New Classes, New Teachers, New Year!
The new year brings new changes to our group class schedule. Teresa Willis will add a second session to her popular Mat Pilates class, which has both in-studio and virtual options. Starting this week, we will offer Mat Pilates on Tuesdays and Fridays at 9 a.m. This Level 2 class requires familiarity with Pilates, but is safe for those with osteoporosis because of Teresa's knowledge of appropriate modifications.
In addition, we will expand to 6 weekly Onero group classes this month. Starting Jan. 27, Onero participants can choose from classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 12 p.m., 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. Please note: All class participants must pass an assessment with the physical therapist.
Onero is the only strength training program scientifically proven to improve bone density in people with osteopenia and osteoporosis. To get on the waiting list for the program, please contact holly@pilatesvillage.com.
(Photo Back Left to Right: Jodey Lowber, Clare Kresse, Emily Dahl, Holly Holland, Abbie Lawrence; Front Left to Right: Sarah Sullivan, Tina Abundis-Salazar, Nyree Crawford)
Six new Pilates Apprentice Teachers have joined our studio this month as they begin working under the guidance of Pilates Master Teacher Trainers Holly Holland, Teresa Willis, and Jodey Lowber.
Nyree Crawford is an accountant who also served 6 years in the Army National Guard and 3 years in the Air Force National Guard. She said she started taking Pilates lessons because someone told her “that I would get visible abs in 6 weeks. I did not get the visible abs, but it helped in so many others ways I didn't realize I needed – back, shoulders, chest, hips, glutes, and abs.” Nyree said she loves to travel and trying out new restaurants and foods.
Tina Abundis-Salazar is a massage therapist and co-owner of Fascia Therapeutics Bodyworks. She specializes in guiding the developmental needs of babies and children through Cranial Sacral Therapy and facilitating advanced injury and surgical recovery for adults. A former social worker, Tina believes that true recovery is a holistic process that requires both stillness and intentional movement. She maintains a dedicated practice of Pilates and Tai Chi, which informs her understanding of core stability and the body's energetic flow.
Sarah Sullivan discovered Holly's Pilates Village while walking through the neighborhood with her husband and two dogs. She's a graduate of Western Kentucky University and received a law degree from the University of Kentucky. She practices employment law for an in-house legal department. In addition, Sarah also teaches part-time at a local Lagree studio. She is pursuing certification in Mat Pilates primarily to teach people more about movement precision and better breath work.
Abbie Lawrence has a bachelor's degree in Marketing and Professional Selling from Indiana University Southeast. She spent the last four years in New York City working in merchandising and digital marketing. During that time, she developed a Pilates practice that became a transformative cornerstone of her life. She credits it with supporting her joint health, cardiovascular wellness, and overall mind-body connection. She is passionate about mindful movement and helping others develop a deeper awareness of their bodies. She is thrilled to join Holly's Pilates Village and can't wait to share her love of Pilates and mindful movement with the community.
Emily Dahl graduated from the University of Louisville with a bachelor's degree in education. She worked for 4 years as an elementary teacher in the Jefferson County Public Schools before moving to Colorado. After returning to Louisville, she became a massage therapist to nurture people through physical healing. She was drawn to the Pilates practice because it emphasizes movement precision and postural alignment. Emily said she chose the Pilates Teacher Training program at Holly's Pilates Village because of the studio's focus on rehabilitation from injury and illness. She is excited to explore how she can blend her two practices, providing clients with comprehensive treatment plans.
Clare Kresse, who also serves as Business Development Associate at Holly's Pilates Village, has studied dance and movement for the majority of her life, earning a BA in dance from Goucher College in 2020. She also has taught ballet for the past 6 years at the Louisville Academy of Fine Arts. More recently she received her 200hr Yoga Teacher Training in 2024, and in 2025 earned Level 1-3 certification from the American Ballet Theater Teacher. Clare also owns a local dance company, Lou.Co.Lab and works as marketing coordinator for a home maintenance group. She hopes to blend her interest in Pilates and dance to help clients move well as they age.
We're delighted to welcome our new Studio Assistant Brittany Vasquez Cabrera. With experience as a childcare worker, she has developed strong skills in patience, communication, and leadership while creating comfortable and positive environments for others. Brittany, who is bilingual in English and Spanish, is a graduate of Fern Creek High School and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree at Bellarmine University. She looks forward to supporting the Holly's Pilates Village community with professionalism, empathy, and a growing healthcare focused perspective. She will work primarily with Business Manager Barry Holland.
Pilates and professional athletes has been a prominent theme in sports coverage during the past year, a trend that we experienced during Kentucky Derby week in 2025 when Chicago Bears Safety Jonathan Owens visited Holly's Pilates Village for a workout.
ESPN recently focused on the trend among professional football players. Pro football players have commented on the importance of Pilates in a wide range of social media outlets. These include Cincinnati Bengals Linebacker Shaka Heyward, members of the Pittsburgh Steelers team, and the Kansas City Chiefs. As athletes have discovered, Pilates improves balance, flexibility, mind-body focus, core stability, and muscle symmetry. Tight Dallas, a Pilates studio in Texas, explains: "At the heart of every powerful move on the football field is the core. Whether you're sprinting down the field, dodging tackles, or launching a pass, your core is what keeps you balanced, stable, and strong. But here's the kicker—traditional core exercises like crunches and planks only scratch the surface. That's where Pilates comes in. And let's not forget about injury prevention. A strong core helps protect the spine and reduce the risk of common football injuries like pulled muscles and lower back pain.
“LeBron James, the basketball legend, also incorporates Pilates into his training routine to build core strength and enhance his performance on the court. Lebron practices Pilates during his off season and credits this method for his increased flexibility and stamina during his playing season. If it's good enough for LeBron, it's definitely worth a try for pro and amateur athletes alike.”
