Susan’s background is deeply rooted in athletics. A multi-sport competitor throughout her youth, she continued to challenge herself as an adult through half-marathons, triathlons, and even flying trapeze. Her professional exploration of movement began in 2005 as a certified personal trainer, and in 2009 she transitioned to teaching Pilates—integrating her athletic experience with the precision and depth of the classical Pilates method.
Susan’s 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 both 2023 and 2025. She regularly consults with physical therapists and strength and conditioning coaches to provide her students with a comprehensive and balanced approach to the Pilates method.
An out-of-the-box thinker, Susan has spent years refining innovative ways to approach Classical Pilates and training. She is dedicated to understanding how the body truly works and moves—an element often overlooked in traditional forms of exercise and rehabilitation. Passionate about bridging the gap between rehab and performance, Susan views strength as a foundation for longevity. Her work centers on helping students build resilience and fitness while managing pain and injury, and she often works with with individuals who haven’t found success through traditional therapeutic models.
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 guide and support future generations of Classical Pilates teachers.