We are thrilled to announce that six graduates have passed our training program with flying colors, and are ready to join our studios as certified RTR instructors! These fantastic instructors excelled in RTR’s rigorous training program, and we can’t wait for you to meet them.
The newest members of the RTR team
Pictured from left to right: Shay, Yara, Camilia, Andrea, Sara- our fabulous Director of Training!, Daniella, Yolanda
Shay
Shay’s journey into Pilates started with a personal quest to find a workout that focused on her overall well-being. She took her first class at RTR in 2023 and instantly connected with the workout and atmosphere. She is a passionate fitness instructor who believes that a strong mind and body are the foundation of a vibrant life. Shay’s motto is everybody and every body can benefit from Pilates.
Yara
Yara’s journey to become a Pilates instructor was driven by a desire to share the transformative power of movement. Drawing from her dance experience, she prioritizes precision, grace, and discipline in her teaching. Her approach is to empower clients, whether beginners or experienced enthusiasts, to discover their inner strength, improve flexibility, and cultivate a balanced, functional body. She is always excited to make new connections with those she works with and uncover their limitless potential!
Camilia
Camilia began her fitness journey in her early adolescence. She was always very physically active growing up; participating in sports and running 5k races whenever possible! Going to university during the Covid-19 pandemic really opened her eyes to the myriad of issues regarding health in American society.
Upon her graduation from Vanderbilt University in 2022, she decided to look further into a potential career path that would allow her to be a part of the solution. When gyms were closing down, YouTube mat Pilates became a regular part of her fitness regime and has stayed ever since!
In addition to Pilates, she loves to cross-train with weightlifting, yoga, and running. Health and wellness have become a growing passion of hers and through her classes, she hopes to foster the same joy and love in her clients!
Andrea
Andrea is an enthusiastic practitioner of Pilates and has been a loyal RTR client for the past two years, and now she’s also an RTR instructor! She brings her passion for healthy living and teaching to her clients.
Raised in Brazil and fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, and English, Andrea found an inspiring balance of traditional and contemporary approaches to Pilates at RTR. When not teaching Pilates classes, Andrea serves as an adjunct faculty member for the Leadership Coaching program at Georgetown University and coaches leaders in the Private and Government sector.
Daniella
Daniella’s love for teaching Pilates comes from her desire to help improve people’s lives, and the joy she gets from the practice. When she was little, Daniella wanted to be a Cirque du Soleil acrobat, which led her to many different sports and ways of exercising.
Also certified as a Yoga instructor, Daniella loves to help others cultivate a deeper than physical, healing connection with themselves and the rest of the world.
Yolanda
Yolanda’s Pilates journey began when she was a Yoga instructor teaching at a studio that primarily offered Reformer Pilates classes. She began taking classes at the studio and fell in love with it.
After going through a challenging pregnancy with her son which had her on bed rest from 19 weeks on, Pilates was a huge component in her post-pregnancy recovery.
Yolanda sought her first Pilates certification through Peak and began teaching in Rockville, MD. After a couple of years away from teaching, she and her family moved to Great Falls in 2021 and she discovered RTR Pilates. In 2023, Yolanda had the opportunity to become an RTR Instructor and has loved being a part of the community!
About RTR’s training program
The RTR training program teaches instructors how to help people transform their bodies and their lives. While most instructor training programs only focus on teaching exercises by muscle groups, we take that focus and add in the a bit of engineering to optimize each class. The program is taught by our Director of Training, Sara L.
Through our unique training program, we empower instructors to create programs that integrate their own style and personality with efficient flows and effective exercises. The result is a group of instructors prepared and empowered to lead fantastic classes from day 1.
We offer more than 300 classes/week, varying from 6:15am – 7:15pm, across our 5 DMV locations, so there are plenty of opportunities to meet our new team members!