OUR TEACHERS

Beth H. Downey founded Body Precision in 1995, as the premier Pilates Studio on the Main Line. Beth was trained by The Pilates Center of Boulder in 1997, completing one of the most comprehensive training programs in the country and received the specially recognized Gold Certification for Teaching from the Pilates Method Alliance (PMA), the only accredited designation in the United States.

In Sept. 2011, Beth proudly graduated from the highly regarded Pilates Master Program at the Pilates Center of Boulder, completing 96 hours of continuing education to enhance her knowledge of body movement and anatomy. In December 2017 Beth completed the Kathy Grant Heritage Training, a comprehensive post-graduate program of advanced study taught by the renowned Cara Reeser, founder of Pilates Aligned. Kathy Grant was one of only two teachers that Joseph Pilates himself certified during his lifetime.

Beth is also certified in:

-Pilates for Pink Ribbon Program
-Pilates for Golf
-Yamuna Body Rolling
-Pilates for Buff Bones

Beth is the director of the nationally recognized Body Precision Teacher Training Program for classical Pilates. Beth has been teaching Pilates for over 25 years and specializes in working with clients who have back, neck and joint pain, as well as chronic ailments. Beth graduated with a BS in Marketing from Penn State University and played on the Lady Lions Golf Team. She worked in the health care industry for fifteen years before opening Body Precision. Beth has always had a love of sports and is an avid golf and paddle tennis competitor, bringing a unique background to her Pilates teaching.

A graduate of St. Joseph’s Hospital School of Nursing and the University of Rochester - Anne’s nursing background has proven invaluable in her expertise working with diverse pathologies. After a career as a nurse, Anne stayed at home to raise four children all the while maintaining her passion for health and wellness.

This passion lead her to Pilates. Intrigued by the Pilates philosophy of mind, body, spirit long before Pilates was en vogue, Anne is proud to be the second ever graduate of the Body Precision Training Program (1998!) Anne went on to earn the Pilates Method Alliance Gold Certification for Pilates Instructors and is truly a Master Teacher.

Additional trainings which have enriched Anne’s teaching:

-Pilates for Buff Bones
-Pink Ribbon Program for Breast Cancer Recovery
-Kathy Grant Heritage Training
-Eric Franklin Level II Education
-John Barnes Myofascial Release Therapy Training
-Mount Sinai School of Medicine – Functional Anatomy and Injuries including Cadaver Lab
-Yoga Certification

Anne considers herself an introvert and claims Pilates and her clients propel her forward. Anne’s kindness and knowledge have touched many students in her years of teaching. She is deeply loved and respected with one prior student willing to book a flight to Philadelphia just to take a lesson with her!

Cathy started as a Body Precision client in 2000 on a friend's recommendation. Impressed with both Pilates and the teachers at this studio, she changed careers and spent a year completing Body Precision's Teacher Training Program.

Cathy not only teaches Pilates full time at Body Precision, but also is a workshop teacher in Body Precision’s Teacher Training program. Her continuing search for knowledge led her to the Franklin Method, which is a comprehensive study of both experiential anatomy and the use of imagery to improve function in the body. This combination helps her clients understand their bodies in a new way, so they can improve everyday movement as well as sport specific skills.

Cathy has also completed trainings in both Ashtanga Yoga and the Physical Therapist designed Core Align. Used for musculoskeletal rehabilitation, performance enhancement and general conditioning, CoreAlign® improves strength, balance, posture and functional movement patterns. Body Precision is the only studio on the Main Line with this remarkable equipment.

A lifelong student, most recently Cathy completed Cara Reeser’s Heritage Training Program. This focused on the work of one of Joe Pilates’ students, Kathy Stanford Grant. She was a dancer, choreographer, and a much loved and respected teacher at Tisch School of the Arts for years.

A graduate of Swarthmore College, Cathy has taught Pilates/Franklin Method there since 2005 to faculty, staff, and students.

Arden discovered Pilates after a severe SI joint dislocation and found the Pilates Method life changing. After years of long distance running, yoga and playing competitive squash, Arden realized she was very strong in her limbs but weak in her core. Arden's doctor recommended Pilates, knowing she loved to be active and if she didn't take care of her injury, she would have lifelong problems with her low back.

