Jessica Gradhandt, Owner, Certified Pilates Instructor & Restore Your Core® Teacher
Jessica discovered Pilates in 2000 while exploring methods to support her hyper-mobile body in movement and activities like cycling and hiking. She was immediately drawn to the work, and went on to complete an intensive Pilates instructor training with Nora St. John at Turning Point Studio in 2003, a program that later laid the foundation for the Balanced Body Education program.
The majority of Jessica's work and continuing study has been in therapeutic and post-rehab work, often working alongside physical therapists and movement therapists to support clients in their journey to strength and well-being. She especially enjoys working with specific populations such as those with hyper-mobility issues, spine/pelvis/hip issues (injury or post-surgery), prenatal/post-partum and osteoporosis. In 2009, she became a Master Instructor for Balanced Body Education LLC, offering instructor training and guidance to aspiring Pilates instructors in the Mat, Reformer and Apparatus work of the Pilates method. And most recently, she earned her certificate as a Restore Your Core® Teacher, offering a comprehensive exercise programs for women who have core and pelvic floor dysfunction.
When not in the studio, Jessica loves to be outside with her husband and two kids hiking, backpacking, swimming, cycling, skiing, traveling, and just being. She holds a B.A. in International Management from Hamline University in St. Paul, MN and is the owner of Pilates at Thrive, LLC.
Angela Gibson, Certified Pilates Instructor
Angela is originally from Canby, Oregon and received her Pilates certification through Stott Pilates in 2008. She began her Pilates training as a teen under Melanie Byford-Young of Pacific Northwest Pilates as a way to augment her studies as a young ballet student. Over time, however, she developed her love of teaching. In addition to teaching clients at Thrive, Angela is now in her sixth season performing as Principal dancer with Ballet Idaho. Coming from a professional dance background, and having undergone many injuries along the way, Angela has a highly attuned knowledge of body mechanics and strives to help clients of all activity levels, from post-rehab to elite athlete. Angela earned her Bachelors of Fine Arts from Texas Christian University in 2007 and moved to Boise in 2008 where she met her husband. They enjoy being active, traveling and partaking in The Arts as well as sporting events together!
Harriett Jastremsky, Certified Pilates Instructor
Harriett, a Boise native, was trained to teach The Conditioning and Corrective Exercises of Joseph H. and Clara Pilates in Mary Bowen's studio in Northampton, MA. Mary Bowen is one of the three remaining teachers who worked with Mr. Pilates. Harriett's anatomical training was overseen by Kate Faulkner, P.T. Harriett taught in and co-managed Mary's studio from 1997-2001. She studied and earned additional certifications from The Physicalmind Institute and most recently from Balanced Body Education. She studied Anatomy and Physiology with Judy Cotter, Holyoke Community College, MA., and Anatomy and Kinesiology with Irene Dowd, New York City, and takes Continuing Education courses regularly. In New York, Harriett had a private practice in Manhattan and continued studying, most notably with Clarice Marshall from 2001-2005. In Boise, she taught at Forte Pilates 2008-2011 and joined Thrive Pilates in 2011. She graduated from the advanced level Heritage Training with Cara Reeser in June 2016. Harriett received her Bachelor of Arts from Wesleyan University. She has worked as a dancer and choreographer in Massachusetts and New York. She was dance company member with Paula Josa-Jones/Performance Works, founding member of Kinodance Company, and was involved in year-long performance projects with Defacto Dance and Peggy Florin. For her performance projects, Harriett has received funding from the Northampton Arts Council, the Massachusetts Cultural Council, and the Idaho Commission on the Arts. She is a consulting teacher for Balance Dance Company, Boise. In working with people in Pilates, Harriett likes to draw on each person's sophisticated understanding of his or her body plus the tools of Pilates to create a movement experience that feels great. She helps problem-solve with each client in order to find balanced-alignment, strength, and flexibility so that each person can do comfortably the activities and sports they love to do.
Erin Scuglia, Certified Pilates Instructor
Erin was introduced to Pilates in the 1990s after a car accident. She found that Pilates was much more effective than traditional medicine for rehabilitating her injuries. It was this that kindled her interest in becoming a Pilates teacher herself. A few years later, Erin, her husband, and two daughters, moved to Paris, France where her mother, Martine Curtis-Oakes had opened the largest Pilates teacher training center in Europe. In 2008 she received two internationally-recognized certifications, one from Balanced Body and one from A-Lyne Centre de Formation in Paris. Because her introduction to Pilates was by way of an accident, Erin gets satisfaction working with clients to rehabilitate their injuries. She has extensive experience with Parkinson's disease, spinal and disc injuries, pre and post natal and surgery rehabilitation. Being an avid bicyclist and runner, she also enjoys working with clients with an athletic bent. Erin continues to develop her rehabilitation skills, her knowledge of anatomy, and other modalities that complement her Pilates teaching.
