Our Team
Sharon Gallagher-Rivera (Owner)
Master Teacher
Danielle ‘Dani’ Hendricks
Expert Teacher (Online)
Danielle Williams
Expert Teacher
Ilana Murphy
Expert Teacher (Online)
Jackson Grantham
Expert Teacher
Mariette Lapiz
Expert Teacher
Nina Joly
Expert Teacher
Shana Morrison
Expert Teacher
Sharon Gallagher-Rivera (Owner), Master Teacher
My favorite Pilates exercise is: Currently a tie between Side Lying Leg Spring Series and Backbends on the Ladder Barrel
The exercise I would like to spend more time working on: Big Splits (Grand Ecarte) on the Reformer
When I’m not in the Pilates studio, I’m enjoying family life and time with friends.
Owner of Internal Fire Pilates & Wellness and Co-Owner of Pilates Education Lab, a training program for aspiring Pilates teachers in Marin County and SF. Sharon is a Master Pilates Teacher/Mentor with 27 years of teaching experience, 25 as a teacher trainer and mentor. Combined with her training as a bodywork and rehabilitation specialist, she is committed to enhancing the well-being and resilience of her clients across all physical states and abilities.
After earning her BA in Politics and Performing Arts from USF in 1992, she spent decades performing, commercially and with contemporary dance companies, including Printz Dance Project. Initially trained by Ellie Herman, she began teaching Pilates in 1999 and taught at various studios in San Francisco and Marin, including Sanchez Street Studios, owned by Carol LeMaitre (co creator of Pilates Education Lab).
Sharon has been blessed to have been mentored by many talented teachers over the years, including Jennifer Stacey, M.S., Amy Alpers and Rachel Taylor Segel of the Pilates Center of Boulder, where she earned a Master’s Certificate in 2012. Sharon enriches her Pilates practice with continued movement study through a regular Pilates practice and dance training in many styles including Modern/Contemporary, West African and Brazilian. Her students are her greatest teachers and she continues to gain experience through teaching with a range of methods. Aside from Pilates, these include: bodywork and massage techniques learned from her studies with Stephen Coleman, L.Ac., (blending the work of Lauren Berry, Swedish Massage, Rolfing and Feldenkrais), Jayne Edwards (Neuromuscular Rehabilitation work of Vladimir Janda, M.D.), Sue Hitzman (creator of the M.E.L.T. method) and Jean Claude-West.
After Lululemon Athletica selected her as a Global Ambassador for 2010-11, she was honored to be selected by PilatesAnytime.com as their “Next Pilates Anytime Instructor 2012”, winning a feature story in Pilates Style magazine. Sharon is a NPCT Certified instructor and has modeled for Ellie Herman’s books, ‘Pilates for Dummies’ and ‘Pilates Wunda Chair’ as well as Ellie’s DVD of Advanced Matwork. She appears in Jordan Matter’s book, ‘Dancer’s Among Us’ as well as Lois Greenfield’s ‘Moving Still’.
Learn more about our Dream Team
Danielle ‘Dani’ Hendricks, Expert Teacher
My favorite Pilates exercise is: Inversions on the Cadillac
The exercise I would like to spend more time working on: Inversions, since I don’t have a Cadillac at home
When I’m not in the Pilates studio, I’m usually at home teaching remotely or cooking for my family, at the climbing gym, or practicing aerial fabric and lyra in my aerial partner’s garage.
NPCP Certified Pilates Instructor, Danielle Hendricks
has been a lover of movement from birth. A competitive gymnast and dancer raised in Fresno, CA, Hendricks moved to Colorado in 1994, and graduated from CU Boulder with degrees in Kinesiology and Dance in 1999. She completed her comprehensive Pilates Certification Training in 2001, then Pilates Master’s Training in 2011 from The Pilates Center in Boulder, CO. From 2001 to 2003, Danielle toured the States, teaching at Inner Strength in Chicago, Every Body Fitness in Boston, Martha’s Vineyard Pilates Center, The Pilates Center in Boulder, and found her home in early 2003 at Pilates Aligned in Denver, CO with Cara Reeser as a mentor, inspiration, and friend. “Dani” was fortunate to be able to study several times with Reeser’s mentor, and first-generation teacher of Pilates method, Kathleen Stanford Grant. She completed Cara’s “Kathy Grant Heritage Training” in 2014, and is constantly utilizing the brilliant exercises and verbal cues that Grant developed for her own students to better understand the complexities of Mr. Pilates’ “Contrology.”
In addition to her Pilates teaching, Danielle danced professionally from 1999 to 2020 in both modern and aerial dance companies in the Denver/Boulder area; most notably with Evolving Doors Dance, 3rd Law Dance/Theater for 15 years, and with Frequent Flyers for the 20 years. Much of Dani’s teaching is highly influenced and informed by the nuances of dance technique and the rigors of aerial training. In March of 2020, at the beginning of the shutdown, Dani moved from Colorado back to California to create a new life that includes online teaching, step-children, home ownership, pet chickens, rock climbing, an aerial circus group, and other epic adventures. Dani is thankful for the strength and movement awareness she has gained in her personal practice of the Pilates Method, dance, and aerial training, and is eager to share the gift of movement with others.
