Lauren Piskin

Lauren is the co-founder and owner of Chaise23 and Physicalmind Studio. Growing up as a competitive figure skater, she discovered Pilates as a way to enhance her skating. She became one of the very first instructors to be certified in Pilates by Physicalmind Institute. In her 27 years of practicing Pilates, she began working with world renowned Physical Therapist, Marika Molnar. She is a certifying instructor for Physicalmind Institute and has certified some of the world’s best Pilates instructors.

Lauren has been involved in fitness her entire life. In 1974, she was the United States Figure Association Gold Medalist. After her own successful career, she brought her knowledge of skating to the ice and began training Olympic National Skaters. She developed off-ice fitness programs and on-ice choreography. She received her Master’s Degree in Dance Education and Fitness Management from NYU. She was given the opportunity to train Amy Poelher and Will Arnett for the movie, Blades of Glory, and was choreographer for Rock Center’s “Ballet on Ice.” During this time, she was also a fitness consultant for CBS, appearing on television and radio programs nationwide. She designed fitness programs for Forbes Magazine and developed teen fitness programs that went on to be a great success at the IDEA International Symposium. Lauren has been a contributing writer for Women’s Health magazine and featured in Shape magazine, Gotham magazine, Self, NY Post, NY Times, and has been filmed for ABC, CBS, and Fox News.

Chaise23 is built from over 30 years of experience in the fitness industry and out of Lauren’s love and dedication to wellness. Lauren’s proudest accomplishment is joining forces with her daughter Rachel so that clients of all ages can benefit from their method.

Rachel Piskin

Rachel is co-founder, along with her mother Lauren, and Head of Program Development at Chaise23. Rachel’s love of fitness started at an early age when she began conditioning her body   while at School of American Ballet. It was then that Rachel’s love for Pilates began and continued throughout her dance career with New York City Ballet.

Rachel’s carrer began when she was cast at 8 years old as Marie in New York City Ballet’s The Nutcracker. Rachel would then go on to dance many of the lead children’s roles for New Yrok City Ballet. She then went on to join New York City Ballet at the age of 16 where she danced hundreds of ballets working along side distinguished choreographers such as Christopher Wheeldon, Susan Stroman, and Peter Martins. After receiving the 2004 Danish American Society’s D.A.N.C.E. scholarship, she went on to be named one of Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch” in 2009. Rachel was featured in numerous television programs, films, and books throughout her dance career.

She has since moved on, graduating from New York University with a Major in Costume Design in 2011 and worked on major television shows such as Saturday Night Live, The Good Wife, White Collar, I Just Want My Pants Back, and the Broadway hit Memphis.

Rachel credits The Reinvention Method for keeping her in peak shape since ending her ballet career and is thrilled to be teaching the method to models, athletes, and all her Chaise devotees.  She wants to shout it from the rooftops… The Reinvention Method truly works, it has for her and it will for you! However, the best part has been getting to work alongside her mom day after day. Rachel has been featured on camera for Shape Magazine, Fox News, and Oxygen demonstrating The Reinvention Method.

Follow Rachel on twitter https://twitter.com/#!/rachiepiskin

Maria Carofano

Maria has been teaching dance and fitness for nine years. She is certified in Pilates Mat through Physicalmind Institute and has completed multiple continuing education workshops in TRX®. Maria graduated with a B.F.A in Arts Management from Long Island University. Since then she has been dancing professionally, having the chance to travel the world performing in France, Switzerland, Belgium, Russia and the Philippines for artists such as Rihanna and Mylene Farmer. Maria also taught for the Universal Dance Association.

She is currently a Knicks City Dancer and a member of Dre Dance, a NYC based modern dance company. Maria also teaches dance at studios on Long Island where she gets to work with children ages 4-18. Through her passion of dance, fitness and leading a healthy lifestyle she discovered The Reinvention Method. Maria’s love for fitness shows in her classes, and she is excited to be teaching at Chaise23!

