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THE PEOPLE / BETTER BODIES

Good people.
Personal guidance.

Every practice begins with a person. Get to know the instructors and wellness professionals who make Better Bodies feel like your place.

Our Lee’s Summit team serves Lakewood and Longview. Availability varies by session; your studio can help you find the right fit.

FIND YOUR FAMILIAR FACE

18 team members

Becky Suarez, NCPT

Overland Park & Lee’s Summit

Becky Suarez, NCPT

Founder & Pilates instructor

Becky founded Better Bodies Pilates and has taught Pilates full time since 2008. Her own experience as a student inspired her to make thoughtful, personal instruction available to others.

More about Becky

Her training includes the Personal Best Pilates Instructor Academy, a master instructor program at The Pilates Center of Boulder, and BASI mat certification. Better Bodies purchased Personal Best Pilates Studio in 2018.

Stephanie Doering, NCPT

Overland Park & Lee’s Summit

Stephanie Doering, NCPT

Studio manager & Pilates instructor

Stephanie discovered Pilates through dance and studied Dance Performance at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas before dancing professionally in New York.

More about Stephanie

Certified in 2013 and studio manager since 2019, she combines classical and contemporary Pilates to tailor sessions to each client.

Sally Whitaker

Lee’s Summit

Sally Whitaker

Social Media and Marketing Manager

Sally is a classically trained, comprehensive Peak Pilates System instructor with a background in fitness, personal training and physical therapy assistance. She began her Pilates certification journey in 2007 and has continued studying classical Pilates ever since.

More about Sally

Her training has included work with Peak Pilates educators Sonia Rodriguez, Julie Cook, Nancy Hurd and Cherry Herzog, alongside continuing education with Anula Maiberg and Classical Pilates Education.

Sally teaches equipment and mat classes as well as private reformer sessions. Her instruction emphasizes alignment, whole-body strength, technique, anatomy and balance. She works with a wide range of clients and continues to develop her teaching through workshops and further study.

Denise Settle, NCPT

Overland Park

Denise Settle, NCPT

Pilates instructor

Denise was drawn to Pilates for its connection between mind and body and its emphasis on strength and mobility.

More about Denise

After several years as a student, she began pursuing Personal Best Pilates mat and equipment instructor certification in 2011.

Jo Schrock

Lee’s Summit

Jo Schrock

Pilates instructor

Jo moved from a long career teaching children into Pilates instruction after discovering a form of movement that left her feeling refreshed.

More about Jo

Trained through PSC, she enjoys helping clients develop strength, flexibility, stamina and mobility.

Jessica Langdon, NCPT

Overland Park

Jessica Langdon, NCPT

Pilates instructor

Jessica is a Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher on the Better Bodies Overland Park team.

More about Jessica

Contact the studio to learn more about working with Jessica and to ask about current session availability.

Rebecca Kopechek-Sampson

Lee’s Summit

Rebecca Kopechek-Sampson

Pilates instructor

Rebecca first discovered Pilates in classes she attended with her mother in Cleveland. After moving to Kansas City, she began teaching mat classes and later joined the Better Bodies team.

More about Rebecca

A former middle-school teacher, she brings experience across Pilates and group fitness formats, including barre and yoga. She values the precision, control and attention to breath within the practice.

Becky Kenyon

Overland Park

Becky Kenyon

Pilates instructor

Becky brings a background in group fitness to her Pilates teaching. She particularly enjoys helping clients build strength and work toward personal movement milestones.

More about Becky

She earned comprehensive Pilates certification through PHI Pilates and Personal Best Pilates. Her additional training includes yoga, TRX and barre.

Karen Oddo

Overland Park

Karen Oddo

Pilates instructor

Karen is part of the Better Bodies Pilates teaching team in Overland Park. Contact the studio to ask about her current classes, private sessions and availability.

Edna Allen, NCPT

Lee’s Summit

Edna Allen, NCPT

Pilates & wall yoga instructor

Edna completed comprehensive training with Peak Pilates after years of teaching mat Pilates. She draws on that foundation to connect mat principles with equipment work.

More about Edna

Her qualifications include national Pilates accreditation and therapeutic wall yoga training. She also completed Pilates training focused on neurological conditions in 2020.

Mindy Yowell, NCPT

Overland Park

Mindy Yowell, NCPT

Pilates instructor

Mindy began practicing Pilates in 2007 and later followed an instructor’s encouragement to start teaching. Her experience as a student shapes her approachable introduction to the method.

More about Mindy

After mat certification, she completed comprehensive equipment training through the Personal Best Instructor Academy and national Pilates certification in 2017.

Karen Staley, NCPT

Overland Park

Karen Staley, NCPT

Pilates instructor

Karen has taught Pilates since 2005. Her training includes BASI and Personal Best Pilates mat certifications, equipment certification and national Pilates certification.

More about Karen

With a background in education and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction, Karen adapts her coaching through verbal, visual and hands-on guidance to suit different learning styles.

Alli Hadden

Lee’s Summit

Alli Hadden

Pilates instructor

Alli discovered Pilates while adjusting to working from home and soon found a practice she loved. That experience led her to pursue teaching.

More about Alli

She aims to make classes engaging and educational, helping clients develop a closer connection with how their bodies move.

Amanda Westhues

Overland Park & Lee’s Summit

Amanda Westhues

Pilates instructor

Amanda fell in love with Pilates during her first session and found it a welcome space to connect mind and body alongside family life and her consulting work.

More about Amanda

That experience inspired her to pursue comprehensive instructor training. She enjoys supporting clients as they develop strength, balance and confidence in their own practice.

Frances Wallerstedt

Overland Park & Lee’s Summit

Frances Wallerstedt

Pilates instructor

Frances came to Pilates through a background in dance and completed classical training through Pilates of Kansas City.

More about Frances

She creates an encouraging environment for intentional movement, helping clients work on strength, mobility, posture and confidence in everyday life.

Jamie Mason

Lee’s Summit

Jamie Mason

Pilates mat & barre instructor

Jamie brings experience in group fitness, yoga and personal training to her Pilates and barre classes. She returned to teaching fitness in 2014 and began practicing Pilates regularly in 2022.

More about Jamie

Her Pilates training includes AFAA Practical Pilates and Classical Pilates Education mat certification, both completed in 2023.

Kelsey Lahue

Lee’s Summit

Kelsey Lahue

Barre instructor

Kelsey discovered barre in 2015 and earned her teaching certification in 2018. A background in sports helped shape her interest in cardio, balance and strength.

More about Kelsey

She brings that enthusiasm to the Lee’s Summit community and enjoys sharing a welcoming, energetic movement practice.

Ann Tillery, LMT

Overland Park

Ann Tillery, LMT

Massage therapist

Ann has practiced massage therapy since 2001, with training in Indiana and at the Massage Therapy Training Institute in Kansas City.

More about Ann

Her work includes Swedish, deep-tissue, neuromuscular, prenatal and sports massage, as well as reflexology. Contact Overland Park to ask about massage appointments.

LET’S FIND YOUR STARTING POINT

A good fit.
A better beginning.

Tell us what brings you to Pilates. We’ll help you choose your studio and your first session.

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