Colette, the owner and founder of Rare Body Studio, started her Pilates career in New York City where she trained in Classical, Balanced Body, and Peak style Pilates.

Her fascination with Pilates began in 2005 during her years as a hip-hop and step dancer, and with a push from her mom. Colette started the Rare Body brand as a skincare line in 2010.

She favored the tagline “Be rare, be you” for the skincare line; however, she desired a greater reach for her company. She leaned into her evolving passion for Pilates and started teaching classes in 2013.

Colette acquired a space from the studio’s former owner in New York City a few years later. Sadly, COVID stole all her clients, so she relocated to St. Petersburg, Florida, in 2020.

A bonus perk for Colette was that her now-husband and stepdaughters already resided in St. Pete. With the help of her family and trusty staff, she has moved Rare Body Studio from a quaint 1,700 sq. ft. studio on MLK to the gorgeous 4,000 sq. ft. location down the street, with over 100 regular members and 12-14 classes per day.

Sanna has been practicing Pilates for as long as she can remember and became a certified instructor with Balanced Body about four years ago.

She started teaching because she wanted to share the many layered benefits of Pilates that she fell in love with when she first discovered it.

For Sanna, Pilates is all about mindful movement, making it a perfect way to clear the mind, recharge, and strengthen the body.

She believes that focusing on form, breathing, and controlling movements results in endless benefits. Pilates doesn’t just tone and strengthen the body—it also heals one's relationship with their body.

That peace of mind is priceless, and she wants others to experience the same transformation.

Ami has been practicing yoga for more than a decade and has been teaching in St. Pete for eight years.

She has studied a variety of styles, from Hatha and Vinyasa to Acro and Ashtanga. Over time, she has developed a true passion for restorative and yin practices.

Ami creates classes built around deep stretches, full joint mobility, and mindful breath work, designed to prepare each guest for rest and relaxation.

Props are encouraged (and plentiful), and classes are open to every level of practice.

Yara discovered Pilates in 2020 while living in New York City, where it quickly became more than just a workout—it became a source of balance, connection, and joy.

At the time she was working in the corporate world, but movement gave her a sense of grounding that stayed with her. In the fall of 2024, she moved to St. Petersburg ready for a new chapter and a more intentional pace of life, joining Rare Body at the front desk.

Her natural leadership and care for the community quickly stood out. Soon after stepping into a management role, Yara began her instructor journey in summer 2025.

Today, she manages two Rare Body studios and teaches Reformer and Hot Mat classes, bringing warmth, thoughtfulness, and positive energy into every class. Her goal is to create a space where everyone feels supported, challenged, and truly welcome.

Originally from New York, Cristina moved to Florida in 2020 to attend the University of Tampa. A lifelong dancer, she began ballet at age two and was competing by seven, carrying her love of movement through high school.

Her passion for teaching and movement naturally led her to Pilates—first as a personal practice, then as a career. Cristina is a comprehensively trained instructor, completing a 500-hour Pilates Teacher Training Program.

She is certified in mat, reformer, chair, spine corrector, ladder barrel, springboard/tower, and Cadillac/RTC, and brings nearly five years of teaching experience to every class.

Cristina is dedicated to making Pilates accessible to all levels and abilities and is passionate about using Pilates for rehabilitation and injury recovery. She loves inspiring others through movement and is thrilled to be part of the Rare Body team.

Hi, I’m Tori! I grew up playing sports and went on to play collegiate softball, which built the foundation for my love of movement, discipline, and teamwork.

After graduating and relocating to Florida, I discovered Pilates—and it quickly became more than just a workout. What started with reformer classes grew into a daily practice that included both reformer and hot mat Pilates.

Pilates transformed my fitness and approach to a healthy lifestyle, inspiring me to become certified through Balanced Body. I’m passionate about helping others feel strong, confident, and empowered through mindful movement.

My classes are low-impact yet challenging, blending tough sequences with fun playlists of rap and pop to keep the energy high. I’m so excited to share my love of Pilates with the Rare Body community!

Mack is a Certified Pilates instructor known for teaching creative, challenging, and functional hot mat and reformer classes. Her athletic-style programming builds strength, mobility, and body awareness while staying accessible to all levels.

She loves Pilates because it truly is for everyone, offering a movement style our bodies need no matter who we are or how we move. Mack has worked with a wide range of clients including athletes, pre- and post-natal clients, rehab populations, and seniors, always meeting each person where they are.

Her teaching style is rooted in her background as a former NCAA volleyball athlete along with years of coaching and fitness instruction.

Mack holds certifications in Pilates, ACE Group Fitness, and Yoga (RYT-200), and is passionate about helping clients feel stronger, more capable, and confident in their movement.

Alyssa is a comprehensive movement educator with over 7 years of teaching experience, more than 500 hours of clinical training, and 600 hours of comprehensive Pilates education through IM=X®.

With doctorate-level coursework in anatomy, biomechanics, neuroscience, and pelvic health, Lyss blends evidence-based movement with mindful, personalized instruction.

Her classes are mindful, energizing, and explorative, helping clients build strength, coordination, and deeper body awareness for sustainable movement.

Lyss is passionate about guiding clients toward confident, healthy movement and loves being part of the Rare Body community.

Cailynn discovered her love for Pilates during the challenging days of 2020. From her very first class, she felt an instant connection and knew Pilates was more than just a workout—it was something she wanted to pursue fully as both a student and instructor.

Pilates became a lifeline during a time of uncertainty, helping her restore mental well-being through mindful movement, breath, and discipline. She found strength, clarity, and purpose, and now she is passionate about sharing that transformation with others.

As an Afro-Latina instructor, Cailynn is dedicated to increasing diversity within the Pilates community. She hopes to inspire minorities not only to experience Pilates but to step into leadership roles by becoming certified instructors themselves.

Her goal is to create welcoming, empowering classes where everyone feels seen, supported, and confident in their movement.

Georgia is a comprehensively certified Pilates instructor on all apparatus and a former athlete who discovered Pilates 14 years ago while recovering from sports injuries.

Since then, she has been passionate about its ability to heal and strengthen the body. Her teaching blends functional movement and contemporary techniques rooted in classical principles to help clients build strength, flexibility, and confidence.

Outside the studio, Georgia works full-time as a Product Marketer and holds a BA in Marketing from the University of Georgia.

She loves the beach, traveling, and live sporting and music events, and is excited to share her passion for Pilates with the Rare Body community.

Gaby discovered her love for Pilates in the spring of 2024 at just 15 years old and has been a dedicated part of the Rare Body community ever since. She quickly fell in love with the mindful movement and the studio’s supportive, welcoming atmosphere.

Now working at the front desk, Gaby’s favorite part of her job is creating a warm, inviting experience for every client. She loves helping people feel comfortable, motivated, and excited about their Pilates journey from the moment they walk through the door.

Outside of Rare Body, Gaby is a junior at St. Petersburg High School and part of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program, where she values learning, balance, and personal growth.

In her free time, she enjoys playing tennis, traveling, baking, going to the beach, babysitting, and spending time with friends.