Ofie
Dates
Accredited Athletic Trainer
Accredited Dance Instructor
Certified Personal Trainer
Certified
Pilates Instructor
Certified Group Exercise Instructor
ofie@ofieselitephysiques.com
Ofie Dates founder and owner of Ofie's Elite Physiques Inc., has over 25 years experience in the fitness
industry and is a graduate of the University of Southern California. She
is an Accredited Athletic Trainer with the American College of Sports
Medicine/ Loma Linda University, with certificates of enhanced qualifications.
Ofie is a master trainer with the National Academy of Sports Medicine
specializing in Biomechanics/Kinesiology. Ofie is certified in the
Pilates Method from the prestigious PhysicalMind Institute for Pilates Mat and Apparatus. Ofie is also certified through BASI (Body Arts and Science International) a comprehensive Pilates Teacher Training Program with Dance Specialization from Cal State University Long Beach. Additional
certifications include the American Council on Exercise and the Aerobic
and Fitness Association of America.
Due to a congenital heart defect, Ofie began her quest for fitness and
health at an early age. Studying all entities of fitness and dance, her
career flourished. For over ten years Ofie maintained a dual career
as an international model/fitness promoter and as an Executive Director
for Health and Tennis Corporation of America. She has performed professionally
in dance, theatre, film, television and video.
"My
passion for life and belief in a positive healthy lifestyle is the key
to overall wellness. To be able to offer individuals personal
gains and positive achievements is one of the greatest gifts I can give
to everyone."
I encourage you to get started on a personalized exercise program. Ofie's
Elite Physiques will keep you motivated, focused and guide you every
step of the way. We will provide a safe supervised program to insure
success in reaching your fitness goals. Our goal is to promote a healthy
mind and body.
Claire Brown
Certified Yoga Instructor
claire@ofieselitephysiques.com
Claire Brown is a native Canadian who teaches Anusara style Yoga. Claire began Yoga and Meditation at the age of 15 and was immediately drawn towards teaching. She has studied Anusara for 12 years and has explored many other styles of Yoga including Kundalini, Iyengar and Astanga. Claire received her Teacher Certification of Hatha Yoga in 2002.
Claire's teaching style is dynamic and playful calling on her life experiences. Her teachings continue to evolve from her own practice and she continually strives to improve her teaching to better serve her students. She challenges her students to practice in life what they practice on their mat. Her goal is to inspire her students to attain a fuller and greater life. She is currently teaching at Ofie's Elite Physiques and Loyola Marymount University in addition to many other Yoga Studios in the South Bay.
In addition to teaching Yoga, Claire studies body mechanics and anatomy and is a fabulous licensed massage therapist. She is also a Reiki master and does energy work. Some of Claire's other hobbies include being a student of art and making and selling jewelry. Claire enjoys living life in Southern Californian!
The most important element of Yoga is about divine love….
Marion
Clark
Certified
Pilates Instructor
Certified Personal Trainer
Certified Yoga Instructor
Certified
Group Exercise Instructor
marion@ofieselitephysiques.com
Marion
Clark has been a student of the healing arts for over seven years. A self-described
“healthy lifestyle enthusiast”, Marion’s core interest
is helping bring people into balance, not just in body, but also mind
and spirit. Her training includes a certification from the National
College of Exercise Professionals (NCEP) for personal weight training,
The PhysicalMind Institute for Pilates Mat and Apparatus, The Yoga
Alliance for Iyengar style yoga and most recently a Reiki level 1 and
2 attunement.
Marion
is also an avid runner and surfer! When she isn’t teaching with
passion at Ofie’s Elite Physiques, she’s out training the
surf legends of tomorrow how to tune in with Mother Nature.
To help people learn to heal themselves is Marion’s ultimate call
to service and she lives and breathes that purpose in every class she
teaches and with every individual she works with. If you are looking
for some transformation with a side of enthusiasm and passion for dessert,
you have found your match with Marion.
Lynn Carmichael
Certified
Personal Trainer
Certified Yoga Instructor
Certified Corrective Exercise Specialist
Lynn@ofieselitephysiques.com
Lynn is certified in yoga through Rod Stryker and she continued yoga studies in Australia in Ashtanga Yoga with Eileen Hall, Inspya Yoga with Lance Schuler and workshops with Manju Jois and David Swenson. Additionally, Lynn studied extensive Thai massage with Saul David Raye from Exhale. She is a certified personal trainer with NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine) and ACE (American Council on Exercise).
Lynn has a background in dance, yoga, thai yoga therapeutic massage (energy balancing) and functional fitness training. She has continued to study, practice and teach hatha, ashtanga, and iyengar styles of yoga throughout the US and Australia. Lynn enjoys helping individuals and groups in a safe and therapeutic environment with a focus on their personal needs. In addition to Lynn’s fitness background, she has studied holistic nutrition, healthy cooking and herbal medicine in Sydney Australia. Lynn has a passion for creating healthier balanced lifestyles and maintaining a disciplined yoga practice and exercise routine that one can live with.
