Who are the Instructors? Laura McFadden Frank McFadden (more instructor profiles coming soon) LAURA MCFADDEN A true veteran of the fitness industry, Laura McFadden has been a certified exercise instructor since 1986.  She  holds teaching certifications in both group exercise and personal training from ACE (American Council on Exercise) and AFAA (Aerobics and Fitness Association of America), has authored and presented fitness workshops, and was voted "one of the best" instructors in New Jersey two years in a row in a Gannett Newspaper reader's poll .  The focus of her teaching changed in 1998 when she was introduced to the work of Joseph Pilates and since then she has received over 1000 hours of formal training in the Pilates Method.  She received her first certification in 1998 through the Physicalmind Institute, continued to study with Polestar Education from 1999-2001, and in April of 2005 completed the Comprehensive Teacher Training Program at Power Pilates NYC.  This program requires a minimum of 600 hours of apprenticeship over the course of 6 months.  Graduates are recognized by the PMA (Pilates Method Alliance) and are qualified to teach the complete Pilates' repertoire on the Mat and all the studio apparatus. FRANK MCFADDEN 609-492-5058 frankmcfadden@optonline.net A well seasoned athlete and coach, Frank McFadden took an interest in sports at a very young age. In high school he learned the value of team work and hard training while competing on both the swimming and track teams, eventually becoming captain of the swim team. He continued to hone those skills while attending Ohio University from 1993-1998, where he competed on the water polo team. Once again excelling as a leader he was voted in as captain. Additionally, during the summers of 1995-97 he coached a local swim team to two championships and competed in the Garden State Games with the Rutgers University water polo team, winning a silver medal. Upon graduating college in 1998 with a BS in Biology he went on to work in the field of environmental remediation. Over the past decade personal workouts and fitness have remained a priority in his life and he began to take an interest in the study of sports psychology. Upon realizing that fitness has always been his calling, he has decided to join forces with his wife, Laura McFadden, who operates Pilates/fitness programs at Alliance for Wellness. Frank recently completed the Power Pilates Mat certification program in Philadelphia, PA and the AFAA Personal Trainer Certification program in Raritan, NJ.  What is Pilates? Joseph Pilates defined the method of exercise he developed over 80 years ago as the “art of contrology” (muscle control).  Although he developed specific apparatus to assist students in developing physical skills, the “Matwork” is the original movement system that involves using one’s own body weight against gravity to strengthen and tone muscles, improve posture, spinal stability, flexibility and balance and to create a connection between mind and body.  All of the exercises begin with breath and each movement originates within the core or “powerhouse”.  This method of exercise is appropriate for anyone interested in improving their quality of life and can be modified to accommodate any fitness level or limitation.