Kathleen Au

From Print Literacy to Mind-Body Literacy

Having served the community at various desks and at the wheel of the bookmobile during her two decades at the San Francisco Public Library, Kathleen understands the toll that chair-based pursuits can take on the body. No matter how much we believe in and love what we're doing, repetitive stress and other chronic health problems may begin to intrude on our enjoyment of life — unless we take action!

Fortunately, Joseph Pilates literally wrote the book, "Return to
Life," invented several ingenious "Pilates Machines," and developed a repertoire of intelligent exercises designed to lead us to a freer,
fuller, more joyously active life.

Now that she has retired from the Library, Kathleen dedicates her time to teaching the Pilates Method. She is fully certified by Body Arts and Science International, and is proud to be teaching with her fine colleagues at Optimum Pilates.

Eugenia Salomon

Eugenia was first introduced to Pilates as a result of a dance injury and then continued to study Pilates because of the immense personal benefits she experienced. Following years of dance and yoga, she went on to receive her formal Pilates training and certification through Body Arts and Sciences International. Her teaching is grounded in classical Pilates but goes beyond the classic structure to incorporate innovative and contemporary teachings of the method. Most recently her work has been influenced by her continued education with Lizz Roman and Erik Franklin. Additionally, she went through her yoga teacher training under renowned teacher Sri Dharma Mittra in New York City.

Eugenia has an abiding fascination with the relationship of mind and body in physical and psychological healing.  She holds a Bachelor from New School for Social Research as well as a Masters in Psychology through Pacifica Graduate Institute.  She is currently completing her training towards licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist.

As a Pilates instructor Eugenia assists her clients on their path towards a more holistic sense of well-being through renewed strength, balance, and fitness. She believes that embracing one's imperfections and weaknesses is the best way to access hidden strengths and healing potential.

Caitlin Smith

Intrigued by the human body at a very early age, Caitlin has spent her life cultivating creativity through movement. She began as a dancer and developed that interest through college, earning a bachelor's degree in Justice and Social Change from the University of Michigan, where she facilitated art workshops in schools and other institutions.

Building on that experience, she earned a master’s degree in transformative art from John F. Kennedy University, where she explored performance art and its impact on self-esteem and the body.

For the past seven years, Caitlin has been teaching movement to kids and teens, as well as long-distance runners and yogis. She is herself a competitive trail runner, and she coaches high school cross-country runners. In addition to Pilates, she is a yoga instructor, working with children, teens, and adults. She has completed training in Pilates and yoga, and she continues to cultivate her love of movement through dance, yoga, Pilates, rock climbing, swimming, and trail running.  

Therese Brewitz

Therese first became acquainted with Pilates as a young ballet dancer and runner. Having taught fitness and wellness for 15 years, she began practicing and teaching Pilates in 2001 and received her STOTT certification in San Francisco in 2003.

She has engaged in studies on the benefits of Pilates for musical performance, working with vocalists and instrumentalists on techniques to improve their musical performance. She also works with a variety of individuals and groups ranging from the Berkeley Ballet Upper Division Students to the ER Nurses of Alta Bates Hospital.

Therese has worked as a personal trainer, certified through NHFI. In addition, she managed the Fitness program at The Hills Swim and Tennis Club in Oakland. She is also a fitness editor for Caremark, a health and wellness online resource.

She feels both passionate about and humbled by the vastness of the Pilates method, and she continues to study and learn the technique through workshops and conferences. With her own degree in Psychology, Therese strives to combine her knowledge of mental wellness with the anatomical approach of Pilates. She has studied Reiki, Swedish massage, and other body-work techniques, and she strongly believes in the importance of relaxation and moderation, in training and in life.

Therese does make time for her other passion — music — and can be seen and heard as a performer and songwriter with her band playing in the Bay Area, as well as in her home country, Sweden.

Therese holds a Master's Degree in Social Science from Lund University in Sweden and the University of California at Berkeley, with a specialization in Psychosomatic Medicine, Health Promotion, and Music.