Lynn’s love of movement and teaching came from her earlier years of studying dance (tap, jazz and ballet). She enjoys working with individuals to create programs that are challenging as well as balanced and restored. She also enjoys teaching nutritional and fast healthy cooking to groups and individuals. Her nutrition/cookbook is soon to be released!
As a compliment to your pilates and/or weight training program, Lynn offers private sessions in Yoga. These sessions will challenge all levels of yoga participants by focusing on yoga foundation poses for increasing your overall strength and endurance.
Karen
Gutierrez
Certified
Pilates Instructor
Certified Personal Trainer
Certified
Yoga Instructor
karen@ofieselitephysiques.com
Karen has spent her life dedicated to the study of the mind, body and spirit. She graduated from California State University Long Beach with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Kinesiology/Exercise Science. She has been an accredited part of the wellness industry here in the South Bay for over 17 years.
Karen currently shares her love, joy and spirituality teaching Pilates & Yoga throughout the South Bay area. In addition to Karen’s fitness background, she has extensive knowledge and experience with nutrition. Her creativity shines through as she uses wise diet choices and whole foods to promote health and vitality. She represents Juice Plus, a fabulous healing whole food product. Because Karen believes in the importance of healing the whole person (mind, body and spirit) she has continued her education of the human mind and how it works thus receiving certifications in NLP (neuro-linguistic programming), life coaching and hypnosis.
Karen is a single mother who volunteers her time at her daughters' elementary school teaching physical education twice a week. She is a Girl Scout leader bringing hope and inspiration to today’s youth. Karen is a holistic, ecological, patient, compassionate, fun-loving gifted teacher who absolutely loves to teach, share with and empower others!
Sarafina Gerling
Certified
Pilates Instructor
sarafina@ofieselitephysiques.com
Sarafina Gerling is a certified Pilates instructor who received her training with Balanced Body and Trident Fitness in 2006. She has a strong dance background, specializing in ballet and loves working with fellow dancers. She keeps herself active in various sports such as beach volleyball and soccer and brings this athletic approach into her teaching style with Pilates. Sarafina has also worked at a Physical Therapy center where she gained knowledge in helping clients to rehabilitate from injuries."I have found a way to keep my body lean and strong without the daily grind of the ballet bar."
Via Page
Certified
Yoga Instructor
Certified
Pilates Instructor
via@ofieselitephysiques.com
Via Page, 500 RYT, is a Certified Yoga Instructor with Yoga Alliance, certified in both Hatha and Gentle Yoga. She is also certified in several yoga specialties including Yin Yoga, Senior Yoga, and Yoga in Chairs.
Via has also completed training hours and written and practical examinations for the BASI (Body Arts and Science International) Comprehensive Teacher Training with Sarah Berticelli and is currently completing the teaching hours for her BASI Pilates Instructor Certification.
Yoga has been an integral part of Via's life journey for the past 30 years, with the integration of Pilates as a second discipline over the past 15 years. Via's dream is to make the life-changing magic of yoga and Pilates available to people with health challenges and motion restrictions, people who are inflexible, people with round bodies, people who think they are "too old" to practice and benefit from yoga and Pilates.
Via loves the flexibility and strength that comes with combining Yoga, especially Yin-Style Yoga, and Pilates in her own practice and her work with students.
Via presently teaches privates in Yin Yoga and both Pilates mat and apparatus at Ofie’s Elite Physiques. She also teaches at several other studios and health and fitness venues in the South Bay.
Lorry Ray
Certified
Pilates Instructor
Certified Personal Trainer
Certified Group Exercise Instructor
Lauren Ray has been a life-long athlete. A competitive swimmer from age seven through college, Lorry, as she is known to family and friends, was also an avid tennis player, sailor and runner. Lorry graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a BA degree in Communications Studies. She completed a certificate program at UCLA in Organizational Development and has many professional certificates and accreditations in the field of Executive Coaching and Organizational Development. She was an executive with a Fortune 500 corporation until the birth of her first child.
Seventeen years ago, Lorry was in an automobile accident that resulted in severe whiplash and back injuries. Although she was in physical therapy for 8 months, the back pain never went away. Only when she began practicing Pilates on a regular basis did the back pain subside. Lorry was hooked and decided to pursue a second career as a Pilates and Fitness instructor. She is certified by the internationally renowned PhysicalMind Institute of New York in both Pilates Matwork and Pilates Apparatus. Additionally, she is certified in the Pilates for Golf program through Hole in One Pilates. This golf-specific program focuses on the biomechanics of the golf swing and on specific biomechanics analysis tests that can be performed on a golfer to determine his/her exact needs. Lorry also holds certifications in Spin/Cycling, she is a Certified Personal Trainer with AFFA and is CPR and First Aid Certified through the American Red Cross.
