Katy Alder

I discovered Pilates during one of my pregnancies when my pelvis slipped out and was very disorganized....and physical plain painful!

Pilates helped me stabilize and was one thing to bring me the slightest relief from pain. From there I was hooked, and began progressing into advanced levels and was astounded at what the human body could do when uniformly developed!

I certified in 2017, spending 850 hours in my program... I learned and grew immensely during that time.

I love teaching Pilates, but also love my four kiddos, playing tennis and doing anything in those majestic mountains of ours!

I am honored to join the awaken team and can’t wait to get to know all of you better!!

Hillary Brown

Hillary recently relocated back to Salt Lake City after living in Honolulu, Hawaii for 16 Years where she owns and directs Manoa Dance Studio (MDS). When she started MDS, many thought she was simply teaching kids the basics, when she was, in fact, learning to dance again herself. In 2008, Hillary suffered a major stroke that left her unable to speak and rendered her right side paralyzed. After a risky brain surgery, she nurtured her recovery over several years with Pilates, which enabled her to make leaps and bounds in her recovery and allowed her to return to her first passion, dancing. 

Hillary now specializes in Neuroscience recovery with movement, body mechanics for dancers, injury recovery and prevention for youth through seniors and holds over 2,000 hours in certifications in movement science, Pilates and Yoga. 

Hillary has one constant thread throughout her life- her passion for empowering people through movement.

Michelle Simkins

Michelle’s love for movement began as a child in dance and gymnastics. She stayed active throughout her life, but it was while attending the University of Utah that her passion for functional movement, fitness, and wellness was ignited in her physical fitness and nutrition classes. Around that time, She started taking Pilates classes and fell in love with the practice. After years of regular Pilates classes, she decided that she wanted to share her love of functional movement with other people. Michelle was trained at intermountain Pilates training center in the STOTT Pilates method. When she is not at the studio she is spending time with her husband and two active little boys.

Holly Chiodo

My passion for health and fitness lead me to a career in Physical Therapy in 2000. As a life long athlete, the combination of aging and competing in triathlons keep me injured. My standard rehab approach was not enough for treating my own body. The tipping point came when I suffered a back injury and needed a more complete approach to healing and recovery. I fell in love with Pilates instantly and become a certified Pilates teacher through Polestar Pilates and the Pilates Method Alliance (PMA) in 2008.

As a physical therapist, I have seen how Pilates is powerful in restoring health from injury or illness by enhancing body awareness, correcting imbalances, and developing a powerful foundation of strength. My passion for teaching Pilates is rooted in the belief that we must look at the body with an integrative lens in order to heal. My training approach starts with setting a powerful intention and then creating a supportive environment to re-learn new movement strategies so there is is a clear path to healing.

My most recent professional role was a Pilates Physical Therapist at the University of Utah Orthopedic Clinic in Salt Lake City. While at the U, I developed and taught a successful Pilates Backcare class that is now my signature program. At the end of 2018, I became a proud new mama to a beautiful baby boy which changed everything. Now, with limited time and a sharper focus, I am committed to the ongoing refinement of teaching Pilates specialized workshops, classes, and private sessions. I look forward to supporting your training goals with a therapeutic Pilates plan that helps you feel your best and assist you in obtaining powerful results.