Our Teachers

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Gretchen Iniguez, Founder & Owner, Lifestyle Pilates

Owner Gretchen Iniguez’s passion for Pilates began in 2005 when she was certified through a locally owned Pilates studio and continued her passion by completing a comprehensive program through BASI (Body Arts and Science)

In  2008 Gretchen opened her own studio, Lifestyle Pilates in Petaluma, which has grown in popularity with each passing year. She strongly believes that health and fitness are a way of life, which is why she’s built a lifestyle that exhibits her dedication and commitment to helping others enjoy their path to optimal health.
As a veteran of over 20 years in the fitness industry, Gretchen has taught gymnastics to children and adults for 12 years and was a certified Personal Trainer through the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFFA) for three years. She is also a graduate of the Institute for Interactive Nutrition (IIN) as a fully certified Holistic Health Coach. Additionally, she is certified by Balanced Body Barre to teach Barre classes.

She has the following training and certifications:

  • Comprehensive Certification From Body Arts and Science International (BASI)
  • Personal Trainer Through the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFFA)
  • Training for Pre- and Post-Natal, Scoliosis, Pathologies and Injuries
  • Certified Holistic Health Coach Through Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN)
  • Certified Through Pilates Method Alliance (PMA)
  • Certified Balanced Body Barre
  • Legacy Program Basi Pilates
  • The Dynamic Spine (Gwen Miller)
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Kayla, Certified through Lifestyle Pilates

After years of working out in many facets of life, Kayla decided to go one step further and become a Pilates instructor. She started training in January 2019 and is able to complete her Teacher Training Program at Lifestyle Pilates in early 2020.

In addition to Pilates, Kayla also enjoys hiking, running, yoga, teaching cycle, and all aspects of body work. After years of countless sports and all types of physical activity and with the guidance of Gretchen Iniguez, Kayla has found a love for knowledge of one’s body. She is driven and extremely dedicated to her passion of health. Please come join one of Kayla’s Pilates classes to find a love for your body and to learn what it needs and to have fun keeping it active.

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Annette, Certified through Lifestyle Pilates

In college, Annette competed in cross country and track while completing her BA in pre-physical therapy. She learned firsthand the value of appropriate exercises in patient recovery for a wide variety of orthopedic and medical conditions.
Annette has worked in the clinical setting most of her career, implementing progressive exercise programs for individuals and groups. Along the way she added ACE certifications (Medical Exercise Specialist and Health Coach) and certified SAIL instructor (Stay Active and Independent for Life) to her educational toolbox. She was always looking to expand her knowledge base, which led her to look into Pilates. She recently completed her certification in Reformer, Tower and Chair with Gretchen at Lifestyle Pilates Petaluma. She is excited to join the Lifestyle Pilates team!

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Melanie, Certified through Lifestyle Pilates

Melanie discovered pilates at a young age as a form of cross training during her years as a ballet dancer. After studying and performing with ballet companies all over the country, Melanie went on to pursue a degree in dance and non-profit management at Butler University. She is a certified Bar Method instructor and is currently working towards her Certificate of completion for Reformer training at Lifestyle Pilates. Melanie is a lifelong dancer and teacher at heart. She loves helping others find strength and flexibility on an individual level. Her other passions include hiking, antiquing, playing barista in the kitchen, and snuggling with her two rag doll kitties Meeko and Mozart. 

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Jeannie

Jeannie Evans is a Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher. She has always lived an
active lifestyle starting from a young age. She has maintained a balance of work
and exercise, along with a healthy diet. Jeannie attended Humphrey’s University
after high school and in 1989 earned an Associate’s Degree in Court Reporting.
She became a California Certified Shorthand Reporter in 1990. She enjoyed
owning her own business and working as a freelance court reporter. Due to an
injury, she was unable to continue working as a court reporter.
Jeannie started taking Pilates mat classes in 2009. In 2012, she started working on
the Pilates Reformer. The Reformer has helped Jeannie maintain her core
alignment. She knew Pilates would need to be a lifetime commitment to maintain
this balance in her body. In May 2016, she decided to go through the
comprehensive teacher training program.
September 2016, Jeannie received her Balanced Body Mat 1 and Movement
Principles Certification. She received her Comprehensive Teacher Training Pilates
Certification from Foundation Pilates November 18, 2016. April 2017, she
completed her Balanced Body Mat 2 Instructor Training Certification. July 1 st ,
2017, Jeannie became a Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher. Jeannie enjoys
teaching and sharing her knowledge of Pilates with others.

