instructors
Kinected instructors are hand-selected for their excellence in teaching and intensive study in anatomy, biomechanics, and injuries. Read on to bone up on bios and uncover fun facts & faves.

Lauren AlzamoraInstructor

Lauren Alzamora received her Pilates mat and full equipment certification from the Kane School in 2004. Also a professional dancer, she graduated from the high school dance department of UNC School of the Arts in 2001 and has been performing in the U.S. and abroad since then. She has danced with Eliot Feld's Ballet Tech and Battery Dance Company in New York; she was also a member of Aspen Santa Fe Ballet for five years. While in Aspen, Lauren took the Foundation I Course in the GYROTONIC® exercise method, which she finds to be a wonderful compliment to the Pilates training. She is thrilled to be teaching both disciplines at Kinected.  Lauren is currently dancing for Ballet Hispanico.

Fave muscle: "The diaphragm, because a little extra attention there goes a long way!"

Michael Ballentine, DPTSenior Instructor

Michael received his clinical doctorate in PT from Hunter College.  He pursued a strong interest in manual medicine outside the classroom taking several additional courses with the Institute of Physical Art’s Functional Manual Therapy curriculum. He is an avid student of the therapeutic value of movement-based exercise systems that emphasize connection. Michael was fully certified in Pilates mat and apparatus at the Kane School of Core Integration in 2008 and has studied Yang style Tai Chi with master C.K. Chu since 2004.  Consistent with his education and interests Michael continues to develop his skills in these areas working at PhysioArts, a renowned orthopedic dance medicine clinic in midtown.  He is on the continuing education faculty at Kinected as well as with the annual FAMI workshop where he recently shared his clinical rehabilitation perspective on featured injuries with participants.  He recently discovered a passion for fly-fishing out in Colorado.

Preferred prop: "If Joseph Pilates, Moshe Feldenkrais and Ida Rolf were sharing a studio space, they would only quibble over one prop -- the foam roller."

Stephanie BittnerSenior Instructor

Stephanie Lang Bittner, Master Pilates Instructor, has been training privately as well as facilitating instructor certification programs in the tri-state area for over 10 years.  Her weekly clientele include professional dancers and athletes, Broadway performers, and those recovering from chronic or major injuries.  She carefully creates on-going wellness programs for those suffering from chronic conditions such as arthritis, osteoporosis, and multiple sclerosis. Stephanie is excited to bring her insight and talents to assist women during and after their pregnancy.  Her vast knowledge enables her to make adjustments to any workout class or program - even for those with special needs. Stephanie is certified by the Center for Women’s Fitness, Pilates Academy International and AcitivCore Redcord Stability Programs. She is a retired Radio City Rockette and Broadway performer, holds a B.A. in Dance from
Point Park University, is an adjunct professor at New York University, and is the proud mom of Cooper.

Fun fact: During a press-event while still a Rockette, Stephanie once spent a sunny afternoon in Gillette Stadium kicking field goals with Adam Vinatieri.

Kuan Hui ChewInstructor

Kuan Hui Chew was born and raised in Singapore.  She received her Pilates teaching certification at Kane School of Core Integration in 2003 and became their expert trainer soon after graduation. Kuan Hui has studied with Kelly Kane, Renee Orona, Marie-Jose Blom-Lawrence, Eric Franklin and Liz Koch to name a few. She has been consistently teaching continuing education workshops since 2004 for body workers at various studios, such as Kane School of Core Integration (New York), Kinected LLC. (New York), Erika Bloom Pilates Plus (New York), Pilates Garage (New York), Body Logic (Philadelphia), Indigo Pilates (New York) and so forth. Her areas of expertise include, psoas dysfunction, scoliosis, sacroilac joint dyafunction, sciatica and care for prenatal and postpartum population. Kuan Hui has guest taught dance technique and body conditioning classes at Beijing Dance Institute, Shanxi Province Performing Arts School, University of Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky University and Iona College, and has served as an adjunct lecturer at CUNY Queens College. She also teaches private clients at her studio in New York. Besides teaching, Kuan Hui is also actively performing. She was trained at Beijing Dance Institute in China, and earned her BFA in Dance from the University of Iowa. She was a recipient of the Singapore National Art Council Art Bursary (overseas). Kuan Hui has been performing with ZviDance since 2000, and has performed in The King and I (choreographed and adapted by Gemze DeLappe, directed by Paul Blake), as well as with AllNations Dance Company, Kristin Jackson Dance, Gary Vlasic, Amos Pinhasi and Catherine Mapp. Her choreography has been featured in the Singapore Arts Award Presentation Ceremony, Television Corporation of Singapore, Wu Yue Wu Xiang Studio Arts Troupe performances (Singapore), and Dancenow/Downtown Festival (New York). 

