Monica Hoekstra is a studio co-owner of ABsolute Pilates in Charlotte, NC and an Instructor Trainer for STOTT PILATES®. She has a professional dance background in classical ballet, having trained in Toronto, Hawaii, Hungary and Atlanta. Her dance background led her to her love and appreciation of STOTT PILATES® which she was introduced to while living in her native Toronto, Ontario. She pursued her certification with STOTT PILATES® while in Atlanta, GA. Upon moving to Charlotte in May of 2003 she became co-owner of ABsolute Pilates. The facility was accredited as a certified training center in 2004. Ms. Hoekstra has trained student instructors in the Southeast as well as Sao Paulo and Rio Dejaniro, Brazil. She is also a certified ACE® instructor. Most recently, Monica authored the Core Barre™ workout method, which is now taught at ABsolute Pilates to clients and instructors. Core Barre™ is a complimentary workout that aims to help clients achieve their fitness goals and has proven to be very effective. Monica also teaches open ballet classes at ABsolute Pilates and most recently completed the AIS (Active Isolated Stretching) course taught by Aaron L. Mattes. The Mattes Method of muscle and fascial release provides effective dynamic facilitated stretch of major muscles groups and is a perfect compliment to Pilates. Monica is passionate about teaching STOTT PILATES® and enjoys coaching students to achieve their goals. She considers herself blessed to be part of an elite group of highly trained professionals.
Tim Fleisher, CSCS® is a studio co-owner. Since earning his degree from the University of Virginia, Tim has dedicated his life to functional movement education. From 2005-2007 Tim worked as a pilates instructor and strength coach in the Washington, DC area. In 2005 he became a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the NSCA. In 2007 he became a STOTT PILATES® Instructor Trainer. In 2008 he moved to Brazil to educate and certify pilates instructors in the STOTT PILATES® method. Tim is also an official International Presenter for STOTT PILATES and devotes his free time to training for triathlons. He completed his first Iron Man in Florianopolis, Brazil in 2010. In training and rehabilitating elite athletes he noticed the need to bridge the gap between fascial release and neuromuscular reeducation. Tim founded the MYOFASCIAL MOVEMENT™ project in 2010 with the goal to provide movement educators with a system for low load neuromuscular movement strategies that precede and facilitate optimal functional movement. This method aids in the progression of “post rehab” clients as well prior to them taking on more aggressive modalities such as personal training, yoga or pilates. In addition, Tim is currently co-authoring a book with STOTT PILATES® Project Specialist, Sally Belanger, entitled Inside-Out Training for the Triathlete. Furthermore, he is a FULL BODY Active Release Technique® (ART®) Provider. Tim became co-owner of ABsolute Pilates in March of 2011 and is excited to share his knowledge and skill set to both clients and certification students.
Jan Monczynski a STOTT PILATES® Instructor Trainer and licensed massage therapist. She graduated from Southeastern Massage School in 1994 then continued on teaching neuromuscular massage, allied modalities and muscular anatomy courses as a teacher at the school. Jan specializes in myofascial, neuromuscular and cranio-sacral therapy and teaches our Injuries and Special Populations courses at ABsolute Pilates. Jan has the keen ability to recognize habitual situations that can contribute to muscular imbalances and faulty movement patterns, thereby educating clients on changes they can make to help alleviate them. Jan completed all of her training at ABsolute Pilates and has been with the studio since 2003. She is passionate about fitness and education to assist others and to foster well-being in their lives.
Elise Howard is a Fully Certified STOTT PILATES® Instructor and the office administrator at ABsolute Pilates. Her excellent people and time management skills allows her to coordinate both certification students and client services for ABsolute. Elise obtained a BA in 2003 from Gustavus Adolphus College. She received her STOTT PILATES® education in her hometown of St. Paul, Minnesota and here in Charlotte, NC. Elise is also certified to teach Core Barre™ at ABsolute. Her high energy and enthusiasm make her a perfect teacher of this class.
Taylor Young is a Fully Certified STOTT PILATES® Instructor. Over twelve years ago, Taylor began taking Pilates as cross training for ballet. She earned her BFA in Dance Performance from Southern Methodist University. Her certification began in Dallas, Texas, and she completed the process here at ABsolute Pilates. She believes that movement is empowering for both the body and the mind. Taylor enjoys working with athletes who are pursuing a physical goal and helping them to incorporate Pilates into their endeavors and their paradigm. She most recently completed the AIS (Active Isolated Stretching) course taught by Aaron L. Mattes. The Mattes Method of muscle and fascial release provides effective and dynamic facilitated stretch of major muscle groups and is a perfect compliment to Pilates.
Mallory Holmes is a Fully Certified STOTT PILATES® Instructor. She enjoys analyzing and administering movement programs to help clients achieve health and fitness goals. She is well versed in anatomy and biomechanics and continues to educate herself. Mallory’s high energy and enthusiasm faciliate dynamic and fun group equipment classes. Mallory is also a certified Core Barre™ instructor and most recently completed her TRX® suspension training.
Kelly Nalitz is a Fully Certified STOTT PILATES® Instructor and a TRX® trainer at ABsolute Pilates. She also holds a BFA degree in photography from UNC-Charlotte. She enjoys using her knowledge and talents to help her clients achieve optimal stability and strength. Although Kelly’s training encompasses all groups and populations, she specializes in pre-natal and postnatal training, knowing first hand the challenges facing women in these populations through professional and personal experiences. In addition, Kelly is a Pink Ribbon Certified Specialist. Pink Ribbon is a post-operative workout that enhances recovery developed by a breast cancer survivor for breast cancer survivors. This affords Kelly opportunities to offer post-rehabilitation through the STOTT PILATES® method using both equipment and mat based exercises.
Rachel Tecora Tucker is a fully trained STOTT PILATES®instructor, completing her training at ABsolute Pilates here in Charlotte, NC. Rachel is also a professional dancer with over twenty years in performance and more than ten years as an instructor of both dance and Pilates. Like many dancers and athletes, she too has battled injury from time to time suffering a herniated disc, which sidelined her career for over a year. She was first introduced to the wonderful benefits of Pilates while serving as dance captain and original company member of the Broadway hit “The Lion King”. As part of her therapy she did Pilates and found it so beneficial that she trained to become an instructor, in 2001 while living in NYC. She later initiated a Pilates mat class for the Broadway cast and crew that still takes place today. Rachel is a faculty member at North Carolina Dance Theatre School of Dance teaching Jazz and Pilates Mat classes. She graduated from The Baltimore School for the Arts and holds a bachelor’s degree in Dance from Point Part University in Pittsburgh, Pa. Her home base was NYC for many years where she performed as a Radio City Rockette, in staged shows, professional dance companies, industrials, awards shows, commercials, national and international tours (Japan, France, Germany), and on Broadway. No longer on stage, Rachel was appointed Resident Dance Supervisor for the first national touring company of The Lion King and traveled on the road with the show for over six years. She and her husband decided to settle down in Charlotte, NC closer to family. Rachel is a proud member of the Pilates Method Alliance. She is excited to join the team of instructors here at ABsolute Pilates. Her motto is, “Have fun and keep moving”.
