MEET OUR INSTRUCTORS

Laura Pennock, Black Rock Pilates studio owner and instructor

Laura Pennock - NCPT*, Balanced Body Master Instructor & Studio Owner

"Make your body a place you want to live” has been Laura’ s motto since starting to study Pilates in 1983 after recovering from injuries sustained as a professional dancer. Her ability to combine Joseph Pilates’ wisdom and modern research helps her teach clients to safely mobilize and stabilize their bodies, often reaching and surpassing their own fitness goals. Laura is acutely aware of the physical and non-physical toll injury and illness takes on the body and is determined to help her clients achieve their movement potential.

A graduate of California Institute of The Arts, Laura has been fully certified in Pilates by the Physical Mind Institute in New York City since 2001. She is a Pilates Method Alliance (PMA) Certified Pilates Teacher (CPT) and her mentors have included Deborah Lessen, Madeline Black, Doris Pasteleur Hall and Irene Dowd.

* NCPT stands for Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher, the national Pilates accreditation program

Robyn DeFonce, NCPT

Robyn believes that practicing Pilates gives the body the perfect foundation for all daily activities and athletic pursuits. An instructor since 2011, she combines her interest in wellness with an affinity for guiding others to make connections within their own bodies.

Robyn is a PMA Certified Pilates Teacher, and has completed over 600 hours of comprehensive training on all of the Pilates equipment through Balanced Body and the Kane School. A certified TRX and AFAA Fitness Instructor, she continues her education through workshops including anatomy, back care, pre/post natal, active aging and cancer recovery.

Tricia Warner, instructor and Occupational Therapist

Tricia Warner, NCPT

Tricia is a PMA Certified Pilates teacher and Polestar Rehabilitation Practitioner. She received her Bachelors of Science and Masters of Education at Springfield College, MA. Tricia is also an Occupational Therapist with 19 years of experience specializing in physical rehabilitation, as well as a LANA certified lymphedema therapist specializing in cancer rehabilitation.

Tricia has practiced Pilates for many years and believes that healing is facilitated through movement. She can work with clients to rehabilitate after an injury or illness, modify therapeutic exercise for people who have limitations, or take an athlete to the next level. With her husband and two boys, she enjoys outdoor recreation and music.

Annick Moreau, Pilates instructor and former dancer

Annick Moreau, CPT

Annick Moreau was born and raised in France. A dancer and ballet teacher, her career took her to Las Vegas, NV, where she worked with Cirque du Soleil for 7 years. After suffering a back injury, she discovered Pilates and realized how much it helped her to strengthen. She decided to become an instructor and did her certification with DK Body Balancing Method, UNLV.

In 2005 she moved to the East Coast and has enjoyed teaching Pilates in NYC and Fairfield, as well as ballet at the Connecticut Dance School, helping clients to feel strong, physically and mentally. She recently moved back to Las Vegas and is continuing to teach virtual classes and virtual private sessions for Black Rock Pilates.

Jayne Gerwien, Pilates instructor and personal trainer

Jayne Gerwien, CPT

Jayne’s interest in Pilates began at a young age. She loved how quickly she had become strong, flexible, and energetic and wanted to share this incredible experience with others. To turn her hobby into a profession she enrolled with Balanced Body in 2014 and soon after, began teaching at Black Rock Pilates.

Throughout her journey Jayne has learned how to make Pilates the perfect foundation for all life's movements, and has gained a reputation as an energetic and sought-after instructor. She is also a certified TRX Trainer (2018). certified ACE Personal Trainer (2021), and a Balanced Body Integrated Movement Specialist (2021). She continues to explore her love for Pilates, anatomy, and movement, and hopes to help people find confidence and joy in their lives through fitness.

Catherine Collins, Pilates instructor and massage therapist

Catherine Collins, CPT

Catherine completed her comprehensive teacher training with The PhysicalMind Institute in 2004 under the leadership of Doris Pasteleur-Hall and Lesley Powell, and owned her own Pilates studio in New Orleans before moving back to Fairfield County in 2018. Grounded in anatomy and biomechanics, she brings both traditional and non-traditional Pilates based movement to her teaching.

Catherine has successfully coached clients from various backgrounds, with her main focus being on rehabilitation and special populations. Her clients have ranged in age from their teens into their eighties, from novice movers to professional athletes. She believes that the body, when given the chance, has the ability to heal itself, and sees movement as a way to facilitate this healing processes. She believes the form of the body determines the functional outcome; when there is proper form, natural function and integrity are established. Above all, Catherine hopes to empower individuals to lead a happier and healthier lifestyle.

Jean Kaul, CPT

Jean is a Pilates Comprehensive Instructor and Integrated Movement Specialist (IMS) with over 550 hours of Balanced Body training on all of the Pilates equipment. She is also a TRX Qualified Instructor, with a focus on training functional movement and Pilates using the suspension trainer.

