Heather Glidden Email

• Studio Director
• Certified in the Gyrotonic and Gyrokinesis methodologies
• Certified Massage Therapist
• Certified Life Coach
• Fully certified in STOTT Pilates
• Therapeutic applications of Gyrotonic exercises for shoulder, pelvic girdle and scoliosis
• Pilates for injuries and special populations
• Prenatal and postpartum applications of Pilates and Gyrotonic exercises
• BA in Dance Studies, Grinnell College, IA

Heather believes a few characteristics that contribute to a good life are compassion, daring, and a good sense of humor. Heather has drawn on all three of these traits to create Willow Wellness Studio. As an example of someone who is living a dream, she hopes to inspire others to pursue their dreams as well.

Heather first studied Pilates in Colorado when her ballet teacher promised that it would make her a better dancer. She went on to receive a B.A. in Dance Studies from Grinnell College. She has studied various Pilates methods since 1992 and completed her certification in STOTT Pilates in 2006 at Equilibrium in Bloomfield Hills, MI. She discovered the Gyrotonic and Gyrokinesis methodologies in 2004, began teaching Gyrotonic in 2005, and has been continuing to fall in love with them ever since. After completing her certification in both methods, she has gone on to study prenatal and postpartum applications of Gyrotonic and Pilates as well as therapeutic applications of the movements. She specializes in injury rehabilitation including shoulder, neck, low back, hip, scoliosis and SI pain as well as cancer and stroke recovery. She continually strives to deepen her knowledge of the human body, traveling around the country to advance her studies. Her own experience with past pain and injuries gives her a deeper understanding and compassion for others who are currently struggling with pain or injuries. Through her teaching, she seeks to help people of all ability levels lead happier, healthier lives.

After several years of working with therapeutic movement, Heather felt that something was missing. Her search for the missing piece in her practice lead her to explore various manual modalities and eventually to massage school. While studying at massage school, she understood more explicitly what she had understood intuitively before embarking on her studies: when the muscular and fascial systems are holding tension, they cannot perform to their fullest extent. More plainly put, releasing tension patterns in muscles and connective tissues can greatly increase their ability to move freely, to stretch, and to strengthen. This understanding, and the skills that she learned through her massage training, have allowed her to work even more effectively with her therapeutic movement clients.

Although she is available for a limited number of "pure" massages, she most enjoys combining movement and massage together into a single session. She also enjoys partnering with other manual therapists in order to help increase the benefits of both the manual therapy and the movement therapy being applied.

In 2011 Heather completed an Integrated Life Coaching certification program, adding to the tools that she brings to each session. She enjoys using her life coaching skills to allow her clients to discover and express what they really want to receive from their sessions and then to empower them to get just that!

Alesia Lapinsky Email

• Level One training in STOTT Pilates
• Pilates for injuries and special populations
• Student Level Two training in STOTT Pilates
• Prenatal & Postpartum Pilates Specialist
• Psychology and Political Science, University of Michigan

Alesia is passionate about health and wellness. She is interested in helping everyone achieve a high quality of life. Alesia is a lifelong fitness enthusiast and, having experienced injuries herself, understands the need for proper form to avoid injury and for successful rehabilitation. She is committed to safe and customized training for the individual. She enjoys working with all ages and levels to apply her problem-solving abilities in a creative way.

Alesia was a yoga practitioner for many years, including two months of study in India with B.K.S. Iyengar. She enjoys Rollerblading, biking, kayaking and skiing, in addition to pursuing her passion for food, the arts, and preserving the natural environment.

Chris Mackowiak Email

• Fully certified in STOTT Pilates
• Pilates for injuries and special populations
• Certified AFAA group instructor
• Trained in Gyrotonic and ACE personal trainer

Chris decided early on to commit to a healthy lifestyle while training in synchronized swimming in both high school and college at the University of Oregon. This decision translated into not only an organic diet but varied physical activity. While busy raising three children, she participated in years of dance aerobics, step aerobics, swimming, power distance walking and weight training. In 1991 she trained with ACE as a personal trainer and with AFAA as a group instructor, teaching prenatal, postpartum, and senior populations as well as group resistance classes. With a desire to develop and learn more she began researching human anatomy, including injuries and misalignment, which inevitably led to training and certification in STOTT Pilates. Chris has been teaching Pilates mat classes for several years with the MHealthy program at the University of Michigan.

In her free time Chris enjoys long walks with friends and her Airedale, Katie, playing classical guitar and singing and reading to her happy grandson, Miles, over Skype.

Monica Boch & Nomad Bodywork Email or call 734.645.2234

• Certified massage therapist
• Trained at Irene's Myomassology Institute and Esalen Institute

Nomad Bodywork, owned by Ann Arbor native Monica Boch, is now happily hosted at Willow Wellness Studio. Monica is a certified massage therapist who received her training at Irene's Myomassology Institute in Southfield, MI and the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, CA. She specializes in relaxing somatic therapies, Swedish, Hot Stone, aromatherapy and Esalen massage techniques. Her work is heavily influenced by a love of Thai and Shiatsu styles. Call to book an appointment. Ask about special packages, holiday promotions, gift certificates and upcoming events.

Clinton Zimmerman Email or call 231.679.0705

• Certified Traditional Naturopath
• Myofascial Release (John Barnes method)

Clinton is a Certified Traditional Naturopath through the American Naturopathic Certification Board. He earned his Certified Naturopath degree in 2003 from the Naturopathic Institute of Therapies and Education in Mt. Pleasant Michigan where he completed a four year intensive study into health, wellness, alternative medicine, assessing and understanding the body as a whole, and the use of different bodywork therapies.

Throughout his studies he focused a great deal on bodywork therapies including deep tissue massage, cranial sacral, trigger point therapy, light heal touch, reflexology, and emotional freedom technique. He has been trained and certified in the application and uses of essential oils and flower essences which he uses in various sessions depending on what the client's healing process requires.

In 2009 he began attending the John Barnes Myofascial release seminars for healthcare professionals. Since then he has completed six of the eleven courses. Using these techniques he has seen tremendous results with clients, and he plans to continue his pursuit of this bodywork modality.