Simona Cipriani
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.
Cristina Gregori
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. As a senior instructor, she worked for the prestigious Sportsclub/LA in NYC Upper East Side, Uptown Pilates, and Reebok Sportsclub/NY in the Upper West Side and the exclusive Art of Control in Mount Kisco, NY. 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 team the team at the Art of Control in Stamford as Pilates teacher trainer, senior instructor and GYROKINESIS®️instructor. Every year, for the past 7 years now, she gets invited to teach Pilates at a dance retreat in Grado, Italy. There she teaches young dancers and teachers to incorporate the Pilates method of body conditioning to improve their dance technique. This year she brought the mat certification from A&SCP to Italy and worked on spreading the art of Pilates to teachers who are seeking to develop the knowledge of teaching safe movement through the method. Cristina 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 compliment her dancing technique. She graduated with a Masters degree at NYU. Cristina loves New York City and Stamford where she continues to work and teach to clients of different background and needs: from pregnant women, to dancers, special population, students and fitness enthusiasts. She is always looking for opportunities to learn and expand her knowledge in creating the safest way to move, work out, achieve maximal expression at any level while at the same have fun in the discovery of the movement.
Francine Morina
Fran has been passionate about physical fitness, nutrition, meditation, and yoga for most of her life. Fran was introduced to Pilates in 2000 and soon after became inspired and devoted to the principles and methods that Joseph Pilates developed.
She received her USPA teacher certification in 2009 as an Instructor of the Authentic Pilates Method. Over the years she has taken a number of workshops and seminars with Master Teachers including Jay Grimes, Peter Fiasca, Dorothee Vendewall, Mejo Wiggins, Simona Cipriani, Brett Howard, Alycea Ungaro and Kathy Corey. She continues to teach clients and train apprentices at the Art of Control® Pilates studio as well as throughout locations in Fairfield county. Fran believes strongly in the mind and body connection that Pilates brings to the individual incorporating positive and appropriate intentions to each student and session that she teaches.
Lisa Frey
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.
Ingrid Tonelli
Born in Brazil and living in the US for the past 18 years, Ingrid began her personal Pilates practice and was in awe to the depth of the mind/body connection feeling that the Method delivered. Not having a background in the fitness industry nor Pilates, was not an excuse to stop her from pursuing a new career path. Now, as a mother of 3 amazing children, she uses the Classical Pilates Method as her avenue to a clear mind and a healthy body.
Stunned by the amazing results she got from the Method, she is now on a mission to spend the following years of her life encouraging others to experience Pilates for themselves. Mat Certified through the Art and Science of Contrology® Pilates Instructor Training, directed by 2nd generation Pilates Teacher, Simona Cipriani, Ingrid is now pursuing her Full Certification. As an instructor, she has a great appreciation for Pilates adaptability being able to meet her clients wherever they are now - pregnant mommas, athletes, children, teens, seniors - so they can continue to build from there a healthier lifestyle, with focus, perseverance and dedication.
Ingrid enjoys spending time with her family, encouraging them to be active and experiencing the benefits of Pilates in their own bodies and at the same time, feels grateful to be able to help others to achieve their fitness goals and motivate them to broaden their perception of their own physical and mental abilities, enabling to a new approach to Life Through Contrology®.
Samantha Block
Samantha Block began her Pilates journey in 2011, after the birth of her first child. A former personal trainer, she immediately fell in love with the system and the results her body achieved. She completed her certification at the Art and Science of Contrology Pilates Instructor Training program under second-generation teacher Simona Cipriani. Samantha really feels that Pilates is for every body and loves that the practice of Pilates is never ending and always growing.
Leah Finkelstein
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..