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 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 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 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 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.

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.