STAFF - Pilates of Fayetteville

meet the staff

"Pilates is designed to give you suppleness, natural grace, and skill that will be unmistakably reflected in the way you walk, in the way you play, and in the way you work." Joseph Pilates.

Chris Cardona-Instructor/Co-owner

Chris is a Certified Stott Pilates Instructor. She chose Stott because she felt it taught more than the exercises and how to teach them. Chris feels that as an instructor it is her duty to know and understand the body and how it functions at a much deeper level. Chris also likes to consider herself a "personal life coach". "Everyday people come to me with needs that are personal , and I want to be able to help them. Through Stott training I feel that I can truly service people by teaching them how unique their bodies are, and how to properly care for them." Chris has been a Pilates Instructor for 8 years, spending 2 of those years working closely with a renowned Physical Therapist in the Tampa, Florida area. She worked with spinal and pelvic injuries, as well as work related pain from poor posture and stress and strain. She also worked with athletes who wanted to add Pilates to their regime to avoid any muscular injuries.

"I have always been very active, but once I started taking Pilates I was hooked. I no longer wanted to work out in a gym setting. I wanted personal attention, and I wanted to work out on the cool machines! Pilates helped me stay fit during my pregnancy, and helped me bounce back quickly after delivery. Alas, here I am sharing my passion with all who will listen. "

Chris is married to Edwin and they have one son.

Malinda Craven-Instructor/Co-owner

Malinda began her love of fitness in the 1980s (inspired by Flash Dance!) and became a certified Aerobics Instructor. She loved step and aerobics classes until the last few years when she found her body needed a gentler form of exercise. This is when she found Pilates and the benefits it offers in a low impact way.

She received her Mat Certification and Reformer training through the Pilates Certification Center in Cary, and has also completed Mat and Reformer training through Stott Pilates in Richmond, Va. and Charlotte, NC, and Power Pilates in Cary.

She also holds a certification through the Pilates Pink Ribbon Program for Breast Cancer Recovery and offers free, weekly mat classes for Breast Cancer Survivors. "This program is dear to my heart because I have many friends who are breast cancer survivors. I want them to have a warm, encouraging, and private place they can begin their recovery and regain their sense of well-being."
She also specializes in Pre- and Post- Natal Pilates having taken many workshops through Stott Pilates and Power Pilates.

Malinda has been married to Rich since 1981 and has three wonderful children.

Jennifer Crider-Instructor

Jennifer is from Atlanta, Georgia and graduated from Auburn University in Alabama with a degree in Apparel Design. She received her mat certification in Atlanta through Power Pilates , and has taken the reformer certification through Stott Pilates. . She brings lots of experience to our Studio! "Pilates has changed my body all over. I love exercising your body using the Pilates mat repertoire. It gives you an awareness of your body's true strengths and imbalances, and allows you to focus on the areas that really need work. I enjoy the low impact way that Pilates strengthens and stretches your muscles at the same time. The difference in my flexibility is amazing!" Jen is newly married to Dave.

Katie Beck-Instructor

Katherine (Katie) Beck grew up Minneapolis, Minnesota and is enjoying North
Carolina as her new home. She is a graduate of Xavier University in Cincinnati where she earned a degree in Pyschology and swam for the swim team. After graduating she fell in love with Pilates when she realized that ANYONE can do it regardless of their fitness level. Katie is trained in Classical Pilates and through Stott Pilates.
She is newly married to Ben Beck, an officer in the United States Army.

Melissa Gilbert-Instructor

Melissa discovered Pilates during her classical ballet training. She immediately felt an affinity for the body awareness and graceful movement aspects of Pilates, as well as its' ability to rehabilitate injuries. Melissa has been trained in Stott Pilates mat, reformer and Injuries and Special Populations courses offered by Stott. She says "Pilates has strengthened and toned my body in a way that I haven't experienced since my dancing. I got my flat stomach back in less than six weeks after giving birth to my second baby and attribute that totally to Pilates". She previously taught classical ballet to children and was involved for many years with the dance company Momenta in her hometown of Oak Park, Illinois.After working full-time for 12 years in Chicago, Melissa is enjoying her career as a Pilates instructor, wife, and mother of two.

Jessica Payton, RYT-Instructor

Jessica Payton has been on her yoga and Pilates journey for 9 years and has been blessed with the opportunity to share her passions for the past 5 years. Yoga and Pilates have been healing experiences, both physically and mentally, for her over the past few years. She has completed two 200-hour Yoga Alliance approved teacher trainings and is working towards her 500 hour teacher training at Asheville Yoga Center. She is trained in the Stott Pilates method for mat and reformer. For Jessica, yoga and Pilates are "about exploring and experiencing our bodies and how they work. Everyone's body is different and discovering those differences on the mat are opportunities for learning to use our bodies more healthily and effectively off the mat."

Originally from Cedartown, GA, Jessica has been in Fayetteville for 9 years and earned her BA English from Methodist University. She has two very active children who remind her every day how important it is to take care of ourselves so we can better take care of others!