Meet our instructors!
Our instructors are highly trained and committed to creating classes and a community that is accessible for everyone. We are continuously educating ourselves, through workshops and our own personal commitments to movement and inclusivity. We always welcome feedback on what we can do to build a stronger community for all.
Katie Clarke
Hi! I’m Katie, owner and instructor.
As a mother of 3, I have seen my body go through many shapes and stages of strength, but it wasn’t until I discovered Pilates that I truly felt at home in my body. I immediately sought out how to help others discover the same.
I’m a Stott-trained Mat + Reformer instructor with extra training in Cadillac and Stability Chair, and a BarreNone barre certification. This has led me to have the tools to lead clients through fun and challenging, but safe and intuitive classes. I’ve dug deeper into the world of movement through extra credits in Myofascial Movement, Joint Dysfunction and one of a kind training with Anula Maiberg and James Crader. Along with Pilates, I am also certified as a Level 1 Fascial Stretch Therapist (not to mention the expensive and always useful BA in Military History!) and love to learn more about the stories our bodies tell.
No body is a bad body! We see and feel our bodies go through so many transformations, good and bad. I feel incredibly honoured to be a part of anyone’s journey to discovering new levels of balance and strength. As well as an appreciation for what your body is fully capable of.
Inspired to not only teach Pilates but build a studio based on inclusivity, I have committed myself to learning how to incorporate anti-racism into my life, my teaching and my studio. I have started that through the teaching of Sonja R. Price Herbert and her Decolonizing Pilates training.
At Grounded Pilates + Lifestyle, we have created a space for everyone to find comfort in their bodies and find community with each other. All while having fun doing it!
Kathryn Bezan
Kathryn is a pilates instructor, sign language interpreter, and mom to a too-smart 7-year-old and 2 fur babies. After her scoliosis diagnosis, Pilates became part of her life when she started taking classes as part of physiotherapy. She was experiencing daily back pain, but still wanted to keep exercising and strengthening her body.
Continuous learning is important to her, especially in the area of anatomy and injuries. She loves pilates for the challenging exercises that highlight weak areas and for the attention to detail that make our bodies work how they should. When the opportunity to become a teacher fell into her lap, she couldn’t stay no!
Heather Bodajla
As a yoga instructor, Heather strives to create accessible and safe classes that can be modified for every ability. It’s important to her that everyone in her classes feel comfortable and included. She loves to teach with props so students understand that it’s normal and helpful to use them in their practice too.
She’s practiced yoga for over 25 years (teaching since 2020). Sharing her love of yoga as well as the benefits it offers has been valuable for her students—especially those who were tentative about trying a class. Getting them to step onto the mat is the first phase. Once they are there, she hopes they begin to understand that yoga is more than just the poses.
Heather is an active recreational athlete and long-distance runner. She’s run eight marathons, seven Around the Bay 30K races and numerous half marathons in the past decade. She’s also been an avid golfer and snowboarder. In addition to running and yoga, she can also be found on the Pilates Reformer or her rowing machine. She’s currently working toward a Marathon Running Coach certification with NAASFP.
Susan Hamilton
Susan fell in love with Pilates in 2009. It started out as a curiosity and a way to strengthen her core off the tennis court, and turned into a joyous (and surprisingly) long-term practice. The movements were different from anything she had ever tried before; purposeful for both her mind and body.
Inspired by how Pilates made her feel in her own body, she completed her STOTT instructor training in 2022 with the goal to share and teach a deeper, more intelligent approach to fitness and well-being.
She finds the lightness and clarity of movements, the supportive environment, and the mindfulness of the practice helps ensure accessibility for all levels of fitness.
Kristen Carrington
For over 14 years Kristen has been channeling her passion for teaching and helping others using methods for empowerment and healing, as a Pilates instructor, teacher trainer and Wellness Coach. Kristen started her Pilates journey upon the recommendation of her grandma to strengthen her core and improve chronic back pain. Since then Kristen has dedicated her energy toward educating clients about healthy movement mechanics, the power of the mind-body connection and healing, and integrates mindset tools with movement to cultivate a physical, mental and spiritual mind-body-life balance.
To Kristen, Pilates builds the foundation for greater intimacy and partnership with your mental, physical and spiritual self on our shared life-long journey of discovery, improvement and growth.
