Kara Wily

Qualifications: Studied at Romana's Pilates school and the Physical Mind Institute. Taught in Vienna Austria at the Performing Arts School.

Personal History: My interest in fitness developed first from my older sister who took an interest in sports and running. I went a more creative route and was most interested in dance. My mother finally decided that I should get some training and sent me to Washington Ballet in D.C. for my senior year in high school. I loved it so much I decided to double major in college. I injured my anterior cruciate ligament while in college and took the opportunity to do Pilates as I was training to get back to my dancing. I thought I would learn to teach so that I could do something good for my body as I pursued my dance career.

Workout Philosophy: The human body possesses great potential. I am interested in progress -- the body can learn to do things better than the way you are "used" to doing movement.

Success Story: Michael, from Los Angeles, California was a 69 year old man who came with extreme pain in his hip and back. He had been to physical therapy but thought that the Pilates he had done a year prior might be a better way to end his pain. After 9 months of consecutive training two days a week, he rode a fifty-five mile bike ride in Palm Springs, California.