After earning a B.A in Biology from Boston University, with an emphasis on human anatomy and physiology, Kathy decided to combine her passion for science with knowledge gained from twenty five years in the performing arts to become a certified Pilates Instructor. She holds certifications from the Kane School, the Pilates Academy International, AFAA, and Powerstrike. She is fascinated by the ways in which movement canimplement profound change in the body.

Fave muscle: "The Levator Labii Superioris Nasi, a.k.a ‘The Elvis Muscle.'"

Sally Donaubauer, DPTSenior Instructor and Teacher Trainer

Sally Donaubauer, DPT is a physical therapist who specializes in Pilates-based rehabilitation and dance medicine.  Upon graduation from the University of Iowa with a degree in Exercise Science, Dr. Donaubauer moved to New York City where she danced professionally for several NYC- based modern dance companies.  In 2001 she completed her Pilates certification at the Kane School of Core Integration, and served as a Pilates instructor and a member of the Kane School Pilates teacher training staff until entering the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at the University of Southern California.  Dr. Donaubauer is also a member of the treatment and education team at the Harkness Center for Dance Injuries.

Fun Fact: She's an Iowa girl (born and raised), but has now lived on both coasts (and loves them equally).

Elliot Fishbein PT, OCS, CFMT, FAAOMPTPhysical Therapist

Elliot brings more than 11 years of extensive experience and training at some of the top rehabilitation facilities in the country to Kinected. His approach is based in functional manual therapy, in which he is one of only 17 therapists in the country to have completed the one-year fellowship training in this area. Elliot’s past experience is rooted in both orthopedic and neurological rehabilitation gained working at Burke Rehabilitation Hospital, Mount Sinai Medical Center, and as the clinical specialist in the outpatient spine clinic at New York Presbyterian Hospital. He has also completed certification training in Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Vallejo, CA, and his fellowship training at Johnson and Johnson Physical Therapy in Steamboat Springs, Co. In addition to his clinical experience and functional manual therapy training, Elliot is a board certified specialist in Orthopedics and a certified Vestibular (dizziness) therapist with the American Physical Therapy Association. He has also completed coursework in craniosacral therapy, and currently teaches both as an associate instructor with the Institute of Physical Art and as Adjunct Faculty at Long Island University’s Physical Therapy Department. 

Fave muscle: "Plantaris, because it sounds like a bad heavy metal band."

Eleanor HullihanInstructor

Eleanor Hullihan is a Pilates instructor and dance artist from North Carolina. She studied privately and on the mat for three years with Kathy Grant while getting her BFA in dance from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. She continued her training with Kelly Kane and received her mat and equipment certifications from the Kane School of Core Integration. Eleanor resources her knowledge from years of dancing and performing, as well as a passionate interest in yoga and her recovery from numerous dance-related injuries. Her classes are very detailed, specific and challenging as she infuses more subtle breath and somatic work with classical precision. Eleanor has instructed clients with osteoporosis, scoliosis, sciatica, herniated discs, and pre/post natal women. While living in Los Angeles, Eleanor had the pleasure of teaching and learning a great deal from Pilates Eagle Rock. As a dancer, Eleanor has worked with John Jasperse, Sarah Michelson, Jennifer Monson, JM Leary, Katy Pyle and Beth Gill.

Fave muscle: "The diaphragm because of its ability to help take you inside of your body, as well as its qualitative effect on muscles, posture and viscera."

