Simona Cipriani
Executive Director, Second-Generation Master Teacher of Teachers
Simona is the owner of the Art of Control® and the Educational Director of The Art and Science of Contrology® Pilates Training Program. She is a Second-Generation Pilates Instructor who studied extensively with Romana Kryzanowska, becoming a certified instructor of the Authentic Pilates Method in 1993.
Simona Cipriani attended the Feldenkrais Guild’s training in New York City from 2005 to 2009 under the tutelage of Frank Wildman. Since then, she has been working with clients utilizing both private Functional Integration sessions and Awareness Through Movement small group classes.
Dr. Joe Muscolino
Dr. Joe Muscolino is a licensed chiropractic physician. He taught anatomy and physiology at Purchase College, State University of New York (SUNY). Before that, Dr. Muscolino taught kinesiology and musculoskeletal and visceral anatomy, physiology, pathology, and assessment courses at the Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy (CCMT), 1986–2010.
Dr. Muscolino is also an approved provider by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) for continuing education (CE) credit. He runs numerous advanced study workshops, including Clinical Orthopedic Manual Therapy (COMT) workshops, around the world, and has an online video streaming service, LearnMuscles Continuing Education (LMCE), designed for manual and movement therapists.
Lisa Frey
Third-Generation Classical Pilates Senior Instructor, Teacher of Teachers
Enticed by the graceful, physical demands of Pilates, Lisa Frey initially pursued the method to cross-train and gain core strength. A former dance student and avid fitness buff, she trained with Simona Cipriani at the Art of Control® to further her understanding of the Classical Pilates system. Fully certified in 2015, Lisa teaches both private clients and group mat classes. To her, helping clients discover improved body mechanics and a greater sense of well-being is immensely gratifying.
Cristina Gregori
Second-Generation Classical Pilates Senior Instructor, Teacher of Teachers
Cristina is a seasoned Pilates and GYROTONIC®️ and GYROKINESIS®️ method instructor. She has been a Certified Pilates teacher for almost 20 years, studying under the tutelage of the late Romana Kryzanowska, direct disciple of Joseph Pilates, along with Bob Lienkens and Sari Mejo-Santo. She also worked and managed the Pilates studio at Equinox Sportsclub Upper East Side. At the same time, she was part of the team of teacher trainers at the Equinox Pilates Institute. Recently she joined the team at the Art of Control in Stamford as a Pilates senior instructor, and GYROKINESIS®️ instructor. She started dancing at the age of 6 in Italy where she was born and raised. After finishing her education in Italy, she moved to NYC where she studied dance for a year at the rigorous program at Alvin Ailey School and the prestigious Dance Conservatory at SUNY Purchase, where she danced in various projects and in the school company. At that time she started taking Pilates and Gyrotonic lessons to complement her dancing technique. She graduated with a Master's degree at NYU. Cristina loves New York City and Stamford where she continues to work and teach clients of different backgrounds and needs: from pregnant women to dancers, special populations, students, and fitness enthusiasts.
Dana Nelson
Third-Generation Classical Pilates Senior Instructor
Dana Nelson graduated from the University of Michigan and moved to New York City to work as a producer in film and print advertising and then as a photography editor and director for several Condé Nast magazines. After the birth of her second child in 1995, she discovered the wonders of Pilates and became an avid fan. Upon moving to Connecticut in 2007, Dana entered the USPA Teacher Training Program at the Art of Control, under the direction of Romana-trained second-generation instructor Simona Cipriani. Since her graduation from the program, Dana has been teaching in Westchester and Fairfield County studios. She continuously takes advantage of continuing education workshops to enhance her skills and has studied with renowned Pilates teachers such as Bob Liekens, Brooke Siler, Mejo Wiggins, Blossom Leilani Crawford, Brett Howard, and many others. Over the years, Dana has worked extensively with seniors and clients with scoliosis, shoulder and knee injuries, and back problems. Dana enjoys sharing her love and firm belief in the wonders of the Pilates Method with her clients to help them with their individual needs and to meet their fitness goals.
