Our Team – You can work with us face to face online or in the studio!
Vicki Elliott-Brown
Owner and Teacher of Pilates, Tai Chi, Personal Fitness Training
Hello and Welcome! I have a passion for helping people discover and grow their inner core strengths by offering thoughtful, compassionate wellness modalities to my clients, personalizing workouts to suit individual needs. For over 25 years I have developed a wide knowledge base in many exercise disciplines to help clients feel better, move better, look better. Training and specialties include: Pilates mat and equipment from CORE Dynamics Pilates and PHI Pilates; Pilates for MS & Neurological Conditions, Hole in One Pilates for Golf, Tai Chi for Fall Prevention/ Arthritis (Dr. Paul Lam); Seated Tai Chi; Tai Chi for Energy; Tai Chi Moving for Better Balance; Tai Chi Yang Style 24 Forms; AFAA Personal Fitness Training, SilverSneakers; YMCA Active Older Adult Training. and various other group fitness training certifications. I love to work with a wide variety of ages and needs, and have had years of experience working with mature clients, as well as with special conditions like Arthritis, ALS, MS and Parkinson’s Disease. I also specialize in posture and movement patterns that can be life changing. In January, 2015, I opened Ellio Pilates, Tai Chi & More in Fort Myers, FL. My mission is to provide thoughtful, responsible and appropriate guidance for people of all ages who seek to live healthier lives with less pain and more vigor using mind-body connecting forms of exercise and self awareness.
Jemetta Hunt
Instructor of Foundation Training; Stott Pilates; Buff Bones®, The Miracle Ball Method; Tai Chi; Golf Conditioning; Health Coach; Personal Fitness Training; Nutrition Expert.
Jemetta is a lifelong educator of health and fitness, with a M.Ed. from the University of Massachusetts and a B.A. from Purdue University. After 27 years of service in public education as a licensed Physical Education & Health teacher, and school administrator, she retired and started teaching group fitness classes. Jemetta is an ACE (American Council on Exercise) certified Personal Fitness Trainer and Health Coach. And holds certifications in Stott Pilates, Buff Bones®; Foundation Training; The Miracle Ball Method; Tai Chi for Arthritis; Functional Anatomy for Movement & Injuries; Holistic Fitness; Balance Training; Exercise Development for Golf Conditioning; Nutrition for the Fitness Specialist. Jemetta joined the staff at Ellio in January of 2015 and with great love, commitment and care, she teaches private sessions as well as a variety of classes and monthly workshops.
Jackie Novak
Instructor
Pilates equipment & mat. Post Rehabilitation Conditioning, Yoga, ZenGa, Total Barre
Hello, I am Jackie Novak, and I am originally from London, England. I trained to be a professional dancer, beginning at the age of 3 at Arts Educational School, studying many different dance forms and graduating as an Associate of The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing. In the mid-1990s I became interested in Yoga and completed the Professional Yoga Therapy program through Integrative Yoga Therapy. Further studies in Mind Body movement modalities led me to STOTT PILATES becoming a Certified Instructor with Specialization in Post Rehabilitation Conditioning and Group Matwork, as well as ZenGa and Total Barre.
Before moving to beautiful SW Florida in 2016 I lived in Maryland and North Carolina where I was an instructor and studio owner. I love sharing Mindful Movement in either Private Sessions or Group Classes drawing on my diverse training and over 25 years of teaching experience.
Elise Kaplovitz – THE GYROTONIC® Method
Instructor THE GYROTONIC EXPANSION SYSTEM®
Elise Kaplovitz started her career as a dancer, choreographer and dance teacher in Cleveland, Ohio. An injury lead to the discovery of Pilates and her interest in healing the body through movement. Studying with Michele Larsson, an elder in Core Dynamics Pilates, she was certified in Pilates in 2000. Elise continued her studies and completed a Dance Medicine Internship in 2002 which involved experiencing different modalities of movement as it applies to bringing the body into balance. This is where she was introduced to THE GYROTONIC EXPANSION SYSTEM®. Working with Julio Horvath, the creator of the system, and many other Master Trainers, she was certified in the machine work and stool work in 2003. This integrative Work became her passion and still is after 19 years of exploring the techniques. Elise has traveled worldwide studying the many different applications of THE GYROTONIC® Method and plans on continuing the journey. Elise will teach at Ellio in season only.
Kat Sturgis
Instructor The GYROKINESIS® Method
Kat Sturgis has been both a student and teacher of movement for many years, with experience ranging from ballet and ballroom dance to Pilates and more. Kat loves to share movement with others to help them feel good inside and out. She has taught dancercise, ballet and is a certified trainer in the GYROKINESIS® method of movement.
Mary Robinson
Instructor
Mindfulness Meditation
Mary Robinson, MA, MS, LMFT. Mary is a devoted practitioner of Mindfulness meditation continuing to study extensively and teach in the areas of Mindfulness, stress reduction and meditation. She has facilitated mindfulness workshops, classes and meditation groups in Southwest Florida for more than ten years through the sponsorship of the non-profit organization Hearts’ Path to Mindful Living, Inc. As a workshop facilitator, Mary has more than 30 years of experience in personal growth and awareness. Sharing mindfulness as a method for reducing stress began in 2005 following participation in a professional training program with Jon Kabat-Zinn, originator of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction.™
Mary is a graduate of the University of South Florida Department of Rehabilitation Counseling and the School of Higher Education, Florida State University. Licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist she has had a private mental health practice in Lee County since 1979.
Anastasija Pak-Galvin
Pilates Teacher, Personal Fitness Trainer
Hello! I’m Anastasija (Nastia) Pak-Galvin, corporate Human Resources professional, and passionate Fitness and Pilates teacher. Born and raised in Europe, I was a competitive gymnast and dancer for 10 years. I moved to the USA in 2001 to pursue a graduate business degree and follow fitness as my second career and have been guiding clients in fitness for over 15 years. Trainings and specialties: Comprehensive Pilates Instructor (Core Dynamics Pilates 2009); Personal Fitness Trainer (YMCA & ACSM); Group Exercise Instructor (AFAA); Indoor Cycling Instructor (Spinning). In 2009 I also discovered outdoor running and soon after, an amateur triathlete was born. Triathlons and Pilates match together perfectly. The core strength and flexibility that I acquired through Pilates practice contributed greatly to my triathlon success. Most importantly, I’ve witnessed how Pilates has equipped me and my clients with necessary tools: awareness, stamina, and control, to deal with the many demands and challenges of a busy life as well as health issues and injuries. I’ve been very fortunate to have met many wonderful people along my life’s journey including my loving chef husband, caring friends, clients and talented professionals who have shared their knowledge and experience with me, helping me become the teacher I am today. I’m forever grateful for all the opportunities, especially for being able to educate others about Pilates and the magic it brings to one’s body, mind and spirit.
