International & Indian Presenters
Joy Puleo (Sacramento, CA)
Balanced Body Education Director, MA, BBMI, NCPT
Balanced Body
In July of 2013, Joy moved, with her family, from New York to Sacramento, California to join Nora St. John and the rest of the Balanced Body team to work on developing curriculum and educational programming.
Joy has been teaching Pilates teachers since 2002 and in the health and wellness industry since 1996. Joy earned her masters degree from Columbia University in Applied Physiology. As a lecturer she presents at conferences and studios across the country and abroad and with Balanced Body, she is a regular at most Pilates on Tour Conference.
In addition to her degree Joy is PMA certified, A.C.S.M. certified and is able to provide ACE credits for students who take her classes. She is a fully qualified Balanced Body Pilates Instructor and teacher trainer, CoreAlign and Bodhi Suspension System master trainer and a graduate of the PhysicalMind Institute.
Joy was also trained on the GYROTONIC,® Level I and the Ladder. In 2011 Joy founded Body Wise Connection, a not-for-profit which works with women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. Body Wise Connections sole purpose is to remind women that even in the throes of a diagnosis and treatment for cancer the body can heal and strengthen. Body Wise Connection works to restore physical self awareness and empowerment through gentle, rhythmic Pilates based movements.
Though Joy is no longer in New York, Joys work has expanded to include all cancer patients regardless of the primary cancer diagnosis. Joy believes that movement changes lives and that education is the key to unlocking potential. Joy is thrilled to be working with Balanced Body on the shared mission of elevating mindful movement as a component to long term health and wellbeing.
joy.puleo@pilates.com
NCPT, BBMI
Pilates Reforming New York
In 1981, while dancing with The Croatian National Theater in Zagreb, Croatia, Ann, a native New Yorker, sustained a major back injury that was considered career-threatening. She became a Pilates devotee after experiencing its effectiveness in both her rehabilitation and her improved fitness.
Since 2002 Ann and her husband, chiropractor Errol Toran, have dedicated themselves to “Reforming” New Yorkers at their Manhattan studio locations. Their Pilates Reforming New York midtown studio is a Balanced Body Authorized Training Centre regularly offering courses throughout the year.
annktoran@gmail.com
NCPT, ACE, AFAA, RYT®200, BBMI, Balanced Body Education Curriculum Coordinator
Balanced Body
Portia has been in the mind-body & fitness industry for over 30 years as a teacher, program and fitness director, international presenter and author. She is a Master Instructor for Balanced Body and the author of Pilates Illustrated.
Portia has a Bachelor of Science in Cognitive Science from UCSD and is ACE and AFAA certified as well as a Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher and CEC provider through NPCP. She studied under the Cancer Exercise Training Institute (CETI) whose program was developed for health & fitness professionals seeking to attain a higher level of mastery and work with cancer patients during and after cancer surgery & treatment, into survivorship. Portia is also a RYT® 200 with Yoga Alliance.
portia.page@pilates.com
NCPT, BBMI
Konnect Method
Viktor Uygan is the Creator of the Konnect Method and the Inventor of the Balanced Body Konnector. The Konnector is a single-rope pulley system with loops for all four limbs. The patented design enables the independent yet simultaneous movement of both arms and legs while the user experiences constant proprioceptive feedback through the single rope.
This innovative concept came from his Konnect Method. However, Viktor’s journey to the Konnector and his Konnect Methodology grew from many roots.
Viktor’s formal movement studies began in dance as a young boy with ballet training in Turkey and Italy. With multiple certifications and mastery level ballet training (Cecchetti technique and American Ballet Theater curriculum), along with over 15 years of a successful professional ballet career, Viktor shifted his focus to the kinesiological side of the human movement.
In 1992, Viktor started studying with the BodyCode System and Gyrotonic® in Italy. He was introduced to Pilates after moving to the US in 1993 and studied for six years before he was certified in 1999 from DK Body Balancing through the University of Nevada, accredited through the Nevada State Board of Physical Therapy.
