Practitioner Brilliance

wisdom
focus
genius

What makes our personalized wellness programs distinctive is 4 decades of study, investigation and practice, combined with imagery, profound attention to detail, rhythm, flow, and precision.

Each and every session we powerfully and efficiently assess physical imbalance, emotional intelligence and energetic impingements that affect your breath, agility and ability to focus. Our teachers allow you to work with proper physical alignment, structural balance, and exercise intellectual effort to make new discoveries.

Once the physical core of the body is strengthened, old postures, muscle memories and bad habits naturally correct themselves which allows true healing to take place. We guide our students to create, explore and invent efficient movement patterns to not only improve performance in all daily activity, but correct faulty patterns that lead to dysfunction and predictable injury.

Our guiding principle is each individual needs specialized corrective exercise and consistent practice and development. Our individualized approach to the Personalized Wellness Sessions consciously educates each student to discover a deeper intelligence.


Mary Kristi Sesso

Practitioner/Basic and Advanced Teacher/Founder

In 1998, Kristi Sesso, Founder and CEO of The Harmony Group Lifestyle Resources, LLC, launched New Jersey’s 1st Pilates Studio, Pilates Studio Englewood – The Harmony Group Studios and the internationally accredited Pilates Teacher Training & Certification Program. Sesso is a certified Physiotherapist, Kinesiologist, Functional Movement Analyst, Advanced Practitioner of Natural Force Harmonic Therapy and Pilates 2nd generation Master, having studied directly under the tutelage of Joseph Pilates’ protégé, Romana Kryzanowska. Since 1982 she has elevated performance for all ages and lifestyles, introducing Ideokinesis- “the thinking body” (source Mabel Todd) and “the vibratory change” (source Dr. M.L. Rees and Dr. Kenneth Y and Lisa V. Davis). In her 37 years experience, Sesso delivers a lifestyle renovation.

In 2013 Sesso launched the creation of Pilates BioVibration-Discover a Deeper Intelligence® and Pilates BioVibe® Advanced Teacher Training Program. Pilates BioVibe® is a bio-intelligent system merging the original intention of the practice of Joseph Pilates with the inclusion of subtle body awareness, health and criticality of vibration and frequency to optimal physical coherence. Ultimately, Pilates BioVide® creates a vibratory change in the physical, mental and spiritual blueprint. Students discover the essence of antediluvian practice of bringing forth their own innate ability to heal and produce optimal wellness and performance by participating in the process of discovery. A student walks into a session with their concerns and intentions and walks out with all existing conceptions palpably interrupted leaving them able to inexplicably heal and perform.
Certifications include from PhysicalMind Institute Santa Fe NM –Advanced Pilates, Pilates for Osteoporosis and Gait Analysis, from ActivCore Neurological Systems NYC – RedCord Functional Exercise (FEX), from Power Plate International NYC -Whole Body Vibration Therapy and Acceleration Training, from Applied Functional Science Institute and Laban Institute of Movement Analysis NYC – Functional Movement Analysis, from Davis Advanced Health System NJ – Visceral Manipulation, Temporal Spheroidal Diagnosis, Piezo-e Vibration Healing and Natural Force Harmonic Therapy, and from Magdalena Healing Society, Magdalena Energy Healing. She is a charter member of the International Association of BioVibrational Therapy, American Council of Sports Medicine, Physical Mind Institute, Pilates Method Alliance and a member of the National Association of Professional Women and Natural Force Healing Transformation of Consciousness Group by Dr. Kenneth Y and Lisa V Davis. Further, Sesso has studied Craniopathy, Cranial-Sacral Technique, Neuromuscular Reprogramming, Proprioceptive Movement Technique, Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais Technique, Bartinieff Movement Fundamentals, Applied Kinesiology, Bio Mechanical Movement Analysis, Sivananda Yoga, Gyrokinesis®, Acupressure, Reflexology, Color and Sound Therapy, Aromatherapy, and Nutrition Trophology.

Sesso has refined intuitive skill and unique ability to communicate efficiently and effectively with students and teachers, enabling them to discover a deeper intelligence by revealing the source of true healing and performance. Her work is uniquely extraordinary with pre/post-natal bodies, post-rehab recovery and maintenance, neurological breakdown and disease, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, immune system disease, joint replacement, sacroiliac dysfunction, chronic pain, scoliosis, gait analysis and spinal stenosis for dancers, athletes, professional and recreational movers as well as structural and intuitive work with animals. Her intuitive observation skill coupled with her clarity and wisdom works powerfully to challenge, guide and inspire each student to discover dynamic movement, conceptual concentration and mental acuity to restore and expand physical, emotional-mental health and life force.

