Instructors

Cindy Reid spent her childhood dancing and playing sports competitively in Houston TX. When her family relocated to the Chicago suburbs, Cindy turned all her athletic focus to dance. Cindy graduated from U. of Texas in Journalism and worked in DC before moving back to Chicago to complete her MA in Choreography and Performance at Northwestern University. While at Northwestern, Cindy was introduced to Pilates and was immediately hooked on the core strengthening system as a way to avoid dance and hypermobility injuries. She was certified by Frog Temple and Physical Mind, then opened Flow Studio in 2002. She is certified by PMA, BASI, Physical Mind, CoreAlign, TRX and has taken numerous courses on aging, scoliosis, spinal and sacroiliac conditions, osteoporosis, core stability, shoulder issues, dance and athletic performance enhancement. She is a Master Trainer for Balanced Body's CoreAlign program, which she finds to be the perfect bridge from Pilates to fitness. Cindy most enjoys seeing her students improve their functional strength and coordination with regular practice and sufficient intensity. To that end, Cindy's sessions are intense and precise, and she enjoys working with highly focused clients of all ages. "My favorite Pilates exercise is Teaser on the mat because as you reach the pinnacle position, you feel a moment of victory over gravity!"

Danielle Conradie is originally from South Africa, and grew up dancing, playing sports, and swimming competitively, finishing on the podium of multiple Half Ironman and Olympic distance races. Following an injury, Danielle found Pilates as a way to continue her love of movement training. She completed her BASI certification in 2014 at Flow Studio. She has completed workshops in CoreAlign 1 and 2, Pelvic Floor Function and Support, Diastasis Recti Recovery, Pre/Post Natal, Pre/Post Menopausal and Healthy Aging with Karen Clippinger. She has firsthand experience with pregnancy, having given birth to 2 children, and went on to restore her own body with Pilates after pregnancy. Danielle loves to study how the body works, and looks forward to helping people achieve their personal goals; whether that be rehabilitation from an injury, a more comfortable pregnancy, how to benefit from movement during and after menopause or improving general fitness to deal with the stresses of everyday life.

Maggie Bennett grew up in Louisville KY, and began training in ballet at the age of 9. She was introduced to Pilates mat exercise in high school, and took Pilates mat classes all through college. She graduated from Connecticut College with BAs in Dance and English, then moved to NYC to pursue a career in dance and choreography. Rehab after an ankle surgery introduced her to the equipment work, and she decided to become certified in order to have a meaningful "day job" while dancing professionally. She was certified in Mat Pilates in 2008 and completed her Pilates Equipment training in 2010 at the Kane School of Core Integration in New York City, now Kinected Center. She has training in pre and post partum Pilates, hip mechanics, psoas health and function, and has also studied many somatic modalities through her dance career, which she integrates into her Pilates work. While healthy strength is a high priority, Maggie also enjoys working with clients who are reworking old patterns and habits, slowing down to go deeper and gain a better understanding of their own anatomy. She loves Short Spine on the Reformer for the spinal decompression and back-body stretch it provides, while getting the pelvis above the head.

Ellen Acuña is originally from St. Louis MO, though Chicago has been home for quite some time. She discovered mat Pilates in 2003 at her gym and enjoyed exercising in a way that toned, elongated, and strengthened muscles. It was back pain, however, that led her to increase her practice and knowledge of Pilates through the BASI program, completing Pilates Certification in 2009 through Flow Studio. She also holds a TRX Certification. Ellen enjoys creating fun, upbeat and challenging group classes, and loves to see her students find relief from tension and pain in Pilates class. She is particularly fond of exercises that work on back extension because it is the perfect antidote to the hunched posture we experience from commuting and sitting in front of a computer all day. Ellen works well with clients seeking fitness and fun, as well as older clients who are working on spine strength and balance. Ellen teaches Pilates part-time as she is a full time high school Spanish teacher. ¡Amamos a los maestros!

Alexandra Zaporozec grew up in Madison, Wisconsin and has lived in Lincoln Park since the 1990’s. She's worked around the world in global marketing and management consulting, and currently runs an executive search practice. While suffering from a debilitating health condition in her 30’s, her doctor suggested she try Pilates to build strength and mobility and she's now been practicing for over 25 years! She completed her BASI Pilates certification at Flow. As a desk-dweller during the weekday, Alexandra values exercises that engage her upper back and shoulders to regain a natural posture. Her favorite part of teaching is when clients start to feel how the work they do in session improves how they feel both after a session and day-to-day. She emphasizes safe movement based on a client’s specific situation, and then works with them to develop flexibility, mobility, and balanced strength, always building and extending from the core. She enjoys working with anyone who wants to feel better in their own skin!

Amy Williams is a Chicago native. She became interested in Pilates and yoga while pursuing safe exercise for her structural scoliosis in her 20s. She discovered Pilates could help strengthen her spine and core, and in 2003, she completed the BASI Teacher Training. Amy continues to expand her knowledge of the body and in 2010 was certified in YAMUNA® Body Rolling and in 2012 in TRX. She finds the two disciplines complement Pilates to balance asymmetries within the body and provide improvements in balance, strength and flexibility. Amy's classes have a strong focus on alignment, mechanics and overload. In addition to teaching, Amy holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Marquette University and works part-time as a manufacturing consultant.

Kate Weglarz grew up in Colorado and holds a BFA in Dance from the UC Boulder and an MA in Dance Movement Analysis from Laban Centre London.  She completed her certification in Pilates and Pilates-based Rehabilitation at the Ellie Herman Studios in San Francisco, CA in 2001.  Kate has also studied Shiatsu, Thai Massage and Traditional Chinese Medicine at the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine.   Kate brings her extensive studies of movement and the body to her teaching.  She enjoys working with athletes and fitness enthusiasts of all sizes and abilities and has experience teaching individuals with injuries, neuromuscular disorders, osteoporosis and joint replacements. Kate seeks to restore balance and function to the body, reduce pain and enhance awareness and agility through focused Pilates training and her wide repertoire of exercises, imagery and release work. She hopes each session will foster a renewed sense of health and well-being. In her free time she loves cooking, walking in the forest, stand-up paddle boarding, swimming and spending time with her husband and daughter in Brookfield, Illinois.

Regina Dixon recently relocated to Chicago and is happy to join the team at Flow! Her professional background includes work as a certified personal trainer and a physical therapy technician before obtaining her Comprehensive Balanced Body Instructor Certification at Personalized Pilates in Scottsdale, AZ. She also holds TRX and Bodhi certifications. Her work with Pilates in Scottsdale, AZ (2014-2018) and Southlake, TX (2018-2023) includes special populations such as athletes, those with chronic pain issues, post-operative rehab, pre/post natal, as well as clients seeking to improve their general health and fitness. Regina graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a degree in International Studies. Her favorite exercise? Boomerang on the mat because it's the perfect balance of strength, flexibility, coordination and control...all things Pilates!