Ali Holloran I'm Ali Holloran, the owner of High Plains Pilates. I have been living and working in Laramie for 12 years. During that time I completed my master's degree in Zoology and Physiology, got married and had 2 children. Although I have been a runner most of my life, after having my 2 beautiful girls, I needed an exercise focus that was easier on my joints and gave me my body back...Pilates did that and more. I have become more toned, stronger and more flexible since I started doing Pilates. These physical changes were expected with hard work; however I did not expect the enhanced feeling of self-worth Pilates has given me.   I opened High Plains Pilates so that the residents of Laramie would have a truly comprehensive Pilates studio. I get a lot of satisfaction from helping people obtain not only their personal fitness goals but there emotional and psychological goals as well. I strive to make High Plains Pilates a welcoming place where everyone, no matter their fitness level or age, feels at home and comes away with a positive experience. I have been teaching Pilates for over 2 years and completed my initial training through the Pilates Institute in Steamboat Springs, CO. I am dedicated to continued education and routinely enroll in classes with certified instructors throughout the region to refine my teaching techniques.   I invite anyone to come to High Plains Pilates for a positive physical and emotional experience; come have us help you make your core connection.     Rhonda Thaxton Rhonda has always had a passion for sports and staying active. She enjoys volleyball, basketball, racquetball, softball, hiking, snowshoeing, cycling, skiing, kickboxing and competing in triathlons. She began her exercise career in 2000 when she became a certified personal trainer and also received the APEX nutritional/exercise training in the spring of 2001. After 2 busy years of training and teaching body sculpting and boot camp classes, she bought a retail store in the fall of 2002. After closing the store at the beginning of 2006, she decided to get back to her passion and recertified as a personal trainer. She added a kickboxing certification to her personal training and was able to help her top client get in excellent shape - 35 pounds gone as of February, 2007!   Rhonda is now trained in Reformer, Mat, Jumpboard, Athletic Training on the V2Max, and Injury & Special Populations with STOTT Pilates.          Lauren Sowerwine I'm Lauren Sowerwine and I am originally from Iowa. My athletic background included rigorous dance training and when I wasn't in the studio, I was cheerleading competitively, long-distance running, or doing my mom's Jane Fonda workout videos in the basement. I attended Arizona State University and graduated with a degree in Kinesiology/Exercise Physiology and a certificate in Spa/Health Club Management and am currently working toward my Masters in Physical Education. Throughout college, I was a natural bodybuilder, a marathoner, and I worked as a personal trainer, a lifeguard, and a group fitness teaching. I found empowering others through health education and innovative workouts to be my niche and my passion. I have aspired to inspire people of all fitness levels through exercise since 1999.        Shannon Bowen Maier Shannon Bowen Maier has been a lifelong student of contemplative movement practices. She was introduced to the Pilates Method in 1992 as a dance student at Randolph-Macon Woman's College, where she studied Martha Graham technique intensively. In 1996, she began to practice yoga regularly, and both Pilates and yoga remain regular parts of her daily movement practice. Shannon is interdisciplinary in her approach to intentioned movement, and she brings a sense of curiosity and exploration to all of her classes. Her goal is to make these practices accessible and relevant to all, and she is adept at modifying poses and exercises to the needs and abilities of her students. The quest for joy and "upaya", or "skillful means", lie at the heart of her practice, and Shannon brings both of these to her instruction. She is certified by Tillai University of Om Time studios (Boulder and Denver).