Teacher Credentials
Why we are particular about who serves our clients
Our extensive Pilates Plus Wellness Center programs are designed to help clients in Upper Marlboro, Brandywine, Bowie (and all of Prince George’s County), Lothian, and Dunkirk tackle the life balance issues that most of us grapple with in modern times.
To offer you the best quality service and care, we only hire certified instructors and therapists who are accomplished in their field to instruct our classes and provide therapeutic services.
Susan Spangler, Director, Pilates Plus Wellness Center
Nationally Certified Pilates Instructor and Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT)
Susan Spangler is a Pilates Method Alliance (PMA) Nationally Certified Instructor and a PMA business member. She is a Physical Mind Institute certified Pilates Instructor receiving her certifications in Mat and Apparatus in August 2002 and April 2004. She has completed Peak Pilates PPS I, PPSII, and PPSIII and Level 1 & 2 chair certifications as well as Barrel 1 & 2. Susan is a Certified Christian Yoga Teacher(CCYT) and a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT)receiving certifications Yahweh Yoga in Chandler Arizona. Susan is enrolled in Yoga Therapy Training with Body Balance Yoga.
Susan is also an American Council for Exercise (A.C.E.) certified group fitness instructor. Ms. Spangler is C.P.R. certified through the American Red Cross Health Care provider system. Additionally, Ms. Spangler holds a certification in the Diet Directives nutrition program. Susan received her Reiki I certification in November 2006.
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Vivian Arbin, Holistic Nutrition Counselor and Reflexologist
Vivian graduated from the Global College of Natural Medicine is accredited by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners and the American Naturopathic Accreditation Board. Her training included comprehensive coursework and 500 hours of training. Coursework covered subjects such as dietary guidelines, toxicity and detoxification, alternative health methods, and weight loss. Vivian’s desire is to share her knowledge of natural healing with nutrition and help others to begin living healthier through proper nutrition. Her specialty is whole raw food diets and gluten-free lifestyle coaching.
Vivian Arbin has completed comprehensive 200 hour training for reflexology through the Baltimore School of Massage. She is a member of the Maryland Reflexology Association. She chose this ancient form of therapy to enhance her knowledge of holistic remedies. ___________________________________________________________________________________________
Gina Bottalico, Front Desk
Gina joined the front desk staff in the summer of 2011 and is helping us with all of the administrative work. Gina is a student of forensic science and will be graduating in December. She is engaged to be married in the Spring. We are so glad to have her help!
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Beverly and Christine Clark, Zumba Teachers 
Beverly is a new addition to the studio. After attending Zumba classes with her niece and seeing the awesome changes in her endurance and strength, Beverly decided to give Zumba a chance. Beverly received her Zumba certification with her niece and they both began to instruct at various venues; offering the “tag-team method”, as they like to call it. Beverly’s joy in teaching Zumba is being able to offer people the same confidence and joy she received from taking the classes herself.
Christina is another new addition to the studio. After attending Zumba classes for two years, and experiencing great results in health and weight loss, she decided that Zumba was in her heart. Christina received her Zumba certification and began to teach at various locations, as well as churches. Along with her aunt, Beverly Clark, they have a tag-team method of teaching Zumba. Together they are able to give their students full and undivided attention at all times.
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Rebecca Davis, Willpower and Grace Instructor 
Rebecca Davis is a personal trainer, Zumba instructor, certified AFAA group exercise instructor, and a Balanced Body Mat Pilates instructor. In her spare time, Rebecca teaches theatre, dance, piano and voice to youth and adults of all ages, is a budding barefoot runner, and dances with VF Dance Company.
Rebecca joined the studio in August 2011 and brought with her a passion and enthusiam for the Willpower and Grace format. This new format rounds out our strength and endurance offerings and is a beautiful addition to our classic Pilates and Yoga classes.
