Susan’s background is rooted in athletics. A multi-sport competitor throughout her youth, she continued to challenge herself as an adult through half-marathons, triathlons, and flying trapeze. Her professional exploration of movement began in 2005 as a certified personal trainer, and in 2009 she became a Pilates instructor, integrating her athletic experience with the classical Pilates method.
Her professional Pilates journey began with a 950-hour apprenticeship under Rachel Taylor Segal and Amy Taylor Alpers at the Pilates Center in Boulder, Colorado. She went on to complete her Bridge certification with Alycea Ungaro’s Real Pilates® in New York City in 2021, and Mejo Wiggin’s The Classical Syllabus® in 2023, and again in 2025. Susan regularly consults with physical therapists and strength and conditioning coaches to offer her students a well-rounded approach to the Pilates method.
An out-of-the box thinker, she has spent years developing different ways of approaching Classical Pilates and training, dedicating her time to understanding how the body works and moves, an element that is often overlooked in traditional forms of therapy and exercise. Susan is dedicated to bridging the gap between rehab and training, and views strength as an asset for longevity. Her approach to working with students is both– getting people strong and fit while helping them manage their injuries. She often works with complicated students that haven’t had success with traditional models of therapy.
In addition to working with her personal students, Susan mentors future generations of teachers through St. Louis’s Real Pilates® Teacher Training program. Along with her business partner, Kristen Davis, Susan is a trusted host of Alycea Ungaro and Real Pilates® NYC, and together she and Kristen direct and advise future generations of Classical Pilates teachers.