We love
fitness training.
At Pilates & Custom Fitness, our experienced and certified trainers work with clients one-on-one and in small groups to help them meet and exceed their fitness and wellness goals. Meet them online for a ZOOM class, or book an in-studio class to meet them in person!
The best clients + the best setting + the best trainers in STL = The best results.
Heather Epperly
Founder and Lead Trainer
Pilates & Custom Fitness is led by Heather Epperly, a highly credentialed fitness expert and amateur athlete with 30+ years of experience serving individual clients, teaching small- group classes, and coaching for improved sports performance in golf and tennis.
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Heather is sought after by St. Louis-area coaches, physicians, physical therapists, and even other trainers for the expertise she provides and the results she helps clients attain. She is nationally certified in Pilates, group exercise, yoga, Spinning, functional movement, and sports nutrition.
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Pilates
Heather graduated from the Teacher Training Certification Program at The Pilates Center in Boulder, Co. — one of the most respected, comprehensive, and intensive classical Pilates teacher training programs in the world. She continues to work with the Center’s Host Advisor Program to assist students in becoming certified Pilates instructors.
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She also completed the The Heritage Training with Cara Reeser and Laura Karpinski. This rigorous and selective post-graduate training program is named in honor of first-generation Master Teacher Kathleen Stanford Grant, who studied with the founder of The Pilates Method, Joseph Pilates.
“Pilates offers an amazing alignment practice to help my clients keep doing all of the activities they love to do best at any age,” says Heather.
Functional Fitness
Heather believes in integrating functional fitness into her clients’ lives for optimal wellbeing. She is an expert in how the body moves, having completed Level I of the Function Movement Screen with Gray Cook and Lee Burton. This nationally recognized screen helps clinicians scientifically recognize movement patterns that support work, sports, and daily activities and understand how those patterns play in our health and fitness goals.
Heather is a certified exercise physiologist with the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), an advanced certification that enables her to expertly conduct and interpret physical fitness assessments and develop personalized exercise prescriptions.
Yoga
Heather is a certified Yoga instructor, having earned her 200 Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) yoga certification with the Yoga Source of St. Louis and her advanced 300 RYT yoga certification with Pam Schulte at Just Practice Yoga of St. Louis.
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Golf
Heather is an avid golfer who looks forward to helping clients elevate their game. She earned her golf fitness training certification from Titleist and is currently partnering with Helen Kurtin of St. Louis Golf Academy to bring golf fitness training programs to Pilates & Custom Fitness.
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Heather attends continuing education workshops and conventions throughout the year, keeping abreast of the latest science and fitness industry developments for the benefit of the studio's clients. She played Division I tennis for Missouri State University in Springfield and continues to compete in the sport. She lives in Des Peres with her husband and three children.
Our Staff
Lisa Mohr
Pilates Instructor
Personal Trainer
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Bachelor’s degree: Community Health Education, University of Illinois, Urbana, Ill.
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Master’s degree: Public Health, University of Illinois, Springfield, Ill.
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PhD, Public Health—Epidemiology, Saint Louis University, St. Louis
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AFPA Certified Personal Trainer
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AFPA Nutrition, Wellness and Weight Loss Consultant
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The Pilates Center, Certified Pilates Instructor
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200HR-YTT Yoga Instructor
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NCHEC Certified Health Education Specialist
Lisa’s education, experience, and research work as a project director and faculty member at Saint Louis University led her to realize that we need to radically change the way we think about diet and fitness. Her philosophy is focused on the long-term lifestyle changes necessary to keep and maintain personal health. This realization is what drove Lisa to take a very active approach in helping others improve and maintain their personal health and become a personal fitness trainer, yoga instructor and Pilates instructor. Lisa has experience training a variety of clients, from athletes to those recovering from injury or surgery.
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In her spare time, Lisa enjoys spending time outdoors in the garden and woods, camping, reading, crocheting, caring for her husband and their five cats, and playing with hula hoops.