Laurie Nowierski, Certified Pilates and Body Barre Instructor
Laurie graduated from Scripps College in 1991 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. After years of intermittent lower back and abdominal pain, Laurie began practicing Pilates in 2011 as a way to strengthen her core. Pilates has provided relief from these issues and enables her to continue her love of tennis. She completed her instructor certification with Balanced Body Barre in June 2017 and Balanced Body Pilates in October 2020. Laurie is also currently employed by a local human resources organization. A Boise native, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, reading and designing jewelry. She is excited to be a part of the Thrive community.
Emily Perkins, Certified Pilates Instructor
Emily has a long history of movement and the enjoyment of being active. Many of her happiest memories growing up include indoor and outdoor sports and activities - gymnastics, soccer, riding bikes, pools, and exploring the mountains, forests, lakes, and streams of Colorado. Her first memory of delving into the world of Joseph Pilates is in a bookstore in Kentucky. From there she gathered all the information she could find and produced an essay for her Folklore class in college in Virginia, exploring the oral history tradition of Mr. Pilates's lifework he called the Art of Contrology. Then, in a matter of weeks, Emily experienced for herself the transformative power of Pilates. She found a 6-week class at a yoga studio learning the Pilates Mat exercises in Brooke Siler's The Pilates Body book. As the weeks progressed, she felt a sense of unity, strength, and a profound improvement in her agility and ability to control her movements on the soccer field. And was hooked. Since this introduction, Emily moved back west, was certified in 2003 with Romana's Pilates at Pilates Seattle International in Washington, and continues to seek out instructors, programs, workshops, courses, and more books to deepen her knowledge of Pilates and movement and to share what she has learned with others. After owning her studio in Boise, Idaho for years, Emily was thrilled to collaborate with and then join the Thrive Pilates community in 2021. The people, the support, and the spirit at Thrive Pilates is a wonderful place to cultivate the next part of Emily's journey as student, practitioner, and instructor. Emily remains active with her family and loving life reading, walking/hiking/running, riding, backpacking, and practicing Pilates, karate, and qigong.
Denise McLaughlin, Certified Pilates Instructor
Denise took an interest in Pilates in 2012 and quickly gained appreciation for the overall
whole body benefits that Pilates provides. After seeing significant modifications and
improvements in her own body, she completed her certification in Pilates through Balanced
Body Education with Jessica Gradhandt at Thrive Pilates.
Denise began an active lifestyle at an early age as a ballet dancer and competitive
gymnast. Her adult life has included a mixture of hiking, cycling and skiing. Having
sustained a number of injuries along the way in her active lifestyle she has grown an
immense appreciation for the value of Pilates in helping to rehab and strengthen the
body and mind. She continues to engage in educational workshops to further her
understanding of the human body and its mechanics.
Marissa Shupperd, Physical Therapist & Pilates Instructor
Marissa found Pilates while working as a physical therapist at a Pilate-Based clinic in Dallas TX. She began using the Reformer with her patients and quickly loved the Pilates approach as a tool for rehab. Marissa has done formal training through Balanced Body and has been greatly blessed by incredible, experienced mentors who have generously shared their knowledge and skill. She began teaching small group therapeutic classes to bridge the gap between physical therapy and traditional community exercise in 2022 and hasn’t looked back since.
Marissa is also an orthopedic and pelvic floor physical therapist at Treasure Valley Pelvic Health and has a decade of experience teaching movement in the form of personal training, HIIT and strength classes, spin, and, of course, Pilates. Marissa’s in-depth biomechanical and rehabilitation knowledge make her a great fit for instructing clients of all levels to become better movers for life.
Pilates has not only been a tool to help her clients and patients thrive, but has also assisted Marissa in overcoming years of chronic pain from injuries sustained during her collegiate volleyball career. Now, she uses Pilates to keep her body stable despite hypermobility so that she can enjoy hiking, biking, paddleboarding, skiing, and snowshoeing in Idaho’s great outdoors. Marissa and her husband, Jeremy, moved to Boise in the Fall of 2023 and are loving exploring all the city and the surrounding areas have to offer.
Keslie Fuller, Front Desk Manager
Keslie is the Front Desk Manager at Thrive. She enjoys interacting with clients and being a part of the Thrive Pilates community. She also has loved becoming a pilates student herself! Keslie graduated with a degree in Communication and has previously worked in marketing and public relations. Keslie grew up dancing and now teaches dance in the Treasure Valley. When she is not at Thrive or a dance studio, she enjoys paddle boarding and spending time with her husband and dog.