Sarah Leifer

Studio Owner, PMA-NCPT pilates instructor

Sarah@pilatescollectivedenver.com

Sarah grew up dancing since the age of five, and was trained classically in ballet through the Royal Academy of Dance (R.A.D). She was introduced to Pilates at Emerson College in Boston, where she graduated magna cum laude with a B.F.A in dance/theatre. She immediately fell in love with it and later received her official training, first with Dana Santi, and later with Risa Shepherd in Los Angeles, making her a third-generation Pilates instructor. Sarah opened her first studio in 2007 in Santa Monica, CA which she successfully operated for 13.5 years. After the pandemic, she relocated to Denver with her husband and two children and became the proud owner of The Pilates Collective in June 2021. Sarah looks forward to sharing her passion for Pilates with the Denver community! In her spare time, she enjoys spending time outdoors gardening, hiking, and skiing.

Molly Groeschl

PMA-NCPT Pilates INstructor

Molly@pilatescollectivedenver.com

Molly Groeschl, a PMA/NCPT-Certified Pilates Instructor, found her passion for Pilates through ballet. At the young age of twelve, it was suggested to her that she incorporate Pilates into her training regime, and she immediately noticed its positive effects on her ballet technique. While she has practiced Pilates for many years, she received her formal Pilates training through Clara Gelatt, Claire Brunelli, and Lisa Wolf in 2016. Molly has had the privilege in assisting many athletes, dancers, and clients on their road back to recovery after injury. She takes annual continuing ed courses to stay up-to-date on new information, and was recently awarded a scholarship to attend the Anatomy Trains dissection courses. She has danced professionally for Utah Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet, Colorado Ballet, and Ballet Tucson, and holds a B.F.A. in Ballet Performance and Nutrition Minor from the University of Utah. Molly's other passions aside from ballet and Pilates are hiking, running, baking, and spending time with her husband and their two Welsh Corgis.

melissa may 

Studio Manager, Pilates Instructor

melissa@pilatescollectivedenver.com

Melissa May was a classically trained ballet dancer and has over twenty years of movement experience. She holds a Comprehensive Teacher Training Certification from BASI Pilates®. She has been practicing Pilates herself for over fifteen years and teaching Pilates for ten years - seven of which have been at The Pilates Collective! Melissa has years of experience working with dancers, ice skaters, and professional athletes, as well as clients with imbalances and injuries. She strives to equip her clients with as much knowledge as she can during their sessions, leaving clients feeling empowered with a strong foundation and confidence. She loves learning about how each individual's movement patterns and habits shape their life. In her free time, Melissa loves seeing concerts around Denver, trying new restaurants with friends, and appreciating the outdoors with her two dogs, Jack and Graham!

Marianne Hallinan

Pilates Instructor

Like many people, Marianne has lived in many different bodies in her lifetime: the young athlete; the weekend warrior; the work-a-holic; the tired mom. And, at times, the injured. One of these injuries brought her to Pilates after surgeries and PT failed to relieve debilitating pain. Pilates not only relieved that pain, but changed her movement patterns and spurred her to study Pilates as a method of sports injury prevention and recovery. Marianne is now a Balanced Body certified instructor and currently studying the Classical Pilates method with Sarah Leifer. She also completed a Pilates Foot & Gait Specialty workshop with Nancy Meyers and holds an additional certification on the CoreAlign. She has spent the last year working with athletes, some of whom recently underwent hip, knee or ankle procedures, to help them strengthen muscles around the joint and lower the risk of future injury. Besides Pilates, Marianne loves dogs, dancing, sports, music, traveling, her family, especially her two teenage boys, laughing, learning new things, and coffee ice cream (not necessarily in that order!).

Jacqueline Campos

Pilates Instructor  

Jacqueline Campos is a professional dancer, dance educator and certified Pilates Instructor. She was first introduced to Pilates through her early dance training where she used it as a form of cross training and injury rehabilitation. After seeing all the physical and mental benefits of Pilates, it became an important part of her daily life. Jacqueline received her Comprehensive Teacher Training Certificate from BASI Pilates. She strives to help her clients gain a greater understanding of their bodies through movement. In addition to teaching Pilates, Jacqueline is a guest artist with Industrial Dance Alliance and a faculty member at Colorado Movement Lab.

Debbie Cristofano

PMA-NCPT Pilates instructor

debcristofano@msn.com

Debbie believes: “Your Body Tells Your Story”. Life experiences are expressed through posture and unique movement patterns. She helps clients connect to new ways of thinking through new ways of moving. This process can create a living canvas that embodies personal awareness, movement freedom, and somatic trust. She is a nationally certified Pilates instructor through Balanced Body Education and a Slings Myofascial Foundation Level Teacher through Art-of-Motion International Academy. Pilates and movement modalities help her move beyond decades of chronic pain; and now she finds it very rewarding to support clients on their personal journey of self-discovery through movement. Debbie enjoys gourmet cooking, baking and connecting with nature.

