Senior Teacher Tess Whelan is the owner of Pilates Premier Studios Inc. in St. Petersburg, Fl. a Power Pilates Affiliate Training Center. As owner of Pilates Premier Studios Tess has successfully established her studio as “Tampa Bay’s First and Finest”, and has been recognized and awarded by Pinellas County Economic Development. Her business has been featured on Good Business Pinellas and she has appeared on Studio10TV with Prime Care LLC. Tess has developed her style of teaching and her expertise through 15 years of teaching, studying and practicing Pilates. Through the years Tess has worked with a multitude of clients from children to the elderly, from the de-conditioned or injured, to the professional athlete. Tess has been certified through the famous and historical  "The Pilates Studio" (New York City) under the tutelage of Romana Kryzanowska, Joseph Pilates’ protégé and Power Pilates. She is a PMA Pilates Certified teacher and a  Power Pilates Teacher Trainer.

Prior to her Pilates and entrepreneurial careers, Tess earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from Barry University. During her sixteen year career as a RN she provided nursing care in a variety of different settings which even included “the Movie and TV set” having worked as the “set medic” for the cast and crew of major motion pictures such as Armageddon, Contact and Rosewood. She has studied and performed in the arts since age 4 and her performing career includes professional credits in theatre, film, dance and music. She is an adjunct faculty member of St. Petersburg College.

Christina hails from the Washington D.C. area where she graduated from George Mason University with a degree in Dance. After college Christina began taking Pilates lessons and immediately fell in love with Joseph Pilates’ approach to movement and his systems of exercises and decided to get fully certified through Power Pilates out of Annapolis, Maryland. Christina has been teaching for over 4 years and is thrilled to be in the St. Petersburg, Florida. Her favorite Joseph Pilates quote is “Movement heals.”

Gosha McClung is originally from Poland, traveled to United States in 2001 after obtaining her Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from University of Lodz in Poland. Gosha always knew that she wanted to help people live healthier lives and pursue  her passion for fitness and teaching. Through fitness, she was introduced to Pilates, and immediately felt a connection with the method’s ability to connect mind, body and soul and transform peoples' lives. Gosha began studying Pilates in 2006 while working part-time as a Personal Trainer at local YMCA. She was so intrigued by the unique approach of Pilates to the concept of exercise that she decided to attend a certification teaching mat classes. Today, after completing over 600 hours of training and obtaining an advanced teacher certification from Power Pilates, she works part-time teaching Pilates (mat and apparatus) to clients at Pilates Premier Studios. She also holds Pilates for Golf Certification from Hole in One Fitness. Gosha is married to her husband Joe and has two children Tristan and Lenka. She currently lives happily in South Tampa.

Veronica Carroll grew up dancing and acting in the St Petersburg area. After graduating college with a degree in English Literature, she started working the front desk at Pilates Premier Studios. Seeing the business side of Pilates was fascinating, but listening to the instructors teach the work inspired her to become certified. Incorporating her love of dance, theater, and language, Pilates was a natural fit. She received her Power Pilates Comprehensive Certification at Pilates Premier in June 2006. She has enjoyed many opportunities for continuing education by traveling to the Pilates Style Conference in New York City in August 2006, the Pilates Method Alliance Conference in Indian Wells, California in November 2006, and the Pilates Style Conference in Hollywood, Florida in June of 2007. Learning from the Pilates elders, including Lolita San Miguel, Mary Bowen, and Ron Fletcher brought a new passion to her teaching. Veronica believes that sharing their expertise with her clients is the best way to sustain the integrity of the work. 

Vicki Somoya was trained as both a ballet and modern dancer before a spinal injury led her to the practice of Pilates. After two herniated discs and a bout of sciatic pain, she found Pilates helped her heal and overcome the deeper weaknesses affecting her posture and strength. She was then able to return to professional dance and completed her MFA in Dance and Somatic Studies at The State University of New York in 2001. She is certified as a Pilates instructor through Power Pilates and is currently completing her training to be a Power Pilates Teacher Trainer. As a teacher of movement, dance and the Pilates method for over 12 years, Vicki incorporates her knowledge of anatomy, kinesiology and experience working with a wide range of clients to customize each individual and group session.