Alexis Malespin is a musician and Pilates instructor residing in Los Angeles, by way of Berkeley, California. Alexis studied piano, flute, and voice from an early age, and also has a background in Afro-Brazilian and Afro-Haitian dance styles, along with Salsa and some Ballet. She recently earned her bachelor’s degree in Popular Music Performance from the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music. While at USC Alexis continued to hone her craft as a pianist and vocalist, studying privately with renowned vocal coach Jeffrey Allen, as well as pianists, Russell Ferrante (of The Yellowjackets), and R&B/jazz legend, Dr. Patrice Rushen. Alexis currently tours internationally with Dr. Rushen, and maintains a busy freelance performing and teaching schedule.

Alexis came to Pilates in 2020 and immediately fell in love with the practice, which helped her realize her intrinsic strength and potential to push past self-imposed limits. In 2022, Alexis undertook Pilates teacher training under the BASI method in order to understand the minute details of Pilates movements. She is currently finishing the BASI graduate level course, and plans to pursue further Pilates instructor training in the future. Alexis is a firm believer in Pilates as a means of neuromuscular reeducation and the long-lasting benefits of a regular Pilates practice. Her practice has deeply enriched her quality of life, and she hopes to share that passion with all of her clients.

She was born and raised in Venice, California. Adriana grew up spending all her free time by the ocean and enjoying all outdoor activities that involved the water and beach. Her passion for staying active started early with tennis, biking, and skating and has remained throughout her life. Most of Adriana's education is in early childhood development. Her experiences and history as a teacher and her enjoyment in staying active and teaching were a natural segue to becoming a Pilates instructor.

Her Pilates journey started in 2014 after having ankle surgery due to a horrible figure skating accident that left her with severe ankle immobility, swelling, and pain. With a long recovery looming, she was desperate to rehab her injury without having surgery again to remove the hardware. Pilates training and footwork helped her heal her ankle, prevent her from having a second surgery, and where her love of Pilates began.

Adriana has seven years of personal experience with Pilates and has taught for three years, and has comprehensively trained through the prestigious Body Arts and Science International (BASI). She has completed the Foundational and Graduate programs with over 500+ hours of training. Adriana has enjoyed working with Rael Isocowitz, the founder of Basi. She has furthered her education through certification courses with Basi, like Set Up For Success, taught by Rael Isocowitz, and Pilates for Injuries and Pathologies with Physical Therapist and Basi Associate faculty member Samantha Wood.

She believes that Pilates is a lifelong practice. It is never too late for anyone to change their life for the better. She approaches her life with humor, respects others' differences, and appreciates everyone's uniqueness. Her goal as a Pilates instructor is to positively impact the lives of the people she works with, helping them become the healthiest, happiest, highest performing versions of themselves. She is passionate about assisting others in finding that right balance for themselves, which means that they can enjoy their lives to the fullest.

Larissa Tanis has over nine years of experience as a fully certified Stott Pilates instructor who is cross-training in BASI. She has an associate degree and studied at the Kendall College of  Art and Design while having a career in the performing arts as a professional ballerina with Milwaukee Ballet II and dancing with the main company, six years with Grand Rapids Ballet,  performing in the Key West Nutcracker, and dancing in opera productions including Lyric Opera of Chicago and San Diego Opera’s “Samson and Delilah” and “Aida.” Larissa has  also been a ballet instructor. She brings her Pilates and dance background to the aspects  and dynamics of range of motion, balance, coordination, core strengthening, and alignment. 

She trained in dance with various teachers, including her mother, Chicago’s Multi-Cultural Dance Center, and summer intensives of San Francisco Ballet and American Ballet Theatre (New York City). Larissa became attracted to Pilates, utilizing this discipline to help rehab from a dance injury. 