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Janelle Jones, Registered Yoga Teacher, E-RYT 200 and RYT 500
Janelle was first introduced to yoga in 1997, and has been teaching yoga since 2005. She has completed two separate 200-hour teacher trainings, a 500-hour teacher training, and is registered through Yoga Alliance as an E-RYT 200 and RYT 500. Janelle is also a member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT). She continues her studies with Jenny Otto, and is most proud of her recent certification as a Body Balance Yoga Therapy Teacher. Before becoming a yoga teacher, Janelle spent 5 years as an Open Water SCUBA Instructor. Through this experience she gained insight into the various learning styles and abilities of each individual. In her yoga classes she honors this individuality in each of her students, and through her love of teaching creates a space where students feel empowered to safely explore the gifts their yoga practice can offer, both on and off the mat. Janelle plans to begin a program in Respiratory Therapy in the fall of 2010, and is looking forward to seeing how respiratory therapy and yoga can enhance one another, as well as her joy of teaching and helping others. We have been lucky enough to have Janelle teach our gentle yoga class as well as lead several workshops including: Happy Feet, Loose Hips, and Release The Upper Body.
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Julie Magram, Licensed Acupuncturist
Julie Magram provides uses a unique combination of both Japanese-style acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine to help you realize your true potential. She integrates her acupuncture treatments with her vast knowledge of medical qi gong (Chinese energy healing) to bring health and balance to your life.
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Elizabeth Hale, Licensed Massage Therapist 
Elizabeth graduated from the Baltimore School of Massage in 2009 with a 4.0 GPA and passed an extensive exam administered by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB). She is fully licensed and regulated through the State of Maryland, Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, State Board of Chiropractic & Massage Therapy Examiners. She belongs to ABMP (Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals) as an ABMP Certified Massage Therapist.
Elizabeth’s gift is tailoring massage towards the individual needs of each client by using multiple modalities to get the best results. She applies Swedish, Deep tissue, Trigger point and Myofascial release techniques.
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Diana Miller, Pilates and Yoga Teacher
Diana teaches Level I Pilates Mat classes and private lessons. Diana came to the studio as a student and after transforming her life with healthy eating and Pilates–she decided to pursue the work so that she could help others. Diana completed her Level I Mat Certification with the Body College in Washington D.C. and was trained by Susan Spangler to teach level I apparatus lessons. She successfully completed Yoga Therapy Training with Balanced Body Yoga and will teach and beginner Yoga and Yogilates classes as needed.
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Susan Neal, C.P.R. Instructor
Susan Neal is certified by the American Red Cross to teach First Aid, C.P.R. (Adult/Child/Infant) and A.E.D. for Community Responders and Professional Rescuers. She has joined the Pilates Plus Wellness Center as an adjunct instructor to help make C.P.R. training more accessible in Upper Marlboro and the surrounding areas. Susan’s goal is to inspire others to get certified in C.P.R. so that they are prepared to save a life if needed!
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Joyce Powell, Pilates Teacher
Joyce is Physical Mind Institute Certified Mat Instructor and is PPSII certified with Peak Pilates. Joyce is also a full-time employee for the Federal Government. Joyce is also certified as a Group Exercise Instructor thru the Aerobics & Fitness Association of America (AFAA) and CPR certified through the American Heart Association. Joyce is currently subbing classes for us on an as needed basis.
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Lorriane Rimando, Registered Aromatherapist
Lorraine is a Registered Aromatherapist certified by the East West School of Herbal and Aromatic Studies in Westminster, Maryland. She is also a Reiki Master certified in level III Usui and traditional Japanese Reiki. Lorraine has worked as a Registered Nurse for over 13 years in an array of healthcare fields ranging from acute to chronic care settings.
Lorraine became certified in aromatic healing and soon after she became a certified Holistic Aromatherapist through the East West School of Herbal and Aromatic Studies. She earned her diploma at the East West School of Herbal and Aromatic studies, and is also a member of the American Holistic Nurses Association and the National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy. She is currently pursuing a Bachelors in Nursing Science.
She continues to combine her experience as a health care practitioner with aromatherapy and Reiki to assist people in reaching their full health potential. She emphasizes customizing aromatic blends to fit a person’s individual needs.
Recent Client Comments:
“Lorraine was delightful. I really enjoyed it. Thanks for offering such a wonderful holistic practitioner to your staff.”
