AMAZING INSTRUCTORS
Meet Our Amazing Instructors. We are proud to have leading industry professionals teaching our sessions. Learn about them and see their credentials here.
Donna McKenna studied Psychology and Business as an undergraduate and Human Resources as a graduate student. After an extensive career as a Human Resources/Staffing Leader in companies such as Pfizer Inc. and Arrow Electronics, Donna decided to make a career change to follow her passion for fitness and wellness.
Now more than ten years later, Donna is working in Corporate, Commercial, and Boutique Fitness for companies such as OPTUM and Town Sports International. Her experience has led her to realize her dream of opening her own boutique studio, Pilates Fit Life. Pilates Fit Life provides semi private as well as private training on the Pilates Reformer and Tower.
At Pilates Fit Life, Donna utilizes the methodology of the Physical Mind Institute through which she is a certified Pilates Apparatus trainer. Donna is also a certified ACE Personal Trainer as well as an AFAA Group Exercise Instructor and holds several additional specialty certifications. Most recently, Donna became a Pilates Teacher Trainer and has expanded her services to include training prospective pilates instructors.
Pilates Fit Life reflects Donna’s belief that the fundamentals of Pilates provide the proper basis for exercise. She is a true believer in the methodology …”my work in Pilates has made me a more effective trainer all around, whether I’m teaching a group class or training a single client, the Pilates fundamentals concerning Core, Alignment, Flexibility, and Connection maximize results and success in any program. Pilates has worked for me personally greatly improving my own joint health and flexibility. It works!”
In conjunction with her Pilates practice within Pilate Fit Life, Donna holds certifications in Spinning, TRX, Kettlebells, Les Mills BODYPUMP, and Barre and is actively teaching in all formats.
A long-time Huntington resident, Susan was the founder and co-owner of Body & Soul Fitness and Yoga Center in Huntington, NY, from 2002 – 2020, where she also taught strength training and fitness classes. At that same time, Susan was and remains an AFAA certified personal trainer, where she performs in-home personal training for her clients. Susan is also a Certified Pilates instructor and an AFAA certified group fitness instructor. Prior to Body & Soul, Susan was the owner of Susan’s Fitness Studio, Huntington, NY for 6 years. Her prior experience includes personal training and group fitness instruction at TONL Fitness, Huntington, NY, and Forever Fit, Centerport, NY. Susan also volunteered and taught fitness classes for seniors at the Huntington Senior Center for 6 years. She has also trained for, and run, numerous road races including the New York City Marathon, Philadelphia Marathon, the Marine Corp Marathon, the Chicago Marathon, and the Steamtown Marathon. Susan’s enthusiasm for teaching fitness now includes Pilates at Pilates FitLife, Huntington, New York, where she looks forward to bring fitness and fun to its members.
Danielle was born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, before moving with her family to Texas in high school. She attended the University of Texas in Austin, receiving her B.A. in Economics. She spent 10 years as a Financial Sales Representative for a national investment company. Shortly after getting married, Danielle and her husband Mark moved to Long Island and have made it their home for over 30 years; 25 of which have been in Huntington and Huntington Bay. They share 3 children, 2 grandchildren and are active in the community.
In her spare time Danielle loves to play tennis, ski, boat and travel. She initially started with Pilates as a compliment to her court and mountain activities. After rupturing her ACL snow skiing early on in her Pilates journey, Danielle realized the extraordinary benefits of Pilates before and after surgery. It was because of this that she decided to take a more serious approach and become a certified instructor. Danielle graduated in May from Pilates Physical Mind Institute.
Danielle has said time and time again- “Pilates is the single best thing I have done for myself at this stage in my life. Every class I have taken at PFL, I leave feeling better than when I arrived. That is a true testament to the beauty of Pilates and the classes at PFL.”
Lauren discovered Pilates in 1996 just after giving birth to twins and having issues with back and knees. Twenty seven years later, Lauren is living the benefits of her long standing Pilates practice with a strong back, solid knees, and a true love of the Pilates Method. Lauren’s background as a classroom teacher and her personal experience and passion for Pilates now come together as she teaches her classes providing a well rounded and body enhancing work out.
Lisa has spent her career in the media and ad tech space and recognized early on the need to balance her work life and need for personal wellness. Realizing she was more ‘top of her game’ in the office and more present at home if she found time to move her body, she worked to incorporate movement throughout the week and enjoyed the benefits.
As Lisa continued to enjoy the movements that she incorporated into her exercise program, she was left feeling like she needed more. The aches and pains that come with aging were becoming more challenging (and harder to ignore) and she knew she needed to find a different approach. With that, she turned to Pilates, and specifically the reformer, to find more flexibility and mobility to help address some of the aches and pains It didn’t take long for Lisa to be completely hooked and incorporated Pilates into her weekly routine.
But she didn’t stop there! Because she believes so firmly in the benefits of Pilates, she decided to extend her knowledge through a Pilates instructor program (right at PFL!) in order to be able to help others on their path.
Lisa is now a certified instructor and is focused on the mind-body connection and benefits of Pilates. She loves to challenge clients and is looking forward to seeing you in class to help you enjoy the same benefits, as well!
Fun fact: You may hear Lisa state “We aren’t looking for perfection, we’re looking for progress!”
Michelle has been an avid fitness practitioner since her early college days and her experience includes spin, barre, yoga, and kickboxing. After obtaining her college degree, Michelle spent time working in the banking industry and Human Resources before deciding to pursue work that better aligned with her interests and values. The decision to change her career path led Michelle to PilateFitLife to obtain her Pilates instructor certification and she is excited for all the opportunities the future holds!
Pilates Fit Life Nutrition & Weight Loss Services
If you have taken action to improve your wellbeing through Pilates and movement, optimizing your nutrition is the perfect next step toward becoming the healthiest version of you!
Jillian is a Registered Dietitian (RD) and the founder of A Full Plate Nutrition, Inc, a nutrition counseling private practice based in Huntington, NY. She has earned a Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition from New York University and completed her dietetic internship of 1,200+ supervised practice hours through LIU Post where she is now a clinical instructor and adjunct professor. She has also received a certificate in Culinary Nutrition from New York Natural Gourmet Institute in addition to a bachelor’s degree in business from Loyola University Maryland.
After constantly hearing complaints of people putting in the effort to follow a new diet only to either gain the weight back or fail to sustain their health progress, Jillian created The Full Plate Program to help people finally put an end to the revolving diet cycle. When working with Jillian you can expect a customized nutrition and wellness plan that is tailored to your specific needs, wants, and goals. Her approach is realistic, flexible, and emphasizes smart, simple, and sustainable diet and lifestyle changes that allow your health and weight loss achievements to be maintained long-term.
For healthy recipes and wellness tips, follow Jillian on Instagram @afullplatenutrition.
For more details and pricing regarding her services please visit www.afullplatenutrition.com.
If you are interested in working with Jillian, please email jillian.rd@afullplatenutrition.com.