PEGGY ROACH

PILATES INSTRUCTOR

Peggy moved to Colorado in 2006, coming from the lakeshore area of southwest Michigan.  Her love of the outdoors is evident in her diverse hobbies ranging from fly fishing and hiking to camping, skiing and long distance running. Peggy’s Pilates journey began as a response to a running injury in 2016, a turning point that not only changed her life but also allowed her to continue her passion for running long after she thought possible. Drawn to further explore the world of Pilates, she pursued a Comprehensive Pilates Certification at The Pilates Collective under the guidance of Sarah Leifer, the owner. Thrilled to now be part of The Pilates Collective, Peggy is excited to share her passion for Pilates with others.  Through teaching, she looks forward to providing others with the opportunity to explore the transformative and healing benefits of Pilates.

Jaime Thomas

PMA-NCPT Pilates INstructor

Jaime was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. She grew up dancing, studying mainly ballet and jazz through high school. However, once she got to college her heart was drawn in a different direction and she completed a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. After the birth of her third child she found Pilates and immediately fell in love with the movements as well as the strength and flexibility she gained. After studying Pilates for 10 years she finally decided to get certified and learn to teach what brings her heart so much joy. Jaime truly believes that Pilates is movement therapy which supports everyday movements, along with other, more specific, training programs.  Jaime lives in Parker with her husband, 4 kids, and a naughty little pug.

Natalie Taylor

PILATES INSTRUCTOR

With over a 20 years of experience guiding clients out of pain and improving performance goals for people of all ages and abilities, professional athletes and sports enthusiasts, Natalie is known for her sharp eye, deep understanding of the human body, and transformative results that pilates can offer. She was born in Colorado. After her time as a professional ballerina, she found her love of Pilates and Gyrotonic and became an instructor and studio owner. Natalie enjoys connecting with others through Pilates. In addition to that, she loves being a mom to her three year old son, the outdoors, hiking, dance and being a student of pilates and continuing education. Her mission is to provide clients with the tools to connect them to their body’s natural intelligence and help others to develop a sustainable practice and obtain optimal health and well-being through Pilates training. 

ALEX stewart

PILATES INSTRUCTOR

Originally from Alabama, Alex moved to Hawaii in 2020 to pursue her Pilates certification at Pilates O Ka La. Her journey with movement began in 2017 after being diagnosed with Lyme disease — an experience that deeply shaped her perspective on wellness. Alex found healing and empowerment through mindful movement, and it inspired her to build a career helping others connect to their bodies, no matter where they’re starting from. She recently relocated to Denver and is passionate about creating inclusive, motivating spaces where people can move, feel strong, and support their overall well-being.

ZELDA MISHAN

PILATES INSTRUCTOR

Zelda is a classically trained Pilates instructor with a deep passion for helping people move with strength, grace, and purpose. With a strong foundation in the original Pilates method, she brings both precision and flow to every class. Her approach is rooted in the belief that mindful movement can transform not only the body, but the way we show up in the world.

christy Marshall

PILATES INSTRUCTOR

Christy is a certified Pilates, Barre, Yoga instructor, and Health Coach with over 10 years of experience helping clients achieve a balanced, healthy lifestyle and feel their best. With a passion for holistic well-being, Christy combines the principles of Pilates, Barre, and Yoga with health coaching techniques to create personalized classes and sessions that enhance physical fitness, mindfulness, and overall health. Christy’s athlete’s mindset comes from growing up as a competitive tennis player, competing at the Division I level in college. Pilates has greatly helped her body recover and thrive after years of athletics and competition.

In addition to teaching, Christy loves to be outside golfing with her husband and daughter and hiking with their three pups. She also loves to travel, garden and cook. As a dedicated animal rescue advocate, Christy fosters dogs and cats.

Whether in private sessions or group classes, Christy creates a supportive, empowering environment where clients can thrive in body, mind, and spirit.

EMILY SISKIND

PMA-NCPT PILATES INSTRUCTOR

Emily moved out to Colorado in 2019 and loves to spend time outdoors and live an active lifestyle. After taking Pilates classes for many years, Emily decided she wanted to deepen her understanding of Pilates and become a certified Pilates instructor. Emily completed her Comprehensive Pilates Training at The Pilates Collective under the mentorship of the owner, Sarah Leifer. She appreciates the mind-body connection that can be found through Pilates, and she looks forward to sharing the benefits of Pilates with her clients.