AVENIR TEAM
MANAGEMENT
KATE A - FOUNDER & MASTER INSTRUCTOR
Kate is a highly accomplished Master Pilates Instructor with over 12 years of teaching experience in various settings, including large studios, physical therapy clinics, and with private clients. Originally from Northern California, she has established herself as a prominent figure in the Pilates community.
Kate's comprehensive training in Pilates was conducted by the renowned Karen Clippinger through BASI Pilates, ensuring a strong foundation in the discipline. Her specialization lies in working with dancers, athletes, and injury prevention, drawing upon her own experience as a former professional dancer. She has had the privilege of performing internationally with esteemed companies such as the LA Contemporary Dance Company and Australia's Strange Fruit.
In addition to her teaching and performance background, Kate holds a BFA in Dance from CSULB, further enhancing her understanding of movement and the human body. In 2018, she embarked on an exciting entrepreneurial journey by opening her own Pilates studio, AVENIR, alongside her husband. The success of AVENIR led to the recent opening of a second location in 2023, solidifying Kate's reputation as a dedicated and visionary business owner.
Kate's commitment to excellence and passion for helping others achieve their fitness goals make her a sought-after instructor in the Pilates community.
NICK WM - OWNER & FOUNDER
Nick is the owner and founder of Avenir, blending his passion for Pilates with a deep love for basketball. A Berkeley, CA native and UC Davis graduate, Nick brings a unique mix of creativity and discipline to everything he does. In addition to running Avenir, he’s a skilled TV editor, working on several hit shows. His diverse experiences and commitment to both fitness and the arts shape his approach to leadership and innovation at Avenir.
ALLIE P - DIRECTOR OF INSTRUCTOR DEVELOPMENT & LEAD INSTRUCTOR
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Allie began her Pilates journey as a supplemental workout to her dance and cheer training. Movement has always been a vital part of Allie’s life and she wanted to be able to share that with others. Upon graduating from the University of California, Santa Barbara she returned home and found herself in a Pilates certification program. Since then Allie has taught Pilates at a few boutique studios and loves creating classes that challenge her clients yet leave them feeling empowered as well. She has taught at Avenir since 2018. When not teaching you can find Allie eating her way throughout LA or singing and dancing the night away at some music event concert.
KARA L - LEAD INSTRUCTOR
Take any class with Kara Luiz Kaplan and you’ll likely hear her say, “I love Pilates!” And it’s true. She does. She also loves teaching it. Kara has been teaching Pilates since 2018. In 2019 she received her first teaching certification and in the spring of 2022 received her second teaching certification through Body Arts and Science International (BASI). In 2024, Kara became a Lead Instructor of Avenir’s Teacher Training Program. In the studio, her group classes are challenging, form-focused and creative with a healthy dash of humor.
LORETTA U - OPERATIONS MANAGER
Loretta is a small town gal from the mountains of northern Idaho and studied Theatre at North Idaho College. After living with a heart condition for most of her life, she got heart surgery in 2021 and has since developed a deep love for health and fitness. She found the *perfect* job at Avenir and has since fallen head over heels in love with reformer classes! Outside of the Pilates studio, Loretta is a lifelong musician, singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist.
INSTRUCTORS
AUSTIN T - INSTRUCTOR
Austin Tyson is originally from Portland, OR. He was introduced to Pilates as a dance student at NYU where he had the great honor to learn from Kathy Grant. He spent his professional life in New York dancing for Gallim Dance and Sleep No More, before returning to the west coast. After years of being a Pilates enthusiast, Austin received his certification under the guidance of Darlene Castro-Easterling. He is extremely passionate about creating thoughtful, dynamic, and challenging classes centered around the joy of movement.
EMILY D - INSTRUCTOR
As a Long Beach native Emily began dancing while in middle school and fell in love with the art of movement. She went on to get her degree in Dance Science from California State University, Long Beach. Under the instruction of Karen Clippinger at CSULB, Emily developed her love and appreciation for Pilates and all that it has to offer. Along side her dance and Pilates training Emily studied Anatomy, Exercise Physiology, and Biomechanics of Human Movement. The summer following her college graduation she completed her Pilates certification through Body Arts and Sciences International (BASI). Emily’s goal as a Pilates instructor is to allow her clients to move freely and efficiently while challenging them past what they thought they could do! When Emily is not in the Pilates studio she loves to shoot film photography and go hiking.