Certifications: BODY HARMONICS Pilates Certified Instructor, Teacher Trainer, Mentor, Movement Specialist, Advanced Bio-Mechanics & Functional Anatomy Specialist, Core Conditioning Specialist, Post-Rehab Specialist. Coaching Specialist in Neuroscience-Linguistic Programming, Hypnosis, Core Transformation, Time Line Therapy, Integrated Attachment Theory.
Bailey Vajda
Bailey got curious about Pilates in 2020 when she met Katie and her family while serving at the restaurant right across from the soon-to-be Grounded Studio. She gave it a try once Grounded opened and instantly fell in love with the form of movement. Coming from a personal training background, Bailey loved how different Pilates was and how it made her body feel…she was hooked after a few classes!
Bailey decided she wanted to share her love for Pilates with others, and with Katie’s guidance took the STOTT instructor training in 2021 for Reformer and Mat. Bailey joined The Grounded team in 2022, teaching reformer classes that are fun and challenging, but also inclusive for everyone and everybody! Bailey takes a contemporary approach to Pilates while still sprinkling in the classics we all know and love.
Jannine Krish
Jannine’s interest in movement began early on in life. She has been practicing Yoga for over a decade and has also taken up Barre fitness. Jannine is a Yoga Alliance RYT 200 graduate of the Yogaspace Teacher Training Program, where she studied Vinyasa yoga under the guidance of Kathryn Beet, Hatha yoga under Patricia White, and Yoga philosophy under Hali Schwartz. She also completed the Toronto Yoga Mamas Barre Training Program in 2018. Jannine brings a love of the tradition, creative sequencing and energetic focus to all her barre and yoga classes. Her classes are fun and upbeat and you can always count on an inspiring playlist!
Lindsay Sganga
Lindsay Sganga is a passionate mat and reformer Pilates instructor trained in the Stott Merrithew method. Blending classical techniques with a fresh, contemporary style, she’s crafted a unique approach that’s both fun and effective. Lindsay’s classes strike the perfect balance between serious sweat and a relaxed atmosphere, making Pilates feel accessible and enjoyable for everyone. Her sessions focus on building strength while fostering motivation and joy in every movement.
Emma Parsons
Emma is a Grounded Pilates Certified Mat Instructor. She grew up dancing, taking trampoline classes, and eventually becoming a gymnastics coach in 2016. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Guelph in 2022. As a recent graduate, she struggled to connect to a routine or movement that she enjoyed. She took the leap to try something new, and fell in love with Pilates after her first class. As a former dancer and coach, she loved that the movement felt familiar, yet challenging and new all at the same time. She completed her Mat Pilates training in September 2024, and has been since sharing her passion for Pilates with the community. She strives to create a joyful, supportive, and uplifting space for those in all levels of their practice to join in on the movement!
Erin Vanderkruk
Erin found Pilates while pregnant with her first baby, but fell in love with it after Pilates healed her diastasis recti and other pelvic floor issues following her second pregnancy. Now after her third, she is stronger than ever and looking to share her love of Pilates with others. Erin completed the Grounded Pilates Mat Training Certification and has completed the Stott Pilates Prenatal and Post-Natal workshops. She will be pursuing her Stott Reformer Pilates training in the new year.
Adrienne Coletto
Adrienne discovered Pilates at Grounded Pilates and fell in love instantly. A former avid basketball and hockey player throughout school, Adrienne brings a deep understanding of movement and discipline to her practice. Living with a rare condition that affects her right leg, she is passionate about helping others achieve their best through mindful movement, offering thoughtful modifications to ensure her classes are accessible and empowering for all. With a background as an elementary school teacher and principal, Adrienne thrives on teaching and connecting with people. Beyond Pilates, Adrienne loves travelling, reading, spending time with her family and finding new restaurants. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned mover, she is dedicated to creating a supportive, fun, and effective Pilates experience.
Liz Wilson
Liz fell in love with Pilates five years ago. It started with curiosity and a way to strengthen her core after a lower back injury and sciatica. Liz’s practice was something she looked forward to as she built strength, flexibility and balance – doing something she really enjoyed. She was privileged to have inspiring and encouraging instructors – something she pays forward to others as they start and continue their personal Pilates journey. And there was the added bonus of socializing with a diverse group of participants, motivating each other. Continuous learning is important to her, so when teacher training was being offered in the winter of 2024, she was excited. After months of in-person course work, observation, practice teaching and elevating her own personal practice, she completed her Reformer and Mat Pilates certification in September and finds it very rewarding to bring body awareness and love for mindful movement to others. She looks forward to meeting new and existing clients on the reformer and/or the mat, as we build strength, improve flexibility and refine techniques within the supportive environment of the Grounded Pilates community.