Pilates was so impactful to Arden that she sought out Body Precision's highly regarded teacher training program to learn more about the Pilates exercises and to share her enthusiasm for this transformative exercise method with others. Today, Arden’s thoughtful, detailed teaching is highly sought after (Her classes fill the moment scheduling opens!)

Arden graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, where she played on the varsity squash team. She had a twelve-year career at Penn, working as a major gift fundraiser before leaving to raise her three children. Arden resides in Wayne and continues to live an active and vibrant life.

With a professional background that intertwines the precision of diagnostic radiology and the artistry of Pilates, Monique brings an exceptional eye to our teaching team.

Inspired by her personal encounter with the transformative power of Pilates to alleviate back pain, Monique embarked on her teaching journey in 2011. Trained at the esteemed Swissbody Pilates Academy under the mentorship of second-generation Joseph Pilates master teacher Susan Pepper, she holds a specialty certification in Pilates for Breast Cancer Recovery.

Born and raised in South Africa, Monique is fluent in Afrikaans, French, and English. Monique now calls Philadelphia home, bringing her passion for Pilates to a new community. Beyond the studio, she finds joy in family travels, supporting the Phillies and Flyers, and staying fit through tennis and pickleball.

Kristen discovered Pilates in 2011, when she bid on a private Pilates session at a school fundraiser. She had always enjoyed fitness classes, tennis and walking but was interested in trying something new. After her first lesson, she was hooked on Pilates. She gained strength, flexibility and an awareness of her mind, body and spirit connection.

In March 2015, Kristen began the Body Precision Training Program and never looked back. Kristen is known for her athleticism and ability to push her students to their full potential. A teacher of teachers, Kristen is the go to for trainees and teachers hoping to master the most advanced Pilates repertoire.

Kristen received a BA in Communications from the University of Delaware and worked in Human Resources for five years before leaving to raise her two children with her husband. Pilates is not just a job but a true passion for her.

Angela began practicing Pilates in 2005, and immediately found it beneficial to her body and mind. As a dancer, the discipline and technique of Pilates appealed to her as reminiscent of classical dance training.

Intrigued and eager to share the joy of Pilates, Angela began her Pilates training through the Physical Mind Institute in Lancaster, PA. She completed her certification at Body Precision after moving to Philadelphia.

Angela has a BA in Dance and English from Mary Washington College (now University of Mary Washington), enjoys practicing yoga, and is a competitive West Coast Swing dancer

Jill was first introduced to Pilates in college and hasn't looked back! Jill began her mat training at Body Precision and completed her full equipment certification through Peak Pilates. Jill is a NASM personal trainer and Exhale Barre certified - she is the owner of the beloved Philadelphia studio Focus Barre and Yoga. (How lucky are we that she loves Pilates enough to share her time and talent with us!)

When she's not teaching or managing her own studio, Jill lives her life to the fullest. Embracing her words to live by: "Life is not measured by the amount of breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away.", Jill enjoys spending time with her family and traveling extensively - she's been to Italy three times!

Terri found Pilates over a decade ago when she reluctantly attended a class with her daughter. What a revelation! Terri had always enjoyed fitness classes and working out independently, but she found a true community of fitness through Pilates. Terri is Body Precision trained and a Nationally Certified Instructor by the Pilates Method Alliance.

She loves that with Pilates there is always something new to learn – and teach! Terri believes in positive reinforcement, and that anyone can realize enormous benefits from Pilates. Her instruction is both passionate and compassionate with her creativity and sense of humor evident in her sessions.

Terri has a BA from Fordham University and a JD from the University of Southern California. She is a devoted Trojan football fan, which means she stays up late most Fall Saturday nights screaming at the tv (and we never ask her to teach on Sundays!)

Libby was hooked on Pilates after her very first mat Pilates class! She is BASI trained under Carla Oliva with a strong emphasis on anatomy and a specific interest in pelvic floor health and working with pre and postnatal clients.

Outside of Pilates, Libby loves to garden and spend time with her family (she's the middle child of three girls). She is a wiz with floral design - during the spring and summer she wows us with gorgeous arrangements weekly at the front desk.

Libby's words to live by: Do what makes you happy but also what scares you a little.

Donna taught yoga for decades before falling in love with Pilates and it shows - she radiates calm. From her start in Hoboken, NJ, Donna has been a Vinyasa flow teacher (and teacher trainer) across Texas and Vermont.