Erin Nuelle
Pilates Instructor
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Bachelor’s degree: Marketing, Maryville University, St. Louis
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Pilates Instructor Certification: Mary J Brown of The Core Center in St Louis
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Pilates Method Alliance (PMA) Certified Pilates Instructor
​Erin stumbled upon Pilates in college while completing her required Physical Education credits, picking both and Pilates and Yoga with the misconception that they were “easy.” After being quickly humbled in her first class, she was instantly hooked on the method, and continued her Pilates practice after college to combat the daily stressors of sitting behind a desk all day at work.
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In 2011, Erin made the leap to aspiring Pilates Instructor, working part time in a local studio and studying under Boulder trained Mary J Brown with her program, The Core Center. In 2015, Erin became nationally certified under the Pilates Method Alliance. Erin has worked with clients of varying abilities, from the novice student to seasoned athlete and those recovering from injury.
​Pilates and Yoga play a major role in Erin’s life, and she also enjoys hiking, biking and traveling in her free time.
Molly Benton
Office Manager
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Bachelor’s degree: Graphic Design, University of Tulsa, Tulsa, Oklahoma​
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Molly has 20+ years experience working in the business world. Prior to taking a few years off to be with her two small children, she worked in development as an event coordinator, raising money for a private non-profit hospital.
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In addition to spending time with family and friends, Molly enjoys volunteering at her children's schools. Molly's free time is spent playing tennis, hiking, and being active indoors and out.
Mary Berberich
Pilates Instructor
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Pilates Certification, The Pilates Center, Boulder, CO
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Bachelor's degree: Business Administration, University of Missouri-St. Louis
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Master's degree: Leadership and Organizational Development, Saint Louis University
Mary has many years of experience working in the business world in various technical and leadership positions. In effort to improve her health, Mary began practicing Pilates in 2016.
After a few months of classes, Mary was hooked. In late 2017 she decided to take the Pilates Teacher Training through The Pilates Center in Boulder, Colorado in order to help others improve their health and reach their fitness goals.
In addition to spending time with family and friends, Mary's free time is spent playing golf, biking, traveling and spending time at the lake.
Jackie Shireman
Office Assistant
Personal Trainer
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Fitness Instructor Training Program, McHenry Community College, McHenry, Ill.
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American Council on Exercise
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National Academy of Sports Medicine
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Cancer Exercise Specialist
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SCW Group Fitness
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Medic First Aid Instructor
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After 30 years in Association Management, Jackie changed careers to become a Personal Trainer and Fitness Instructor. She has worked in an Active Adult Community (Sun City) as Fitness Manager/Personal Trainer/Fitness Instructor for the past 10 years. She especially enjoys working with those who are new to exercise or are returning to exercise after injury. She has also worked with the Northern Illinois Special Recreation Association, teaching fitness and coaching Special Olympics Volleyball for 4 years.
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Jackie is married to Larry, a tennis pro, and enjoys keeping track of their 8 children and 10 grandchildren. They moved to St. Louis from Crystal Lake, Illinois, to be close to their two granddaughters in Kirkwood.
Kathryn (Kat) Sebek
Personal Trainer
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Bachelor's degree: Geology and Geophysics, Missouri University of Science and Technology
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​Certificate of Legal Studies: St. Louis Community College
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Fitness Certification: ACE, emphasis in Special Populations
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Group Exercise Instructor: AFAA
Kat has been working as a Personal Trainer for over 20 years, with clients of all ages and abilities. She has extensive experience with orthopedic surgery prep and post-surgical rehab, spinal injuries, pre/post-natal, Parkinson's, diabetes, and older populations. Kat likes to focus on functional and balance exercises designed to improve overall body coordination and stability, but she also loves challenging her clients to reach new strength and fitness goals. In addition to personal training, Kat was a licensed instructor and choreographer for Zumba Fitness, LLC, from 2009 until 2018, and she has years of experience teaching group strength and boot camp classes.
​Kat was a competitive swimmer, softball player, and color guard/dance team performer, and she is now an occasional incredibly mediocre golf and tennis player. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, camping, music, working on her Jeep, anything in the water, and spending time with her husband, three kids, and four dogs.
Christina Castellano
Pilates Instructor
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Pilates certification: The Pilates Center, Boulder, Col.