Claudia Aarts-Schreiber

Claudia Aarts-Schreiber, born in New York, received a classical ballet training with Elena Kunikova and Charla Genn in New York City. She later joined Carolina Ballet where she danced many soloist roles in ballets by choreographers such as Balanchine, Lynn Taylor-Corbitt and others. After five years with Carolina Ballet Claudia moved to Europe to join the Norwegian National Ballet. During her time there highlights include principal roles in classical ballets such as Mercedes in Don Quixote by Rudolph Nuryev and Winter Fairy in Ben Stevenson’s Cinderella. Claudia has guested with Angel Corella and Stars of the American Ballet on his Spain tour and also with the New Orleans Ballet Theater. She currently lives and works in New York as a ballet teacher and fitness instructor. Claudia’s certifications include Pilates mat certification, a GYROTONIC EXPANSION SYSTEM®, and the Reinvention Method. Another stellar review to check out Rate Your Burn

Follow Claudia on Twitter https://twitter.com/claudcity

Catherine Scanlon

Catherine is thrilled to join the Chaise23 family! She has been practicing Pilates for many years, but really fell in love after it proved to help her rehabilitate a knee injury. Catherine has always had strong body awareness and a love for movement. She attended The University of The Arts in Philadelphia, where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance as well as a Promising Artist scholarship. She had the opportunity to travel to amazing places and work with Carnival Cruise Lines as a featured dancer and co-captain of the dance team. Check out her rave review on Rate Your Burn.

She completed her Pilates Mat and Comprehensive Certification with Power Pilates and is certified in the Reinvention Method. Catherine’s main goal in teaching is to create a warm and positive environment for her students.

Sandra Partyka

Sandi has been teaching exercise and Pilates for eight years. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing and Visual Arts from Fordham University. In addition to being a Certified Health Counselor, she is Pilates certified through Physicalmind Institute, and hold certifications in One on One Training, Group Fitness, TRX® Suspension Training, Slideboard, and The Reinvention Method.

An accomplished cheerleader, Sandi brings high energy and motivation to everything she does, and her classes are no exception. She is very excited to be teaching at Chaise23 and is looking forward to introducing everyone to the Reinvention Method. She keeps her body fit and mind balanced by running because after a really stressful day. Running lets the mind work through obstacles and lets things go.

Emily LaHaie

Emily has been teaching Pilates for about five years, and completed her Pilates certification through Physicalmind Institute and Core Pilates NYC, becoming a talented and innovative instructor. Emily is prenatal certified and has continued her Pilates education with courses on osteoporosis and scoliosis. She is certified in The Reinvention Method and loves training her private and group clients on TRX®.

Growing up, she was very active as a dancer and figure skater. She competed regionally and nationally as a member of her synchronized skating team. Prior to completing her Pilates certification, Emily earned her Bachelor’s Degree from NYU and a Certificate in French form Université Laval.

Criscia Richardson

Criscia Richardson is a dance and choreography graduate from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is an alumna of the Long Island School of the Arts. She has made recent appearances on “So You Think You Can Dance”, season 5 and season 6 as a Las Vegas Finalist. She has also been on shows such as “True Life,” I’m a Stepper, and “One Life to Live” Starr X’ed Lovers, the musical.  She had toured various cities with Making the Band’s Donnie Klang, and sailed the seas as a dancer on board the Carnival Cruise Lines. She is now proud to represent her home town, New York as a Knicks City Dancer and is excited to be part of Team Chaise!

Seiji Gammage

Seiji is originally from New Orleans, LA.  In addition to his Reinvention Method Certification, he holds a BA in Theatre and an MFA in Dance. As a dancer, Seiji has traveled internationally performing the works of acclaimed choreographers such as Katherine Dunham, Eleo Pomare, Donald McKayle, and Pascal Rioult. He has also served as Rehearsal Director for the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble in Denver, CO. As a dance instructor, he has taught at studios and schools around the country, including Florida State University, Florida A & M University, and privately for Grammy Award-winning artist, India Arie.

Seiji is excited to be teaching at Chaise23 because as he states: “I believe in the Reinvention Method system. It’s fun,unique, and if you commit to it, it will give you the results you want!” Check Seiji the Sweatmaster’s review on Rate Your Burn