She has the following training and certifications:

  • Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher (NCPT) through the National Certified
  • Pilates Certification Program (NPCP)
  • Comprehensive Pilates Certification through Foundation Pilates
  • Comprehensive Pilates Certification through Balanced Body
  • Certified through Pilates Method Alliance (PMA)
  • The Dynamic Spine (Gwen Miller)
  • Intervals of Pilates and Strength Training through Balanced Body
  • PMA Educates: Visceral Pilates
  • PMA Educates: Embodied Planking – Align, Strengthen, Breathe
  • Pilates for Neurological Conditions by Mariska Breland
  • Get Unstuck: Unique Neuro Strategies to Improve Tightness, Spasticity & Rigidity with Any Client by Meghann Koppele
  • Certificate of Fletcher Barrework Course by Fletcher Pilates Online
  • Foot Focus! Activating Ground Forces & Foot Practices by Madeline Black
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Elena

Elena Gillogly has spent most of her young life as a student and teacher of movement, technique and form.  As a young dancer in her hometown of San Pedro, CA, she enjoyed everything from tap to lyrical to hip hop. When she wasn’t practicing, she was teaching dance fundamentals to a younger generation.  In high school, she was admired for her dance talent, twice earning top honors. That experience helped her earn a spot in the national top-10 dance program at CSULB.  While at Long Beach State, Elena enrolled in a course in Pilates, which, for a dancer with sometime anatomical issues, was a revelation.  After college graduation, she immersed herself in the exercise discipline, earning her BASI certificate and mentoring under noted teacher Karen Clippinger.  In the years that followed, she became a popular practitioner of both Reformer and Mat disciplines in the Long Beach/Orange County area.  That process gave Elena a renewed sense of confidence in her ability to teach tried-and-true principles to grateful students—everyone from high school dancers to pregnant moms, to appreciative seniors. 

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Kristen

Kristen was introduced to Pilates in 2021 and recognized the myriad of health benefits it offered to both her body and mind. She is a certified Comprehensive Pilates Instructor proficient in Mat, Reformer, Chair, Cadillac, Ladder Barrel, Spine Corrector, TRX, and small props, having dedicated herself to a career centered around Pilates. Kristen's passion for Pilates extends to ongoing education and deepening her practice. In the past year, she participated in the Polestar Pilates Reformer Training, and attended Tracey Mallett's "Pilates Next" workshop in London. Since 2022, Kristen has been sharing her expertise, aiming to inspire and assist her students in advancing their Pilates practice.

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Danielle

Danielle's introduction to Pilates commenced during her training at Marin Dance Theater, a school that integrated a Pilates program to support dancers' strength. This first exposure kindled Danielle's admiration for the harmonious blend of precise technique and unrelenting challenge in Pilates Reformer and classical ballet practices.
After graduating Santa Clara University's dance program and collegiate dance team, she embarked on a professional dance journey in New York. She furthered her expertise by attaining a Martha Graham certification through Manhattan Movement Group, showcasing her talent with various companies throughout the city.
Driven by her passion for movement and the strength that comes from the connection between mind and body, Danielle transitioned into fitness instruction. She is a certified Pure Barre instructor, with nearly 10 years of experience at barre studios throughout the country. Recently, she achieved her Pilates Reformer Instructor certificate from Santa Rosa Junior College, underlining her commitment to continuous professional development.
Danielle, a Petaluma native, resides on the east side of Petaluma with her husband and their two daughters, Winne and Louise. She is excited to expand her teaching skills with us and integrate into the Lifestyle Pilates community.
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Sonia

Sonia’s Pilates journey began in 2010 when she took her very first class at Lifestyle Pilates with Gretchen—and she’s been hooked ever since! She fell in love with the way Pilates challenged her body while leaving her feeling energized and refreshed. With a lifelong passion for health and fitness (from tennis and volleyball to hiking and running), Sonia decided to turn her love of Pilates into something even more rewarding: teaching! In March 2024, she started her teacher training under Gretchen’s mentorship and is currently working toward her Reformer Certification. Sonia has lived in Petaluma for 27 years and loves being part of this amazing community! When she’s not in the studio, you’ll find her spending time with her husband, son, and their adorable new puppy, Saki. She’s excited to share her Pilates journey with you all and help others discover the benefits Pilates can bring to their lives.