Health & Fitness

Item Description

A package of 3 lessons in Pilates or Reiki...feel free to mix-and-match.  Given by world-class instructor Michelle Wallace, with thousands of hours of instruction under her belt!

Pilates exercise has been widely lauded for developing sleek, supple bodies, but the benefits are vastly more powerful than simple aesthetics. Properly preformed, the pilates method develops functional strength; makes athletes stronger, faster and more efficient; and rehabilitates a variety of overuse, athletic and joint injuries. It is an ideal method of training before, during and after pregnancy, an excellent low-impact modality for older people, as well as an effective way to whip into top shape.

Item Special Note

Michelle Wallace completed her classical pilates certification in New York City while interning in the Athletic Training Department at Hunter College. She has both a dance and athletic background and came to pilates after sustaining several debilitating injuries. She fell in love with pilates for the quality of movement that the method demands and for its effectiveness at helping her to heal.

Since Michelle began teaching pilates in 2004, she has trained professional dancers and competitive athletes (the UCB Women's Rugby Team, several tri-athletes, ice skaters, runners and swimmers). As well, she has learned to use the method rehabilitatively, especially to stabilize joint injuries. She has experience working with pre- and post-natal women, as well as with chronic illnesses-polio, cancer, lyme and fibromyalgia. While living in Costa Rica, she assisted with the teacher trainer certification at OmPrem Studio. She has also written for Pilates Style Magazine.

She has begun her Reiki certification and personal training certification in order to have a broader range of offerings for her students. She decided to pursue Reiki after experiencing the profoundly beneficial effects of Reiki on her physical and emotional health. Through her journey with Reiki, Michelle has begun to better understand where and how mental, emotional and physical healing begin and intersect and is glad to offer a broad range of services.

Michelle has a BA from UC Berkeley and an MFA in Creative Writing from Mills College. She is currently working on a collection of short stories and training for her first triathalon. She founded and curates the monthly reading series, The Kaleidoscope Reading Series, in San Francisco.