A Supportive and Friendly Atmosphere
Our goal is to offer the most comprehensive Pilates experience in Nevada County while making Pilates accessible and affordable for everyone. We provide a supportive, friendly atmosphere that encourages all who come through our door to embrace the power and the joy of the mind-body connection and Pilates well-known core conditioning.
Let our staff help you determine what is best for you. Call or stop by the studio. For those interested in individual or duet sessions, just call the studio to schedule an appointment. Scroll down to view staff bio’s.
Roxanna Cohen
Roxanna Cohen, Program Director and owner of The Pilates Place has been a physical therapist since 1990. She is a Fellow of Movement System Impairments thru Washington University in ST. Louis and a board certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS). Her physical therapy practice has been movement science based since 2001, when she was originally certified as a Rehab Specialist thru Polestar Pilates. Roxanna is a PMA-CPT (Pilates Method Alliance-Certified Pilates Teacher), a Senior Educator (Teacher Trainer) and Examiner for Polestar Pilates, and Oov level one Educator.
Roxanna’s movement background began with dance at the age of 5 and yoga at the age of 15, both of which she still practices. She parlayed her love of movement into a career teaching group and individual fitness for over 10 years before becoming a PT. Roxanna is adjunct faculty at Nevada Union Joint High School, teaching fitness and Pilates in the Theatrical Dance Department.
“ I am motivated by finding movement solutions to physical therapy problems, meeting people where they are in their bodies at the present time, helping them to be the best versions of themselves that they can be. My current passion is utilizing what I know about rehab, movement science, neuro-science, Pilates, athletics and fitness and applying it to working on the Oov.”
Roxanna sees individuals for Physical Therapy and Pilates instruction as well as teaching group mat, Oov and equipment classes.
Jose Romero
José is a Pilates Instructor/Personal Trainer who graduated from the Spanish school Federation of Pilates and IFBB Pro Bodybuilding/fitness. He has over 9 years of experience working with a variety of clients in multiple settings in Spain and Miami, Florida prior to moving here to Grass Valley. Jose is passionate about a wellness lifestyle that includes mindful movement in order to achieve health and longevity.
José specializes in High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) as well as working with older adults with a variety of orthopedic challenges
Lisa Guardino
Originally from Southern California, I moved to the bay area in 1983. Before the birth of my son in 1992, I moved to the town of Mariposa, California where I opened my Jazzercise studio in 1994. After 20 years of owning and operating a successful Jazzercise Franchise and my son going off to college, I decided to make a change. I sold my business in October 2014 and moved back to Southern California to live in Orange County. There, I continued to teach Jazzercise in Laguna Hills.
Soon after moving, I attended my first Pilates class and absolutely loved it. I was so inspired that I enrolled in the Pilates/Dance Conditioning Instructor Certificate of Achievement program at Orange Coast College. I graduated from Orange Coast with honors and received a certificate to teach Pilates in May of 2016.
I moved to Grass Valley California in 2017, where I continued to teach Pilates Mat and Equipment classes. I extended my education by completing The Polestar Comprehensive Teacher Training Program in 2018-19, The Konnector Teacher Training and The OOV Fundamentals Course. After 25 years of teaching Jazzercise, I retired in 2019.
I moved to West Seattle in November of 2021 and continue to teach Pilates Mat classes on Zoom and Equipment classes in the studio.
I believe we can create stronger bodies, and happier, healthier lives through fitness. Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body; it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity, and a way to bring balance to our lives. Being mindful of what we are doing with our bodies through movement enables us to become more connected to our lives and to others. Movement relieves stress and allows us to experience more joy in life, which leads to feeling better both physically and mentally. I am dedicated to inspiring people to exercise and be active. My goal is to make a difference in someone’s life every day through the classes I teach.
Thank you and I hope to see you in class!
Lisa Spang, Office Manager
I began Pilates while receiving physical therapy for a frozen shoulder. Once my rehabilitation allowed me to move my shoulder again, my next step was to keep it mobile so I enrolled in Pilates classes. It is wonderful to feel strong and to have improvement in my posture. I am also an accomplished gardener. I know that Pilates classes have enabled me to enjoy it more because it has increased my strength and flexibility and has given me more endurance.