Alison Page, NCPT® Pilates Master Instructor is a 19 year veteran instructor. Though a Birmingham native, she has taught in Alabama, Louisiana and New York. She was originally Classically certified in NYC while pursuing a Masters in Dance/Theatre Education from New York University. While living in NYC, Alison also served as Assistant to the Dance Supervisor of THE LION KING on Broadway. Although classically trained, her greatest teaching influence has been the Heritage Training Masters Program — in the lineage of Pilates Elder Kathleen Stanford Grant (KSG), under the mentorship of renowned 3rd generation teacher, Cara Reeser.

Alison became a Streamline Pilates Master Teacher in 2022 & co-leads Streamline teacher training cycles. Alison spearheaded bringing the first successful full-scale Classical Pilates -In-House Satellite Teacher Training Program to Birmingham, AL (Streamline TTP, Aero Joe Pilates Host: 2020 - 2021).

Alison is proud to now helm the longest running Pilates studio in the Birmingham area. Her commitment is to create a welcoming studio that inspires pathways to rediscover joy in movement; reconnect mind-to-body; empower knowledge of healthy motor function; alleviate chronic pain and foster a love of Pilates for all levels and abilities.

Lindsey Chitwoood, originally from Dallas, TX, has called Birmingham home for almost 20 years. Having always been an active person, she came to see and feel the benefits of Pilates after giving birth to twins. Her original goal was to use Pilates to rebuild the core strength that was necessary to manage the day-to-day physical demands of small children, but it wasn't long before she got hooked. Pilates gave the benefits of strength and eliminated the nagging low back and shoulder pain without the strain and stress of all the high impact workouts.

Lindsey was certified through Joel Crosby, a 2nd generation instructor of the Jay Grimes lineage, with Classical Pilates Education at his Vitality Method Studio, Duluth, GA in January of 2020. Since then she has completed over 150 hours of workshops and workouts with 1st and 2nd generation instructors and leaders in Pilates with different lineage backgrounds, like Kathi Ross-Nash, Sonje Mayo, and Blossom Leilani Crawford. Lindsey is also certified in Pilates Suspension Method (TRX) and Barre Above Method. Outside of Pilates, Lindsey is married with three children, serves as a community volunteer for several non-profits, and consults on small tech projects including website and database development.

Christina McClellan began her aerial journey with a Beginner’s class at Aero Joe Pilates over two years ago. Christina had recently been diagnosed with arthritis in her lower back. A practitioner of Pilates since college, Christina sought a new method to help alleviate the pain -strengthening and stretching her muscles in different ways. Under the mentorship of Anne-Marie Mitchell and Jennifer Colvin, Christina has been able to deeply explore the art of aerial and its benefits affecting stretching, strengthening, and confidence-building.

Christina earned her Aerial Yoga Academy certification in 2017. Previously, Christina has served as a swim coach, a sport she still practices to today, and was a member of the University of Alabama Women’s Rowing team. She holds a M.A. in History and a M.S. in Museum and Field Studies from the University of Colorado. She works full time in Birmingham for UAB.

Emily holds a teacher certification through the prestigious Pilates Center in Boulder, CO, becoming a fourth generation instructor following the Romana Kryzanowska teaching method. Emily started taking the art of Pilates seriously in college, where she realized the method was not only a way for her to stay in shape, but also a way to perfect her posture, strengthen her core, and create an overall mind/body transformation. While in college, she attained a Power Pilates Mat certification in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at the Pilates Center of Pittsburgh. Emily has received continuing education and additional training from Master Instructors Deborah Kolwey, Rachel Taylor Segel, Amy Alpers, and Cara Reeser.

She received a double B.A. in Dance Performance and Business Management from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 2010. She became a member of AROVA Contemporary Ballet in Birmingham, Alabama in 2011, where she has danced and performed aerial for 5 years.

Jackie Zarcone, originally from Nashville, TN moved here to Birmingham in 2021 with the opportunity to start The Pilates Center Teacher Training Program. After graduating from The University of Alabama with a B.A. in Dance in 2013. She moved back home to Nashville, Tennessee where she spent the last nine years teaching ballet. She is also ABT® Certified Teacher in Pre-Primary through Level 5 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. With her years of experience teaching ballet she saw Pilates as the perfect complement to fill the gaps in teacher training. Recently graduated from The Pilates Center's Intermediate Plus teacher training program in Boulder, Colorado.

With nearly 30 years as a dance and fitness professional, Anne-Marie MItchell is the lead instructor of aerial curriculum for AJ Pilates. Both her biological parents were professional ballet dancers and Anne-Marie began her dance training in 1974. By 1976, she was touring the southeast on “The Freedom Train” and various children’s theater productions. She began her serious ballet training in 1981 at the North Jefferson Academy of Dance which led to her being accepted in the Ballet program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham at the age of 14. The UAB Ballet directors graciously encouraged Anne-Marie to audition and attend the Summer Intensive programs taught by ABT and Joffrey Ballet in New York. While dancing with Joffrey II (the apprentice company), Anne-Marie began fell in love with the Pilates classes at the Pilates Studio directed by Romana Kryzanowska and New York Aerobix. Coming home to Birmingham in the autumn of 1984, Anne-Marie could find very few gyms that offered these types of classes, so she decided to become a Jazzercise fitness instructor. This first certification sparked a passion for knowledge. As Anne-Marie learned and grew, she earned more certifications (Pilates Method, Step Reebok, Yoga, aquatic exercise, senior fitness, Zumba, and national group exercise/personal training certifications). She eventually became a national presenter and developed her own fitness programs. The newest chapter in Anne-Marie’s history includes Aerial Yoga here at Aero Joe. She recently attended a teacher training course with Aircat Aerial Yoga in Boulder, CO where she trained with 20 year veteran aerialist Cathy Gauch. This beautiful fitness program allows students to gain the benefits of muscle toning, deep yogic stretching and graceful movements; all facilitated by the silky yoga hammock. Anne-Marie believes in tailoring each class so that every student feels they can successfully try new poses and emerge from class feeling relaxed and energized with a sense of joy and accomplishment. Anne-Marie retired from professional dancing in 1990, but she still stays involved with local ballet companies.

