Connie Borho (Director) connie@balancepilatesandyoga.com

Director, has over 20 years’ varied experience in the health and wellness field. Her career began in the swimming pool where she taught and coached competitive swimming, as well as water exercise classes; specializing in clients with arthritis and post-rehab. However, Connie found her teaching passion with Pilates. First certified through The PhysicalMind Institute, Connie also extended her certification with Peak Pilates, and became a Teacher Trainer for Peak as well. An AFAA Certified Personal Trainer, Connie taught Pilates privately in New York for many years. With clients ranging from a young prima ballerina, an award-winning natural body builder and triathletes, to many clients simply wanting to increase their flexibility and core strength, Connie has trained clients at all levels of fitness. With extensive experience in post-rehab training, Connie has helped clients cope with the symptoms of stroke, Parkinsons, MS, fibromyalgia, Muscular Dystrophy, joint replacement, arthritis, spinal issues, as well as pregnancy with the use of Pilates equipment and philosophy.

After the birth of her second child in 1987, Connie began studying yoga and fitness for pregnancy. Connie went on to become a National Master Teacher for the training program “Positive Pregnancy and Parenting Fitness”, training other instructors in yoga and fitness for the pregnant woman. During this time, Connie also completed certifications in the Bradley Method of Childbirth Education as a childbirth educator and through Informed Birth Organization as a labor and delivery doula.

A 500-hour Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance, Connie has studied the Ashtanga Yoga tradition extensively with Beryl Bender Birch, author of Power Yoga and Beyond Power Yoga.

A certified Ashtanga Power Yoga teacher, Connie has also studied the Anusara methodology of yoga with Todd Norian, Betsey Downing, and John Friend. Connie is certified as an Anusara-influenced Hatha Yoga teacher, has completed Vinyasa teacher training with Shiva Rea, and studied with Baron Baptiste and Rodney Yee. Connie thanks all her teachers for contributing to her yoga-life, particularly Beryl, Todd, and Betsey!

Andy Sicking, Certified Pilates Trainer

Andy has over 20 years of professional and personal experience in the health and fitness field. She has a B.A. degree in Communication from S.U.N.Y. at Buffalo and has written numerous articles on health and fitness for local and national publications.

In early childhood, Andy began her study of ballet with the Royal Academy of Dance. She played on her high school tennis team and later took up running and bodybuilding. Following college, Andy opened an exercise studio in Buffalo and later moved to New York City, where she studied at Flex studios. Andy moved to Florida in 1980. She has taught aerobics at the former Spa South health club, as well as exercise classes for mothers with new babies through T.A.P.P. in Manatee County.

Andy is a member of the Pilates Method Alliance, and is a certified Pilates Teacher through Peak Pilates of Boulder, Colorado.

Carly Borho, Certified Pilates Trainer

Carly is a Level 2 Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher with experience training clients from the very beginner through the advanced student. Her soft touch and clear and concise teaching help to keep her students centered and engaged, as well as serenely relaxed! Carly is also a Yoga teacher, having studied with the Kripalu Institute, Beryl Bender Birch, and Todd Norian. She combines all three yoga disciplines to create healing, energizing, and strengthening yoga classes. In her private sessions, Carly combines the energetic philosophies of both Yoga and Pilates to create a workout that is strengthening and focused, as well as calming and centering. Carly has studied dance since she was a child. As a high school student of dance, Carly’s choreography of a yoga inspired dance for 9 dancers (representing the 7 chakras and yin/yang) was adjudicated at the acclaimed CW Post College of Dance, to great reviews. Other choreography by Carly was performed at Simons Rock College of Bard’s annual dance review. She is a teacher of lyrical, jazz, and hip hop dance styles, and loves to watch young dancers catch the passion for dance.

A serious student, Carly is continually updating her skills through continuing education. She has taken workshops and certifications utilizing the wundachair and ped-o-pul, as well as advanced and therapeutic reformer and tower work.

Karol Schmidt, Certified Peak Pilates I instructor

Karol has been involved in personal fitness for over 20 years. An athlete in her younger years, she passed this love of sports and physical fitness on to her three children. Karol has always been an avid weight lifter and walker, but in mid June 2006, she was driven to finding an alternative when she suffered a lower back injury. After many months of rehab and physical therapy, Karol sought out a whole body fitness program that would keep her from reinjuring herself. Pilates became her lifeline to wellness by strengthen and toning muscles that were essential to her full recovery. She became so enamored by Pilates that she took it a step further and became a certified Peak Pilates I instructor. Now she shares her knowledge of Pilates through group classes and one-on-one personal training.