As a mom of two beautiful children, Lorry understands the special needs of parents; as a past executive, she understands the stress of corporate life; and as a coach, she enjoys working with men and women of all ages and fitness levels to help them achieve their personal best. Lorry is a consummate professional. She is a fun-loving, dedicated and compassionate instructor who acts as coach, guide and cheerleader to help her clients define and attain their fitness and health goals.
Jamie
Shindle
Certified
Pilates Instructor
Certified Personal Trainer
Certified Group Exercise Instructor
jamie@ofieselitephysiques.com
Jamie Shindle is a Pilates instructor certified by the respected PhysicalMind Institute of New York. She is certified in both Pilates Matwork and on the Pilates equipment. She started taking Pilates in 1999, after being introduced to it by a friend. Suffering from tendonitis in both shoulders from swimming, Pilates helped her regain her strength and confidence. In 2002 she completed her Matwork certification and continued her education by completing the rigorous certification on the equipment in 2004. Jamie has taught Pilates to a wide range of clients at numerous places such as universities, corporate fitness, studios, clubs and retirement communities.
Jamie graduated with honors from California State University Fullerton and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology with a specialization in Health and Fitness Promotion. She had the opportunity to complete her internship at California State University Fullerton's Lifespan Wellness Center and Center for Successful Aging under the supervision of Dr. Debra Rose and Dr. Jesse Jones, world renowned researchers and publishers in the field of Gerokinesiology.
In addition to Pilates Jamie teaches surfing, beach blast, exotic dance, pole dancing, works as administrative assistant for a commercial construction company and at Ofie's Elite Physiques as Studio Coordinator.
Jennifer Tamera
Certified Yoga Instructor
jenntamera@ofieselitephysiques.com
"The flower of our teaching is rooted in the diligence of our practice and the depth of our inner inquiry"
Jennifer Tamera was raised and still resides in Palos Verdes Estates. As a certified yoga instructor, her past experiences include the styles of Vinyasa Flow, Hatha and Iyengar. Her skills became nothing short of eclectic when she began her training under the skillful Hatha/Iyengar Master Purusha Hickson. While training with Purusha, Jenn incorporated a more gentle, soothing flow that allows students to become more in touch with their bodies no matter what their ability level. Jenn's classes tend to be a relaxing gentle flow, with focus on alignment and strength building. Being a Certified Massage Therapist, she becomes effortlessly in tune with her students' bodies and energy in order to guide her students in a class that is suited for them. On an individual aspect, she discusses difficult areas for the individual and finds ways of strengthening, tuning and healing those areas.
Jenn's other passions lie in dance and the holistic healing arts. As a Holistic Healing Artist she hopes to combine her fine skills into movement therapy in the future. She has also founded two organizations aligned with the holistic healing arts. Breathe Bodyworks, a network for holistic healing artists, and Soul Space, which organizes the holistic healing arts, visual arts and music communities into a yearly summer festival.
"You are invited to join Jenn as we practice, study, investigate, question, experiment, transform and blossom."
Kimberly Tom
Certified Yoga Instructor
kimberly@ofieselitephysiques.com
Kimberly grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and has been living in Southern California for the past 23 years. She has taught a variety of
classes including Aerobics, Hi and Low Impact, Step and Stretching classes. In 2006 she began her study of Yoga. Studying with Purusha Hickson of the
Vedantic Center, she completed her Yoga certification in 2007. Kimberly is happy and excited to be growing in this new field. In addition to teaching fitness classes, Kimberly
is a successful Certified Massage Therapist with her own practice here in Palos Verdes.
Kelly Gmoser
Certified Pilates Instructor
Kelley Gmoser was born and raised in Southern California. Kelley is a graduate from Carleton College located in Northfield, Minnesota. She is also a graduate from Pepperdine University where she earned a Masters in Organization Development. Kelley is certified in Pilates Mat and Apparatus through the renowned Body Arts and Science International (BASI).
After sustaining an ACL tear and its subsequent reconstruction in her teens, Kelley has explored various activities to keep the muscles supporting her knee joint strong and flexible. She has found that her Pilates practice with its focus on strengthening and lengthening has had the greatest positive impact on both her knee and overall health.
In a quest for work-life balance, Kelley is transitioning from her current career as a paralegal into the wellness industry. For her, Pilates, much like life, is a journey and not a destination.
Reagan Marquez
Certified Pilates Instructor
Reagan Marquez is originally from Washington State but has most recently come to us from Jackson, Mississippi where she danced professionally with Ballet Magnificat for eight years performing and teaching master classes all over the world. She was introduced to pilates through a friend and was immediately impressed in the way it strengthened her body and relieved her back and hip pain due to the demands of her dance career.
Since then, she has received her certification in both pilates mat and apparatus from the renowned Physical Mind Institute training under Maria Leone.
She loves working with people, sharing her experience in movement and encouraging them to reach their full potential! Recently married to husband Stephen, Reagan is enjoying this new chapter in her life of being a wife as she transitions from dancer to pilates instructor.