NORA Q - INSTRUCTOR
Nora is a Pilates lover and fitness enthusiast. After many years of taking pilates classes she enrolled in Avenir's Teacher training program in 2020. Nora's aim is to empower her students to feel good in their bodies and foster mind-body connection. When Nora is not teaching pilates you can find her gardening, creating playlists, making art and working as a graphic designer.
TINA A - INSTRUCTOR
With a background in rhythmic gymnastics from her native Denmark, Tina competed for the Danish National Team. She went on to study modern dance, English, and German at University. After moving to the United States 23 years ago, strength + weight training became her passion for decades. Tina found pilates because of a back injury and fell in love with it! She received her pilates certification from Avenir's Teacher Training Program in 2022 before going through their Apprentice Program. You can find her teaching Wednesday and Sunday evenings. When she's not at Avenir, you can find her on her Peleton or on the ocean watching her husband fish as they are passionate about food fresh from the ocean to the table!
PAIGE M - INSTRUCTOR
Paige has always loved to dance and worked hard to reach her goal of doing it professionally. Unfortunately, this dream came to an abrupt halt when she was injured in a car accident that ended her dance career. Her first step into rehabilitation was through Pilates. She transformed drastically from feeling completely defeated, to empowered more than ever. She wants to help teach others the joy, strength, and self confidence Pilates provides. Paige completed Avenir’s Teacher Training Program in 2022 and has been teaching ever since! Outside of the studio Paige loves hanging out with her cat Bella and watching musicals.
ARPI K - INSTRUCTOR
A Los Angeles native, Arpi found her love for Pilates in 2017 and never looked back. Aligning deeply with the mind, body, and spirit connection, she set out to share this passion with others. Certified by master instructor, Kate, at none other than AVENIR. She’s dedicated to constantly elevating her own craft with continued education programs such as Balanced Body instructed by industry legend Maria Leone. When she’s not in the studio she loves to travel, hike, visit the beach, and is always up for a concert!
KAITLIN L - INSTRUCTOR
Kaitlin grew up on the Jersey Shore and found a love for performing at a young age. She later studied and graduated with her BFA in Musical Theatre at Syracuse University. Kaitlin always had a passion for movement and ballet but found a true love for Pilates upon moving to LA. A proud graduate of Avenir's Teacher Training program, Kaitlin loves sharing her joy and gratitude for movement through teaching! A firm believer that Pilates is for *every*body!!
SELINA V - INSTRUCTOR
Selina is a fully comprehensive pilates instructor, professional dancer, singer, actress, and artist by trade, and a harmonizer and empath by heart. With a deep passion for expressive movement and connecting with others, Selina discovered Pilates at a time when she needed it most. After enduring the loss of her Father to Cancer, her Pilates practice soon became a form of meditative self care. It served as a retreat away from the complicated journey of grief and blossomed into a passion of helping others find their own unique "happy place" and safe haven within the ever-changing and turbulent world around them.
Upon this discovery, Selina received her full comprehensive Pilates certification from the Pilates Sports Center (PSC) in Encino. She is also a certified Xformer Pilates instructor. Her goal as an instructor is to guide each and every student through a challenging yet rejuvenating class with an emphasis on form, alignment, and mind-body connection. She believes that Pilates truly is for Every- Body and hopes to encourage every client to find their own" happy place" within their pilates practice.
ALI N- INSTRUCTOR
Ali grew up loving all things movement. Starting out as a competitive dancer at a young age, she trained in various dance styles and eventually began a professional dance career once moving from West Virginia to Los Angeles in 2014. She has danced and performed in award shows, on tours, in live shows with artists, television episodes, music videos and commercials. In 2017, Ali began to pursue her fitness journey as well. She started teaching mat Pilates and fusion style classes ranging from hot barre to kettlebells to HIIT and now reformer Pilates as well. She also completed a Neuromuscular Massage Therapy program in 2019. This enhanced knowledge of anatomy has greatly benefited her as an instructor and allows her to better help students understand their own bodies. A disciplined teaching style helps keep the focus on correct muscle engagement and flow in her workouts. Finding meaning and joy through movement is what it’s all about and even though she can be strict at times, Ali believes that being able to laugh at yourself is just as important as getting a good workout.