Kelly Kane, Founder of the Kane School

Kelly Kane is a world-renowned Pilates educator with over 15 years of experience. Seeking to incorporate an understanding of the human body into the classical Pilates genre, Kelly opened the Kane School in 1999 as a holistic body college founded on anatomical knowledge to improve strength and stability. She initially studied with Romana Kryzanowska and Hila Paldi and obtained her certification through the Pilates Institute in Santa Fe, N.M. Kelly completed two years of the BodyMind Centering teacher-training program and received her massage certification at the Florida School of Massage. Her manual therapy repertoire includes Structural Integration, CranioSacral Therapy and Visceral Manipulation, and she cultivated her exceptional manual perception skills at the New Jersey School of Medicine and Dentistry. Since 1993, Kelly has studied Iyengar yoga as well as anatomy and postural assessment with neuro-muscular movement specialist Irene Dowd, and her expertise also includes GYROTONIC® and Continuum Movement.

Preferred prop: Kane School balls -- they are so easy to travel with & great for tissue mobilization, especially in the foot.

Clare O'SheeranInstructor

Clare is a graduate of the American Conservatory Theater MFA program and a long time student of Pilates, having been introduced to it as an excellent accompaniment to her work as an actress and physical theater artist. Clare is received her Pilates Mat and Equipment Certification through the Kane School of Core Integration. Having discovered her inner anatomy nerd, she strives to continually educate herself - recently participating in Kinected's Functional Anatomy for Movement and Injuries (FAMI) at Mt. Sinai Hospital and workshops through Balanced Body with Lolita San Miguel and Madeline Black.

Fun fact: She is the proud owner of a clown nose.

Kristen RubioInstructor and Retail Manager

Originally from southern California, Kristen Rubio is a graduate of UC Irvine, where she was an athlete for the UCI collegiate swim team. Her athletic background and enthusiasm for physical fitness led to her Pilates certification through the Kane School. She emphasizes body awareness and positive physical transformation through healthy movement when working with clientele. In addition to her Pilates instruction, Kristen also works as a Physical Therapy aide at Active Care Physical Therapy in Manhattan. She keeps her own body active and fit with Pilates, GYROKINESIS®, and cycling.

Fave muscle: "Multifidis, because it’s an integral player in the muscles of core stability, and it also extends, laterally flexes and contra-laterally rotates the spine. So fascinating!"

Ellen ShadleInstructor

Ellen began studying Pilates to rehab from a back injury.  After two years of training, she pursued her certification and has been teaching since 1998, certified in the Stott and Pilates Academy International systems of Pilates.  In addition to her teaching, Ellen directed a contemporary dance group, ellen stokes shadle/DanceWorks, for ten years.  Ellen is a graduate of William Smith College with a degree in Music.

Preferred Prop: "Theraband, because you can stuff it in your bag and carry around a weightless 12 lb. weight!"

Michelle SpinnerSenior Instructor

As a GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS® Master Trainer, Michelle is a teacher of teachers. She is  a Master Trainer in the Jumping Stretching Board and the Archway (two pieces of GYROTONIC® specialized equipment) and is the official teacher of the GYROTONIC® Applications for Equestrians workshop. Always perfecting her craft, she studies regularly with Juliu Horvath, the inventor of the GYROTONIC® Expansion System. Michelle is also a graduate of the Kane School and a Pilates Method Alliance Gold Certified Pilates instructor. She was a long-time student of the late “first generation” Pilates Master teacher Kathleen Stanford Grant, and is certified in both pre-natal and post-partum Pilates and Equilates—a Pilates-based cross-training for equestrians developed by Betsy Steiner. Michelle studied Kinesthetic Anatomy and the Biomechanics of Motion with Irene Dowd, the Alexander Technique with the late Marjorie Barstow, taijiquan (tai chi chuan) with Dee Chao, Ben Lo, and Don Ahn, and began practicing Hatha Yoga in her teens. She currently studies Qi Gong and Ba Gua Zhang with Tom Bisio and regularly attends continuing education workshops, including those given by Tom Myers and Eric Franklin. Michelle is a graduate of the Theatre department at the University of Delaware and the acting program at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco.

