Nicole Kennedy
Nicole Kennedy
Studio Owner /
REAL® PILATES
Teacher Trainer
Email Nicole
PLEASE NOTE:
To work with Nicole, you must register for one of her group classes. She is no longer accepting Private session clients.
Nicole Kennedy, Founder and Owner of Empowered Body Pilates, discovered Pilates while dancing for the internationally acclaimed San Francisco Ballet. It was during her time with SFB that Nicole encountered the Pilates method and quickly began utilizing it as her primary form of cross-training, discovering the ways in which it could enhance her dancing.
After nearly a decade of practicing, teaching, and mentoring, Nicole felt the need to reground herself with the foundational work and went back to being a student. In 2018, Nicole received her second Comprehensive Certificate with Alycea Ungaro’s REAL ® Pilates®. In 2022, Nicole was promoted to Teacher Trainer for REAL® Pilates.
Nicole is the only host studio in California entrusted with the industry's most rigorous certification program. She is on a mission to uphold the lineage of Classical Pilates while creating livable and sustainable job opportunities for Pilates professionals in the South Bay.
Julia Kolbeck
Julia Kolbeck
Instructor
Email Julia
JULIA’S SCHEDULE
—
Monday–Friday
9am–12pm
Like many others, Julia has suffered with chronic lower back issues from sitting at a desk all day long while studying and practicing civil law in Germany. Finding Pilates has helped Julia alleviate her pain and have more energy to care for her family. Julia loves working with people and is excited to help them feel better through the Pilates method. She is looking forward to building a career as a professional Pilates Instructor.
Betty Sun
Betty Sun
Instructor
Email Betty
BETTY’S SCHEDULE
—
Saturday
11am–2pm
Betty works in procurement for a biotech company on the peninsula. In 2012, Betty found Classical Pilates while on a quest to manage her chronic back pain, and never looked back! Thanks to Pilates, Betty can now enjoy her favorite pastimes, which include sitting through a two hour movie with friends, pain free. Pilates also helped her to be a stronger swimmer, logging 2 to 3 KM each swim. Through the Real Pilates® Teacher Training Program, Betty has not only strengthened her own body, she has been inspired to help others! Betty Plans to take Classical Pilates back to her homeland of Taiwan to share the healing powers of the Real Pilates® Method.
Sarah Shen
Sarah Shen
Instructor
Email Sarah
SARAH’S SCHEDULE
—
Saturday
9am–1pm
Sarah works in mobile ad tech as a campaign manager. She came to EBP with a bad knee from running, and Pilates quickly became her favorite workout. Pilates has helped Sarah to recover from her knee pain, and to develop better awareness and control of her body. Through the Real Pilates® Teacher Training program, Sarah has developed a passion for helping other people grow in their own mind-body practice. Her goal is to help her clients find a transformative experience like she did.
Liz Blackwell
Liz
Instructor
Email Liz
LIZ’S SCHEDULE
—
Friday
8am–1pm
Liz has been a practitioner of Pilates and a studio manager, and she is wrapping up her final hours of the Real Pilates Teacher Training program—the Bay Area's most robust, classical, comprehensive training. She relies on the system’s simplicity and loves making a difference in people's lives.
Lauren Chiota
Lauren
Instructor
Email Lauren
LAUREN’S SCHEDULE
—
Monday–Friday
8am–2:30pm
Lauren began practicing Pilates to help with her posture. She was amazed at how effectively it helped her develop a more conscious awareness of her posture and movement. As an instructor, she wants to continue to share the same excitement about Pilates with those she instructs to see the benefits Pilates can offer. Lauren has a science research background. She also is a former science educator, professional development facilitator, and department chair of nine years. Since 2019, she has transitioned into the EdTech industry as a content manager and writer, developing interactive digital science content for students and teachers.
Taylor Murphy
Taylor
Instructor
Email Taylor
TAYLOR’S SCHEDULE
—
Tuesday & Thursday
8am–1pm
Taylor grew up in San Francisco and her career has been in the biotech/pharma industry. She is a first-time mom to a girl born in December 2022. Taylor started practicing Pilates in 2014 and immediately fell in love with how strong and confident she felt as a result. She became a dedicated Pilates student and sought after any Classical classes she could find. Taylor’s passion for Pilates deepened through her pregnancy and postpartum experiences when her strength and connection to her body laid the foundation for her life as a new mom. Taylor has recently decided to leave her career in pharma to spend more time with her daughter and pursue a career teaching Classical Pilates. Her goal is to work with prenatal and postpartum clients to share how powerful the practice of Pilates can be during these transformational times.
Amy Liu
As a corporate mom, Amy has suffered from lower back pain, shoulder tightness, and fatigue. Amy has strengthened her body through the Real Pilates Teacher Training Program, proving that movement can heal. As an educator, she is committed to helping people rekindle their love for novel movement and the freedom it brings to their lives.
Grecia Gutierrez
Grecia
Instructor
Email Grecia
GRECIA’S SCHEDULE
—
Tuesday–Thursday
1pm–7pm
Friday
9am–2pm
Saturday
10am–1pm
Grecia accidentally found Pilates as a college student while attending College of San Mateo. She became certified by Balanced Body in 2015 and has been teaching full time ever since. As a late comer to the fitness world, she understands challenges we all face to stay motivated and excited about movement. Grecia wants her clients to feel the same mental, emotional, and physical well-being she feels after a great workout.
Grecia completed the REAL Pilates bridge program in 2022.