Randi Whitman/Owner

Founder and director of Frog Temple, Inc., Randi Whitman studied and was certified in the pure, classic Pilates form by The Pilates Center in Boulder, Colorado. She is also a Certified Pre and Post-Natal Pilates Specialist™ through The Center for Women’s Fitness. Randi has a lifetime of experience in fitness, dance and massage therapy. She earned her BFA in Dance and Art from University of Wisconsin and danced professionally for 17 years as both a member of Joseph Holmes Dance Theater and as an original member of Chicago’s River North Dance Company. She has also taught aerobics, was certified by IDEA and AFFA, and worked as a certified personal trainer for six years prior to teaching Pilates. In 1983, Randi was certified by Chicago School of Massage Therapy as a massage therapist and has practiced massage for ever since. Randi has also studied Iyengar and Astanga Yoga extensively. As owner of Frog Temple, Randi spends most days, when not with her young family, in the studio working privately with clients, teaching a variety of classes including all levels of Pilates, Yoga, and Piloga – a blend of Pilates mat and Yoga work, as well as running the Frog Temple Teacher Training Certification Program.

Meredith Ansenberger

Meredith has been an athlete from an early age, with a focus in long distance swimming and running. She began studying Pilates in 2006. Looking for a change from corporate marketing and technology development, Meredith decided to take her love of Pilates to the next level by entering the the Pilates training program through Frog Temple, which she completed in 2010. Meredith hopes to inspire clients to find the mind body connection she is so passionate about, as well as to find balance and control in their bodies. She is enthusiastic to work with individuals at all levels. Meredith is a Chicago native with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business from Bowling Green State University.

Marcia Brenner

Marcia first tried Pilates in January of 2007 after multiple stress fractures sidelined her running workouts, and became an overnight devotee. She received her Certification from the Frog Temple Pilates Teacher Training Program in 2009. A working writer and teacher, Marcia is an adjunct faculty member in the Fiction Department at Columbia College Chicago where she is a three-time nominee for the Teaching Excellence Award, and directs Story Workshop® classes which focus on improving communication through visualization—elements key to Pilates. She is a Certified Pre and Post-Natal Pilates Specialist™ through The Center for Women’s Fitness by Carolyne Anthony. Marcia passionately believes each Pilates session is a chance to reconnect physically and mentally with ourselves, to be fully aware of our body and mind in the present so that we may reach our fullest potential of physical and mental well-being in the future.

Rose Dougal

Rose Dougal has a diverse background in news media and finance. Reflecting on her life goals, she knew her true passions were for the active and healthy lifestyle choices she pursued. An avid runner (complete with running-related injuries), Rose found yoga and Pilates added balance, clarity and purposeful movement to her life. Through her practice and study of Pilates, she gained new awareness and understanding of the power of being strong inside and out.

Rose completed the Frog Temple Pilates Teacher Training Program in March of 2009 and was certified as a Pre and Post-Natal Pilates Specialist™ through The Center for Women’s Fitness in August 2010. Her enthusiasm, passion for healthy living and skills developed throughout her career all contributed to her decision to teach Pilates. Her goal in teaching is to help others build strength of body and mind and achieve their health and movement goals through the Pilates method.

Allison Fall

Allison Fall is constantly connecting with people through the body. She received her MFA in ceramics, performance and sculpture at the School of the Art Institute Chicago. Her work as a teacher began in 1992 teaching dance and has continually been teaching movement since. Allison received her Pilates certification in New York City at Core Pilates, NYC. She continued her education and understanding of the Pilates system while training and teaching with Peter Roel in NYC. Being a professional dancer, Allison began studying Pilates in 1998, finding a way to maintain a healthy body and understand many injuries. Recovering from multiple injuries is where Allison gathered most of her knowledge in helping to understand how to heal, help and advance the bodies she works with. Allison has taught Pilates in New York City, Chicago and Berlin. Her focus is always on the body in front of her, working to give each student what he or she needs.

Christina Gonzalez-Gillett

Christina graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a BFA in Dance and continued studying dance at the Laban Centre in London where she received her Master of Arts degree in Dance. Christina has had the opportunity to study both dance and Pilates in New York, Chicago and London. She is currently on faculty at the Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago and she dances professionally for The Seldoms.

Tabitha Green

Tabitha studied the Pilates Method under Randi Whitman at the Frog Temple Pilates Studio, Inc. She currently teaches at Frog Temple and thrives on the challenge of sharing her knowledge of Pilates with students. Tabitha completed her dance studies in January of 2004 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Columbia College Chicago. Fulfilling a life-long dream, Tabitha has been a member of Breakbone Dance Co. since 2001. She shares her love of Pilates and dance with children by teaching creative movement for the Chicago Moving Company. Tabitha has also taught for the Gallery 37 Connections Program and at Woodstock Ballet Studio. In July 2004, Tabitha traveled to Paraguay to co-teach dance workshops with fellow Breakbone member, Elisa Foshay, courtesy of the Peace Corps. Tabitha is also an Eric Franklin Level I teacher. and is a Certified Pre and Post-Natal Pilates Specialist™ through The Center for Women’s Fitness. Most importantly, Tabitha is thrilled to be creating a life in Chicago as a Pilates instructor and performing artist.