Larissa comes to us from her hometown of Chicago, Illinois, where she worked at two premier venues: the Woman’s Athletic Club of Chicago and the East Bank Club. She is devoted to helping clients define and achieve their health and fitness goals. She has expertise in “special populations,” including post-physical therapy rehab, patients  with joint, hip, mobility, alignment, knee and ankle problems, shoulder, back, neurological and other issues, and patients with spinal stenosis, and more. She conducts postural  analysis and develops individuated programs for achieving optimal outcomes. She has worked with all adult age ranges and with athletes, including tennis and baseball players, golfers, and more.

Michelle is a BASI trained Pilates Instructor and for the past six years she has been working in both Los Angeles, California and in England, UK. Michelle also holds a PSC Teacher Training Certification awarded by Andromeda Stevens, D.C and Kelli Altounian. Other credentials include certifications such as Pilates for Injuries and Pathologies under the guidance of Samantha Wood - Physical Therapist and Associate Faculty member for BASI Pilates, amongst others. She is a National Pilates Certified Teacher (NPCT) and as such undertakes regular continued professional development. The three fundamental certificates that she holds all include proficiencies within the areas of Mat, Cadillac, Wunda Chair and Reformer.

Michelle strives to further her professional knowledge and has studied under master trainers such as Rael Isacowitz (BASI Pilates Founder) and Risa Sheppard (PMA Educational Member). She chose to study the BASI Pilates method because BASI is a world leader in Pilates Teacher Training, education and equipment; and honors the Pilates history and the legacy handed down by Joseph Pilates by providing a solid foundation in all aspects of the Pilates method.

Under Michelle’s instruction, attention to detail is given to all exercises to ensure that clients gain the full benefit of a Pilates session. The satisfaction of seeing clients progress and grow motivates her to continue to bring together a unique collection of knowledge, skill and experience of which she is excited to bring to all. Michelle is very energetic and enjoys working in dynamic environments and working together with clients to encourage and support a positive and healthy lifestyle.

Samantha Wood, MPT, MBA, NPCT, RYT, is a licensed physical therapist, a National Pilates Certified Teacher (NPCT), a Yoga Alliance–certified teacher, and an associate faculty member for BASI Pilates. She has been a member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) since 1997 and of the Pilates Method Alliance (PMA) and Yoga Alliance since 2010. Her clinical expertise includes Pilates-based rehabilitation, yoga therapy, orthopedics, sports therapy, and functional rehabilitation.

Samantha received her bachelor’s degree in exercise science from USC in 1991, where she worked as a student athletic trainer with athletes from all sports, specializing in volleyball, football, and track. After graduation she worked as a fitness instructor for Golden Door Spa aboard Cunard cruise ships. Two years later she earned a master of physical therapy (MPT) degree from Western University of Health Sciences. She also holds an MBA from the University of Southern California (USC).

Sam has worked with many celebrities and professional athletes; while at HealthSouth in Arizona, she was the physical therapist for the Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Coyotes, Phoenix Mercury, and Arizona Rattlers. In 2010, she was selected as the physical therapist for the EAS Unstoppable Tour, where her responsibilities included keeping elite athlete Sam Tickle in top physical condition as he completed his 30-sport, 30-city, 30-day journey.

​Sam began her Pilates studies in 2001 with Rael Isacowitz and has attended many of Isacowitz’s advanced courses, including the prestigious Legacy Program (Mentor, Master I, Master II and Honors). She created and teaches two advanced education courses for BASI Pilates: Pilates for Injuries and Pathologies (for Pilates teachers) and Pilates: Integration Into Therapeutic Practice (for rehabilitation professionals). She has been presenting those courses, in addition to offering other workshops and lectures at Pilates conferences around the world, since 2010. In 2018 she was a presenter at the Pilates Method Alliance (PMA) Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada.

​Samantha has been featured in the Ask the Expert column in Pilates Style magazine and authored and modeled for an article entitled “Check In to (Injury) Rehab.” She also wrote an article about integration of Pilates into a physical therapy practice for Advance for Physical Therapists. Her first book, Pilates for Rehabilitation was released on June 30, 2018, by Human Kinetics and can be purchased online from Amazon or Human Kinetics.