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Gina Sager, Yoga Nidra Workshop Leader
Gina L. Sager, MD, RYT is a retired board-certified general surgeon, named one of Baltimore’s Top Docs in October 2000. She permanently left the practice of traditional Western medicine in May 2002 to explore her long time interest in holistic healing. She’s had professional training with Jon Kabat-Zinn in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction and studied at Tai Sophia Institute in Maryland and is certified in Integrative Yoga Therapy.
She has used the wisdom of Ayurveda for personal healing since 2000, has recently completed a 60 hour certificate in Ayurvedic Nutrition with renowned author and teacher Amadea Morningstar, and works with Calvert’s Gift Farm, a small family owned organic farm in Sparks, Maryland to encourage the use of seasonal, local, organic produce for health and well-being. She is currently incorporating this work with her Ayurvedic and mindfulness training to offer seasonal, farmer’s market-based workshops on food, eating and self care in Baltimore.
We have been blessed with her presence at the studio leading our Yoga Nidra Workshops. We hope to see more of her!
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Dr. Tim Thompson, Tai Chi Chuan Instructor and Meditation Leader
Dr. Tim Thompson has over thirty years of experience helping individuals and groups discover their own routes to inner peace and fulfillment of their potential. Proficient in open-hand and weapons forms, as well as push hands, Dr. Thompson holds a black belt in the ancient Chinese internal martial art of Tai Chi Chuan under Grand Master Dennis Brown, with whom he has studied for the past seven years. Dr. Thompson is a Tai Chi Chuan instructor at the Community College of Baltimore County, Catonsville Campus. In addition, he is an advanced kundalini yoga meditation practitioner. His counseling/healing work focuses on self-transformation, interpersonal/group dynamics, organizational cultures, and leadership development. He has a Ph.D. in Organizational Communication from Howard University.
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Cristal Rae Toribio, Yoga and Pilates Teacher, Thai Massage Therapist and Licensed Massage Therapist 
Cristal Rae graduated from St. Mary’s College of Maryland with a Bachelors of Art in Arts with intent to pursue a Master’s in Art Therapy. Following graduation she began to explore other modes of health and wellness which led her to train in indoor cycling, Thai Massage and Yoga.
Cristal Rae completed her Massage Therapy certification at the College of Southern Maryland. She has also completed coursework towards her Master’s at the Tai Sophia Institute in the Applied Healing Arts.
Cristal Rae was awarded the 2010 Dare to Dream Grant by the American Association of University Women, Patuxent River Branch to support her professional growth and development. The grant will allow Cristal Rae to attain her ACE Group Fitness Certification to instruct all inclusive group fitness courses fusing yoga, cardio, strength training and meditation. Finally, Cristal completed Level I Mat Certification with Power Pilates.
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Sheile Whiteman, Fitness Instructor, Physical Therapist 
Sheila is a seasoned fitness instructor, teaching many formats including cardio kickboxing and Zumba. Sheila is a physical therapist by trade which allows her to tailor and modify programs the individual needs of each student. Sheila’s credentials include the production of a long running fitness television show on local cable. Pilates Plus had the pleasure of teaming with her to produce a Pilates show a few years back! We welcome her to the studio and love that she offers another strength and endurance format to our offerings.
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Sandra Wiseman, Energy Enthusiast
Sandra Wiseman has been involved in alternative forms of healing since the early 70s. After attending many workshops and retreats for Ayurvedic healing during the 70s and 80s, it became clear every person has untapped power within themselves to restore their health. Though these alternative forms of healing were available at that time, one had to search to find them. Through multiple synchronicities, her quest for personal wellness led her in the 90s to her first introduction to energy medicine, to forms of Chinese healing techniques, and most recently to Donna Eden. Donna has taught some 50,000 people worldwide, both laypeople and professionals, how to understand the body as an energy system. Sandra was fortunate to attend a workshop this past January with Donna Eden in Costa Rica. The information learned at this workshop is the basis of the Energy Healing Workshop being offered at Pilates Plus Wellness Center.
