INSTRUCTORS
Shari Allen
Owner and Master Instructor
.jpeg)
Shari loves to teach! Her certifications include the National Pilates Certification Program, Physical Mind Institute, Kathy Corey Pilates, State of Florida Professional Educators Certificate, and she is a Healthy Foot Practitioner through the Restorative Exercise Institute. In addition, she holds a B.F.A. in Dance from Radford University, studied at North Carolina School of the Arts, and an M.S. in Art Education from Florida State University.
Shari thrives on continuing education. She has studied Pilates, been a professional dancer, and practiced yoga extensively throughout her movement career. She believes in continuing to learn herself so that she can be a better teacher to her clients. She has taken many Pilates workshops and classes with mentors like Brent Anderson, Jillian Hessel, Cecile Lemoine Bankston, Ron Fletcher, Michael King, and Kathy Corey.
As a dance instructor since her teenage years, Shari has taught inspiring, creative classes to her students for over 25 years. Dance instruction experience includes Harvard-Radcliffe, Jeanette Neil Dance Studio, the University of West Florida, and The Florida Dance Association. She is currently the assistant director of Northwest Florida Ballet.
Her professional performing has been with Mill Mountain Theater, Boston Dance Company, Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre and Impulse Dance Company, Lightwire Theater, and Northwest Florida Ballet. In addition, her dance students have gone on to prestigious companies and programs such as Julliard, American Ballet Theatre, Martha Graham, Cincinnati Ballet, Ballet West, and Pacific Northwest Ballet.
Shari's love for teaching people of all ages brings a mindful approach to her professional work in nurturing her clients to attaining their personal goals for the health of the entire being.
Melissa Ozimek
Melissa Ozimek began her Pilates practice in the early 2000s with Mari Winsor's Pilates online. She soon came to realize how much it helped her bodily injuries; she had been dealing with chronic pain for more than a decade. After taking classes for over a year with Shari, she decided to take the plunge, and she is now pursuing a fully comprehensive Pilates certification with Balanced Body. This intensive training takes about a year to complete. Her ultimate goal is to help people and pass the benefits of Pilates on to others.
She also brings her studies in Tai Chi/Qigong to her teachings. Melissa lives in Fort Walton Beach with her husband, Tony, and their dogs. She also has a passion for boating and dancing!
Stephanie Buck
Stephanie had been taking classes at Shari's Mindful Pilates for a year when Shari approached Stephanie about the possibility of teaching. Stephanie decided to take a deep-dive into a fully comprehensive certification and is now an apprentice in Balanced Body's Pilates training program. Originally from Birmingham, AL, she moved to the Fort Walton area with her husband who is in the United States Air Force.
Stephanie currently works full-time in the outdoor industry and holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Social Work (BSW, MSW). Passionate about the healing power of movement, Stephanie believes Pilates offers a unique mind-body connection that promotes both mental and physical well-being. She is committed to making Pilates accessible for everyone, regardless of body type, fitness level, or socio-economic status. Outside of her professional pursuits, Stephanie enjoys hiking and camping with her husband and pup, traveling, and sewing.
