Kate graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with a B.S. in Kinesiology and a minor in Biology. She then went on to get her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of St. Augustine. She has worked in San Francisco and Marin for the past 5 years as a PT in outpatient orthopedics where her treatments often placed an emphasis on manual therapy using Maitland, Mckenzie, and Osteopathic muscle energy techniques to name a few. Kate also performs myofascial decompression (a.k.a. cupping) and is a certified Pilates instructor, having completed the Polestar Pilates Training for Rehabilitation instructed by Ada Wells, PT. As an avid soccer player and snowboarder herself, Kate enjoys implementing all the tools and techniques she has learned over the years to get patients back to doing all the activities they love. Whether it be getting back into a sport or being able to pick up those adorable grandchildren, she will be there to help guide you through your recovery with compassion and motivation.

Kate graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with a B.S. in Kinesiology and a minor in Biology. ... Read More

Shideh Ataii holds a Doctorate degree from University of California San Francisco (UCSF) in the field of Pharmacy and is an Administrator and a Department Head at Contra Costa County. She is a Medical professional, Pilates instructor, designer, artist, and a former dancer. She initially discovered Pilates over 10 years ago. With her background in the Medical field and knowledge of anatomy and kinesiology, Pilates was intuitive and in sync with her personal style of exercise. She loved the way it made her body feel and wanted to share that experience with others. She is a very compassionate professional. She is patient and has great attention to details and is very passionate about teaching. Shideh trained with Master Pilates instructor and the guru in the field, Tom McCook (Center of Balance), and became a certified Balanced Body Pilates instructor in Reformer, Mat, and Apparatus. Shideh is a Healthcare professional who is passionate about working with clients of all ages. She takes pride in helping them move healthier while teaching them how to avoid exercise-induced injuries and motivates them to radically improve longevity, through daily movement and exercise.

Shideh Ataii holds a Doctorate degree from University of California San Francisco (UCSF) in the ... Read More

Raimonda’s journey into the world of Pilates was ignited by her own experience with chronic hip pain, which she discovered was rooted in her spine after working with Victoria at Ironhorse Physical Therapy. Through a combination of Pilates and physical therapy, she resolved her hip and back issues without resorting to surgery or medication. This transformative experience sparked a deep passion for Pilates within her, prompting her to pursue certification as a Comprehensive Pilates Teacher through Balanced Body. Under the tutelage of esteemed instructors like Tom McCook, Nancy Myers, and Naomi Leiserson, Raimonda is dedicated to honing her expertise in the Pilates Method. Her commitment to mastering Pilates not only enriches her personal practice but also empowers her to share this transformative knowledge with others.

Raimonda is also a professional pianist with a Bachelor’s Degree from the Music Conservatory of Lithuania and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from the Dublin Institute of Technology, Ireland. She currently serves as a piano instructor at a local music school in Pleasanton, blending her passions for music and wellness. Outside of her professional pursuits, Raimonda enjoys exploring various hobbies and maintaining an active lifestyle, including her longstanding dedication to fitness, particularly running.

Raimonda’s journey into the world of Pilates was ignited by her own experience with chronic hip ... Read More

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Owner/Physical Therapist/Certified in Pilates, ART, TRX & Kettlebells, Certified Run Coach

Dr. Victoria Liu graduated from Columbia University with a Master of Science in Physical Therapy in 2000 and later completed advanced training to become a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists (FAAOMPT), a distinction recognizing advanced clinical expertise in the evaluation and treatment of orthopedic and musculoskeletal conditions.

Victoria is passionate about helping active people of all ages and abilities move better, perform at their best, and stay active for life. As a Certified Run Coach and avid runner, she has a particular interest in working with runners and athletes who want to improve performance, prevent injury, return to their sport, or overcome persistent pain and movement limitations. She works with everyone from recreational runners and endurance athletes to people who simply want to stay strong, mobile and capable in everyday life.

Her approach is truly “whole-istic.” Rather than treating pain or an isolated body part, Victoria looks at the entire body and how strength, mobility, movement patterns, biomechanics and training all work together. She combines advanced manual therapy with individualized exercise and movement training to identify and address the underlying contributors to an injury or performance limitation. Victoria’s athletic and performance background includes running, triathlon, cycling, mountain biking, rock climbing, CrossFit, strength training and Pilates. She has participated in Ironman 70.3 races, Xterra events, the Death Ride, Escape from Alcatraz, HYROX, numerous half marathons and four marathons. Her personal experience as an athlete gives her a unique understanding of the demands of training, competition and staying active over the long term.

