Shelly has been practicing Pilates for 30 years, having studied under Licea Perea and Siri Dharma Galiano – both of whom received their training certification from Joseph Pilates protégé Romana Kryzanowska in NYC. She was accepted into the dance program at Towson University but switched her focus to filmmaking, journalism, and literature studies, earning her B.A in 1990. Moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career as a film producer, she was introduced to Pilates while seeking help with a recurring injury; and discovered the lasting benefits of the practice.
Returning to her hometown during the pandemic to care for her aging parents, she took the time to formalize her Pilates training by completing all 8 levels of the Balanced Body Mat and Reformer coursework. She also completed 200 hours of Yoga teacher training with Yoga Farm Ithaca and is a member of the Yoga Alliance. “I am so excited to have found Structural Elements, where the various components that have kept me in balance and feeling good are all rolled into one location. I believe a steady practice improves the mind/body connection and is a key ingredient to longevity.”
Shelly decided to permanently relocate back to her hometown area and ease up on the hectic pace of a film producer and studio executive career in Los Angeles. She currently resides on her farm in Blue Ridge Summit, PA, with her two dogs, Henry and George while maintaining a small cabin in Joshua Tree, California.