Emily Kagan

Growing up in both Chicago and Ann Arbor, MI, Emily was surrounded by her family of Feldenkrais practitioners. When she was young, Emily travelled around the world with her grandmother and master practitioner Anat Baniel (both were practitioners). During these travels, Emily observed and interacted with the Feldenkrais Method. Because of this early exposure, Emily became fascinated with the body.

Emily followed her dancing passion from childhood through her first year at Wagner College in NY. She turned to Pilates to help strengthen and improve her dancing ability. After that first class of Pilates, she was hooked. She completed her instructor training under Randi Whitman as Frog Temple Teacher Training Program in early 2009. Emily is also a Certified Pre and Post-Natal Pilates Specialist™ through The Center for Women’s Fitness. Emily believes in the power of classical Pilates for all people, and its ability to improve their strength regardless of current physical condition or past activities. Emily is currently pursuing her degree in early childhood education at DePaul University and is always pursuing new learning opportunities to expand her knowledge of the Pilates method and the human body.

Amanda McAlister

Amanda found Pilates in 1996 through her ballet school in Nashville, Tennessee. Since that first class, Pilates has been a regular part of her life. As a dancer and an avid Chicago biker, Pilates has toned,lengthened, and centered her body while helping her perform the demands of life. Upon moving to Chicago, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance in 2006 from Columbia College Chicago and was certified in the Pilates Method through Mind Your Body Pilates in NYC and Frog Temple in Chicago. In August 2010, she received her certification as a Pre and Post-Natal Pilates Specialist™ through The Center for Women’s Fitness. She strongly believes that Pilates is for everyone regardless of their background. Amanda is excited to be teaching the Pilates Method at Frog Temple!

Kelly McCarthy Clark

Kelly first came to Frog Temple in 2001 after moving to Chicago with her Masters in Physical Therapy from Central Michigan University. After three years of personal Pilates practice, Kelly decided to complete her Pilates Instructor Certification under the expertise of Frog Temple’s Randi Whitman in 2004. Since this time, she has been teaching as a certified instructor and incorporating her Pilates knowledge into her physical therapy practice. Kelly believes in the holistic benefits of Pilates for ALL bodies to achieve balance and happiness in life. She enjoys working with Pilates students of all ages, shapes and skill level; and uses her experience as a mother of two to guide her teaching of pre- and post-natal clients. She completed the Postnatal Pilates Specialist Certification Program through The Center for Women’s Fitness in August 2010.

Vicky Mittel

Searching for a distraction from the grind of the corporate world, Vicky turned to running which led to an injury which eventually led her to Pilates. Her first Pilates lesson was in 2001 and she has been practicing religiously ever since. No stranger to fitness, Vicky is always up for trying new activities but she has found that Pilates is the one fitness routine that never gets boring. The continued physical and mental challenge that Pilates offers combined with the positive impact that it has had on her life inspired Vicky to become an instructor. A 2010 graduate of the Frog Temple Teacher Training program and a Pre and Post-Natal Pilates Specialist™ through The Center for Women’s Fitness, Vicky enjoys sharing her passion for Pilates with others while making sure that they get the most out of their workout.

Jolie Petrine

Jolie discovered Pilates in 1994 as a part of her rehabilitation from a dance injury. After studying the Pilates method for several years, she realized how much it had to offer for the overall health of body and mind, and wanted to share this with others.

Jolie received her certification from The Pilates Center in Boulder, CO in 2003 and is currently enrolled in their Master’s Program. She has a BFA in dance from New World School of the Arts and has danced professionally in ballet and modern dance companies for 15 years. She is also a certified massage therapist through the Massage Therapy Institute of Colorado. Jolie’s background in dance and massage therapy has given her extensive knowledge of anatomy and movement, deepening her insight into Pilates. In August 2010, she received her certification as a Pre and Post-Natal Pilates Specialist™ through The Center for Women’s Fitness. Jolie emphasizes a holistic approach to Pilates and enjoys encouraging and empowering individuals to lead healthier, more balanced lives.

Kerry Sheehan

Kerry was inspired to try Pilates in hopes of curing her chronic back pain. After her first lesson at Frog Temple in 2001, Kerry was hooked! After several years of participating in mat classes and taking private lessons, Kerry decided to pursue her Pilates certification with Randi Whitman at Frog Temple in 2005. Since completion of her certification, Kerry has attended master classes and continuing education workshops with several master instructors including Cara Reeser, Debora Robinson Kolwey, and Wendy LeBlanc-Arbuckle.

It is Kerry’s belief that regular participation in Pilates enables you to feel healthy and strong while going about life’s everyday activities. Kerry also firmly believes that Pilates is for everyone, regardless of age, gender,fitness level or ability.

When Kerry is not practicing Pilates, she can be found at The Second City where she heads up the company’s training centers.

Julie Smith

Julie earned her B.S. in Landscape Architecture from Colorado State University. During her college years, she worked as a group fitness and tennis instructor to satiate her desire to be in constant motion. She began studying Pilates in 2002 after long hours at a desk began to cause pain and discomfort in her back. Not only did Pilates relieve her back pack, but it left her muscles longer and leaner, making her feel more comfortable in her body. She began practicing Pilates as an adjunct to the many outdoor activities which she enjoyed, only to find that Pilates improved her running, biking, snowboarding, and tennis game. After relocating to Chicago, she enrolled in the Frog Temple Teacher Training Program and completed her certification in 2009.