Instructors

Katie Bonbrisco began teaching Pilates in 2004.  Her first interest in Pilates began while working towards her dance degree at Wayne State University.  In order to improve her dance technique, Katie began taking Pilates and found herself enjoying the benefits and wanting to share this with others.  Katie graduated in 2006 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts centered in Dance Education and immediately began teaching Pilates full-time.  Some of the areas that Katie specializes in are Pilates for golf, Pilates for men, athletic conditioning, Pilates for weight loss, Pilates for teenagers, Pilates for dancers and jumpboard interval training.  Her greatest passion for Pilates is to use it for the rehabilitation aspect and has found great success in improving client’s low back pain, working with clients with recent hip and knee replacements and many other specialty areas.   Katie strongly believes that Pilates is great for everyone and looks forward to helping clients improve their posture, core strength and overall well-being every day.

Courtney Champagne graduated from Western Michigan University with her BA in Dance.  She began dancing locally at the age of three.   Throughout the years she has had the opportunity to work and study with world renowned professionals in the dance industry.  She has studied with American Ballet Theatre in Detroit and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York.  She currently is the member of a jazz and a contemporary dance company as well as dancing professionally at various events in the metropolitan area.  Courtney’s interest in Pilates sparked in college where she was introduced to the method through a dance conditioning course.  Within a month of beginning the course, she noticed drastic changes in her posture, strength, flexibility and overall body structure.  For her, it was a true testament to the power of the Pilates method.  Courtney received her STOTT Pilates training through Equilibrium Studio.  She was fortunate enough to work closely with knowledgeable Pilates instructors and received valuable and extensive Pilates training.  Her ultimate goal is to introduce the Pilates method to clients in hopes that their training too, will be a testament of the power that Pilates holds.

Daniel A. Gwinn, B.S., J.D., E-R.Y.T., began his journey with yoga over 10 years ago. He has accumulated over 1,000 hours of teaching and training.  He was fortunate to have trained with Linda Makowski, E-RYT of Namaste Yoga in Royal Oak.  His yoga practice has been inspired by a number of other teachers over the years including Desiree Rumbaugh, Matthew Sanford, Patricia Walden, Cyndi Lee, Jason Crandell, Nancy McCaochan, Yoga Camp through Inward-Bound Yoga in Brooklyn, MI and Yoga Day through the Yoga Association of Greater Detroit.  To Dan, yoga is a process of transformation.  A regular yoga practice offers the student the opportunity to develop a deeper awareness of body, mind, and spirit.  His  teaching emphasis is to make yoga accessible to everyone through a non-judgmental teaching style.  Yoga has been a life-changing experience for him.  His goal is to guide students toward increased confidence in the unlimited possibilities of their own yoga practice.  Strength, flexibility, relaxation, health - yoga offers it all.

Dan is a resident of Grosse Pointe Park and is excited about sharing yoga practice with the students of Just Breathe.  Outside of teaching yoga, he is a lawyer and partner in a small law firm in Birmingham, with a practice concentration representing providers of residential care programs for persons with disabilities.  He hopes to see you in class.  Thank you for sharing your practice.  Namaste!

Marie Fachini-Kurily is thrilled to be part of Just Breathe.  Marie is a certified AFAA Group Fitness instructor.  She is licensed to teach Zumba Fitness, Zumba Gold and ZumbAtomics as well as Zumba in the Circuit.  Marie became a Zumba instructor with the intent of starting a Zumba Club at her middle school where she is a guidance counselor.  Marie has successfully lead Zumba classes at her school for several years.  Her dedication to promoting physical fitness in the schools has also included teaching Zumba classes with sports teams.  Marie loves sharing fitness with people of all ages.  Each age group brings a different joy and energy to the workout.

Marie earned a Bachelors Degree in Instrumental Music/Health from Central Michigan University.  She holds a Masters Degree in Guidance and Counseling and a specialist Degree in Educational Administration from Wayne State University.  Marie has been working in education for the past 25 years.  This includes working as a middle school guidance counselor supporting adolescents through personal and academic challenges for 17 years.  When not at school or teaching Zumba classes, Marie enjoys spending time with family and friends traveling, cycling, skiing and attending concerts or sporting events.  Her husband and two adult children continue to inspire her to create a happy and healthy lifestyle.  Marie is excited to motivate Just Breathe clients to stay healthy while having fun in Zumba classes.

Judy Sarvis received her yoga teacher training certificate through Yoga Shelter and currently is training through Yoga Medics in Spine Care classes. She has been a practicing yoga for over six years and has been conducting yoga classes since summer 2009. She teaches sanga vinyasa (a faster moving flow) and slow flow classes (with a focus on alignment).

Melissa Phillips is working towards her STOTT Pilates certification in both mat and reformer.  She is excited to complete her certification and plans to take the exam by the end of summer.  Melissa was introduced to Pilates through the dance department at Wayne State University where she studied and graduated with a B.F.A. in Dance.  She discovered firsthand how Pilates can help build core strength, increase flexibility, improve posture and help rehabilitate injuries.   She is also a principle dancer with DDC Dances and a dance instructor at Linda’s Dance Works.  Melissa is excited to be with Just Breathe and is looking forward to assisting you at the front desk.