Tanya Pastor
Tanya fell in love with Pilates in 2017 after meeting Dom and Katie, finding it to be a meaningful and intuitive exercise that offers a full-body workout suitable for all body types. She combines precision and intentional movement with a flowing style that engages all muscles and strengthens the core. Tanya loves the mindfulness that Pilates brings to movement and wanted to share this passion with others. This led her to become a certified Reformer and Mat Pilates instructor through Grounded’s training program. She enjoys creating classes and flows that are both enjoyable and challenging for everyone. By day, Tanya is a data analytics professional, bringing her analytical skills and attention to detail into her Pilates practice. Outside of work, she enjoys an active lifestyle. Tanya loves dancing in a folk dance group, singing in a band and with friends, and is known for making mean martinis. She also has a passion for traveling with family and friends, always seeking new adventures and experiences.
Christine Flack
With over 33 years of experience as an interior designer, Christine has always been captivated by the art of creating beautiful and functional spaces. Her journey in design has been fueled by a deep love for creativity, allowing her to transform environments into reflections of personality and style.
Alongside her design career, she discovered the transformative power of Pilates. The movement resonated with her deeply, igniting a passion that she felt compelled to share with others. Pilates not only enhances physical well-being but also fosters a sense of mindfulness and balance.
Engaging in Pilates has been a profound journey of personal growth for her. It has taught her the importance of self-awareness, resilience, and the ability to adapt—qualities that are essential both on the reformer, mat, and in the creative process of design. Each session encourages her to connect with her body, embrace challenges, and cultivate a positive mindset, which in turn enhances her creativity and problem-solving skills in her life.
By sharing her love for Pilates, she aims to inspire others to embark on their own paths of personal growth. She believes that when we nurture our physical and mental well-being, we unlock our full potential, allowing us to create fulfilling lives.
Through this journey, she strives to build a community where individuals can connect with their bodies, explore their creativity, and cultivate a sense of harmony in their own lives.
Meaghan Wiemer
After discovering a love for Pilates over 10 years ago, Meaghan decided to recently obtain her certification in Reformer Pilates. Passionate about movement and mindful strength, she’s dedicated to helping others build confidence, mobility, and a deeper connection with their bodies. Whether someone’s a beginner or an experienced mover, she strives to make every session challenging, rewarding and fun! Outside the studio, she loves traveling with her husband, hiking with her dog, and spending time with friends and family.
Brittany Rose
Britt is Grounded’s resident new mama and culinary bestie. She’s always been a passionate mover, spending many years as a classically trained dancer.
Her teaching journey began in 2018 at GOODBODYFEEL. She’s since had trainings in Yoga Detour method, contemporary + reformer/mat Pilates and meditation. Inspired by music and charged by breathwork, her classes are equal parts cheeky and challenging encouraging clients to feel supported, strong and safe in their unique bodies. Expect flowy, inclusive classes where laughing counts as core work.
Gabriella Romero
In 2021, while living in New York City, Gabriella discovered Pilates and quickly became passionate about the practice. As a Registered Nurse, she had always been focused on health and wellness, and Pilates soon became an integral part of her own routine, helping her build strength, flexibility, and body awareness.
When she moved to Canada, Gabriella decided to pursue Pilates instructor training. While settling in Burlington, she took Katie’s class and instantly knew that Grounded was the perfect environment for learning and growth. The welcoming, supportive atmosphere made it clear that this was the place where she could truly develop into an instructor capable of guiding others on their Pilates journeys.
In Gabriella’s classes, you can expect to be challenged, but leave feeling strong and accomplished. She tailors each class to individual needs, ensuring that everyone feels supported while building confidence in their practice.
Melissa Ashburn
Melissa found Grounded at a point in her life where she felt she needed to slow down and reconnect to herself. After countless injuries in the gym and some health complications, Melissa was eager to take better care of herself and find a form of movement that built strength but also felt good. After 2 years as a student of Grounded, Melissa jumped at the opportunity to complete the teacher training program. She was excited to learn even more about the form of movement she had grown to love and is now so excited she gets to share that with her clients at Grounded.
Alyssa Mapili, Samantha Pavao, Abbigayle Sykes, Jasmine Hermans, Rebecca Mark
Bios coming soon!