We are thrilled to announce that seven 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 8-week training program, and we can’t wait for you to meet them.
Newest members of the RTR team
Anna H.
Although a native Bostonian and diehard Red Sox fan, Anna has lived in DC for more than 20 years. A former college swimmer and Ashtanga yoga devotee, she has always enjoyed athletic pursuits. Anna discovered Pilates after a shoulder injury in 2017 and quickly became hooked! She did classical Pilates for a couple of years but missed the energy of group classes and was thrilled to discover RTR in 2019. Anna became an instructor in 2023 and hopes to pass along her passion for precise movement and balance challenges (among other things).
When not doing Pilates, Anna loves all kinds of live music (but especially Pearl Jam), walking her dogs, traveling, and spending time with her husband and three kids. She is currently learning how to play tennis and bridge, and her goal is to ski and do headstands until she’s at least 75.
Ceara C.
Ceara is passionate Pilates enthusiast-turned-instructor, who’s practiced Pilates for over 10 years. Recently, she decided to take a leap and turn her passion into a career by becoming a certified Pilates instructor.
One of the reasons Ceara loves Pilates so much is the way it benefits both mind and body. It helps you to feel centered and focused, while also improving strength, flexibility, and posture. As an instructor, she’s excited to share these benefits with others and help them achieve their own health and wellness goals.
Ceara is excited to teach at RTR, and learn and grow alongside other experienced instructors. She’s grateful for the supportive community and the chance to continue deepening her knowledge and skills. If you’re interested in joining her for a Pilates class, she’d love to have you!
Deborah R.
A native of Charleston, SC, Deborah moved to Washington, DC by way of Boston to attend graduate school. Nearly 30 years later, here she is still! Deborah met her husband and raised a daughter here (and a couple of awesome dogs too), and enjoyed a long career in communications with a focus on environmental and social justice issues.
She first tried Pilates on the Reformer about 5 years ago at another DC gym and fell in love with its unique combination of strength training, balance, flexibility, and mental focus. Deborah believes it’s a form of exercise that people of any age and fitness level can benefit from throughout their lives, and she’s so excited to take her career in a healthy and challenging new direction with RTR Pilates.
“Mad respect & gratitude to all the amazing and supportive RTR instructors I’ve had the pleasure to train with, and to my fabulous fellow graduates of the Spring 2023 Training Session!”
Dolci B.
Growing up in Potomac and being a health and fitness enthusiast, it was inevitable that Dolci eventually found and fell in love with RTR. She started coming to RTR (when it was Potomac Pilates) back in 2012 and was instantly hooked. The classes left her feeling strong, motivated, mobile, and rejuvenated, and she knew this was something that will be long lasting.
RTR was always there to help Dolci recover from injuries and imbalances caused by heavy lifting and high intensity group workouts so once the timing and opportunity arose, she knew she wanted to share her love of RTR by becoming an instructor and help others feel strong and challenged while still being functional and balanced. When Dolci’s not focusing on her health and fitness, sje can be found deep into a Netflix binge, cozied up with a good book, or walking around downtown Bethesda with her giant sheepadoodle, Henry.
Genevieve K.
Genevieve got her start in the fitness industry through sales and management in 2018. Having tried various workouts, she finds that low impact training is best for her body. During the pandemic, she started mat pilates and barre at home, and with time, she hoped to get on a reformer. After researching studios, she found that RTR provided the uplifting and supportive community she had been looking for in a fitness environment.
In Genevieve’s free time, you can find her spending time with family & friends, baking, or learning how to play tennis.
Helena E.
Helena discovered Pilates just by chance! Several years ago her mom was raving about the wonders of pilates after dealing with back pain for almost a decade, and safe to say, she was hooked – thanks mom!
Helena love the feeling Pilates gives you during and after. She struggled for so long to find a movement that wouldn’t leave her feeling drained and weak. In Pilates, the core challenges in every movement make Helena feel so much more confident in not only her intentional movement, but also her day-to-day life.
Outside of teaching, Helena work as a licensed dietitian supporting clients recovering from eating disorders by building a long lasting relationship with food and their body. Helena is thrilled that working at RTR is such a beautiful compliment to all her work!
Monika H.
Monika started at RTR Pilates as a client, and soon discovered that Pilates is not only a great workout — it can also be a way of practicing mindfulness and self-awareness through movement. Hoping to share this experience with others, Monika joined the RTR Pilates instructor training program in Spring 2023. In class, she strives to create accessible routines that can be challenging as well as relaxing — with the hope that clients will leave her class feeling stronger and more relaxed.
Aside from Pilates, Monika is currently enrolled in a health coach certification program, and runs her charity-driven, sustainable womenswear line.
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!