VIM Pilates Trainer Bios
Sharon Barry
Studio Director
Sharon has been a Pilates trainer for over twenty years. As a former acrobat/aerialist, circus trainer and professional dancer, the study of movement, body mechanics and injury prevention and recovery are a few of her favorite things. Sharon has worked extensively with professional athletes, dancers and circus performers in conjunction with orthopedists, acupuncturists, chiropractors and physical therapists. She is also a Reiki Master, certified in Thai Yoga Bodywork, passionate about Salsa and African dance, currently trying to travel to the world’s most elusive destinations in an attempt to master kitesurfing.
“The most effective workouts combine drive, focus, intensity and precision of movement…when you train with me, laughter and humility are non-negotiable side effects.”
Maggie Foster
Maggie Foster is a comprehensively certified Power Pilates instructor and has taught movement for many years. She holds a BFA in Contemporary Dance performance from the Boston Conservatory where she began her study of anatomy, pedagogy, and many different somatic techniques. After years of teaching ballet and dancing professionally, Maggie was drawn to Pilates due to challenges with a structural spinal issue, and maintains a fascination with how the body can change when correctly informed on alignment. She continues to grow this knowledge through self-study and practice. Maggie is passionate about finding ways to alleviate pain and build strength at the same time, and works with clients of all ages.
Alex Van Buren
Alex is a high school teacher by day and Pilates instructor by night. She first got involved in Pilates after a few sports-related knee and foot injuries. She continued to gain passion for Pilates while recovering from foot surgery as it helped her regain strength and flexibility without creating impact on her foot. Alex became so passionate about spreading the joy of Pilates that she would make her friends do online videos with her in their dorm rooms and would drag them to classes at the local gym. Now, as a certified instructor, Alex loves to instruct Pilates classes because she believes that it is an exercise that any participant at any level can excel in with dedication, hard work, and proper modifications.
Alex speaks Spanish and she loves traveling through the Spanish-speaking world during her vacations. She has been to Honduras, Mexico, Puerto Rico and has lived in Spain and Costa Rica for school… and hopes to add many more destinations to her list! Alex enjoys biking, swimming, cooking (and eating) food, and spending her career as a teacher.
Catherine Nelson
Apprentice Trainer
Catherine started taking pilates classes over ten years ago while living in Minneapolis in an effort to improve strength, flexibility, and overall fitness. She has remained passionate about pilates after experiencing all of these benefits and more, and has enjoyed learning from diverse teaching styles at the various studios she has been a student at. Seeking to take her knowledge and skill level to the next level, she completed instructor training through Balanced Body, taking the Mat 1, Mat 2, Anatomy, and Reformer 1 modules. In addition to pilates training, she works as a learning and development professional, and is pursuing her doctorate in Leadership and Learning in Organizations. Outside of class, you’ll find her traveling, reading, volunteering, and spending time with her husband. As an instructor, she hopes to provide a class experience that is both challenging and restorative to help others increase overall well-being through improved fitness and reduced stress. She is excited to be taking the next step her in her pilates journey as an instructor with the VIM team.
Christy Benincasa
Christy Benincasa is a professional dancer, Exercise Physiologist, and Pilates instructor from Utica, NY – a new transplant to Boston (as of April 2019). She has been dancing professionally in New York since 2013 after her graduation from The College at Brockport – where she received a BFA in Dance, and BS in Exercise Physiology. In 2018, after years of training in Pilates to supplement her dance training, she decided to become certified to teach. Christy is certified on all Pilates equipment with the majority of her training following the BASI and Balanced Body programs. As a Pilates instructor, Christy has worked with a wide variety of clients; from professional athletes training for optimum performance, to training post rehabilitative clients and everything in-between. With a background in dance – she focuses heavily on form, movement efficiency, and functional training. Christy enjoys teaching classes that are physically challenging while deeply restorative and rejuvenating – with the goal of each student leaving with less tension, more energy, and a clearer mind. When Christy is not dancing or teaching Pilates, she enjoys camping, hiking, and traveling with her partner and dog, Indy.
Vania Chan
Vania Chan is a Stott Certified Pilates instructor. Her lifelong passion in acrobatics first led her to teach herself then later to study acrobatics on the pre-professional level at the School of Acrobatics and New Circus Arts. However shortly after completing the program, Vania sustained injuries from a combination of overtraining and two accidents. Because of these injuries, she decided to take maintenance and movement education seriously– which is what led her to Pilates and the GYROTONIC Method. To her, acrobatics is like eating a delicious meal and Pilates and the GYROTONIC Method is like flossing so your teeth don’t rot. She developed a deep appreciation for both Pilates and the GYROTONIC because of how both methods force you to work consciously, honestly, and respectfully of yourself. Before running away to the circus, Vania received a B.S. in Biology and French & Francophone Studies from Dickinson College and had a long run working in non-profits. She believes that gratitude, truth, patience, and a sense of humor will bring you very far in exercise and personal/ communal growth.
