Avril Stevenson
Avril Stevenson is originally from Missoula, Montana. She started dancing at the age of eight with Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre. Miss Stevenson received her BA in Dance from The University of Montana in 2004. From 2001- 2002 she danced with a group of students and faculty from the University of Montana in “Missoula Dances,” an independently produced community concert. From 2000-2005, she performed in seventeen pieces in the University of Montana’s Dance Showcases, as well as, four pieces in the University of Montana’s Site Specific Concerts. Miss Stevenson performed in the University of Montana Spring Dance Concerts in five pieces from 2001-2004, including her senior choreography project, “Ideograph.” This piece was chosen as the highlight of the Arts Department Commencement Ceremony in 2004.
Miss Stevenson's professional dance experience started when she was hired to perform and choreograph in the O’Shaughnessy Center production, “Of the Heart,” February 2005 in Whitefish, MT. She co-produced two dance concerts at the Missoula's Union Hall; “Woven Images” April 2004, and “An Arm and a Leg,” in July 2005. She performed as well as choreographed in these concerts. While living in the Bay Area, Avril Stevenson perform for Teena Diggs/Diggs Dance Theatre in 2005, Dance Elixir in 2006, Dark Porch Theater and Aura FIshbeck & Company in 2007, and Pfeifle Dance Project from 2006-2008.
In 2006, Miss Stevenson started her Pilates’ instructor training with Ellie Herman in San Francisco. She began her student teaching training hours in February 2007 at Ellie Herman’s Studio/The Center in Oakland, continuing there until March 2009. From October 2007- March 2009, Miss Stevenson taught at Ironworks Rock Gym in Berkeley, CA, giving a depth and diversity to her client experience.
Avril Stevenson makes a point to continue to grow as a teacher by taking continuing education classes, such as Movement Medicine with Nora St. John. Currently teaching at the University of Montana and various local Missoula businesses and homes, Miss Stevenson is the proud owner of Studio D Pilates.
Samantha Glaes
Samantha was born and raised playing outside right here in Missoula. While exploring the West Coast during college in Oregon, Samantha fell in love with whitewater kayaking. After 11 years of following rivers and chasing seasons throughout the Western Hemisphere, Samantha was living in Jackson, Wyoming when a good friend and professional skier introduced her to Pilates as training, maintenance, and strength rehabilitation.
Discovering her own muscle imbalances and weaknesses while working through old injuries inspired Samantha to pursue a Pilates teaching certification from Body Arts and Science International (BASI™) in Tacoma, Washington. After more than a year of intensive study, she was awarded a comprehensive equipment certification in May of 2011 and is also a Level 3 certified Balanced Body Core Align instructor. Samantha believes in the body’s adaptability and response to exercise and training. She values the mind/body connection that is imperative to the Pilates method and encourages those around her to listen to and honor their bodies.
Linda Sliter
Linda's passion for Pilates began while she was looking for a solution to low back pain resulting from farming and gardening. Pilates had a profound impact on her body. She found she could operate from a strong center. A strong core provided support to her low back, allowing her to continue farming.
Through her educational experience in Social Work at the University of Montana, she found that a holistic approach to self-care is paramount. To Linda, Pilates is one element of personal health and well-being. Practicing Pilates offers a wide array of benefits to the body including: strengthened and toned muscles, increased body awareness, stress reduction, and body alignment.
Linda is currently pursuing a comprehensive classical certification though Peak Pilates. She is certified to teach beginning and intermediate level students and is available for private and semi-private sessions on the Mat and Apparatus. Take advantage of her reduced rates while she completes her Pilates’ education.