Welcome to Pilates By Irina
INSTRUCTOR BIOS
Our Instructors are among the most experienced and talented in the industry!
Irina
IRINA MOLASKY
Owner & Instructor
Irina is the Owner and an Instructor at Pilates By Irina. She combines more than 30 years of experience in fitness with her joy of teaching to help others become physically fit. Born and raised in the Ukraine, Irina has been heavily involved in gymnastics and acrobatics since her youth, winning 2 World Championship Honors in Acrobatics and maintaining involvement in the International Olympics Organization. She is has a degree in Physical Education and Sports Medicine with Pilates Certification by the Balancing Method from UNLV. Irina is dedicated to personalizing each client's exercise program to help them develop a level of physical fitness that will benefit them in their everyday activities as well as participation in sports. She has a particular fondness for working with elderly clients and providing Pilates for Physical Rehabilitation. Her extensive background, knowledge and personal training experience gives her the skills to provide Pilates instruction to a diverse clientele, ranging from beginners to advanced. Her caring, encouraging teaching style and attention to detail helps clients improve their fitness as well as body awareness and alignment. Her extensive education and training in gymnastics, acrobatics and physical fitness combined with her knowledge of anatomy and movement provide her with a unique expertise, allowing her to blend theory and practice together to enhance her teaching method and her client's experience and results.
Maia
MAIA TABAKOVA
Instructor
Maia began her career as a Rhythmic Gymnast at the age of 6 in Bulgaria. She accomplished much throughout her training, winning a Silver Medal in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. In addition, she participated in a number of World Championship competitions representing Bulgaria where she earned numerous medals and the titles of 1995 World Champion at the competition in Vienna and 1996 World Champion at the competition in Budapest. At the age of 19, Maia came to the United States as a dancer for a well-known Circus where she learned Aerial Silks and Lyra. She performed her beautiful Aerial Acts for Ringling Brothers, Circus Circus and finally, Cirque du Soleil's Zumanity where she suffered a great injury. Her recovery included enormous amounts of time spent in Physical Therapy and Pilates which she believes resulted in a miraculous recovery and was the primary impetus for her study of Pilates. Maia earned her Professional Certification from BASI in December of 2011 and has been teaching with passion ever since.
MARGARET RAMPEY
Instructor
Margaret originally sought help from the Pilates Method when a back injury sidelined her performing career. Studying in Las Vegas in 1992 with Linda James and Dolly Kelepecz, Margaret obtained Pilates Instructor Certification and began teaching that same year. The Pilates mat-work was her "safety net" on the road in 1993-94 while on tour as a dancer. At the MGM in Las Vegas, Margaret performed for 8 years as a dancer, actress and singer in the "EFX" Show. Expanding her study of Pilates, Margaret trained directly with Elizabeth Larkam and Brent Anderson, co-founders of Polestar Pilates, certifying through them in 1998 and re-certifying with Polestar Pilates in 2008. A growing interest in Yoga blossomed from Margaret's Pilates experience. It is well known that Yoga influenced the work of Joseph Pilates, as evidenced by the many adaptations of Yoga postures in Pilates. Joseph Pilates originally named his work "Contrology" (as in the mind controlling the body) and it is not a big leap to move towards the union of Mind, Body, and Spirit - which is Yoga! Margaret found Yoga to be elevating on many levels and felt that the study of it greatly enhanced the teaching of Pilates. She trained as an instructor of Kundalini Yoga in 2003 with the 3HO Organization under the direction of Yogi Bhajan, and has taught Kundalini Yoga as well as Pilates, Hatha Yoga, Meditation, Restorative Yoga and Ballet Workout. A Pilates Instructor for Cirque du Soleil, Margaret also teaches Adult Ballet at the Academy of Nevada Ballet Theatre and Creative Dance for Nevada Senior Services. Margaret's teaching reflects her extensive training, experience and professional performing career. In addition, she has immersed herself in related studies including the Alexander Technique and Release Technique, studying privately and in small groups in New York City. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree with a major in Ballet from the North Carolina School of the Arts. She is a Level 3 Reiki Master, member of the Pilates Method Alliance and the International Kundalini Yoga Teachers Association. Margaret is very happy to have the opportunity to offer Pilates and Yoga at Pilates by Irina!
SHERRIE GABRIEL
Instructor
Sherrie discovered Pilates in 2011 and fell in love with it! As an avid tennis player her joints & shoulder were struggling. Fascinated with how Pilates was enhancing her life, she decided to take the Pilates Instructor program and is now certified through BASI, the DK Body Balancing Method, and is a Member of the Pilates Method Alliance. It is the classical movements she has grown to appreciate. She has been teaching at Pilates by Irina since 2014 and is the Studio Manager. Passionate is the way to describe Sherrie’s dedication to her Pilate’s clients. Clients love that she is always changing her class routines and making them challenging and enjoyable. Along with her Pilate’s obsession her favorites are: Hobbies – competing in tennis tournaments, snow skiing, outdoor activities Favorite vacation spot – Hawaii – ‘ I never get tired of going there’ Activity – Board of Director for the G Alex Foundation
Sherrie continues to expand her love of Pilates by blending modern with classical movements.
GABI BARLEY
Instructor
Gabi was born and raised in Israel. Since early childhood, she was involved with competitive swimming and dance, later focusing on modern dance. She became a certified fitness instructor while studying physical therapy at Tel Aviv University. After earning her Bachelor of Physical Therapy she joined the PT department in an out-patient clinic. Gabi’s clinical work exposed her to patients of all ages challenged by a range of either chronic conditions or traumas. Given her previous experience with fitness instruction, Gabi was put in charge of establishing and running specialized exercise groups for patients.
Her many years of devotion to PT taught Gabi invaluable lessons about empowering people to gain control over their bodies and health. She quickly learned that this is where her passion lies.
Gabi moved to Las Vegas with her family in 2000. Her first meaningful encounters with Pilates were through friends and family whose lives improved dramatically after their challenges were addressed with the Pilates method.
Gabi started teaching Pilates in 2014. She received her certification from Master Instructor Gracie Martinez and is currently working towards her national certification by the Pilates Method Alliance.
Gabi enjoys her commitment to the Pilates lifestyle, and hopes to instill the same joy in her clients, as their overall health improves.