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MEET THE TEAM

Simona Di Tucci

SIMONA DI TUCCI

OWNER/MASTER TRAINER

Simona was born and raised in Italy and studied both classical and modern dance at the Balletto di Renato Greco in Rome. She began performing professionally on Italian live TV and performing for over a decade with MOMIX dance company as Co-Creator, Dance Captain, and soloist for the shows Lunar Sea, Botanica and Remix, touring the US, Europe, Australia and South America. Simona completed Ellie Herman's Comprehensive Teacher Training program in 2016, and furthered her study in Pilates rehabilitation with Denise Small and the MELT Method with Carol LaMaitre. Simona received her Master’s in Scienze Motorie, Rome (Exercise Science) in 1997. Combined with 30 years of experience and knowledge earned through dance has influenced her training and success as a Pilates Instructor, and now new owner and Master Trainer of Pilates by Simona. Her ability to transform her client’s bodies and their perspective on posture, while creating specialized and ever evolving approaches to their needs has increased the awareness of their bodies, pain reduction, increased agility, and a new sense of freedom in everyday movement.

PATRICIA MAPLES

SUPREME TRAINER

Patricia began her Pilates training in 2003 in Miami, Florida, with Michelle Larson and Kevin Bowen of Core Dynamics, and received her full Pilates certification in 2010 through Ellie Herman Studios in New York City. She is an ERYT-200 and YACEP-certified yoga instructor with the Yoga Alliance, and has extensive training in functional movement, as well as in yoga and Pilates for back care and scoliosis. Her primary influences include Irene Dowd, Paul Grilley, and Deborah Wolk. Patricia holds a culinary degree from the French Culinary Institute, a Master’s Degree in Nutrition Sciences from Brooklyn College, and is a Registered Dietitian licensed to work in the state of New York. She maintains her massage therapy license in the state of South Carolina, where she specialized in Swedish and Thai yoga massage.

Patricia Maples
Tracie Matthews

TRACIE MATTHEWS

SUPREME TRAINER

Tracie is a certified Pilates Instructor and a certified Movement Educator with more than twenty years of experience. She strives to craft a personalized, high-quality movement experience for each client so they can meet their health, fitness, and postural goals. She specializes in rehab, helping clients who have chronic pain or are recovering from injuries or surgery. Tracie incorporates movement, somatic and dance concepts into her Pilates work, using her keen observational skills to guide, inspire and challenge her clients. Her philosophy of aging well through Pilates training makes her a valued instructor with her senior clientele. Her professional training includes PhysicalMind Institute, kinesthetic anatomy with Irene Dowd, Dynamic Embodiment with Dr. Martha Eddy, and numerous professional continuing education courses with the PMA, ACE, Pilates Style, Balance Body, Body Mind Dancing, and others. Tracie, a native New Yorker, became a Pilates instructor after a successful career in television production.

AIMEE PLAUCHE

MASTER TRAINER

Aimee Plauche is a movement teacher and choreographer originally from Liburn, GA. She holds a BFA in Dance from Florida State University, received her Pilates training from Groundfloor Exercise Studio, certification through Ellie Herman Pilates, and has been teaching Pilates since 2013. She is constantly inspired by the ability of Pilates and movement to heal the body and transform lives. An aspiring physical therapist and a bit of an anatomy nerd, Aimee has focused her continuing studies on anatomy and injury rehabilitation protocols, through courses including Experiential Anatomy with Joanna Nobbe, DPT; FAMI with Kinected; and Pilates for Neurological Conditions through the Neuro Studio. Special populations served include post-injury recovery, prenatal/postpartum, seniors, and neurological conditions. She infuses her sessions with precise instruction, fun imagery, and her own love of movement. While not teaching, Aimee can be found creating dance-theater, reading books, or learning something new.

Aimee Plauche
Tiffany May

TIFFANY MAY

MASTER TRAINER

Raised in Texas, Tiffany moved to New York to attend NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, where she received her BFA in acting. She was introduced to Pilates in 2008 by a friend that needed a student to acquire her teaching hours for certification. It was love at first neutral spine. As her practice began to inform and improve her day-to-day functionality, Tiffany realized that Pilates had become an invaluable necessity from which everyone could benefit. She wanted to expand her practice and she wanted to teach. Tiffany sought out Ellie Herman’s teacher training program and received her certification in 2015. When she’s not teaching, Tiffany pursues Voice-Over work, jaunts all over the city on her Vespa and jumps in the ocean every chance she gets.

LENNY REISNER

MASTER TRAINER

Many years ago, one of my roommates suggested I strengthen my core and take a Pilates class. I had no idea what I was getting into, but I got hooked.  Pilates was rigid but flexible, comprehensive, and spiritual. My needs for order and creativity were met and motivated me to change my profession. I am enthusiastic about Pilates, and I’ll share that positivity with you when I teach. I deliver the same to every client in my classes ensuring that set goals and needs are met. I follow a classical approach with contemporary biomechanics when teaching, but always think critically about how an exercise helps the body in front of me. I am always preparing ways to bring challenging, successful, and invigorating workouts to all my clients. Pilates changed and strengthened my life, and I am certain it will do the same for you.

Lenny Reisner
Patricia Rodriguez

PATRICIA RODRIGUEZ

CERTIFIED TRAINER

After a decade traveling through Europe, Patricia embarked on a new journey five years ago when she and her family came to NYC to start a new life. From Paris, through Madrid, Barcelona, London and Toronto, Pilates' practice was always there; giving her the strength, enthusiasm and mindset she needed to face her adventures in each and every city. As she best puts it, "Pilates gives me the elastic-like energy, the willingness to bend and break habits, and it's a constant challenge in my life." She studied the Rehabilitation series: Lumbar spine, Pelvis, Core, Ankle, and Knee with Ellie Herman in 2020. A year later, she completed the comphensive teacher training program with Ellie Herman. Shortly after, in 2022 she further her studies with Dr. Marcello Sarrica and completed the Gait Analysis Workshop with Dr. Melanie Carminati.

Yulia Fomenko

YULIA FOMENKO

CERTIFIED TRAINER

Yulia comes to Pilates by Simona with a passion for Pilates and the human body. After receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts in NYU in 2016, she pursued a career as a Video Director in Dean & DeLuca. In 2021, she completed the comphensive teacher training program with Ellie Herman. And in 2022, she completed the Gait Analysis Workshop with Dr. Melanie Carminati.

FOO CASSIDY

CERTIFIED TRAINER

Foo started practicing Pilates in 2007 and it was an instant passion. After years of being trained privately and in small classes, she decided to enroll in Ellie Herman’s Pilates Certification Courses in 2019 and with hundreds of training hours under her belt, recieved her certification in 2022. From a very young age, Foo’s been passionate about movement, dance and fitness. Focused primarily on ballet, beginning around five, she also took jazz, modern and tap classes. More recently, she’s tried Hip Hop & other forms of dance taking classes at Mark Morris and other studios in Brooklyn. She lives in Brooklyn with her fitness-buff hubby and two talented-athletic children.

Foo Cassidy
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