The Works Instructors

Alyssa Conn offers private Pilates sessions with Straight-up Pilates Monday through Friday in the early evenings at The Works. She is a Certified Pilates Instructor specializing in rehabilitation, as well as an Aquarius, and a Protein Chemist. Alyssa did her Pilates training at the Ellie Herman Studios in San Francisco and has been teaching in the east bay since 2003. She believes that those who practice Pilates gain more than core strength, but also increased well-being through body awareness. Alyssa enjoys helping the world stand taller, baking yummy foods, hiking local trails, breathing fresh air, and hanging with her hound-dog, Kaiu.

Sue D'Alonzo is certified by The American College of Sports Medicine and has 25 years of experience as a group leader and personal trainer. She is the manager of The Works, teaches Powerworks and The Works, and has a personal training business. Sue motivates and challenges her clientele by encouraging them to work as hard as they personally can. Her class format allows her the freedom to use a variety of teaching techniques in order to inspire and demonstrate the power of strength and fitness. Sue's classes are demanding, challenging and rewarding.

Jennifer Durning first practiced Pilates during a successful effort to rehabilitate a lower back injury. This experience led her to undertake an intensive course of study at the Ellie Herman Studios of San Francisco and further study at The Pilates Center in Boulder. She went on to take courses in rehabilitation techniques,The Franklin Method, Anusara Yoga, Hanna Somatics, and The Alexander Technique. She is deeply committed to continuing education so that she can remain open-minded towards the many different modalities which can foster well being. Jennifer believes that while each lesson is an opportunity to increase strength, flexibility, and ease of movement through learning better movement patterns, she most enjoys helping her clients cultivate their own awareness, focus, and presence.         Jennifer has taught Pilates privately and in mat classes at The Works in Berkeley since October 2003. For more information about Pilates, Pilates lessons, and Pilates classes, please contact Jennifer: jedurnican@gmail.com.

Morning Star has a variegated background that includes a BA in music,over 30 years of teaching piano, dance, swim coaching, athletic team training, music/exercise therapy, stress reduction, therapeutic stretch, cooking, and yoga. She believes in synergistic living and movement, which means one thing, affects and contributes to another action on a holistic level. Travel, living in various countries, wiggling in Brazil, trekking in Australia, learning to teach yoga in Spanish in Mexico, and writing music—all have been key ingredients to her approach, with humor, of teaching people to be comfortably and transformatively in their bodies. Certifications include AAFA, ACSM, Contra Costa Leadership, Integral Studies, and more. She gives retreats in connecting with nature, yoga, dance, and exploration of the outer/inner universe. Try her class and you will feel the magic! Check out her website at: www.connectingsystems.us.

Shakti began her study and practice of Hatha Yoga in 1984 on the Big Island of Hawaii. She has completed teacher training and advanced study with Senior Iyengar Yoga teachers Aadil Palkhivala and Felicity Green. Since 1999 Shakti has been training with John Friend, the founder of Anusara Yoga. In addition to thousands of hours of classroom training she has completed a 200-hr teacher training with Advanced Anusara Yoga teachers Ruthie and Jim Bernaert. Her natural aloha spirit—warm, welcoming and personal—radiates throughout her life on and off the mat. Shakti seeks to make her practice and life a joyful reflection of the beauty and fun to be had in life. Inspired by the beauty and grace of yoga, she teaches fun, heart-centered classes. In every class she helps students understand the Anusara principles of alignment and how to use them to fully experience the balance between freedom and strength, emphasizing the vital connection between breath and movement in every pose.

Other Instructors

Franklin Onwubuariri was born and raised in Nigeria, lived and studied in the Dominican Republic (yes, he speaks fluent Spanish) and has been a Bay Area resident for over six years. He has worked in the fitness industry for over eight years. He believes that to truly be healthy, people must "work-out" their mind, body and soul while always striving to maintain a positive and can-do attitude. He loves helping people reach their goals and seeing his clients feel great about themselves.

Lucas, a native of Bahia, Brazil, is a capoeira mestre (master) with 26 years of experience training and 14 years of experience teaching this unique martial art and dance form. He graduated to mestre primeiro grau (first degree) in 2002 under the instruction of Mestre Canguru of São Paulo where he also regularly toured with Afro-Brazilian performing groups. Since his arrival in the U.S., Mestre Lucas has been contributing his energy to capoeira events across the country, giving workshops, and teaching in the East Bay. Mestre Lucas loves to teach capoeira to people who want to learn, from beginners to advanced students. Learn more about Mestre Lucas at www.lucascorvo.com.