About Shannon

Shannon is a Certified Balanced Body Pilates Teacher and the founder of Pilates &, with over 20 years of experience in the practice. After starting her Pilates journey two decades ago, she pursued teacher training with Balanced Body in 2019, honing her skills in both classical and contemporary Pilates. Her training with renowned Pilates expert Elizabeth Larkam has deepened her understanding, giving her a solid foundation as a teacher today.

In addition to her Pilates expertise, Shannon is a Wellbeing Specialist, Certified Health and Performance Professional, Certified Public Accountant (CPA), and brings a wealth of experience from her background in healthcare. She has authored over 280 articles for The Wellbeing Blog on Pilates & and created The Achievable Plan—a practical framework and daily planner designed to help individuals achieve better work-life balance and specific goals. The Achievable Plan is available on Amazon.

For more information on Shannon’s work, please visit my professional profile.

Pilates Qualifications

Certified Balance Body Pilates Teacher:

– Anatomy in 3 Dimensions

– Movement Principles

– Mat: Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3

– Reformer: Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3

Why Pilates?

Pilates is the one thing that I do consistently to maintain my health and to prevent injuries. As you age, it becomes even more important to maintain your strength, flexibility and balance. Pilates really helps.

Getting Started: Start at the beginning with Level 1 classes to learn the fundamental exercises and Pilates principles. Athletes have a high level of fitness but their bodies are often conditioned to a specific sport. Pilates, if done correctly, can rebalance the body and address alignment issues. The rebalancing helps prevent injuries and helps you move more efficiently in sport and life.

Frequency: Three [3] one hour classes or privates per week. It’s enough to realize the full benefits of Pilates. 

Cardio: Pilates is not a cardio workout. My best advice for cardio is to do what you love to do. If you’re recovering from an injury or have osteoarthritis, try some low impact cardio workouts to keep your heart and joints healthy.

Results: Pilates will help you develop long, lean muscle and core strength so that you move with ease. It will keep you feeling ageless. 

New to Pilates? Consider your budget, health status and goals to build a sustainable practice. Change things up as your constraints change.