Our Instructors
CONNIE BRUCE – is a full STOTT PILATES certified instructor, which means she has trained to teach on all of STOTT PILATES equipment and also completed the Injury and Special Population training. She has been teaching Pilates approximately 30 – 35 hours per week since 2007 in her home studio and local clubs. Connie loves teaching Pilates classes and also has a passion for using the Pilates exercises as a rehabilitation tool. If you want an amazing Pilates workout or are in need of some help rehabilitating from an injury, register for one of Connie’s classes or contact her at uptownpilatesmn@gmail.com to schedule a Private session.
TORRI MURPHY - is a STOTT PILATES certified instructor who has been teaching Pilates in her home studio and local clubs since 2014. Torri loves the power of the exercises to transform the body into a flexible, mobile, healthy person who can go about daily tasks and enjoy them pain-free. Torri loves using creative imagery to help people understand a movement and feel how the body is supposed to move. If you want a fun, challenging Pilates workout, register for one of Torri’s classes. Torri is also available for Private sessions as her schedule allows.
ANGELA MANGANO - Eager to find a source of movement that aligned mind and body, Angela fell in love with Mat Pilates in early 2021at a studio in her hometown of Philadelphia, PA. Soon thereafter, she decided to take the leap and fuse her passion for Pilates with her desire to teach. She received her instructor training and certification in Mat Pilates from Barre Body in 2023. Angela trained and taught on a weekly basis at 3 studios in New Jersey from October 2022 - August 2023. Having just relocated to Rochester, she is beyond excited to connect with the local Pilates community, and share her love of movement.
What to expect in class: Angela's class consists of movements designed to sculpt and lengthen the muscles, enhancing flexibility and strength. She incorporates Pilates principles into a contemporary flow, always prioritizing encouraging cues and intentional breathwork to connect mind and body. One of her favorite parts of being an instructor is curating rhythmic playlists to harmonize movement with feel-good music!
CHRISTA GORDON-WORRELL -Christa started yoga in 2002 as the logical choice after years of classical ballet (old knees), but quickly fell in love with the whole mind-body-spirit connection. In the summer of 2018, she decided to expand her practice and completed 200-hour Prana Vinyasa Teacher training through Yoga Tribe with Heather Ritenour in Rochester, MN. She’s been teaching ever since. In 2021, she added Yin Yoga certification to her repertoire because she feels it’s the harmonious counterpart to more vigorous forms of vinyasa yoga. She loves the sense of peace yoga imparts and delights in sharing that experience with her students. Off the yoga mat, Christa enjoys veterinary medicine, writing, and hunting morels in the spring.
SUNNY CHEE - As a former school teacher, Sunny obtained her vinyasa-style yoga instructor certification from Dan Abraham Healthy Living Center, Mayo Clinic, in 2018 and has been teaching yoga at local clubs ever since. She believes in exploring one’s full potential on mats or chairs, yet not allowing our ego to take over our mind. She is a huge fan of listening to one’s body, taking out elements of comparisons, judgements, and competitions. Transferring one’s mind, body and spirit, and sensations learned from the mats or chairs to the world of reality is also her goal. She loves to encourage awareness of breaths with body alignments and movements. Yoga enthusiasts of all levels (beginners and experienced) are welcome.
Jessica Olson - Jessica began practicing yoga while trying to balance working full time, completing graduate school and being a mom/wife. She loves building strength through her practice and soon found there was more to yoga. Jessica attended a 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training at Muddy Waters Yoga Studio and loved that she could practice even while being over 40 weeks pregnant. Jessica believes that yoga is for everyone and that it meets you where you are at any given time. Jessica loves theming classes and how each student can personally resonate with a theme in their own way. She also enjoys the connections that are built during yoga as well as the beautiful energy that can be felt. Jessica lives in Rochester with her husband Ryan, two sons, and two dogs.
Emma Smith
Emma has been practicing yoga for 8 years and completed her 200 hour Prana Vinyasa training through Yoga Tribe in 2020. Her fitness background includes 9 years of weightlifting experience and she has recently taken up cycling. Additionally, Emma holds a Bachelor's degree of Science in Nursing and has been working in Rochester as a Registered Nurse for 5 years. She is thrilled to combine her love of healing as a nurse with the sustainable movement and mindfulness of yoga. Her classes provide a safe space to explore, deepen your relationship with yourself, and embrace joy? Some of Emma's other passions include tending to her houseplants and cats, making music with her partner, connecting with nature, and experimenting with plant-based recipes. She is currently working towards board certification in Healthy and Wellness Nurse Coaching.
Allison Roe
Allison fell into yoga for one simple reason: she wanted to be able to touch her toes. More than a decade later, she is now helping others to touch their toes too! She received her 200 hour training from Mayo Clinic in 2018 and her 300 hour training from Authentic Movements in 2023. Combined with training in Buti Yoga, Primal Flow, Roll Model Method, Yoga for Cancer, group fitness instructor certification and more, she has over 750 hours of movement training under her belt. You can expect the unexpected in her classes, whether it's a new pose, a funky transition, or a new way of thinking, or learning to laugh at yourself while on this crazy life journey!