Clarissa Smirnov
Certified Pilates Instructor & Functional Trainer
I started pilates as a dancer at the age of 17 in my own search for more strength and less pain. Ever since, it has been a key component in my ability to lead an active and fulfilling lifestyle. As a certified instructor with a strong background in bio-mechanics and movement anatomy, I have over 20,000 hours of hands-on instruction, over two decades of practical experience, and I am very passionate about helping people move well, with strength and no pain. Through my desire to share the life changing benefits I personally experienced, I developed a method that combines Pilates and Neuromuscular Retraining to bridge the gap between Fitness and Physical Therapy and make Pilates more accessible to everyone regardless of age, fitness level or flexibility.
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I fell in love with Pilates because it transformed my body, but mainly because by practicing it consistently, I've been able to overcome injuries, exercise without pain, eat the foods I love, feel confident in my body and do more of what makes me happy. Furthermore, the mindfulness that comes along with the practice has helped me feel more aligned, centered and better able to manage stress and anxiety. I’d describe it as a gained ability to find the calm in the chaos and carry myself with more confidence and grace. I always feel better in both my mind and body after a proper Pilates session.
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My mission is to empower you through movement and fitness to live your best life. I’m a firm believer that physical fitness is a pre-requisite to happiness. Personally, I am happiest when my body can keep up with the demands of my lifestyle with left over energy to do the things I enjoy. As I continue through my own journey, I am greatly inspired and emotionally rewarded by the transformation I get to see everyday in my students bodies and lives. My hope is to provide you with an experience that will guide you toward a more mindful way of moving and taking care of your body, so that meeting your fitness goals means lifelong success – whatever they may be.
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Purpose and mindfulness are key elements of my teaching style. I pay close attention to alignment and form so you can expect to be corrected and feel challenged in each session. I take the time to teach technique and continuously guide you toward progress with a high level of care for your wellbeing and safety. With a strong background in bio mechanics and movement anatomy, I use my knowledge and training in Pilates, Functional Training and Movement Pattern Retraining to design result driven workouts and efficient sequences that strengthen the whole body and correct compensation patterns, improve posture, increase joint function and teach you to integrate your core with everything that you do – in our sessions and in your life.
My Story
Even though I danced throughout my early years, I didn’t really feel strong and being active often resulted in pain. In those days, staying in shape often meant maintaining a restrictive diet while staying pain free meant avoiding the activities I enjoyed. I wasn’t living my fullest potential.
