| |
|
|
Rick Williamson
Rick Williamson, Owner of the Fitness Institute and Pilates Studio, has been involved in the Fitness and Rehabilitation industry for
over 20 years. Rick got his start in Fitness and Rehabilitation after being involved in a serious head on collision in 1980. Rick
sustained severe whiplash and nerve damage. After undergoing numerous forms of Rehabilitation, and after seeing many different physicians
about his constant neck and back pain over the following 3 years, Rick began an educational journey developing advanced methods of
self Rehabilitation. In the process, he developed and built a Rehabilitation facility in his home, and over the next 5 years, was
able to rehabilitate himself.
|
Rick is a certified Pilates Rehabilitation Practitioner through Polestar Pilates Education. He was trained
in Pilates Rehabilitation at the University of Miami and Long Island University by Brent Anderson, PT O.C.S., President and Co-founder
of Polestar Pilates Education and Elizabeth Larkam, MS. He is also certified by the American Council on Exercise, Senior Fitness
Association, and is an active member of the American College of Sports Medicine and The Pilates Method Alliance (PMA). He then
earned his Bachelor of Science in Biomechanics from The Alternative Medicine Research Institute (Canada).
He has recently become a PMA Gold Certified Teacher, by passing the PMA Pilates Certification Exam.
For the last 13 years, Rick has owned and operated The Fitness Institute where he has performed individual assessment and program
development in the Pilates environment for a wide range of clientele. He instructed Pilates for persons with spine and extremity
injuries, neurological diseases, postural deformities, and general de-conditioning while designing new and innovative Pilates
based movements for special Rehabilitation needs.
|
|
Rick has had the opportunity in working with and designing specialized Rehabilitation programs for professional and recreational dancers
and athletes. He has had the recent opportunity over the last year of working with Ron Fletcher, a master teacher, and one of Joseph
Pilates personal students. Rick has trained and mentored many Pilates teachers that use Pilates Rehabilitation techniques from Fitness
professionals, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and medical doctors.
Rick has had the opportunity to have served on the Board of Alternative Therapies at the Erie County Medical Center, and was also a
Steering Committee member of the 50 plus Fitness campaign at the Degraff Memorial Hospital. And in 1995 was a guest speaker and presenter
at the first Alternative and Complimentary Therapies conference held here in Buffalo at the Center for Tomorrow University at Buffalo.
|
| |
|
Julie Williamson, MS PT
 |
Julie Williamson is a licensed physical therapist and Co-Owner of the Fitness Institute and Pilates Studio and
is Director of Rehabilitation. She has been involved in the Fitness and Rehabilitation industry for 10 years. Julie earned her
Masters in Physical Therapy from Ithaca College. She is certified Pilates Rehabilitation Practitioner who specializes in spine,
orthopedic, and chronic pain rehabilitation. Her background includes treating patients with neurological, pulmonary, cardiac,
and orthopedic diagnosis. She has worked with elite athletes participating in the development of injury prevention programming.
For the last four years she has worked at the Fitness Institute and Pilates Studio where she has performed individual assessment
and program development in the Pilates environment for a wide range of clientele.
She instructed Pilates for persons with spine and extremity injuries, neurological diseases, postural deformities,
muscle imbalances, and general de-conditioning while designing new and innovative Pilates based movements for special rehabilitation
needs.
|
|
|
Tatiana Matsuo
|
|
Tatiana Matsuo came to the Fitness Institute and Pilates Studio from Brazil and has been working for 13 years
in Fitness and Wellness. Even though she started as a volleyball athlete when she was a teenager, she has always dreamed about
doing gymnastics. When Tatiana was 18, she got the opportunity that she wanted and began teaching gymnastics. Soon after she
injured her chest bone and could not work any longer. She saw several doctors, however they did not know what was wrong or why
she was losing bone density. She tried several different rehabilitation treatments and therapies over the next 2 years, but nothing
would relieve her pain. It was through Pilates and breathing techniques that finally she could decrease the tension and pain
in her chest, upper back, ribs, and neck.
Tatiana in a certified Pilates Practitioner with a background in spine, chronic pain rehabilitation, postural
deformities, flexibility, and sports training. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Brazil and has been working on holistic
healing therapies as part of her job.
|
 |
|
|
Leanne Rinelli
|
 |
Leanne Rinelli has been a dancer all her life. A member of the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, Leanne graduated
with a B.A. in dance from the University of Buffalo . She has extensive training in ballet and modern dance, and went on to dance
with a modern dance company in Ohio after college. Leanne is now an adjunct instructor at Buffalo State College, where she incorporates
Pilates techniques into her dance courses. In the past, she has worked for Moving Miracles, a dance therapy studio for children
and adults with special needs.
Leanne enjoys using her dance skills to enrich her Pilates teaching. At the same time, she loves to strengthen and challenge
her dance students with Pilates. In her free time, Leanne performs locally with Janet Reed and Buffalo City Ballet.
|
|
|
|
Nancy Brown, B.S., CSCS
Fitness Director
|
|
Nancy is a certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with a Bachelor's Degree in Exercise Science. She
earned her degree from the University at Buffalo where she excelled both academically and athletically as a Division I volleyball
scholar athlete.
Nancy has a passion for both exercise and nutrition and has been working in the fitness field for over 10 years. She has a great
deal of experience working with athletes and developing sport-specific training programs. She interned with The University of Kentucky
men's basketball team during their 1998 NCAA Championship season and has worked with athletes/teams in various sports including:
golf, soccer, tennis, hockey, basketball, and volleyball, specializing in plyometrics, jump training, speed, agility, and quickness.
Nancy not only has experience working with athletes but with various special populations including individual/groups with diabetes,
arthritis, back pain/injury, heart disease, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, depression, etc.
Nancy also is a nutrition Educator and has a strong desire to help others heal their bodies through nutrition. Her classes include
topics on nutrition and the brain, digestion, inflammation and joint pain, blood sugar (diabetes and hypoglycemia), adrenal fatigue,
skin, nutrition for fat loss, and more.
|
 |
|
|
Eric M. Budin
|
|
Eric comes to the Fitness Institute & Pilates Studio with a background in fitness and athletic traning.
Eric entered the world of professional fitness training after more than 20 years in the maze of corporate America. His passion
for health and physical wellness drove him to pursue a career where he could use his passion to help others achieve their health,
fitness, weight loss, toning and sports specific goals. Eric especially enjoys working with youth, profesional athletes, and
those new to world of fitness. Eric has developed comprehensive and effective programs that help those who seek to improve their
performance in golf, tennis, baseball, as well as programs to help athletes improve their speed, agility and quickness on and
off the court and field.
|
|
|
Sandra Kulbacki
Personal Trainer
|
|
Sandy Kulbacki has a passion for fitness and has been involved most of her life. Her experience includes teaching
group classes as well as designing and supervising strength and conditioning programs. She is CPR certifiedand holds a BS degree.
Sandy enjoys creating programs on an individual basis to ensure clients meet their personal fitness goals.
|
 |
|
| |
|
|









|