Club Pilates

Julie Karickhoff is the Owner of Club Pilates and one of 8 Instructors. She is a Fairfax native who graduated from W.T. Woodson High School in 1993. She played lacrosse and was on the dance team in both high school and at Duke University. She graduated with a Masters in Business (MBA) from Georgetown University in 2002. After 20 years in corporate marketing at companies such as Disney, Warner Brothers, MCI Worldcom (now Verizon) and USAirways (now American), she wanted to combine her passion for pilates and her expertise in business. She discovered pilates after she broke her ankle and the physical therapist had her do “footwork” on the reformer to regain strength and flexibility. To become an instructor, she went through the Club Pilates teacher training program at the Club Pilates studio in Annapolis, MD.

Betsy is an Oregon native. She has lived all over the United States and overseas living the life of an Air Force family, working as a pediatric nurse and exploring all the different things the world has to offer. After trying many different fitness styles Betsy discovered Pilates when this studio opened in August of 2018. She quickly found a connection and is the first Apprentice Instructor out of Teacher Training for our studio. She really enjoys the low impact nature of Pilates and getting creative with new ways to challenge and strengthen the body. Betsy also loves to travel, try new foods and new beers! One of the reasons she chose this path so she can stay forever fit and help others stay fit too!

Originally from Scotland, Fiona has been an instructor of Pilates, Yoga and Barre for over 10 years. Her passion for fitness started when she was a music teacher in the north of Scotland. Fiona became a yoga teacher after moving to the USA in 2008, having completed her 200-hour training in Sivananda Yoga in the UK. While teaching yoga at a studio in Northern Virginia, Fiona was encouraged to try Pilates. Precise, detail-orientated and positive instruction from knowledgeable instructors kindled a love for Pilates that led Fiona to pursue her own teacher certification. Fiona completed her Pilates training in 2009 and has taught with precision and positivity at studios throughout Northern Virginia and Washington DC since that time. She has subsequently earned certifications in Core Barre, Core Align and TRX. Fiona is also the Burke Lead Instructor and a Club Pilates Master Trainer who teaches regional Teacher Training programs. Fiona lives in Alexandria with her husband and two young children. In addition to her regular Pilates and Barre practice, she and her family enjoy spending time outdoors: walking, canoeing, swimming and exploring nature.

Dawn Bethelmy is a retired U.S. Air Force Officer with 21 years of honorable service to our nation. She continues her service to our country by supporting several Naval Surface Warfare Programs at her current position as Assistant Deputy Program Manager at the Washington Navy Yard. In the military she was a Physical Training Instructor, avid half marathon runner, intramural volleyball team member and she currently holds a brown belt in the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP). In August 2018, after a sciatica attack and continuous challenges with double-curvature scoliosis, Dawn began her Pilates journey. Like most things she does, Dawn quickly excelled at Pilates and love loves the fact that Pilates is challenging but at the same time low impact. It was the perfect fit for her and has helped her recover from her own medical injuries. In her free time, Dawn enjoys camping, hiking and spending time with her family and dog, Freya. Pilates has markedly improved every facet of Dawn’s life and she can’t wait to continue her journey and share her experiences with Club Pilates members.

Larry has worked in the fitness world for over 20 years at places like Bally's and Gold's Gym. He is friendly, positive and customer service oriented. He will take care of you!

Jen F. teaches at Club Pilates.

Originally from New England, Dale moved around the country and Japan with her husband, two boys and a rescue dog. She loves staying active and pursued a career in fitness and well-being by first becoming a Physical Therapist. She helped people of all ages decrease their physical limitations due to neurological impairments, surgery, overuse, or other injuries. With years of varied experiences, she recognized working with clients before their injuries was also extremely rewarding so she then trained and got certified through Stott Pilates. Dale continued her fitness training becoming a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and TRX and RIP training instructor. She started at Club Pilates in 2020 and thoroughly enjoys teaching the variety of classes, clients and taking classes with other fellow instructors.

Michelle began her practice of Pilates in 2018 after having her second child. After a year and a half of individual practice and encouragement from her Club Pilates instructors and peers Michelle began her Teacher Training journey in Fall of 2020 through the Club Pilates Teacher Training Program. Michelle enjoys teaching various types of Pilates classes, meeting new people, and most importantly inspiring people to love Pilates! When not teaching, Michelle can be found working her full time job M-F, on the soccer field on the weekends with her 2 kids and husband, and hanging with friends and family.

Michelle was trained through Power Pilates for beginning, intermediate, and advanced mat and through Club Pilates for comprehensive. She is also a certified yoga instructor 200RYT, a member of the Yoga Alliance, and received the following certifications through the American Council on Exercise: Group Fitness (93), Personal Training (96), Health Coach (19). "I am passionate about helping others through mindful movement and an integrated approach to wellness!"