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Bachelor's degree: Psychology, Saint Louis University
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Master's degree: Nursing, Goldfarb School of Nursing
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Christina is currently pursuing a doctorate in Nursing Practice in Women’s and Mental Health from the University of Missouri — St. Louis. Riding and showing horses led her to take an active interest in creating and maintaining balance within her body. In 2007, Christina sustained a shoulder injury, and her physical therapist recommended Pilates. After a few private sessions, Christina fell in love.
Christina loves to hike and read. She's a MomsLine Volunteer for SSM and an outspoken advocate for perinatal and postpartum moms. She's a mom herself: "My oldest girls are born exactly (to the five-minute mark!) 18 months apart. My 7-month-old is a spitting image of my grandmother," says Christina. She has three semesters of coursework in her PhD of Nursing program to go before she starts her dissertation on social support and chronic stress in rural pregnant moms.
Shannon Colona
Pilates Instructor
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Bachelors of Science in Psychology, California Coast University
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Level 1 Sommelier, The Court of Master Sommeliers
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Pilates Training: Mary J. Ames Brown of The Core Center
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Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher (NCPCT)
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Sol Instructor, Solarium, Chicago
Shannon is a classically trained Pilates instructor who also enjoys a contemporary influence. Your session with her will include safely moving your body though all planes of movement, increasing range of motion, flexibility, strength, and a strong focus on core. Expect to meet yourself exactly where you are today, discover strong foundations and core connection, aligning yourself with your breath. Explore new possibilities of movement, allowing the Pilates equipment to support and resist you.
Shannon decided to pursue Pilates instructor training after avidly practicing Pilates on the mat. Before she began her Pilates journey, she admits she could not even touch her toes! She dreamed of being flexible… seven years later and she can not only touch her toes but also her forehead to her shins! Her favorite thing about Pilates is that the same principles can be applied to everyone-from advanced athletes to regular humans, 95 year olds, 20 year olds, people in chronic pain. Everyone can do it, and reap the numerous benefits! Shannon strongly believes that true freedom lies in freedom of movement.
Shannon’s upbeat personality will banish any worries of your day, she will ensure you an invigorating workout, with the appropriate amount of discomfort. You will see and feel the results when you commit to your practice.
Bring harmony and ease of movement into your life. Discover your own deep inner strength. Align yourself with the process of Becoming. Sweat, laugh, connect.
Sandra Price
Pilates Instructor
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Bachelors Degree in Social Work, Southeast Missouri State University
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Masters Degree in Social Work, Saint Louis University (LCSW)
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Sandra Price is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has spent almost twenty years supporting survivors of abuse and trauma. Over time she began to realize how beneficial body awareness, movement and physical activity could be for those she worked with. She supports the theory that unresolved trauma, anxiety and chronic stress can take on a physical presence in the body. Sandra believes that Pilates offers a unique opportunity to reclaim and heal the body as well as calm the mind. She hopes to help clients develop a practice that will enhance and sustain their mental and physical health.
Sandra is a mother of three and was also motivated to pursue Pilates education in order to develop injury prevention strategies for her children and other youth athletes. She spends most of her free time at the baseball field watching her boys play and enjoys as much time as she can get with her grown daughter. She loves playing golf in the summer and snow skiing in the winter when she can. Some of her favorite things are chai lattes, goldendoodles, true crime documentaries and her family.
Sandra looks forward to supporting you on your Pilates journey!
Claudia Rivera
Pilates Instructor
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Pilates Certification, Club Pilates
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Bachelor’s degree: Psychology, Haverford College 2018
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Master’s Degree: Social Work, Saint Louis University, 2022
Claudia’s journey to Pilates started the summer of 2019 when she decided to take a good look at her health and make some changes. She tried many forms of exercise but struggled to find something that she truly enjoyed. As she explored to try and find the right fit, she met a Pilates instructor while working at a daycare. She tried it early 2020 and after a few sessions was hooked. The pandemic forced her to continue practicing mostly at home, but as soon as the studios reopened she started her teacher training in hopes of combining her newfound passion for movement with her love of helping those around her.
In addition to Pilates, Claudia has found a passion for yoga and is in the process of getting a teaching certification. Claudia loves spending time with her dog, watching The Big Bang Theory with her mom and trying out local restaurants since recently moving to St. Louis.
