing to deepen their practice. Her teaching style emphasizes body awareness, alignment, and the integration of mindfulness and ease in the yoga practice.
Jean Campbell has been practicing yoga for more than 20 years, and I would say that yoga actually found me. Jean tried a work out tape my girlfriend loaned me and had no idea I was doing yoga. Something in that tape struck a chord with her. She investigated further and discovered the practice of yoga gave Jean something she had not experienced before, but knew was important. Since then, Jean's personal practice has developed from my exploration with many styles and teachers and was finally rounded out with Heartwood Yoga’s teaching certification program. "As a yoga instructor I believe it is my role to assist the student in discovering their own inner teacher. Co-teaching facilitates growth and safety and allows the practice to be tailored to the individual's needs." Techniques for creating a balanced practice and moving inward will be demonstrated and students will be shown methods for becoming better caretakers of their own well-being." Jean is registered with the Yoga Alliance as an instructor at the 200-hour level. She trained with Kate Tremblay and John LeMunyon at Heartwood Yoga in Birmingham, Alabama and received her certification in May of 2009. Jean lives in Homewood with her husband, 2 dogs and numerous cats.
Kerry Meon , RYT, began practicing yoga in college in an effort to heal her body from physical injuries sustained playing basketball, and found the practice to heal her mind and soul as well. “The calming acceptance that I found within the yogic community was like nothing I had experienced in the other realms of my life. I could feel the transformation happening little by little.”
After a ten day Vipassana meditation retreat in Thailand in 2004, she returned home inspired to attend a 200 hour Hatha yoga teacher training in Sedona, Arizona. At 7 Centers yoga studio, Kerry studied Hatha yoga and Ayurveda.
She also went on to receive her 60 hour prenatal teacher training at Golden Bridge Kundalini Yoga Center in New York City and to explore Restorative yoga at Kripalu Yoga Center in Lenox, Massachusetts.
“ I have a passion for studying all styles of yoga and bringing that variety and freshness to my classes. “
Jennifer Kulbersh, was born and raised in North Carolina but moved to Birmingham five years ago. Jennifer’s love with Pilates began during her time in college in Raleigh, North Carolina. She has been active in the Pilates movement for almost a decade. She has received training from Balance Body University and is currently working towards further certifications. She enjoys teaching Pilates as a part of her active healthy lifestyle with specific interest in the Reformer and the Cadillac.