TARA A - INSTRUCTOR
Tara was born and raised in Los Angeles. She loves to talk all things fitness and health. After recently moving back from New York post undergrad with a degree in Communications and Digital Journalism she decided she wanted to bring her love of Pilates and fitness into her immediate life. She started the Avenir teaching program which she is currently in and LOVING. Mind, body, and soul connections are what she hopes to help other people achieve during their practice. Tara is a voracious reader and eater, and enjoys her free time spending hours in coffee shops with a book, and helping local mutual aids with unhoused youth programs. Her dream is to open her very own coffee shop, and teach Pilates until she’s 75.
DENISE W - INSTRUCTOR
A California native, (though originally from Redding - True NorCal!), Denise fell in love with fitness in her teens. She would ride her bike to the gym, and it was love at first lift. She discovered mat Pilates in the aughts and the reformer soon after. Each time she'd leave her reformer work out she felt like she should pay extra for what felt like the chiropractic adjustment she'd just received, and became a devoté. She still lifts, hikes, backpacks, camps, skis, and lives to get outside! Her love of health and fitness, motherhood, longevity, and her long music industry career inform her teaching with gusto, nurturing, and kick-ass playlists!
When she's not in the studio, she acts, models and loves doing any and every thing cultural that LA has to offer with her family, friends and her pug, Moose.
JENN L - APPRENTICE INSTRUCTOR
Born and raised on Long Island, New York, Jenn has been involved in athletics for over 15 years. She is an accomplished athlete having served as captain of multiple teams in multiple sports. At the collegiate level, Jenn was a two-sport recruited athlete who ultimately focused on lacrosse and played on the 2011 NCAA National Championship winning team. She was a goalie, which is one of the most technical, high-pressure positions on the field. It requires impeccable form, focus, and a positive mental state, which Jenn translates into her Pilates practice today. After college, Jenn’s involvement in athletics took the form of weightlifting and yoga. In 2020, she discovered Pilates and found it to be the perfect combination of discipline, form, and whole body movement. Jenn recently decided to pursue a Pilates instructor program and is currently in the process of completing her Balanced Body certification led by renowned Master Instructor Maria Leone. Outside the studio, Jenn founded her own operations management & consulting company focusing on operational excellence in the fashion, skincare, and consumer packaged goods space. She also enjoys being creative with film photography, perfecting her homemade pasta and bread recipes, and keeping her sourdough starter alive! Given Jenn’s accomplishments, leadership skills, and mentoring abilities demonstrated both on the playing field and in business, she empowers others to reach their full potential. Jenn’s goal is to empower her Pilates clients to also reach their full potential while sharing with them her love for, and the benefits of, Pilates.
LUX L - INSTRUCTOR
Lux LaCroix is an award winning burlesque performer, professional dancer, choreographer, performance artist and documentary filmmaker. You can find her dancing, talking and doing her thang on stages, tables, and an occasional parking lot pretty much every night of the week. As a dancer and choreographer she has worked with some of the biggest names in music. As a documentary filmmaker she has examined topics ranging from the use of the “N” word in American popular culture, women in punk and hard rock and the art and influence of artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. She is currently channeling her documentary and photographic urges into Performance Art pieces that showcase Dance to examine the Black experience in America.
Lux’s classes are energetic, challenging and fun. She’s gonna dance, you’re gonna sweat and everything is going to be fine.
BRYNNA H - INSTRUCTOR
Originally from small-town Arizona, Brynna grew up training in competitive dance. She stopped dancing in high school to pursue interest in theater, and decided to move to NYC after high school to receive an acting education. Brynna graduated in 2021 with an Associate’s degree from the New York Conservatory for the Dramatic Arts. She still loves NYC, but HATES the cold! So she took another leap back west to Los Angeles in January 2023, and got a job working front desk at a Pilates studio. Even though prior to that she had never heard of Pilates, she immediately fell in love with the creativity and efficiency found within the work. She knew right away Pilates was going to be a significant part of her journey, and after a few months of training she enrolled in Balanced Body’s certification program, with industry legend Maria Leone of Bodyline Pilates overseeing her training. She is about to complete her final test, and is so excited for many enriching years of training ahead! In her free time, Brynna practices screenwriting, painting, and chases all the outdoor time she can get.