Viktor is grateful to have had the pleasure of learning from many great mentors in the industry during these last twenty years of teaching. He has been a Balanced Body Master Instructor since 2012, teaching the entire Pilates comprehensive, Anatomy in 3D, Bodhi, MOTR, and CoreAlign courses.
Intertwining the foundations of ballet artistry, anatomical structure, and kinesiological functionality, Viktor explored and expanded on his origins of movement to create his Konnect Method. He is now traveling worldwide with Pilates on Tour and movement conferences, training instructors on a wide variety of new and innovative exercises with the Konnector, and his Konnect Method.
Info@konnectmethod.com
Radhika Karle (Mumbai, India)
MS (Nutrition & Dietetics) – USA, BBMI
Radhika Karle is a Balanced Body Pilates Master Educator, Founder of Radhika’s Balanced Body – a chain of fully equipped Pilates studios across Mumbai.
She has been teaching Pilates for over 15 years. Her classes include a healthy mix of strength training, mobility, and balance while weaving in Joseph Pilate’s principles of focus & concentration, flow, and whole – body integration.
Through the Balanced Body Pilates education program, she has trained over 150 fitness professionals and enthusiasts from all over India as well as Sri Lanka, Pakistan, the Middle East, Nepal, and Bhutan.
Radhika’s aim is to get Pilates into every household across the country as it is a form of mindful movement that she truly believes that it heals bodies.
radhika@balancedbody.in
Dr. Deepali Gupta (Pune, India)
NCPT, MD (Hom), PGDCP, PGDEMS, BBMI
Dr. Deepali Gupta has been presented with The Pilates Ambassador India – Asia award by the Asia
Pilates Alliance (APA).
She is a Balanced Body Educator, recognized for her expertise in various specialized subjects such as
Anatomy in 3 Dimensions, Pilates (Parts 1 and 2), Corealign (Levels 1 and 2), MOTR, Bodhi, and
Advanced Movement Principle. Her extensive qualifications include completion of the Franklin program (Level 2) and proficiency in teaching Garuda mat work. She also conducts Y.U.R back classes, specializing in back injuries.
Dr. Deepali Gupta is certified in Fletcher work and as a Vagus nerve reset professional.
Her impressive credentials include an M.D in Homeopathy a Doctorate of Medicine in Homeopathy,
a Post Graduate Diploma in Counselling Psychology (PGDCP), and a Post Graduate Diploma in
Emergency Medical Science (PGDEMS).
Dr.Deepali Gupta is passionate about inspiring, educating and empowering Pilates teachers and is
thrilled to be working with Balanced Body on this mission.
She is the Founder and Director of the Homeopathic Fitness Studio, iKore Pilates, and also serves as
the Managing Director of iKore Pilates Education.
deepali@ikorepilates.com
Rucha Deshpande (Pune, India)
ACSM, CPT, BBMI
Founder of R Pilates Studio ,the first Pilates studio in Pune (India) with Reformers, Towers, Trapeze, Chairs, Arc, MOTR’s, Bodhi, CoreAlign, Mat & Barre. Ruch is Barre ACSM CPT & Comprehensive Instructor of Balanced Body and Master Instructor for Balanced Body Barre.
ruchadeshpandemulay@gmail.com
Sheetal Shah (Mumbai, India)
BBMI
Sheetal embarked on her fitness journey after becoming a mother and leaving her career in asset management. She spent years trying everything – from aerobics, weight training, yoga and spinning. Despite exploring & training at all avenues, she found something lacking in her routine, essentially a mind-body connection missing.
This quest led her to discover the world of Pilates, and in 2010 she obtained certification from Balanced Body Inc., mastering various Pilates equipment. She then established Sheetal’s Core Pilates Studio, dedicated to improving the fitness, flexibility, and overall well-being of her diverse clientele, from working professionals to celebrities and athletes. Sheetal’s passion for Pilates has made her a dedicated advocate for holistic health and fitness in Mumbai.
sheetal1969@yahoo.com
Venue
Hilton Goa Resort, Candolim,
Goa, India – 403515