Jean found Pilates as a distance runner, and discovered its transformative power to balance and strengthen the body. She believes that Pilates is not only a natural complement to athletics, but also a basis for the movements of daily life. Jean combines extensive teaching experience with a love of Pilates to create a safe and joyful experience for people of all ages and abilities. She hopes to help people find mindful movement that builds strength and leads them to feel at home in their bodies.

Casey Sylvestro, CPT

Casey has returned to BRP from a 5 year hiatus after having her amazing daughter back in 2018. In her early 20s, Casey was an actress struggling with negative body image and feelings of low self worth. Pilates was the path to strength and overall fitness but most importantly: self appreciation, self care, self love and self empowerment.

Comprehensively Certified in Classical Pilates across all Pilates apparatus and equipment in 2008, Casey taught in studio and privately in homes across Manhattan until returning to CT. She started at Black Rock Pilates in 2011, teaching for 7 year before her hiatus. One of Casey’s favorite aspects of Black Rock Pilates and its contemporary approach is the inclusivity of Pilates. That anybody, any level, every level, everybody and Every Body is welcome. And celebrated as whole, complete and perfect, just as they are. All apparatus and all classes are an opportunity for fun, for play, for challenge, for strength and sometimes even some much needed emotional release. And, one of her personal mantras is “Never underestimate the challenge of going back to basics.”

Alice Sekhar, CPT

Alice fell in love with movement as a young girl studying ballet. She discovered Pilates and instantly felt a connection, loving how it kept her strong and fit through her many years of dancing. In college she switched her focus and after completing her MS in Clinical Nutrition, worked as a Registered Dietitian while continuing to explore numerous other types of movement - running, cycling, swimming, group exercise (of all kinds!), kickboxing, and TRX. She became a NASM Certified Personal Trainer and AFAA Group Exercise Instructor.

But Pilates kept drawing her back as a way to heal from injury and regain connection to her body after having had three boys. After practicing for over 25 years, she completed her Comprehensive Instructor Training through Balanced Body. Alice truly loves helping people gain confidence and find joy in their movement through the practice of Pilates.

Catie Falcone, CPT

Catie first discovered Pilates while living in Los Angeles, where she looked forward to her classes every week. Pilates provided not only a consistent workout but a respite from her hectic schedule. Upon moving to Black Rock in the fall of 2020, she was excited to continue her passion for movement at a studio within her own community.

After the birth of her daughter, Catie leaned on the gentle and mindful approach of Pilates to regain her center and heal. As a former kindergarten teacher looking to balance her personal life and career, she found exciting potential in the possibility of becoming a Pilates instructor. Catie began at Black Rock Pilates as an apprentice instructor in 2021, In 2023 she completed her Balanced Body Comprehensive Training. Joining her love of teaching with a practice that has infinitely helped her, Catie hopes to share that joy with others. She looks forward to continuing to learn and grow with you!

Lauren Hess, CPT

When Lauren was first introduced to Pilates it was immediately love at first movement. She connected with its functional and low impact approach, and also that it was sustainable to incorporate into her routine.

She believes intentional movement that fosters the mind body connection is necessary for a healthy balanced lifestyle.

Lauren is a comprehensive certified Pilates instructor, as well as a certified Hot HIIT instructor through Monique Crous’ program and Hot Pilates through Karma Yoga, where she taught mat classes at their San Francisco location. Lauren now lives in Fairfield with her husband, a Fairfield University alum, and their two dogs.

Sarah Muldowney, Apprentice Instructor

As a lifelong adventurer and nature lover, Sarah has always relied on the healing benefits of movement.

Following the birth of her second daughter, she experienced back issues leading to limitations on all of these activities and impacting daily tasks. This is when Pilates entered the picture! Pilates allowed Sarah to regain strength, stamina and mobility to resume all of her favorite pastimes. She is stronger than ever and has a deeper connection to her body. Pilates has taught her to slow down and just breathe. Watching her own progress and mental shift has been inspiring and she hopes to help others build confidence and find a connection to their own strength and movement.

She continues to hike, explore, run, spend time with her husband and two daughters and dogs and listen to music. She looks forward to helping you find joy in movement. Pilates is for everyone and Sarah can't wait to move with you and have some fun doing it!

Alexa Capuano, Apprentice Instructor

Alexa has always been passionate about movement. Growing up as a dancer, she quickly understood how much regular movement can enhance one’s quality of life.

In 2012 Alexa sustained a lower back injury that led her to finding Pilates as a tool for healing and rehabilitation. After leaving the dance world to pursue her photography degree, Alexa felt the impact of a more stagnant routine and revisited Pilates more consistently. Upon graduating, she started her instructor training in 2023. Alexa believes in the power of Pilates not only as a tool to strengthen the body, but also the mind. She hopes to share her love of movement with others and make Pilates an enjoyable experience for all.