Staff - The Pilates Nook

Stephanie Patterson – Owner

Stephanie began taking Pilates at the age of 12, when her ballet teacher
“brainwashed her” into it. She was one of the first students in Oklahoma.

“Pilates didn’t really exist in Oklahoma at the time. So my ballet instructor,
Barby Spates, went to California to be trained by Elizabeth Larkam. When she came back, my friends and I were her guinea pigs. I remember when she got her first reformer and it was just in a quaint, small room in her house. And we would go over for private lessons. That was my introduction.”

Later on, when Stephanie had graduated high school, Barby encouraged her to become a Pilates instructor herself.

“I thought that sounded terrible. I was so shy, I couldn’t imagine speaking in front of a group of people. But I kept up my personal practice and was still drawn to it throughout college.”

After Stephanie graduated college with a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Studies, she dipped her toe in the water of Pilates by taking a weekend Mat Certification course in August 2005.

“And much to my surprise, I loved, loved, loved it! So I started teaching my friends and had a couple of small classes in a church building. And occasionally subbed in at Barby’s studio Pilates Plus in Norman.”

In January 2006, Stephanie moved to New York where she studied under Lesley Powell and Doris-Pasteur Hall at Movement Afoot.Within the year, she was certified as a comprehensive teacher in Equipment, Mat and Standing Pilates with PhysicalMind Institute and immediately began working in the field.

“I taught in offices. I had several in-home clients. A church class. I worked three days a week in Norman at Pilates Plus. So I basically pin-balled all over the place.”

From 2006-2012, Stephanie added days at Pilates for Wellness, Life Mastery Services with Valerie Kit-Love and One Body Pilates.

In 2011, Stephanie also became one of five instructors to be accepted into the Passing the Torch program with Master Teacher Wendy Leblanc-Arbuckle in Austin, Texas. She achieved her National Pilates Certification in 2012.And in 2016, she became the first Franklin Method Educator in the state of Oklahoma.

It was in 2012 that Stephanie began developing what would become The Pilates Nook. “I think I was just craving a place where teachers were highly trained and they took their craft seriously, but they didn’t take themselves too seriously. So that you get the benefits of excellent Pilates instruction but from warm, welcoming, down to earth people. I know it can be daunting to try something new or unconventional and we all know what it feels like to be out of place. So I just wanted to nurture a community where anyone could come in and feel completely safe and at home.”

Since The Pilates Nook opened in June 2013, Stephanie has continued her personal education. After studying under Eric Franklin and Morten Dithmer, for several years, she is now Level Three Franklin Method certified.

Stephanie lives here in Edmond and when she’s not nerding out over anatomy and human movement, she loves to travel the world with her husband Andrew, watch old movies (especially from the 1940s) and read on the front porch hoping to hear the neighbourhood owls.

Bailey McGinn – Director of Operations

Bailey attended her first Pilates session in November 2023 and quickly fell in love! Since then, Bailey has developed a regular Pilates practice. (More like obsessive!). So taking over the role of Pilates Nook Director of Operations was a natural next step. “I love being a part of The Pilates Nook team! I’ve seen firsthand how transformative Pilates can be, so I am thrilled to play a part in the process. I love connecting with all our clients – both new and existing clients – and seeing how Pilates brightens their day and changes their lives.”

Vidya Muralidharan – Senior Instructor

Born in India, Vidya moved to America with her family on Christmas Eve of 1988.

“I was 14 and a sophomore in high school. We moved here to enhance oureducational possibilities and I’m very grateful to my parents for providing me with the support system to have accomplished that.”

In 2001, Vidya graduated from The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center with a Physician Associate Degree and a Master in Health Sciences. Vidya became a Physician’s Assistant in 2001 and has practiced mostly in the Urgent Care Industry.

