Who We Are

A lifelong athlete Jennifer received a comprehensive Pilates certification through Body Arts and Sciences International (BASI) Pilates; is Co-founder/ Co-owner of the Vail Institute of Pilates, the in-house teacher training program at Synergy Center for Wellness; and the first O44 Way Affiliate studio owner in the USA.  Originally from the east coast where she received her BA at Roanoke College she first experienced the power of Pilates and discovered that the core strengthening of Pilates had the power to change / tone her body, manage back pain, and cope with stress through breathing and focus.

Her clients are women and men of all ages, athletes, tri-athletes, post-rehab, and Pilates apprentices and teachers. Jennifer loves helping clients achieve their personal goals whether it involves aches and pain management, strength, improved ski season readiness, flexibility, weight goals or overall better health.

Jennifer’s ability to see misalignments in the body and her continuing education specializing in anatomy & pathology, allows her to address specific needs of her clients.  Meticulous on form, Jennifer keeps her sessions fun and energetic. You can expect her to push and inspire you to make real changes in your own body.  She lives in Gypsum, CO with her husband and two dogs.

With a self-professed passion for people and exercise, Deb Plath fell in love with being a personal trainer 25 years ago, which is just about the same amount of time she has been living in the Vail Valley. A southern California girl who describes herself as a ‘city girl’, Deb moved here to start a new relationship – who knew it would lead to being a successful, multi-talented fitness teacher?

From aerobics to spin to becoming a Certified Personal Trainer, Deb teaches because she calls it a “gift you can give someone else”. She admits that it takes motivation, but that is one thing she does not lack. After years of teaching a variety of fitness disciplines, Deb gravitated towards Pilates because she recognized the importance of ‘core strength’ in any fitness regimen. She also likes the need for mental strength, precision and focus that Pilates demands. Deb’s Pilates certification was earned in 2003 from Barbara Huttner, who is not only well-known in the Vail Valley Pilates and GYROTONIC® circles, but also a driving force in the establishment of Synergy. In fact, Deb credits Barbara for being the reason that she came to Synergy as a teacher. She adds that she continues to teach at Synergy because of the “energy in the studio” saying, “I feel motivated when I’m there!”

Her favorite class to teach? Group Pilates Equipment! Best said in her own words: “It’s invigorating for me to see my clients get it.” She loves seeing her clients transform their bodies and attitudes about being fit. She calls it a “motivating story” to guide students who “think they are in shape” to really being in shape.

Being a Colorado Native, KJ has rooted herself in the realms of movement. Her passion for movement manifested into a calling and landed her in both Los Angeles, CA  and Boulder, CO for a BFA in Dance. After college she furthered her studies and became a certified BASI Pilates teacher, which deepened her understanding of the body’s anatomy and complexity. From Lead Teacher to Master Teacher Trainer in multiple methods & modalities of movement, her Professional Fitness career continues to evolve with the best of the best. KJ is the first Master Teacher of the O44 Method and pioneered both the launch and instruction of the O44 Method classes in June 2022 and the FORTIFY classes in June 2023.  KJ is passionate in coaching others and encouraging them to step out of their comfort zones all while having a blast doing it! As a trailblazer in the fitness community, she’ll push you to be the best version of yourself.

Whitney is Classically Trained and is a Certified Third Generation Pilates teacher since 2017, and a student of Classical Pilates since 2010. This means her formal training is directly linked to Joseph Pilates. Her training was led by renowned Pilates teacher, Eva Font. 

She cares about the experience of individual and group Pilates, focusing on how each corrective movement aids and assists client’s specific needs and goals.  Whitney loves spending time with friends and family, and living here in the Vail Valley is a lifelong dream of hers. She is inspired by individuals’ overall athletic abilities and the knowledge they bring into every session.

Whitney’s Why: “Through Classical Pilates, I aim to lead and support those wanting to discover and further develop overall fitness, while feeling safe and motivated. Teaching Pilates is my passion! I am constantly inspired by clients’ willingness to share, trust and connect, because growth on every level is a gift.”

Just one Pilates Reformer class was all it took for Anna to be hooked on the Pilates
method. She began practicing Pilates in 2012 and received her Comprehensive
Teacher Training Certification through Body Arts and Sciences International (BASI
Pilates) in 2017.
Also a certified personal trainer, Anna’s teaching style infuses her love of strength
training with a passion for outdoor recreation and functional movement. Her “sneaky
hard” approach to fitness leaves clients feeling accomplished with a smile on their face
and wanting to come back for more. She continues to fuel her passion for all things
movement related by staying curious and continuing her fitness education with
additional certifications (Functional Range Conditioning, barre, TRX, SPINNING) and
attending a Pilates for the Mature Client workshop.
Anna, born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, graduated from the University of Dayton in
2009 with a B.A. in Public Relations and a minor in Psychology. A true people person,
she loves connecting with her clients and community and is dedicated to helping them
achieve their greatest potential.
When Anna isn’t training clients in the studio or, let’s be honest working out herself, you
can typically find her walking or running with her 5 year old Australian Shepherd, Jovie.

Currently attending nursing school, Jayme is a long time instructor at Synergy.  A Colorado native, Jayme received her BASI Pilates comprehensive teacher training certificate in 2009.  She has worked extensively with people with multiple injuries; expecting mothers; athletes; clients of all ages.  She is an expert instructor in both group and individual sessions and also offers virtual private Pilates training.  Check out our schedule to see Jayme when she is in town or give us a call to schedule a private session!

Katie is both a Physical Therapist at Altius PT and a Vail Institute of Pilates certified Pilates instructor.  Originally from Upstate New York and grew up skiing, hiking and running in the Adirondack Mountains. She completed her bachelor’s degrees in Health and Exercise Science at Syracuse University where she was a member of the Division 1 women’s rowing team until an ACL injury inhibited her from sport. This experience led her to pursue physical therapy and she went on to complete her Doctorate of Physical Therapy at the University of Vermont in 2019 where she earned two awards for professional development and leadership. Katie completed a year-long orthopedic residency program at the VA hospital in Denver, Colorado where she was trained extensively in manual therapy techniques and the latest evidence based practice. She is certified in Trigger Point Dry Needling and earned her Orthopedic Specialist board certification in 2021. She enjoys helping and motivating others to achieve their health and fitness goals and is experienced in working with chronic pain conditions such as low back pain and fibromyalgia. Katie enjoys teaching patients the neurological and physiological reasons behind how and why we feel pain and promoting independence in managing chronic conditions. She specializes in spine rehabilitation, sports injury management and post-operative care. She calls Vail, CO her full-time home.