I was bitten by the movement “bug” from the beginning. Playing sports as a child, training in ballet throughout high school, and having a professional contemporary/modern dance career from 2011-2019 (Red Bucket Dance Theatre, TwoPoint4 Dance Theatre), I have continuously explored many genres of movement.

  Having a parent in the movement world (my father, Michael Crooks, is a physical therapist of 35+ years) also sparked my interest in the science behind the art of movement. I guess it’s in my DNA! Receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree in Kinesiology & Exercise Science in 2011 gave me the first set of skills to explore this layer of movement analysis. However, working at Madison Avenue Physical Therapy from undergrad to post-college instilled an understanding of movement rehabilitation and analysis that I never learned in my formal education. Priceless!

  Going through a slight quarter-life crisis (no big deal! haha) jolted me to figure out a purpose for myself in the world. I thought back and remembered taking ONE class from Karen Clippinger at a college dance festival in 2009 and loved it!   So, in 2013 I started my journey to become a Pilates instructor with BASI (Body Arts and Science International) under the mentorship of Karen Clippinger in her Comprehensive Dance Specialization program. In the years following, I have had the privilege to teach in wonderful studios in the Sacramento area, leading up to my own independent practice, and now expanded into Orange County. 

  Taking my teaching further, I completed the Balanced Body Educator Training Certification (Pilates Mat and Reformer) in January 2019 and CoreAlign Educator in 2022. Learning from Joy Puleo, Nora St. John, and the many great minds from the Balanced Body community has been one of the most enriching experiences for me in my teaching career thus far.

  Since 2019 I traveled with Balanced Body to their Pilates On Tour conferences, as well as their attending conference circuit (i.e. IDEA World, PMA, etc.) with their workout instructor team. Moving forward, I hope to continue learning and sharing the ever-evolving study of human movement with the world!