About Us
Sana Vita studio
A fitness revolution & health movement.
For over a decade, Sana Vita Studio has been dedicated to empowering the Chicago community by addressing specific body concerns through our results-focused approach to pilates and yoga. Our experienced team works closely with each individual, identifying and correcting issues to optimize their well-being, both physically and emotionally. With an emphasis on proper breathing, alignment, and control, we help our clients achieve remarkable results safely and effectively. Plus, we make it fun! Our upbeat, charismatic tone will have you looking forward to your next workout session.
Mission
At Sana Vita Studio, our mission is to help people of all ages and fitness levels reach their highest potential through Pilates and Yoga. We are dedicated to providing a personalized, results-driven approach that empowers our clients to achieve their health and wellness goals. Our certified instructors lead dynamic and engaging classes that prioritize proper breathing, alignment, and control, helping clients achieve better results, faster. We believe in meeting clients where they are and tailoring our sessions to meet their unique needs and preferences.
Vision
At Sana Vita Studio, our vision is to create a safe, supportive environment where our clients can learn, grow, and thrive through Pilates and Yoga. We are committed to providing a comprehensive range of services for people of all ages and fitness levels, while promoting a healthy lifestyle through each of our offerings. We want to be recognized for our positive impact on the community, not just through physical fitness but also by promoting mental and emotional well-being.
Values
We believe that Pilates and Yoga should be accessible to everyone and strive to provide our clients with an inclusive and welcoming environment, regardless of their background, age, or fitness level. Our certified instructors have been trained to create personalized programs that prioritize proper breathing, alignment, and control while also taking into account each individual’s unique needs and preferences. From beginners to experienced practitioners, we believe everyone deserves access to a healthy body and peace of mind as a result of Pilates or Yoga practice.
Meet our team
Instructors
Marilyn - In-Studio Instructor
Marilyn has been helping people discover the transformative power of pilates ever since. Marilyn guides and inspires others to discover their inner strength, improve posture, and cultivate a strong mind-body connection. Her nurturing and supportive approach creates a space where clients can embrace a healthier, more balanced life. Join Marilyn at Sana Vita Studio and experience the transformative journey she offers, where passion and expertise merge to help you achieve your fitness goals while finding harmony and wellness along the way.
Christine
Christine's passion for fitness and health has led her to investigate the best ways to train the body and pursue daily life activities pain free. Christine is certified in Mat Pilates from the Sport Performance Institute (SPI) Canada and has over 10 years experience in teaching Pilates group classes, body conditioning for dancers and athletes, as well as designing personal training programs for specific pathologies. Christine specializes in improving general strength and flexibility, and assisting those with more specific issues such as injury recovery or pregnancy.
Terrance - Owner & Instructor
Terrance loves helping people target the right muscles to improve their core strength through high energy training classes. Terrance's knowledge of sport-specific exercises allowed him to customize his training programs for the teams he worked with. Additionally, Terrance runs a boot camp and teaches classes that focus on Pilates, strength training, functional movements, and mobility and stability. He works with mixed martial arts fighters, Uber drivers who suffer from back pain, sports teams, and individuals with diabetes and high blood pressure.
Derek
Derek is a seasoned athlete, bringing a rich blend of professional basketball experience and fitness expertise to his classes. Raised in Chicago, Derek played for one of the city's top high school basketball teams before earning degrees in Kinesiology and Mass Communication. Since receiving his Pilates Certification in 2020, he has specialized in high-energy, full-body workouts that are fun and engaging. His classes offer a unique opportunity for clients to experience an enjoyable workout, tailored by someone who has trained at the pro level.
Annette
Annette has been teaching since 2000, after receiving her certification from The Frog Temple in Chicago. She also received her PMA certificate in 2012 and in 2015 completed The Master's Program at The Pilates Center in Boulder, CO. She strongly believes the Pilates Method is both healing and transformative and has personally experienced it's healing properties as she recovered from various injuries, weight issues and depression. Her style is very accommodating to people of all ages, sizes and special needs for many years.
Grecia Cruz - In Studio Instructor
Anita Washburn - In Studio Instructor
Alma Herman - Virtual Instructor
Netta Swartz - Virtual and In Studio Instructor
Sana Vita means “Healthy Life” in Latin. To embark on your best year ever, you need the resolve to make a permanent life change; you require an illuminating path and a detailed strategy on what precisely is required to achieve your optimum aim. This involves more than a mere few weeks to reach your destination. Think about what you want to do and not only what you should do. Change is frightening: It often entails an emotional impact on our lives for which we are not entirely prepared. However, if you secure the desire to change, you have taken the crucial first step toward a fundamental change in your life. Avoid the pitfalls of comparing yourself to others: Uncover what your individual needs are and satisfy them, not someone else’s.
Pilates, Yoga, Bodhi and Yamuna Body Rolling, needs to be focused and regular. Going through the motions isn’t enough. A habit of “focused practice” isn’t established until we can get our spirit, our soul, our heart into what we are doing. Doing the action or practice consistently may create the habit in time, but it’s more important for us to really get our heart into it. Creating new habits is about becoming the habit. It is not about installing a habit, it is about embodying one. Good working habits are not something external, they are a medium through which we express and master ourselves. It requires moving from the familiar to the unfamiliar. As soon as we slow ourselves down and give ourselves completely to the development of ourselves, that is when we see dramatic changes and improvement in posture.
The path to quality, pain-free movement begins by transforming the ethos around how you move. It begins with a simple understanding: If I am in pain, the way I have been moving is not good for me. If I want to reduce or eliminate pain, I must change the way I move. This adjustment begins by disassociating yourself from fallacious beliefs pain is caused by age. On the contrary, it is not. Pain is caused by body motion and body movement. When you make the necessary amendments to your alignment, you will realize a pain-free lifestyle. At Sana Vita Studio, we can help you reach your goal; however, we do not promise an immediate change. The evolution for a pain-free life requires a dedication to learning various techniques and time-tested sessions. Our staff is dedicated to facilitate your growth to reach your physical and emotional goals.
Upon entry into Sana Vita, you will discover this exercise studio and the professionals who manage the programs are for Real. The workplace is pristine and the equipment in our studio is maintained to the highest standard. From the professionalism of our staff, all of whom are certified, the convenient location, to amenities, our clients find our deep devotion to their physical and mental wellness.