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 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 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 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..
Raquel Teixeira
Third-Generation Classical Pilates Instructor, Studio Manager
Raquel is Pilates mat-certified and full apparatus certified through the ASC program directed by Second-Generation teacher Simona Cipriani. Raquel is also an AFAA group fitness instructor, TRX suspension training instructor, and a specialty instructor for mid-age women and seniors for almost 10 years. Raquel is from Rio, Brazil and she can also teach classes in Portuguese.
Ingrid Tonelli
Third-Generation Classical Pilates Instructor, Social Media Manager
Born in Brazil and living in the US for the past 18 years, Ingrid began her personal Pilates practice and was in awe of the depth of the mind/body connection feeling that the Method delivered. Not having a background in the fitness industry or 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. Ingrid is now Fully Certified through the Art and Science of Contrology™ Pilates Instructor Training, directed by 2nd generation Pilates Teacher, Simona Cipriani. 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 experience 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®.
Minji Kang
Third-Generation Classical Pilates Instructor, Assistant Director for ASCPIT (Korea)
Minji Kang was born and raised in South Korea and received her B.A. and M.B.A. degrees in the U.S. She started Pilates initially to address issues such as genu valgum, commonly called “knock knees,” and tight hamstrings. She noticed amazing changes in her body through Pilates. She enrolled in the Art and Science Contrology® Pilates Instructor Training and became certified in 2021. She is currently teaching as a classical Pilates instructor at The Art of Control®(Stamford, CT) and Authentic Pilates; as one of the affiliate studios from The Art of Control (Seoul, South Korea); in addition, she works as staff for The Art of Control and coordinator for Contrology Korea (ASCPIT). Minji loves teaching all kinds of clients Pilates and helping them with good habits in their lives.
