27432 Aliso Creek Road, 1st Floor, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
Call Us For An Appointment: (949) 448-0872
27432 Aliso Creek Road, 1st Floor, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
Call Us For An Appointment: (949) 448-0872

Instructors

Jen Montgomery - Pilates Shoppe Instructor

Jen Montgomery

Certified Pilates Instructor, Studio Director

Jen Montgomery is a certified Pilates instructor and specialist with over 15 years experience teaching Pilates classes, privates and semi-private sessions. Her passion is in sharing and tailoring the Pilates repertoire to create effective and safe instruction for all ages, groups and fitness levels. She holds certifications with STOTT and BASI Pilates.

Jen specializes in group reformer classes, Pilates for corrective exercise, physical therapy and rehabilitation, Pilates for older adults, Pilates for athletes, Pilates for tweens and teens, Pilates for figure skaters and Pilates for dancers.

Jen believes that Pilates is for everybody, and is passionate about sharing the love, whether it be assisting in a physical therapy patient’s recovery, modifying or intensifying exercises for clients in our group classes, or tailoring exercises for elite athletes.

Outside the studio her family and golden retriever keep her very busy and active. When she’s not in the studio she loves activity outdoors, including hiking, golf & pickleball. She and her family love to adventure and travel whenever they get the chance.

Christy Mellor

Pilates Instructor

Christy grew up on the gulf coast of Florida and attended Florida State University, where she met her husband. Both of their children were born in Tallahassee, FL before the family of four moved west and settled in Aliso Viejo in 2015. 

Christy injured her lower back in 2017, and after working through several unsuccessful treatment options over the course of the next year, she became a patient at Aliso Viejo Physical Therapy. As part of her rehabilitation process, Christy was referred to the Pilates Shoppe where a Reformer Pilates regimen greatly improved her lower back pain, increased her overall body strength and changed her life. 

In 2021, Christy went through Balanced Body Reformer Teacher Training. She’s grateful for the opportunity to now be teaching pilates with the hopes of helping others gain the same health benefits that she has experienced! Christy also works as an aide at Aliso Viejo Physical Therapy, where she interacts closely with patients as they go through their own rehabilitation process — a unique opportunity that helps her modify exercises for her Pilates clients when needed. 

When she’s not at the Pilates Shoppe, Christy enjoys spending time with family and friends, going to the beach as much as possible, and attending and volunteering at Compass Bible Church in Aliso Viejo. She also loves coffee and crocheting!

Ashley Recktenwald

Certified Pilates Instructor

A lifelong athlete, over the years Ashley danced and played college volleyball and tried every type of workout under the sun. After suffering a broken pelvis and lower back surgery in her early twenties, Ashley discovered mat Pilates through physical therapy and promptly fell in love the first time she hopped onto a reformer shortly thereafter.  She embraced the Pilates method because of the precision, control, coordination, challenge, and results her practice gave her.  

Once Ashley started to feel the movements of Pilates within her everyday life, she knew that Pilates was not just a workout, but a way of life. After 14 years of practice she wanted to share her love of Pilates with everyone around her and completed her training through Balanced Body.  

Spending quality time with family and friends, and maintaining an active lifestyle are what keeps her going.  Her husband, 3 young kids and dog keep her very busy.  When she’s not in the studio she enjoys being at the beach, watching live music, traveling, playing piano, and cooking.  

“I leave every class feeling taller, leaner, and more poised, and hope to give everyone I teach this same feeling.”  

Caitlin Huggins

Pilates Instructor

Caitlin grew up here in south Orange County and led a very active lifestyle in her youth, competing in horseback riding and soccer until moving away for college at the University of San Francisco.

After living and working abroad post college, Caitlin settled back in Orange County and in 2011 discovered The Pilates Shoppe when she was looking for something to add to her hiking and yoga routine. She instantly fell in love with Pilates and quickly convinced her fiancé to join her to get in shape for their wedding. Eventually she recruited her parents to join the Pilates Shoppe, where they continue to stay active weekly, and continued to practice Pilates throughout both of her pregnancies. Caitlin loves that Pilates can reach a broad spectrum of participants and can be modified through various phases of life.

In early 2023 she completed Balanced Body Pilates Instructor Training and has also trained with the Pilates Shoppe Instructor team. 

Outside of Pilates, Caitlin loves spending time with her family, traveling, going to the beach, snowboarding and all things that foster creative outlets and various forms of maintaining an active lifestyle. 

WHY THE PILATES SHOPPE

At The Pilates Shoppe our experienced instructors specialize in tailoring the Pilates method to help each of our clients achieve their fitness and wellness goals. Our small class sizes (7 or less), exclusive private studio and top of the line Balanced Body equipment allow our certified instructors to offer a superior level of personalized service.

From the client seeking to look and feel their best, to the client rehabilitating an injury or dealing with a chronic condition, to the athlete looking to gain a competitive edge on their sport and stay injury-free, we’re experts at helping everyone achieve their goals with the power of Pilates.

FACILITIES

The Pilates Shoppe is located within Aliso Viejo Physical Therapy. We have a spacious reformer classroom with 7 Balanced Body reformers and an exclusive separate private studio (used for private and semi-private sessions) equipped with Balanced Body equipment: 2 reformers, a Pilates cadillac, wunda chair, ladder barrel, step barrel and other small equipment. Along with onsite mens and womens restrooms we have a changing room with lockers.

$10 FIRST CLASS

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