Leila Pepper – Senior Instructor

Leila’s first contact with Pilates began as a teenager and an old VHS tape – yep, no youtube back then! “At that time, I was a young ballet dancer getting the unhelpful cues ‘hold in your abs’ or ‘use your turnout!’ with no real education on how our bodies work.” She mainly used Pilates (via the VHS tape!) as a cross-training tool for ballet as she continued to work towards her goal of being a professional dancer.

With a BA in Sociology and a BFA in Dance and after receiving a grant to train as a full time student at The Ailey School, she moved to New York City to pursue a dance career. “I loved it, however my body did not. I became so strong, but my muscles were always tight and in knots and I developed multiple injuries.”

Leila’s friend had recently been certified in Pilates through the Kane School of Core Integration NYC and had a home studio, where Leila had her introduction into the pilates equipment while working through a dance injury. “After a lesson, I would leave feeling like all the pieces of my body were put back where they were intended to go! I started to see a difference in how my body felt and performed, and I was hooked!”

In 2010, Leila started her pilates teacher training at the Kane School with mat work and in 2011, began her equipment training (Reformer, Tower, Chair and Barrel). “I loved Kelly Kane’s hands-on, anatomy-focused and creative approach and I saw how everyone – not just dancers – benefited from this method. I became interested in making it a career.”

Her transition out of the professional dance world and into motherhood sparked an interest in the women’s health aspect of pilates. When Leila first became pregnant, she began studying with women’s health experts such as Deb Goodman and Carolyne Anthony to learn more about Prenatal movement and Postnatal recovery. “I have a passion for the Mamas, because we inevitably put ourselves last. The Prenatal class gets women thinking about how to prioritize their physical and mental health before their babies are even born.”

Flash forward to today — Leila has become a Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher, a Certified Pre/Postnatal Specialist and a Practitioner of the Center Method of Diastasis Recti Recover. She has enjoyed working with and learning from people recovering from hip, knee, back and shoulder injuries & surgeries, scoliosis and just simply helping people get some movement in after a long day of sitting at work. “Ultimately, the people I work with are mybest teachers, each offering me a chance to learn more about the human body and how it works. Pilates has given me a vehicle for helping them feel better in their bodies while doing the things they love to do – it’s like hitting the reset button after the ‘wear and tear’ of daily life!”

When not teaching, Leila enjoys hiking, yoga, spending time with her amazing husband and trying to keep up with her 3 boys!

Gina Boren – Pro Instructor

Gina began her Pilates practice in October, 2011 due to a back and knee injury that redirected her life with intention. “At the time, I was living with constant pain, hoping and praying for any relief. Pilates gave me this and so much more!” Soon, she fell in love with how the method not only helped her recover in healing her body, but how it made her stronger in body, mind and spirit.

Becca Grelle – Pro Instructor

Becca loves to work out, and after having two babies 16 months apart, she needed an outlet. In 2011, she decided to call the Pilates studio she passed by each day. She had a private lesson with Stephanie and was hooked! She’s been at it ever since. “I love doing Pilates because it provides an amazing physical feeling to my body and every time I finish a session, my mind goes,
‘Ahhh.'” During one of her sessions, Stephanie mentioned Becca should consider teaching Pilates and her response was, “I will never teach Pilates, but thanks anyway!” Never say never, right?

Janet O’kresik – Pro Instructor

I was a competitive athlete for years, so I figured I could power through and quickly return to all my usual sports and exercise routines. Not so fast. I was encouraged to listen to my body and practice Pilates daily until it ‘gets into my body’. If you know Pilates, you know.” After 5 years of practicing, Janet couldn’t keep her Pilates practice to herself. It was healing, life-giving, and empowering. Pilates improved her health and changed the way she does life. Sharing it with others who need healing through movement was the only career that made sense. In 2021, she completed the Polestar Pilates Comprehensive Training Program and is a Polestar Pilates Studio Practitioner. In 2022 Janet earned the National Pilates Certification and is a member of the Pilates Method Alliance (PMA).