Donna first encountered Pilates while living in Vermont. Immediately drawn to the precise controlled movements, Donna was thrilled to discover Pilates exercises made her yoga practice stronger. She was hooked. Donna completed her Pilates training at Body Precision and now enjoys helping other people discover the benefits of Pilates.

Donna received her BA from Bowling Green State University and worked in Human Resources before staying home to raise her two children. In her spare time she enjoys road trips with her family, taking Pilates and yoga classes, and walking her two dogs.

Jackie began her fitness journey at the age of 16 when her mother, an aerobics instructor, suggested she try a class. Jackie has been a lover of movement ever since. When Jackie discovered Pilates, her body's strength and flexibility was transformed. Enthralled, Jackie pursued her Pilates certification through the Body Precision Teacher Training Program.

With a BS in Communications and AD in Interior Design, Jackie connects easily with her students and especially enjoys teaching group classes for the sense of community it fosters. She is known for classes that are inspiring, dynamic, and fun.

Beyond the studio, Jackie is a golf enthusiast, bridge player, and advocate for preemies' well-being. As a member of Penn Woman’s Health Leadership Council and a founder of Preemies for Prevention, Jackie seeks to raise awareness about prematurity’s lasting impact on a child’s development, provide support for preterm birth research and offer comfort and hope to current NICU families. Jackie’s own daughter, Julia, was born 1 lb 1oz at 26 weeks gestation. She is now a thriving college senior!

Caroline, a resilient breast cancer survivor, discovered Pilates as a transformative ally in her recovery journey. She credits Pilates as a saving grace and found solace in the method's calm, persistence, and methodical repetition.

Caroline's profound Pilates experience ignited an unexpected passion for teaching. She is certified through the Body Precision Teacher Training Program and has studied anatomy extensively with Cathy Raymond.

With a therapeutic background as a clinical social worker, Caroline intertwines mindfulness into her classes, forging a direct connection between the body and mind. Beyond Pilates, Caroline finds serenity in pottery, mastering the throwing wheel for a sense of peaceful energy.

Grounded in Golda Meir's wisdom, she lives by the motto, "It's not really important to decide at a young age what exactly you want to do when you grow up... it's much more important to decide the way you want to live." Caroline strives for a life of integrity, care, and positive impact.

Hope first began practicing Pilates in 2008 when she decided to explore new forms of movement and exercise to augment her decades of swimming, practicing Iyengar yoga and meditation. She was drawn to the way Pilates combines focus, fluidity, precision, variation, flexibility and strength. Hope continued to deepen her practice by studying with the renowned Brett Howard at the Pilates Haus in New Jersey before finding her way to Body Precision to complete her certification.

Hope loves helping people of all ages and abilities discover the joys and wide range of exercises that the Pilates system offers, and truly finds Pilates to be transformative. She is a thoughtful, intuitive, and creative teacher.

Outside of the studio, Hope has a long career in the nonprofit world, currently managing Breastcancer.org, a digital resource for women facing the challenges of breast cancer. She loves to cook, is an avid gardener, and is enjoying a new passion for the stand-up paddle board during the summers.

With over two decades of unwavering dedication to health and fitness, Francie is a familiar face in the world of wellness – and our studio in classes and at the front desk. Despite her demanding consulting in the pharmaceutical world during the week, Francie carves out time in her nights and weekends for her true passion: Pilates & Movement.

An ardent advocate for holistic health and mindful movement, Francie brings a depth of experience and expertise to her role as a certified Pilates instructor. Her journey into Pilates was born from a lifelong commitment to staying in shape, seeking strength, vitality, and joy in every movement. For Francie, Pilates emerged as the singular activity that fulfilled all these criteria with flying colors!

A perpetual student as much as a teacher, Francie has honed her craft under the tutelage of esteemed Pilates mentors and has completed rigorous training programs with Balanced Body, Madeline Black, Ilaria Cavagna, and Ellie Herman. Dedicated to delivering tailored instruction that caters to the unique needs and aspirations of each individual client and class, Francie's teaching style seamlessly blends precision, fluidity, and an undeniable sense of enjoyment.

In Francie's classes, expect a fusion of challenge and variety aimed at optimizing body alignment, strength, and flexibility. With her infectious enthusiasm and unwavering commitment to her students' progress, Francie ensures that every session is not only rewarding but also a whole lot of fun.