About Teresa

Teresa is uniquely qualified as a Pilates instructor. A combined total of 30 yrs of Dance, Pilates and PT experience informs her integrated approach to the art and science of helping people find joy in movement. A native New Yorker, she toured worldwide for almost a decade as a soloist with the Martha Graham Dance Company of New York City, the oldest and most celebrated contemporary dance company in America. She has been a licensed physical therapist since 1996, earning a Master's Degree from the University of Pittsburgh. She holds triple Pilates certifications with the respected:

In 1999, Teresa founded the now flourishing Pilates program through the School of Medicine's Health Improvement Program at Stanford University where she continues to be a principal instructor and lecturer.  A teacher of teachers, she is an invited presenter for Pilates conferences such as the Pilates Method Alliance Annual Meeting. Pilates with Teresa, her private practice created in 1999, continues to be a source of pride and accomplishment though she counts her greatest blessings as her two children, Katelyn and Tyler.

Teresa's Goals:

  • To inspire people to find joy in painfree movement
  • To guide people to age powerfully and gracefully
  • To empower people to reach beyond what they thought was possible

Teresa was first introduced to the Pilates method in 1985, when she started studying Pilates to augment her dance training. Teresa explains, "Dance, sports, and life in general is inherently asymmetrical. For instance, a dancer might have to do 8 leaps on the right leg and only 2 on the left. A dental hygienist at work or a golfer may routinely rotate only in one direction. This asymmetrical patterning, done repeatedly, creates muscle imbalances which need to be addressed." Teresa credits Pilates with addressing those needs and providing her with a relatively injury free dance career.

In 1994 Teresa retired from professional dance, earned her Master's Degree in PT and began work as a licensed physical therapist in an outpatient orthopedic clinic. She routinely incorporated Pilates exercises into her patients' rehab programs. This provided overwhelming insight and solid proof of the significant benefits of combining Pilates with physical therapy.

This motivated Teresa to become a certified Pilates practitioner and open her own practice. With Teresa's unique background, she is able to serve those who desire general conditioning, specific performance enhancement, as well as those with special physical needs.



"My Philosophy: Accept where you are now, without trying to imitate another, and acknowledge what areas you need to improve. During your sessions you will experience personal victories, which will be a source of great satisfaction and empowerment. Together we can work safely toward achieving your goals and gaining an overall look and feeling of health and well being."
~Teresa Maldonado Marchok