Danielle Williams, Expert Teacher
My favorite Pilates exercise is: Teaser–on the mat, on the Reformer, Tower, Wunda Chair, everywhere
The exercise I would like to spend more time working on: Going up Front balance on the Wunda Chair
When I’m not in the Pilates studio, I’m on or near the water with Johnny and our dog Coco, studying Zen art, and working on my Pilates mat practice.
Bio: Danielle Williams was introduced to Pilates in 2000, when her then-boyfriend and now life partner was just completing his Pilates Teacher Training program. It was love right from the start—of the boyfriend and of Pilates. Her love for Pilates became even stronger when she met Sharon Gallagher-Rivera and experienced the transformative power of the Pilates Method in a deeper way than she ever had before. Danielle began her comprehensive teacher training in early 2020 with the Pilates Education Lab, under the direction of Sharon and Carol LeMaitre.
Ilana Murphy, Expert Teacher
My favorite Pilates exercise is: So many favorites to choose from! I always love Big Twist.
The exercise I would like to spend more time working on: All the split variations on the Reformer. And most of the exercises that involve going upside down.
When I’m not in the Pilates studio, I’m outside moving in nature.
“Ilana has enjoyed teaching and exploring Pilates for over a decade. She first discovered this approach to informed movement via physical therapy following a car accident. She soon realized the many benefits it offers, including a fun weekly workout, balanced strength, and support for participating in life’s other activities with grace and resilience.
Ilana was certified by Pilates Education Lab and Ellie Herman Studios and does ongoing continuing education, most recently with The Pilates Workshop, S.F. (a satellite studio of The Pilates Center, Boulder). Ilana has also been a yoga instructor for 20 years and is currently training in the MELT method. She is certified by Balanced Body to teach their Anatomy in 3-D curriculum.
In addition to teaching Pilates, Ilana is a licensed acupuncturist, herbalist, bodyworker, and practitioner of Functional/Integrative Medicine. Learn more about her practice here: ebbflowhealth.com. “
Jack Grantham, Expert Teacher
My favorite Pilates exercise is: Full Hang on Cadillac
The exercise I would like to spend more time working on: Full Hang on Cadillac
When I’m not in the Pilates studio, I’m enjoying cooking French and African Cuisine
I began training in Martial Arts in 2008, and completed my Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt certification through the world renowned Ralph Gracie by 2013. However, in 2010 my martial arts practice came to a halt after I suffered a neck injury that required surgery, which led me to the beginning of my Pilates journey. After three years of a dedicated Pilates practice, I was hooked, and decided to enroll in the Pilates Education Lab Teacher Training program. I’ve now been teaching Pilates since 2014 and the experience has been beyond rewarding. Fitness has always been a positive part of my life and I’ve enjoyed continuously learning more about the body through each movement system I’ve studied. The best part about teaching Pilates is that I love helping my clients learn how to embrace healthier changes in their bodies.
Mariette Lapiz, Expert Teacher
My favorite Pilates exercise is: Parakeet
The exercise I would like to spend more time working on: Backbend
When I’m not in the Pilates studio, I’m spending time with my husband and two dogs, hiking, sailing, and kayaking.
A passionate student of Pilates since 2012, Mariette decided to pursue teaching by joining the Pilates Education Lab Teacher Training in 2017. Mariette has always been a fitness enthusiast and enjoys many forms of exercise. She spent several years training in power and Olympic lifting and the Russian Kettlebell method. She now spends most of her time focusing on her Pilates practice. For her, Pilates awakens the connection of mind and body, keeps the body healthy, and aids in preventing and healing injury.
Mariette has experienced the many benefits of Pilates and wants to share them with others.
Shana Morrison, Expert Teacher
My favorite Pilates exercise is: Saw
The exercise I would like to spend more time working on: Open Leg Rocker
When I’m not in the Pilates studio, I’m singing and performing with my band.
After 30 years training in ballet and gymnastics, Shana Morrison began practicing Pilates in 2000 when a knee injury from dance led her to study new methods of strengthening and centering. Surprised and impressed with the results of her practice, Shana pursued teaching Pilates and became certified in the Pilates Method at the Ellie Herman Studios (Author, Pilates for Dummies, Get on the Ball with Pilates, etc.) in 2004. Since then she has taught private apparatus sessions, duets, and classes in Marin County, San Francisco, and Silicon Valley. To expand upon her education in body movement and functionality, Shana has attended Gyrotonic, Gyrokenesis, and Franklin Method training workshops, and in 2011 completed certification as a personal trainer She enjoys sharing her knowledge of classical pilates method with students of all levels of ability, raw beginner to seasoned pro, and encourages Pilates skills in all movement pursuits.
Nina Joly, Expert Teacher
Nina has been in the fitness industry for over 25 years. She is a certified Pilates trainer on mat and all apparatus through Carol Appel and certified Personal Trainer through National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). She is also a certified Nutrition Coach and Weight Loss Management Specialist through NASM as well as a certified Group Exercise Instructor.
Nina has a huge passion to help people reach their goals, however large or small they may be, and makes sure they have FUN!!!
Her mottos are I Can I Will, Progress Over Perfection and Practice Makes Permanent!
Outside of fitness, she enjoys biking, hiking, tennis, cooking and watching old movies.
Admin Staff
Sharon Gallagher-Rivera – Owner and Ring Leader
Mariethonnie Medina – Marketing Content, Sales & Communications
Michaela Mitchum – Website and Socials Manager