Previous Foundation: From 1995 to 1998 Sesso was Acting Chairperson of Musical Theatre Arts at Beloit College and Associate Director of Children’s Theatre of Madison. From 1990 to 1995 was Executive Director of the Kanopy Performing Arts Center, Artistic Director of the Kanopy Dance Company and Founder of the Kanopy School for Contemporary Dance & Choreography (Now Academy for Contemporary Dance & Choreography). From 1990 -1996 internationally presented her choreography, from 1991-1995 recipient of 12 grants for arts education and development, from 1985-1990 was principal dancer and Artist-in-Residence with Kanopy Dance Company and from 1983 to 1985, was lecturer at University of Wisconsin-Madison in residential and commercial architectural design.

Currently she is recipient of the Outstanding Wellness Business Award 10 consecutive years from 2009-2019. She is a supporter of the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, Susan G Komen for the Cure, Landmark Worldwide, National Endowment for the Arts, Arts Horizons, Power Plate International, Pilates Guild, The Method Pilates, Bergen County Equestrian Learning Center and NJSPCA.


Margaret Blackler

Practitioner

Margaret Blackler

Margaret is a Certified Practitioner of The Pilates Method, having completed her certification in 2006 under the tutelage of Kristi Sesso, founder of Pilates Studio Englewood/PilatesBioVibe – The Harmony Group Studios and The Harmony Group Teacher Training & Certification Program. Margaret began her training in Pilates at Pilates Studio Englewood (formerly Energy Balancing Pilates Studio), in 2002 after hearing about the benefits as a rehabilitative form of exercise that could help her manage and combat her Rheumatoid Arthritis. After having tried many other forms of exercise to achieve wellness without much success, she fell in love with The Pilates Method and realized she wanted/needed to continue to practice for the rest of her life. By serving people through the art and science of The Pilates Method, she has found a balance to her life that incorporates her desire to share with others the passion and well being she herself found life altering. Her personal understanding of physical limitations makes her work with people, at any level, compassionate and gentle—but don’t let that lead you to believe you wont enjoy a comprehensive and challenging experience!

Margaret is also certified in Power Plate Acceleration Training® by Power Plate International and ActivCore FEX by Pilates on 5th New York City which she integrates into her Pilates sessions where the experience of The Pilates Method is extraordinarily enhanced. She is also holds certification in TRX® Sports Medicine Suspension Training which allows her to teach TRX® to the most advanced clients but also is able to modify to rehabilitate an injured body and has completed Phase I NATURAL FORCE HEALING created and developed by Dr. Kenneth Y. and Lisa V. Davis of Davis Advanced Health System, New York.

Margaret also works as a Graphic Designer both free-lance and with Westchester Magazine. She has a Bachelors degree in Fine Art with a minor in Marketing as well as an Associates Degree in Graphic Design from Pratt Institute in NYC.


Gabriel Zaragoza

Practitioner

Luis Gabriel Zaragoza

In 2005, Gabriel received his GYROTONIC® certification in NYC at the Body Evolution Studio under the tutelage of Master Trainer, Billy Macagnone, a direct disciple of GYROTONIC® Inventor Juliu Horvath, and was one of the presenting Master Trainers at the first International GYROTONIC® Expo in Rome 2006. Gabriel has completed Phase I NATURAL FORCE HEALING created and developed by Dr. Kenneth Y. and Lisa V. Davis of Davis Advanced Health System, New York and is a Certified Practitioner of The Pilates Method, having completed his certification in 2010 under the tutelage of Kristi Sesso, founder of Pilates Studio Englewood/PilatesBiovibe – The Harmony Group Studios and The Harmony Group Teacher Training and Certification Program.

Gabriel has also studied Applied Kinesiology and is currently a student at The Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies (LIMS) to be a Certified Movement Analyst (CMA) making a difference in the way people perform, communicate, observe, learn, and negotiate.

From Mexico City, Mexico, Gabriel studied dance and graduated Cum Laude with a BFA from the National School of Dance of Mexico (NSDM). He studied with internationally renowned teachers including Anna Sokolow, Jeff Duncan, Tim Wengerd, Jim May and Betty Jones. In NYC, he further studied contemporary dance at the Merce Cunningham Studio. He currently is a member of the Anna Sokolow Dance Company.

 

Louis Shin

Practitioner

Certified Practitioner of The Pilates Method, having completed his certification in 2016 under the tutelage of Kristi Sesso, founder of Pilates Studio Englewood/PilatesBioVibe– The Harmony Group Studios and The Harmony Group Teacher Training and Certification Program. Louis is Certified Thai Yoga Massage from Lotus Palm School located in Montreal, the largest Thai Yoga Massage School in North America under the direction of Kam Thye Chow.  Louis is the PilatesBioVibe Studio Manager and Program Director.