Staff
Amy Goins
Studio Owner
Certified Pilates/Core Barre/TRX Instructor
Amy was introduced to the Pilates method in September of 2001--one month after the death of her younger sister. Amy credits Pilates for beginning to heal her body (she was overweight and exercised infrequently) so that she could heal her mind and spirit from the devastating loss. Now more than 10 years into her Pilates practice, Amy loves the "a-ha" moments she has every day on the journey towards an ideally aligned spine and a perfectly balanced musculature. She also loves how the Pilates breath helps to keep her centered while attempting to balance the jobs of wife, mother, studio owner, and instructor.
Amy has a B.S. in Business Management awarded by Virginia Tech in 1994. She obtained her M.B.A. from Marshall University in 1997. Amy spent ten years honing her teaching skills as a Forensic Economist before becoming a certified Pilates instructor in April of 2007. Amy opened her home-based studio in August of 2007, and within 8 months had a client base exceeding 80 individuals. She expanded to the current studio location in August of 2008. The studio is expanding once again, and the new location of 225 Hale Street in Charleston will be opening on January 2, 2012.
Amy completed her mat and standing Pilates certification in San Diego and Washington D.C., respectively, through the PhysicalMind Institute. She completed her Pilates apparatus certification through Master Pilates Instructor Michael Wright of The Body College in D.C. She is also certified to teach EXO chair through Balanced Body University. Amy is a student member of the Pilates Method Alliance. In 2011, Amy became a certfied Core Barre instructor and a certfied TRX instructor.
Amy has experience with pre- and post-natal clients, golfers, runners, equestrians, and tennis (as well as racquetball and squash) players. She has also worked with clients who have undergone lumbar discectomy and knee replacement surgeries (all post physical therapy), individually and in groups. Amy strongly believes in the mission of CENTERED--she cares for the bodies, minds and spirits of each and every client utilizing the wondrous tool that is the Pilates method.
Cheryl Laws
Certified Mat Pilates Instructor
Certified TRX Instructor
Cheryl Laws began her pilates journey in 2008. She was introduced to Pilates by her cousin, Amy Goins. Pilates changed her life when it replaced a 24 year habit of cigarette smoking. Cheryl became certified in Mat Pilates in 2008 and TRX Certified in 2011.
Cheryl is both a mom and a full time student at West Virginia State University where she is working towards a Bachelor of Behavioral Science with an emphasis on Substance Abuse. Her goal is to incorporate what she has learned from Centered regarding balancing the mind, body and spirit for healing the whole person.
Heather Hill, M.A.
Certified Advanced Reiki Practitioner
Heather has been in the Mental Health field for over sixteen years. Since receiving her Master of Arts Degree in Psychological Services from Marymount University in 1995, she has worked with adolescent and adult clients who have suffered from mood and eating disorders, all forms of abuse, grief and loss issues and cancer.
In 2004, Heather became ill. During her hospitalization she went into respiratory failure. Even with amazing medical care and modern medicine, she was not responding as well as hoped. It was then recommended to her that a nurse who did Reiki come and give her a session. She like most people was a skeptic but willing to do anything. At the time she did not make the connection, however, a couple of days later, her pulmonologist and infectious disease doctor told her to look at her chest x-ray; for the first time they were practically clear. Even then she didn’t think much about the Reiki.
In 2007, Heather began her more in-depth journey with Reiki, exploring how healing can be holistic with all aspects of the mind, body and spirit; as well as Reiki being a complement to Western medicine. She has experienced for herself, and seen others gain the benefit of relaxation, pain relief, decreased anxiety, stress reduction and more. Now as a practitioner, she is able to share this gift with others.
Keir Moorman
NCSF Certified Personal Trainer
Certified TRX Instructor (Level 2)
HKC Certified Kettlebell Instructor
Keir has been involved in physical fitness his entire life. As a young man, he played team sports and later moved onto individualized sports, such as Brazilian Jujitsu and Judo. These sports required Keir to remain in good physical condition and to train consistently. Keir continues to follow a strict workout regimen and a high fiber diet.
In the last four years, Keir has concentrated on bodyweight exercises, functional fitness, proprioceptive movements, cardiovascular endurance, strength, flexibility, and coordination. Keir is a NCSF certified personal trainer, a TRX certified instructor, and an HKC certified kettlebell instructor. He specializes in designing custom bodyweight fitness training programs for general fitness and sports-specific conditioning.
Vicky McDaniel
Certified Mat Instructor
Certified Apparatus Instructor
Vicky has always had a love of exercise. Not only does she have an undergraduate degree in Physical Education, but for over 30 years she has explored all types of fitness programs from aerobics to step classes to kick boxing to spinning. She has always been active and has found great strength, clarity and support through moving her body. Four years ago, after the passing of her father, she used exercise as a sort of coping mechanism which resulted in a knee injury. Because of this strain on her body, she realized her workout routine needed to change. She wasn't sure what to do, but she knew the daily use of ibuprofen she was used to was not the answer. Vicky started exploring her options and through her daughter (a certified pilates instructor in LA) found pilates. This began her love affair with this life-changing work created by Joseph Pilates. Vicky began to understand her body on a much deeper level. She found a great physical workout that also positively affected her mind and spirit. She soon discovered she was sleeping better at night and her knee pain was no longer an issue.
Because of the transformation she experienced inside her own body, she decided to give back and share this powerful work with others. She began her certification process a year ago at CENTERED Pilates and is currently taking the full program through Balanced Body University under the direction of Jennifer Gianni. Vicky is a student member of the Pilates Method Alliance and is working toward full PMA certification. She has completed training in Mat, Wunda Chair, Barrell, Reformer (I, II and III) and Cadillac.
Vicky is interested in a specialized approach. This summer she will be advancing into training for Pre/Post Natal pilates, as well as Smart Spine classes. She is already working with clients coping with Parkinson's Disease, helping them to learn breathing and muscle control for strength in their daily activities. This has been a rewarding challenge with many blessings. Vicky strongly believes in the benefits of pilates for people of all walks of life and fitness levels.
Wendi O'Dell
Registered Nurse
Certified TRX Instructor
Wendi O'Dell is currently a wife and mother of three boys. She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Marshall University in 1994. Wendi worked for years with surgical cardiac patients.
Wendi began running in 2002. She ran the Charleston Distance Run three times and then the Marine Corp Marathon in 2006. Wendi hung up her running shoes after chronic overuse injuries. After that, she began cross training and lifting heavy weights. However, she was not pleased with the results and felt tight and sore most of the time. In 2010, she began searching for other fitness options, and a friend brought her to Centered for a Pilates class. Wendi fell in love with Pilates and the way it made her feel. Her body no longer hurt and was healing! She also began to build long, lean muscle, flexibility and core strength. After being introduced to TRX training at Centered, Wendi fell in love with the the way it combines strength, cardio and mobility into one great workout. She became a certified TRX instructor in June of 2011. Wendi loves introducing TRX to new clients and helping them achieve their personal fitness goals!