CHRISSA V - INSTRUCTOR
Chrissa has been teaching pilates all around LA for over a decade. Her classes are sugar, spice, and deceivingly not-so-nice with her high intensity workouts paired with rachet music. Let’s party!
TOBY D - INSTRUCTOR
With a background in dance and a passion for movement, Toby has been an instructor for almost a year, receiving her certification at Studio X. After discovering Pilates as a vital part of her rehabilitation journey from an injury, she fell in love with its blend of strength and flexibility. Her teaching style incorporates modern and contemporary exercises, ensuring that each class is both engaging but challenging. Toby is dedicated to helping others discover the transformative power of Pilates while fostering a supportive and inclusive environment.
MACKENZIE W - INSTRUCTOR
Mackenzie has been a dedicated fitness educator since 2006, amassing a wealth of experience across various training modalities and earning numerous certifications along the way. Her journey into Pilates began after she faced the challenges of degenerative disc disease, seeking a practice that would be both challenging and conducive to building strength without pain. If you’re dealing with back issues, she’s your gal!
TRACY M - APPRENTICE
Meet Tracy, Avenir’s newest Apprentice Instructor! After completing Avenir’s Teacher Training Program in Summer 2024, she’s ready to bring her passion and fresh perspective to the studio. Come experience her class—you’re going to love it!
FRONT DESK TEAM
JORDYN K
Jordyn is originally from Orlando, FL and moved to LA in 2013 to pursue songwriting. She has had the privilege of writing tons of TV theme songs, commercial jingles, and end titles for movies. When she’s not making music, she is taking Pilates, cuddling with her dogs, and eating her way around Los Angeles.
NATALIE P
Natalie was born and raised in Fort Collins, Colorado. She moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting and filmmaking. She loves all things health and wellness. She grew up heavily in nature and loves to be outside! She coaches volleyball and recently completed her first marathon. When she’s not taking pilates, you can find her running by the beach, cooking pasta, or reading her new favorite book!
ERICA L
Erica is a writer/director who grew up in New Hampshire, and currently writes films for Lifetime and other studios/streamers. She received her MFA in screenwriting from USC, and studied film and creative writing at Boston University. After developing a heart condition several years ago, she became passionate about low-impact fitness and has been on her pilates journey ever since. Outside of work and fitness, she loves painting, sewing, snacks on the beach, and film photography.
ELLA C
Ella is an East coast native exploring Los Angeles through multiple artistic mediums - acting, directing, dance, styling, and more. A musical theater girl at heart, dance, and movement have always been a huge part of Ella's life. She's excited to greet you at the front desk and get you set up for a fun experience at Avenir!
PALOMA A
Paloma is born and raised in LA. She enjoys creating and designing new pieces for her brand. Fashion is her passion and she’s a Scorpio.
NATALIE R
Natalie is an actress based in Los Angeles. She moved here in 2018 from south Florida and began her acting career professionally! Natalie is a Pilates lover and fitness enthusiast and plans on taking Avenir’s Teacher training program within the next year! She is also an ambassador for an organization called “Boo 2 Bullying” where she goes to schools throughout Southern California and speaks to students about the consequences of bullying. She offers support and serves as a mentor to the youth. Her passion for promoting kindness, empathy and self awareness aligns with the mission to combat bullying. She aims to inspire and empower individuals to embrace love and respect for all!
LIA W
Lia hails from the D.C. metro area but has called Los Angeles home for the past 6 years. A screenwriter by trade, pilates as a hobby is a relatively recent discovery for her, but she’s jumped headfirst into the AVENIR family and has loved every minute of it. When not discovering new coffee shops to write from or restaurants to indulge in, she’s hanging out at home with her two kitties, Walnut and Pistachio.