Our Team
Marisa Haga - Owner/Instructor
Marisa began studying Pilates in her early teens as a method to support and compliment her dance training. She continued her Pilates study through college and after graduating completed her certification with STOTT Pilates, a leading program in the contemporary Pilates approach. She earned her BFA in dance from Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, Washington and taught dance and Pilates around the Seattle area for several years before moving back to her home state of Colorado. In addition to Seattle, Marisa has taught at studios in Ridgway and Telluride Colorado as well as New York City.
She teaches a comprehensive approach to Pilates that emphasizes biomechanics and proper anatomical alignment, and is passionate about integrating mindfulness into movement. She often draws upon her studies of dance, Feldenkrais, and Laban/Bartenieff to inform her sessions and classes. She is also certified in Yamuna Body Rolling and Oov. She has found these techniques extremely powerful in helping clients realign their bones, release muscular tension, and get in touch with the intricacies and patterns held throughout the body.
Rhonda Unkovskoy - Owner/Instructor
As a Pilates partitioner and Certified Instructor, I am continuously inspired by the benefits I have felt for myself and been fortunate enough to see in my clients. 11 years to committed practice and instructing has shown me the remarkable way Pilates re-educates and heals the body.
Trained and certified through Pilates Sport Center based in California, my training philosophy is one that preserves the essence of the Classical technique Joseph Pilates embodied with his original works, and blends today's progressive scientific knowledge and principles of proper body mechanics. I encourage my clients to become active participants in their own well being. Together we explore mindful movement, full body integration, ideal alignment, balanced musculature and breath!
I enjoy working with clients of all ages and physical conditions. My intention is for each client to leave my session or class feeling energized, stronger and more centered, empowered to meet the day with those qualities to do what they do best!
Lori Moore - Instructor
Lori is a certified Classical Pilates Trainer. She studied and received her certification through the Streamline studio in Salt Lake City and completed her apprenticeship hours at the Minds Eye Movement Studio in Durango. Her teachers studied at the Boulder Pilates Center under the branch of Romana Kryzanowska, one of Joseph Pilates' proteges.
She started her personal Pilates training in 2012 after incurring a back injury playing hockey. She fell in love with the methodology of Pilates and the study of the human body as an incredible machine. She practiced as a professional engineer for the last 12 years and has been a sports enthusiast all her life. Her love of sports range from basketball, volleyball, running, mountain biking, downhill, x-country, and skate skiing, hockey, paddle boarding, hiking, etc...Unfortunately, playing hard comes with its fair share of injuries, however each injury has provided her a deeper understanding of her body which has helped her when working with other bodies.
With her engineering mind, she looks at the body as a mechanical machine with levers (bones) and pulleys (muscles) and determines where and which pulleys are being overused and which ones may not be working at all. She has found a place where both her love of problem solving and body movement can combine to help people move more efficiently reducing pain, and play harder for longer. Pilates is her tool for a strong foundation, which allows her to continue to move and play in all other aspects of her life in an efficient, pain free way.
She wants to help people develop a strong, uniformly supported body so that they are primed for what ever activities the day may bring whether it is sitting at a desk all day, ripping down some single track, or out on the slopes.
Pamela Turner, PT, MSPT - Instructor
Pamela is an expert in Pilates-based rehabilitation and functional manual therapy. She graduated with a Master of Science degree in Physical Therapy from Regis University in 1998 and is a Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher and Certified GYROTONIC® teacher. She has presented nationally and internationally at Pilates conferences and worked as a Polestar Pilates Master Educator for 15 years. She has an eclectic background including manual therapy with the North American Institute of Orthopedic Manual Therapy(NAIOMT), the John F. Barnes’ Myofascial Release Approach®, Functional Manual Therapy with the Institute of Physical Art and Visceral Manipulation with the Barral Institute, to name a few. She loves to help clients move more efficiently and does so with her gentle and intuitive style. Her love of dance pulled her into physical therapy initially and continues as a constant thread in her life. She is a lifelong learner and is excited to practice along the shores of Lake Champlain, VT in the summers and the mountains of Durango, CO in the winters. She continues to perform as a belly dancer when possible and enjoys hiking, boating, telemark and cross country skiing, stand up paddle boarding and loves watching the sunset and traveling with her husband, Grady.
Tami Duke - Instructor
Tami Duke, a certified teacher of the Classical Pilates Method, brings a dynamic and alignment-focused approach to her enthusiastic instruction. With a background in dance, Tami has always felt a deep connection to movement and the mind-body relationship. Despite a successful 19-year career in banking where movement took a back seat, the Covid Pandemic provided Tami with the time and opportunity to
rediscover her passion for movement and delve into Contrology, the original exercise program created by Joseph Pilates.
As a 3rd generation teacher of Mr. Pilates’ work, Tami completed the rigorous 18-month Advanced Teacher Training Program at the esteemed “The Pilates Center” in Boulder, Colorado. Beyond her dedication to Pilates, Tami and her husband own a local construction rental equipment business.
Additionally, she contributes to her community as a Director on the Board and Loan Committee of a local bank and serves on the board of The Shanta Foundation, actively working to eliminate poverty and empower women in their communities.
With over 20 years of Rotary membership, Tami, alongside her husband and four children, has opened her home to over a dozen exchange students from around the world. Now, as a recent empty nester, Tami eagerly anticipates dedicating more time to sharing the remarkable health benefits of Pilates with members of her community.
Sky Shumate - Instructor
I am currently pursuing a degree in Exercise Physiology at Fort Lewis College, with an anticipated graduation in May 2025. In August 2023, I relocated to Durango from Lubbock, Texas, to complete my studies. I earned my Pilates Certification from Club Pilates in College Station, Texas, where I had the opportunity to teach over the summer. My passion for fitness began in high school, and I furthered this by obtaining my NASM Personal Training certification while working as a trainer at Crunch Fitness in Lubbock. Outside of my academic and professional pursuits, I enjoy running the local trails and spending quality time with friends. My journey with Pilates started in college, where I quickly discovered its profound benefits in alleviating the knee, hip, and back issues I developed from years of cheerleading and gymnastics. Teaching Pilates allows me to give back to the community, offering others the chance to experience the physical and mental healing that comes from the mind-body connection fostered through movement. My goal is to help clients strengthen their bodies, heal, and connect with themselves through Pilates.
Keri Sutton - Instructor
Keri graduated with a degree in education. She taught elementary school &
preschool for 12 years. Then she moved into the dance world and taught hip
hop, jazz, tap, ballet and Dance P.E. classes at the Palm Theatre in Telluride,
Colorado. She also taught DanceFit & CardioKick classes, coached the Pom
Dance Squad and choreographed for different community shows/events.
While living in Maui, she attended the STOTT Pilates Intensive Reformer
training. In addition to fitness and dance classes, she gives Sound Bath
Healings and is Reiki Certified. She helps people find the joy in their bodies
and in the movement...as well as the workout.