Asha Gangolli, a native of Chicago, began studying classical Pilates as a young ballet student to supplement her dance training under the tutelage of Romana certified Melanie Hortin. Looking for a full body workout that provided strength and length, Pilates became the perfect answer to cross training. Dancing across the US with Houston Ballet, Boston Ballet and the Joffrey Ballet she continued to study pilates from world renowned teachers across the country. Since becoming a professional dancer with Alabama Ballet in 2014, Asha has performed soloist roles in Roger Van Fleteren’s Dracula and Cinderella, as well as George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker. She has been a dance educator and barre fitness instructor for over 5 years, and her passion for her clients and deep belief in movement as medicine has propelled students to success. In 2015 Asha became a Peak Pilates certified instructor and has since taught Pilates in both the Chicagoland and Birmingham area.

Rebekah Barnett is employed full time with UAB. She graduated in 2021 from Salt Lake City’s Streamline Pilates Teaching Training Program, and began working as an AJ Pilates teacher the same year.

Pilates has changed the way that Rebekah feels and sees exercise, especially in the functional aspect of everyday life. Being more body aware and breath has also helped her to progress in mountain biking and climbing.

Rebekah’s favorite thing about Pilates is the strength and confidence that you gain, and being able to help others achieve that as well. Along with the physical aspects, Pilates allows you to slow down, focus on the present, and be mindful of each breath. All of these encouraging you to leave your session, ready to take on whatever comes next.

Liz Holley is a comprehensively certified graduate of the Streamline Pilates Teacher Training Program under the direction of Master Instructors Eva Kauffman & Lise Fischer (Intermediate | Aero Joe Pilates Satellite - Birmingham, AL 2020). Outside of Pilates, Liz is married with 4 children. Her study of Pilates assisted her in rebuilding core strength post pregnancy. Liz believes greatly in the benefits of a dedicated Pilates practice, having avidly studied the method as a student for over a decade before beginning her teaching career.

Brandon Calleja Shaw is a Birmingham native who's returning home after living in the island nation of Malta. Brandon is certified in the full curriculum of the Pilates Method, Muscle Activation Techniques® (MAT) (Full Body Specialist), Fascial Stretch Therapy® (FST), and is a certified Personal Trainer. He was first certified in Pilates mat, and then completed a 600-hour comprehensive training (3rd-generation instructor in the tradition of Lolita San Miguel). Brandon has a movement background in various styles of martial arts and dance, which informs his approach to Pilates.

As an instructor, Brandon is known for helping clients find the perfect position to get the most out of an exercise (and for mixing in a bit of humor to get you through it!). He enjoys working with people with diverse movement backgrounds and goals.

To learn about Brandon's manual techniques, visit https://versusbodies.com.

Brandon also runs an informational website about Pilates: http://versuspilates.com

Kaitlin Winborn, a native of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, has been a Birmingham resident for 13 years. She first came to the state to attend the University of Alabama in 2006, where she majored in dance with a minor in nutrition. While at the University, she featured in the Alabama Repertory Dance Theatre, Dance Alabama, and also was a member of the Crimson Caberet dance team. After graduating and moving to Birmingham, she performed for Arova Contemporary Ballet company as a dancer and aerialist from 2011 to 2014.

Kaitlin completed her Comprehensive Certification Pilates training through Peak Pilates in 2013, when she also received her PMA certification and started teaching at Aero Joe. During her first stint with AJ, she trained extensively with Kelly Pearce, a graduate of The Pilates Center Bridge Teacher Training Program. After a 6 year hiatus being a stay-at-home mom of 2 girls, Kaitlin is excited to return to work with AJ's fabulous clients.

Kaitlin loves sharing Pilates because it is truly a method that can benefit everybody, and every body, in all walks of life. It is one of the few fitness disciplines which can be equally beneficial to a grandmother looking for improved posture and range-of-motion, to a professional athlete looking for high-performance.

Erica Mix started aerials in 2011 while getting her business degree from LSU. She performed with LSU’s physical threatre club until graduating and joining Baton Rouge's performance company Lagniappe Aerial. Erica has since lived in Austin, TX for several years teaching high level classes at Sky Candy and Blue Lapis, two top rated aerial studios in the nation. She lives by the quote, 'expression is the opposite of depression," and uses aerials to keep her mind and body happy every day. Erica has performed for Tobin Center of Performing Arts, ZACH Theatre, Pease Park Conservancy, SA Fiesta Events plus many others. Erica trainings and certifications (aerials, yoga, reiki) help her share her love of aerials with any BODY in a safe, fun and motivating environment.

Primary Disciplines: Silks, Sling, Lyra, Rope, Duo Trapeze & Lyra & Straps