Relika is a graduate of the well-respected 500-hour Club Pilates comprehensive certification program. She trained under nationally recognized Master Trainer, Fiona James. Relika is originally from Estonia where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Tallinn Medical School with a specialty in Occupational Therapy (OT). Relika found her way to Pilates over 15 years ago, practicing mostly mat and various fusion Pilates classes. The Fall of 2019, after recovering from a shoulder injury, was a turning point in Relika’s life. Pilates helped her recovery tremendously and changed the quality of her life. Relika is passionate about Pilates, rehabilitation, and movement. She has worked as an Apprentice and Certified Comprehensive Pilates Instructor since March of 2022. Relika is an empathetic listener, genuinely interested in helping her clients improve their lives through Pilates. She is energetic and loves to train all kinds of clients: from the young athlete to more mature clients with mobility restrictions, and from the seasoned Pilates practitioner to the newcomer. Relika helps her clients focus on their goals, surpass their limits if they desire, but overall feel better in their body and have a better quality of life through movement.

Amanda K. teaches at Club Pilates.

Tricia teaches at Club Pilates.

Dora teaches at Club Pilates.

Melody teaches at Club Pilates.

Anne Marie teaches at Club Pilates.

Katherine teaches at Club Pilates.

Annette teaches at Club Pilates.

No teaches at Club Pilates.

Cindy teaches at Club Pilates.

Kelly teaches at Club Pilates.

Jen teaches at Club Pilates.

Misook teaches at Club Pilates.

Mari teaches at Club Pilates.

Sami teaches at Club Pilates.

Stacy teaches at Club Pilates.

Suzanne teaches at Club Pilates.

Jenn teaches at Club Pilates.

Mileva teaches at Club Pilates.

Lizette Ayala, Health and Well-Being Coach, is focused on helping people move better and feel better, not just about their bodies but about themselves. Originally from Brooklyn, NY, she moved to the DC area in 2002 to embark on a wellness career starting with comprehensive Pilates training from the PhysicalMind Institute. Her certification in Mat and Equipment Pilates later expanded to include certifications in Yoga (RYT500), Well-Being Coach, Mental Health First Aid, meditation and mindfulness, mediation, sound healing, energy healing, and aromatherapy. Lizette’s interdisciplinary degree from George Mason University in Health, Healing and Well-Being, incorporates positive psychology and well-being practices with public health theories, and mediation principles. She teaches self-management, resilience and self-healing through holistic and conventional coaching methods. Lizette is happiest when creating stress-management and self-care plans for her clients, teaching, walking in nature, and helping her girl scouts learn leadership skills through community service.

Amanda Garrison is a classically trained ballet dancer who earned a BFA in Dance and Choreography from Virginia Commonwealth University. At VCU her movement repertoire expanded with the study and exploration of modern dance. After graduating, a cross-country road trip full of stunning landscapes inspired her to change her life. She fell in love with the mission of the National Park Service, and has been serving as a park ranger since 2012. In 2017 she fell in love again, this time with Pilates and the incredible effect it’s practice has on the body. She is thrilled at the opportunity to positively impact people’s lives with Pilates. If Amanda isn’t in the Pilates studio, or in her park ranger uniform she is probably cuddling with her German Shepherd or on a National Park adventure.

Orit was first introduced to Pilates by her voice teacher in Israel. She had since become a Stott Pilates certified instructor, and appreciates the sense of strength and empowerment that Pilates has brought to her life. She has been teaching Yoga and Pilates for the last two decades, and infuses her classes with her knowledge of physics and biomechanics for effective, fun and creative workouts that challenge both mind and body. Orit is an acupuncture student and enjoys weaving her kinesthetic knowledge with Traditional Chinese Medicine through various modalities including Qi gong, Pilates and Yoga.

Mary Rose S. teaches at Club Pilates.

Jennifer discovered Pilates in 2014. As a stay at home Mom, Pilates became an escape while also improving the balance of her body and completely relieving her sciatic pain. She not only watched her own body transform but she left every class feeling like she could do anything! She knew that becoming an Instructor was the next natural step to help others achieve their own health and wellness goals. She went through Club Pilates Teacher training in fall of 2019 and currently teaches at Club Pilates Alexandria as well. When she is not in the studio, she's spending time with her husband and two beautiful kids. She enjoys all things outdoors ,traveling, cooking, being crafty or just hanging with her Goldendoodle and sipping wine with friends.

Emily has always found joy in movement —whether it be group fitness classes, hiking, marathon training, or Pilates, “movement is magic!” Although she originally trained as an elementary school teacher, receiving her masters in education and working in the classroom for several years, moving around the world as a military spouse and becoming a mother caused her to reconsider her priorities. Pilates has been the perfect next chapter and one that resonates with her true passion: movement. Pilates is how she recovered from having babies and rebuilt her core. It was how she found relief from hip and back pain and returned to running. It is what helps her keep up with life! She is comprehensively certified through Club Pilates’ 500 hour teacher training program, and she is so thrilled at the opportunity to bring the joy of movement to others.