Kristen McAfee
Third-Generation Classical Pilates Instructor, Assistant Director for ASCPIT
Kristen began Pilates as a dancer to stay strong and injury-free. After receiving her college degree in Dance in 2005 from the University of South Florida, she has taught, choreographed, and performed for over fifteen years. She has been trained in the modern dance techniques of Horton and Límón and has performed works by renowned choreographers such as Ron K. Brown (Evidence Dance) and Earl Mosley. Kristen taught fitness at USF, then in Connecticut at Sacred Heart University and The Edge. For eight years she was the dance program director at the Lakewood-Trumbull YMCA; she developed the modern dance curriculum at The Regional Center for the Arts in Trumbull, where she taught for thirteen years. She currently teaches and coordinates the dance program at Notre Dame Catholic High School in Fairfield and teaches youth dance at The Dance Workshop in Monroe. Learning from many wonderful teachers, combined with a desire to incorporate mind-body practice as an instructor, inspired Kristen to become certified in Pilates. She received her full certification from the Art and Science of Contrology Pilates Instructor Training Program, under the direction of Second-Generation Master Teacher Simona Cipriani. Pilates training continues to inspire her to pursue excellence and achieve her personal goals every day. Kristen’s passion is to facilitate movement in all ages and to inspire greatness in each of her clients and students.
Leah Finkelstein
Third-Generation Classical Pilates Instructor
Leah Finkelstein has always been passionate about fitness and living a healthy, active lifestyle. She completed her yoga teacher training in 2006 at Saraswatti's Yoga Joint and is a certified health coach through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. When back issues started to interfere with many activities, Leah began to do Pilates on a regular basis and quickly became devoted to the classical methodology. She believes that Pilates has kept her back healthy, strong and pain-free! Certified by Simona Cipriani at the Art of Control, Leah is excited to bring her love of Pilates to her students..
ilana Meyers
ilana is a certified Mat Pilates instructor through the ASCPIT program and is currently pursuing full certification as a 3rd Generation Classical Pilates instructor under the mentorship of renowned teacher Simona Cipriani. Her work is rooted in a deep understanding of health and wellness and the body’s capacity for healing, which is informed by over 15 years of experience as a Certified Classical Homeopathic Practitioner.
In her homeopathy practice, ilana works with clients of all ages, and even household pets. She provides acute and chronic treatments that incorporate the use of tissue salts, gemmotherapy extracts, and a broad range of homeopathic remedies.
ilana holds a Bachelor of Arts from Barnard College and is a former board member of the Council for Homeopathic Certification. She remains actively involved in the homeopathic community and is also the co-founder and vice president of the Slater Jett Meyers Foundation, which supports children and young adults with birth injuries.
ilana brings a unique blend of precision, intuition and care to her Pilates instruction, encouraging her students to connect deeply with their bodies and move toward greater strength and balance.
Carla Hernandez
Originally from Venezuela, Carla is a professional ballet dancer and experienced ballet instructor now based in Stamford, CT since 2021. In 2023, she began her journey into Classical Pilates under the guidance of Simona Cipriani. Passionate about movement and mindful training, Carla brings grace, discipline, and a deep understanding of body mechanics to both dance and Pilates. She is fluent in both English and Spanish, making her classes accessible and welcoming to a diverse range of students.
Candace Jemiolo
Candace Jemiolo grew up playing high school and college volleyball in her native Philippines where she also studied ballet and jazz in her much younger years. Prior to becoming a Pilates instructor, she had a career as an investment analyst and institutional equity sales person for the top investment banks and brokerages in Asia. When she moved to Hong Kong and New York, she transitioned into executive search for the finance industry for the top-ranked global search firms.
Although her first Pilates lesson was with Romana Kryzanowska almost three decades ago at Drago’s gym, she didn’t fully commit to Classical Pilates until 2018 when she realized she needed it to cross train for tennis and golf. Her enrollment at the ASC’s Instructor Training Program in 2019 was a result of her desire for proficiency in the method. Fortunately, she also discovered a passion for teaching. She enjoys working with athletes and combines detail and levity in sharing her love of Pilates.