Preferred Prop: "Foam roller -- it can be used as a massage & myofascial release tool, to challenge balance & stability, and to provide proprioception, facilitate proper alignment, and promote increased range of motion."

Sarah SmithInstructor & Teacher Trainer

Sarah Smith was born and raised in Fort Worth, TX. She attended Texas Christian University, where she was first introduced to Pilates and quickly realized how important Pilates was to her dance training, health and well being. In 2001, she was invited to be a part of the Broadway Theatre Project in Tampa, FL, where she was able to train and work with legends such as Ben Vereen, Ann Reinking, Gregory Hines, and Julie Andrews, among others. She graduated with a B.P.A. in Dance Performance from Oklahoma City University, where her passion for tap and theatre dance blossomed. While attending OCU, she performed and toured with the American Spirit Dance Company. She moved to NYC in 2004 to pursue a career in musical theatre; she has appeared in regional productions of "Crazy For You," "42nd Street," and "Christmas Dreams." She was a tap soloist for "The Moveable Feast" and continues to study voice and musical theatre performance with Jen Waldman and Kim Stern in NYC. She received her Pilates Mat and Equipment Certification from the Kane School. Sarah believes Pilates can be used to help achieve a broad range of goals; she is excited to share her love and passion for Pilates with others.

Fun Fact: She does a great Aaron Neville impression. 

Marisol SullivanInstructor

Marisol is a Pilates instructor and enthusiast of movement; an avid climber who loves biking around the city, running, yoga and hiking, she first discovered Pilates as a way to better understand and rehabilitate chronic knee and shoulder injuries. Inspired to learn more about the mechanics of movement, anatomy and injury prevention, she completed her mat teacher training in 2008 at Informed Body in San Francisco. She then moved to New York, where she completed her apparatus certification through the Kane School. She has received additional training in Pilates for individuals with scoliosis, spinal stenosis, disc herniations and a broad spectrum of athletic injuries, as well as pre and postnatal Pilates. In 2011, Marisol attended Functional Anatomy for Movement and Injuries (FAMI), an anatomy-based workshop for movement professionals at Mt. Sinai Medical School. When not working in New York, Marisol can be found at higher elevations, teaching for the National Outdoor Leadership School.

Fave muscle: "The Zygomaticus major and minor! They help you smile." 

Sherry StregackInstructor & Teacher Trainer

Sherry Stregack, a graduate of Marymount Manhattan College, has been performing in Dance and Theater for twenty-five years. Having included Pilates as an integral part of her own dance and health regimen, she received her teaching certification from The Kane School. She has completed a course of study in Anatomy with Irene Dowd and strives to guide her students toward improved functionality and positive physical change.

Fun Fact: She has recently learned how to fly fish!

Priti RadhakrishnanInstructor

Priti Radhakrishnan is a Pilates teacher in New York city. Most recently, Priti was the first Pilates instructor to complete an eight month mentorship at Kinected, training intensively under Matt McCulloch and Kelly Kane in the Art of Teaching, anatomy and injuries and rehabilitation. She received her certification in both mat and apparatus/equipment from the Kane School/Kinected and is certified in both pre-natal and post-partum Pilates.  She came to Pilates through rehabilitation after sustaining dance-related injuries, introducing her to a therapeutic form of movement she seeks to share with others.

Fave muscle: "Piriformis. As Martin Luther King Jr once said, 'Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.'"

Candace WaltersInstructor

Candace received her Pilates Mat & Apparatus Certification from the Kane School, and her GYROTONIC Level I training from Kinespirit Studio, both located here in NYC.  She specializes in pre & post natal, scoliosis, spine and pelvic alignment, and the psoas muscle, to better address structural alignment issues.  She holds a BFA in Dance & Choreography from VCU School of the Arts, was on Broadway at age 11, and has been a professional performing artist since the ripe old age of 5.  Candace incorporates the influences of her artistic background, as well as various healing arts therapies that have helped her, into her teaching.  She offers a somatic minded fitness approach for increased strength, mobility, and symmetry, with the aim to improve her student's overall health and efficiency for their daily lives.

Fun Fact: She can whistle through her teeth (and on pitch!)