Each of our comprehensively trained teachers bring their own distinctive experiences, expertise, and personality to every session. We go beyond teaching ‘exercises’ and focus on helping our clients understand their unique bodies through movement. Regardless of age or experience, our team is committed to guiding you to reach your specific goals.
Amy Hershey – MS, NCPT
OWNER Amy Hershey has a Masters degree in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology from the University of Florida. She is a NASM Corrective exercise specialist and graduate of The Pilates Centers’ 950-hour Advanced Teacher Training Program in Boulder, CO. Additionally, Amy is graduate of The Kathy Grant Heritage Training Program and holds a certificate as a Specialist in Pilates-Based Exercises for Neurological Conditions.
Amy brings years of experience, as well as enthusiasm and passion to properly educate, guide, and encourage each of her clients on their health and wellness journey. Her extensive trainings have given Amy a profound appreciation for functional movement and how Pilates-based exercise can help facilitate health. Having worked with everyone from elite athletes to people recovering from serious injury, Amy’s focus on the subtle, refined movements of the human body lead to big changes in her clients. Despite being extremely detailed oriented in her teaching, her laid-back personality keeps Amy’s sessions fun and personable. Keep up with Amy’s Pilates projects and musings on her Instagram account!
Amy lives on a horse farm in Middleburg, VA with her husband, two sons, 4 dogs, 4 horses, 3 cats, and 1 mini donkey. She is passionate about helping animals and families whose pets who are undergoing cancer treatments. When she has free time (which rarely happens) Amy enjoys riding her horses, hiking and really, really loves sleeping.
“Amy is so focused and has such a keen eye. Her touch adjustments and cues are very helpful, and I feel like she’s particularly gifted at identifying causes and trying solutions.” – Lindsay O’Connor
Valerie Armstead
Val was introduced to Pilates while attending college at George Mason University, where she received a B.A. in English and a minor in dance. She has taught children’s dance for more than a decade. After taking years of Pilates lessons herself, Val completed the Power Pilates Comprehensive Training Program in 2005. In the time she has been teaching, Val has worked with array of different clients ranging from professional athletes to children and the elderly. Val runs the prenatal and postpartum classes at Loudoun Pilates. Having had 3 children of her own, she is keenly aware of the challenges faced both in pregnancy and prenatal recovery. Val’s dedication, compassionate teaching style, and vast experience working with different body types give her the ability adapt to the needs of each individual client. She enjoys getting to know her students and watching their bodies change from using The Pilates method.
Val currently lives in Leesburg, VA with her husband and children. When she isn’t teaching Pilates Val is busy being a full-time mom. She spends most of her days cleaning, cooking, organizing and being a professional chauffeur for her 3 children. If there is ever a free moment in her hectic life, Val is also an avid runner.
“I have been so excited with the strength Pilates has given me back after three back surgeries. I love working with Val! She has done more for me than Physical Therapy at getting my strength back.” – Dawn Deihl
Kate O’Harra
Kate O’Harra began taking Pilates classes in 2001 and immediately loved both the challenges and benefits of the different exercises. Upon moving to New York City in 2005, Kate decided to take her interest in Pilates to the next level and enrolled in the Power Pilates Comprehensive Training Program. After completing her certification, Kate continued to teach for Power Pilates until moving back to Annapolis in 2007, where she worked for Evolutions Body Clinic before joining Loudoun Pilates in 2015. Kate’s favorite part of teaching is guiding clients to that ‘ah-ha’ moment when everything clicks and they discover a new understanding of an exercise and their bodies. In addition to Pilates, Kate is a fitness enthusiast who enjoys yoga, hiking, running, and TRX training. Her love of fitness is apparent in her teaching style. Kate’s classes are focused, challenging and invigorating as she aims to increase the strength of all her clients.
She currently lives in Purcellville with her husband, and their son. Kate is passionate about animals and has 2 rescue pit bulls and 2 cats. She loves the Redskins and really loves to workout so she can eat more pizza. Specifically, cheese pizza from Harris Teeter!
Dominique Takahashi – Studio Manager
Originally from the Bahamas, Dominique holds a B.A. in International Relations from American University and a minor in Psychology. As studio manager she schedules clients, answers questions, and makes sure all day-to-day operations run smoothly. Starting out as a client of Amy’s, she found Pilates as an effective tool for managing her chronic migraine symptoms.
Dominique currently lives in Leesburg, VA. She spends her free time volunteering with the DC Shiba Inu Rescue and finding new places to eat.
Caitlan Maged
Caitlin’s first love was dance, spending much of her time training at the Loudoun School of Ballet, and trained at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York during the summers in high school. In 2009, she graduated from Point Park University with a BA in Dance. It was there that she was first introduced to Pilates, and learned the importance of cross training and core strengthening in order to move efficiently and keep your body safe and healthy.
In 2011, Caitlin received her Mat Certification from BASI Pilates, and completed the Comprehensive Teacher Training Course in 2014. She was a ballet and contemporary instructor at the Loudoun School of Ballet, and the Ballet Mistress for the Loudoun Ballet Company for many years. For more than a decade, Caitlin worked full-time at Physical Therapy clinics in our area as a receptionist, group exercise instructor, and Physical Therapy Tech Manager. She enjoys pulling concepts and elements from her different areas of expertise to provide clients with well-rounded and effective classes, educating patients about proper form and muscle recruitment, and keeping you entertained while you work!
Caitlin lives in Purcellville with her husband, two daughters, and their Australian Shepherd, Benjen. They enjoy hanging out in the basement music studio, growing vegetables, exploring the outdoors together, and kitchen dance parties.
Diane Lester
Diane Lester is a classically trained Pilates coach, professional dancer, actor, singer, and choreographer, and new mom! She holds a BFA in Jazz Dance Performance and minor in Musical Theatre from The University of the Arts. She first discovered Pilates as cross-training for dance and immediately clicked with it: she loved the control and challenging internal adjustments it asked of her. In 2014, she was introduced to Classical Pilates and the apparatus at Todd Rosenlieb Dance in Norfolk, Virginia. Over the course of two years of weekly private sessions, she saw how life-changing the work can be! She overcame small injuries and retrained old habits, and saw total change, rejuvenation, and balance in her body: not just in the dance studio, but also in her daily life! Her performance career took her to New York City, where she completed the Power Pilates Comprehensive Training Program and taught at Power Pilates Midtown, Power Pilates Flatiron, NeXa Pilates and Fitness, and Riser Physical Medicine.
Diane brings her movement background to her teaching and takes a holistic approach, knowing firsthand that change happens from the inside out. She is detailed and strives to make Pilates approachable for each of her clients.