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.”
Allie Robinson
Allie Robinson grew up in Massachusetts and had an early passion for swimming. When she moved to Florida for high school she fell in love with water polo. She continued on to play for University of Texas where she learned discipline, proper nutrition and weight training at an elite level.
During her time at University of Texas, she studied Exercise Science with a focus on strength and conditioning coaching. While studying injury prevention, Allie worked with the UT Men’s Basketball Team. She is a National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Certified Personal Trainer. Allie believes a great trainer has a strong commitment to continue learning and growing with her clients.
Allie has a growing passion for pilates. She is currently Core Mat I & II certified with Power Pilates. She is continuing to pursue complete classical training utilizing the Pilates apparatus. She will help you accomplish a well balanced fitness program for a happy and healthy life.
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.
June Todman
With a diverse knowledge of fitness expertise, June brings 35 years of experience from the fitness, health and wellness industry. She feels that functional training, core strength and flexibility is a core essential of “living a fit life”.
This philosophy gives the client the freedom and ability to make decisions based on their desired goals. June has worked with preparing rising models, actors and athletes for maximum exposure within their professional fields. In addition, June equips clients to set attainable goals that do not hinder them based on their current physical limitations. Clients experiencing conditions such as shoulder, hip and knee replacement, arthritic conditions, lower back and shoulder pain have and continue to make tremendous gains.
Being Fit isn’t a destination, but a way of life…
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.