Victoria is also a Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist (PCES) and provides specialized care for women during pregnancy and throughout the postpartum period. Her experience includes prenatal care and birth preparation, postpartum recovery, diastasis recti, stress and urge urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse and pelvic pain. She also works with women through perimenopause and menopause, including maintaining strength, mobility and bone health and addressing concerns such as osteoporosis.

Whether the goal is running a faster race, returning to sport after an injury, preparing for a HYROX or endurance event, recovering after pregnancy, managing pelvic health concerns, improving strength and mobility, or simply being able to hike, travel, exercise and enjoy life without limitations, Victoria’s goal is to help each person realize their physical potential.

She has integrated her physical therapy expertise with Pilates, CrossFit, kettlebells, yoga, strength training and running, and holds certifications in Pilates, Active Release Technique (ART), Russian Kettlebell (RKC), TRX and run coaching.

Victoria’s passion for physical therapy comes from her belief that movement is a key part of living a full and active life. She loves helping people understand their bodies, train smarter, overcome limitations and continue doing the activities they love—whether that’s competing at a high level or simply staying active and independent for years to come.

Owner/Physical Therapist/Certified in Pilates, ART, TRX & Kettlebells, Certified Run Coach D... Read More

Larissa Podust is a Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher with more than 20 years’ experience in practicing and then teaching Pilates.

Education:

2021 - completed Comprehensive National Pilates Certification Program designed and taught by Master Teacher, Armone Sullivan, La Jolla, California. The program included 500 hours of study, testing, and observation of the Pilates Mat Work, Balanced Body Studio Reformer, Trap Table (Cadillac), Wunda Chair, Spine Corrector, Ladder Barrel, Magic Circle and Ped-i-Pul.

2025 - Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher, N43757

2025 - completed Pregnancy and Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist (PCES 2.0) – the 34-hour online course from Core Exercise Solutions focused on training professionals to support pregnant and postpartum women through targeted fitness programs.

Professional Background: Emeritus Professor, University of California San Diego School of Pharmacy. Higher education in Natural Sciences: Biochemistry, Molecular Biology; PhD in Chemistry.

Athletic Background: figure skating on ice.

Teaching Philosophy: At all ages, life free of injuries is achieved through regular participation in healthy fitness programs.

Larissa Podust is a Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher with more than 20 years’ experience in p... Read More

Mika has experience working with clients of all fitness levels, including those seeking rehabilitation support and injury prevention as as sports performance. She completed her Comprehensive Pilates Certification through Polestar, a highly respected Pilates program emphasizing functional movement, body awareness, and individualized care.

In addition to her Pilates background, Mika is pursuing a future career in physical therapy and plans to attend physical therapy school, making her especially passionate about bridging rehabilitation and movement together through Pilates.

As Mika joins our team, we’re excited to expand our offerings to include: • Pilates for Scoliosis • Youth Athlete Muscle Balance Training • Sports Performance Pilates • Core & Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation • Low Back Pain & Sciatica Programs

Mika has experience working with clients of all fitness levels, including those seeking rehabilit... Read More

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Originally from New York, she earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Sage Graduate School in 2011. Prior to becoming a physical therapist, she began her healthcare career in massage therapy and received her New York State massage therapy license in 2006, building a strong foundation in hands-on, patient-centered care.

She is passionate about helping people feel and move like the best version of themselves through a combination of bodywork, therapeutic exercise, and individualized treatment plans. In addition to working one-on-one with clients, she also teaches weekly aquatic therapy classes and enjoys creating supportive, empowering environments for recovery and wellness.

She is excited to continue growing in this next chapter of her physical therapy career and plans to pursue Pilates Reformer certification within the coming year to further expand her movement-based approach to rehabilitation and performance.

Outside of the clinic, she enjoys taking exercise classes, dancing, traveling, and snowboarding.

Originally from New York, she earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Sage Graduate School ... Read More

Felicia grew up in the Bay Area and started her fitness teaching journey in 2016 getting comprehensively certified at YogaWorks, and then continued her training getting comprehensively certified in mat and reformer pilates in 2018. She is currently a full time student as a Kinesiology major with the goal to become a physical therapist and to continue her career in movement. In her spare time she enjoys taking reformer classes herself, being outdoors, baking, and training in aerial sports.

Felicia grew up in the Bay Area and started her fitness teaching journey in 2016 getting comprehe... Read More