Justin Epperly
Trainer
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Masters in Athletic Training with a minor in Psychology: Saint Louis University
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Head diving coach for the Missouri Athletic Club
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Washington University Bears junior tennis camp coach
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Member, Saint Louis Athletic Training Society (SLATS)
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Volunteer, Doctors Without Borders
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Member, SLU Wilderness Adventure Club
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VP of Recruitment for Sigma Tau Gamma, Saint Louis University
“I want to help teach clients more about the mechanics of their body and how to better take care of themselves through stretching, exercise, and different modalities. I’m interested in preventative care as well as recovery.”
Monica McArthur
Pilates Instructor
Monica found Pilates in the early 2000's, was hooked after her first class, and knew it was the beginning of a newfound love. After years of her own dedicated practice, she decided to take her love of Pilates to a professional level and completed the comprehensive 520 hour teacher training program through Balanced Body University in 2015 at The Pilates and Yoga Center of Ladue.
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Monica’s strength as a Pilates teacher is the ability to be truly present with every person she works with and to give them the tools to make themselves feel the best they possibly can. Her goals in teaching are to strengthen her clients through the intelligent exercises of Pilates; and reinforce balance, restore posture, and create a general sense of well-being that one can take from the studio into daily life. She is passionate about the power of Pilates for the mind as well as the body, and is highly dedicated to her clients' ability to change and get stronger. Monica believes that Pilates is the answer to moving better through all activities in life.
When not practicing or teaching Pilates and Yoga, Monica loves to be outdoors with her family and dog. She loves cycling, hiking, kayaking and any opportunity for an outdoor adventure.
Jessica Kerckhoff
Certified Personal Trainer
Pilates Instructor
Yoga Instructor
As a former college athlete, Jessica has always made fitness a priority in her life and enjoys sharing her dedication to overall health with others. She began practicing yoga in 2005 on the advice of a friend who thought it might help with a running injury and was delighted to discover that it not only helped heal the injury, but also benefited many other aspects of her physical and mental well-being. In 2013, she completed her 200 hour certification and in 2016, completed her 500 hour certification both in St. Louis. During these trainings, she developed a passion for vinyasa yoga. She became a personal trainer in 2017 through NCSA. Late in 2020 she began teaching barre and became a pilates instructor through Polestar Pilates in 2022. She infuses her classes with an athletic style to give her students a unique and invigorating practice. She is also the founder of Kid’s Yoga, United, which provides mindfulness, yoga and meditation to children of all ages.
Ginny Westermayer
Office Assistant
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Information Technology Certificates from St. Louis Community College and University of Missouri – St. Louis
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Two-time recipient of the YWCA Women’s Leadership Award
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Dale Carnegie Professional Development Series
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A lifetime resident of the Kirkwood area, Ginny has worked in the corporate world for over 40 years, most recently at Maritz.
Ginny has been taking classes at Pilates and Custom Fitness since the studio opened. With her retirement from corporate life, she has chosen to focus more on her health. Working at the studio, where she assists Molly, allows her to stay active, in touch, and inspires her to stay fit.
In her spare time, she travels extensively, often visiting her son and daughter-in-law in Dallas. She enjoys biking, hiking, walking, reading, being creative and spending time with friends and family.
Annelle Sorkin
Certified Instructor
In 2003, Annelle's first classical Romana Pilates class sparked a transformative journey, unveiling a new level of strength and functionality. This experience led to a career shift, fueled by decades of diverse fitness lessons and scoliosis therapies.
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After selling the family dietary supplement manufacturing business, Annelle spent 14 years as a Professional Volunteer at her children’s schools, until one school finally hired her for her talents. She enjoyed spending 7 years as either a Librarian Assistant, Substitute teacher, Admissions Coordinator, Chaperone and ending as Campus Store Assistant Manager.
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Annelle embarked on her Pilates certification with Balanced Body in 2023. Inspired by classical and contemporary Pilates teachings, she guides others towards well-being through functional movements. Beyond the studio, Annelle embraces outdoor activities including skiing and hiking with her husband, three boys, and her beautiful, but neurotic dog. Her commitment to an active lifestyle aligns seamlessly with her mission to inspire others through the transformative power of Pilates.
