Pilates Instructors

Michele Stamos

At the young age of 4, I began a what would then develop into a career in dance and movement theories. Pilates has always seemed to be a part of my life, although at the time I honestly didn’t know it was “Pilates”. To me and my other dance team members we just thought it was a part of our warm-up and cool down routines. I have always been fascinated with the human body—its anatomy, its kinesiology, and its movement patterns. I moved to Houston in 1998 and In 2001 I began working towards my certification in Pilates. My Pilates certification is with Michael King of the Pilates Institute of London. After that, I sought out continuing education with Stott Pilates, Peak Pilates, Physical Mind, and BASI. I continue to grow in my own personal development every day, and love seeing what the two disciplines (Pilates and Yoga) bring to my students. I look forward to teaching every day. I opened Happy Belly Studios in February of 2011 to bring my love of both physical movement principles to everyone, young and old. I continue to grow every day, and feel empowered by the students who come to my studio as I see positive and powerful changes in each of them.

Jackie Gregor

Jackie loves everything that is health and fitness!!! It is a way of life that I choose to live strongly by and aspire to encourage those I meet to join in! I have been a fitness enthusiast for over 10 years, teaching group and single fitness classes throughout the Greater Houston area and surrounding areas.  I graduated from the University of Houston in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Health And Human Performance.  My education also includes nutrition and kinesiology. In 2006, I gained my certification in Pilates, Weight Training, Step, Cycling, and Advance Abs. My specialties are Pilates (mat), cycling, Boot Camp and Core Central/Abs.  In addition, I have a research background in childhood obesity and their links to Type II Diabetes and research in obesity in African American and Latina women in the Houston and Austin area. I love health and love spreading good health to others!

Katie Thompson  

Katie found her passion for fitness and dance at a very young age. From ballet classes at age 3 to professional dance teams after college, she has always incorporated both into her everyday life. Katie has devoted the past 8 years to practicing yoga and Pilates.

Mary Bange

Mary Bange Ph.D. is a Personal Trainer through the National Strength and Conditioning Association, and a comprehensively certified Pilates instructor through Peak Pilates. She is a Master Trainer and Breast Cancer Exercise Specialist (BCES) through the Pink Ribbon Program. She was featured in Shape magazine’s October 2008 Breast Health Handbook. In addition, Mary is a certified Pilates for Golf Conditioning Specialist. Mary is the former world record holder in the 50 kilometer run, an Olympic Trials qualifier in the marathon, and eight-time winner of Paavo Nurmi Marathon (Mile 18 dedicated in her name). Prior to her career as a fitness professional, Mary earned a Ph.D. in Finance from the University of Wisconsin at Madison and held academic positions at Michigan State University, the University of Oregon and the University of South Carolina.

Melinda Grunewald

Melinda found her passion for fitness and dance at a very young age. From ballet classes at age 2 to advance jazz classes in college, she has always incorporated both into her everyday life. Melinda graduated from the University of Arizona with a Marketing degree in 2001. Shortly after graduating, she decided to move back home to Houston to pursue a business career. In her spare time, she began teaching various aerobics classes but had to stop teaching due to chronic hip pain and tendonitis in her ankles. She then started training and learning about the Peak Pilates System and its rehabilitative abilities of both the body and mind. After her son was born, she decided to devote her time to Pilates as well as motherhood. Throughout her own pregnancy, she used Pilates to help maintain strength in vital muscles as well as strengthening and flattening the deep lower abdominal walls and improving posture postpartum.  While helping to cure her own ailments, Melinda has devoted the past 8 years to helping her clients and friends realize the amazing power Pilates has on making them physically and mentally healthier in their everyday lives. Melinda is currently a Comprehensively Certified instructor through Peak Pilates System.

Nicola Ellis

Nicola turned to Pilates in 2007 in an effort to recover from chronic neck and shoulder pain. Pilates was fundamental in her recovery; she was amazed to find that this discipline of movement helped her to permanently reduce her pain and increase her strength and mobility after experiencing years of pain. She decided then that this was something she wanted to practice for the rest of her life and decided to begin training towards becoming a Pilates instructor. Nicola has been teaching Mat Pilates for 3 years, having gained accreditations in Peak Pilates Basic and Intermediate Mat and Balance Body Mat Module 2. In February 2012 Nicola completed the Piloxing certification and in March 2012 Nicola completed Balanced Body Reformer 1. Nicola’s “day job” is  VP HR at a major bank. In her spare time, Nicola teaches all levels of classical mat, Piloxing and private reformer classes. Learning the fundamentals of Pilates and learning how to execute each movement with precision, control and flow is something Nicola strives for, for herself and her students. Unlocking the “Pilates potential” of each student and helping them to reach their personal fitness goals is central to her teaching.

Dominique Jordan

Dominique has always enjoyed running, kickboxing and pilates. She became more passionate about pilates in 2007 when she started taking classes in Seattle, WA. When Dominique moved back to Houston, she wanted to keep up her routine and joined Happy Belly Studios. After completing two half marathons, Dominique decided to take a break from running and try out the new work out Piloxing. She loved the combination of boxing and pilates so much that she wanted to teach Piloxing. Dominique got her certification May 2012 and will continue her pilates education.

Roslyn Bazzelle

Roslyn Bazzelle aka Roz is the creator and President of PIYOLET, LLC. Roslyn’s passion for dance began at the age of four when she started ballet classes at a private studio in Orange, Texas. As she grew up her dance practice expanded to include pointe, tap, jazz, gymnastics and modern / contemporary dance training. After graduating from law school, Roslyn began to work-out more frequently and teach basic pilates and yoga classes, however, she wanted to provide classes that had a dance foundation or style and many gyms did not offer anything of the kind.Roslyn received group fitness training and certification through the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) and 24 Hour Fitness as well as training and certifications for pilates and yoga. In addition to PIYOLET, Roslyn is an accomplished attorney and currently practices law in the areas of real estate, corporate, and entertainment law at the Texas law firm Weycer, Kaplan, Pulaski & Zuber, P.C.

Christy Lan

Christy developed her love of sports and movement at an early age. She was a competitive gymnast, diver, swimmer, and tried about every other sport offered at her school. After graduating from college with a BS in Chemical Engineering and a minor in psychology, Christy found her passion for long distance triathlon. She has competed in 5 ironman and several marathons. While training for an IM she was in a bad bike accident and broke her pelvis in several places. During her recovery, Christy discovered her love for Pilates. Pilates was one of the only activities she was allowed during this time. Pilates kept the rest of her body strong and improved circulation to the broken bones which significantly decreased her recovery time. After this, Christy decided to pursue Pilates education so that she could share her passion for fitness with others. Christy completed her comprehensive Peak Pilates certification in 2012 and is excited about helping her clients stretch, tone, strengthen their bodies and minds while falling in love with Pilates.

Ayana Gates

My passion for health and fitness was embedded in my life early on. In my youth, I was a gymnast, majorette, and dancer. While a teenager, I frequently hopped from on fitness club to the next. While in college, I taught group water aerobic and step aerobic classes. There no guess work in wondering what I chose to major in…. I earned a B.S. degree in Corporate Fitness and Wellness Management in 1997. After my college graduation, I worked as a fitness specialist in corporate fitness centers, and post rehab personal training with clients released from physical therapy and respiratory therapy. As a hobby, I competed in the 1999 Michigan Fitness USA pageant and placed second runner up. Since then I have sat as a judge-in-training for fitness competitions, and mentored others who wanted to compete in fitness. In January 2008, I ran in the ING Miami half-marathon. I am currently finishing my STOTT Pilates training and preparing for the American College of Sports Medicine Fitness Specialist certification. I look forward to providing personalized and effective pilates training to everyone I meet at Happy Belly Studios.