Robin Truxel DeRose
Founder and Certified PHI Pilates instructor Robin Truxel DeRose holds an MS in Physical Therapy from Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York. Robin founded truPilates in 2005 to help people feel better in their bodies. Robin's journey with Pilates began as a way to rehabilitate a back and hip injury while training for road marathons. Along her journey, she became a senior teacher of the Stretch Therapy method, which has been an incredible addition to her Physical Therapy and Pilates background. Robin has worked with a variety of clients, including professional athletes, women with osteoporosis and scoliosis and those with complicated injuries.
Robin became pregnant with her first child in 2014 and dove into the world of prenatal Pilates, everything pelvic floor and how to prepare for childbirth. After her daughter’s birth, she studied with the best in post partum and diastasis healing and education: Diane Lee, Julie Wiebe, Jennifer Gianni and Leslie Howard. The pregnancy and birth of her son two years later was even more informative and Robin became more passionate about helping pregnant women and new mamas have the most pleasureable pregnancies, deliveries and post partum periods. She understands deeply the pregnant body and the multiple changes it goes through, the importance of healing post birth before resuming high intensity exercise and how to heal a diastasis. Robin has found that once the core and breath patterns are more optimized, the new mom (or mom of teenagers or grandma) can have more energy, move with more efficiency and less discomfort.
Robin is currently studying with Wendy LeBlanc-Arbuckle as part of Balanced Body’s Passing the Torch mentorship. She is loving the study of biointelligence, approaching Pilates from the lens of the embryo and how the concepts of grounding, backing, centering and uplift add so much more depth and context to her Pilates practice and teaching.
Contact: robin@trupilates.com
Rachelle Hill
Owner and Polestar Certified Practitioner, Rachelle completed her undergraduate studies at LSU and then graduated with a Master of Science degree in Physical Therapy from Texas Woman’s University in 2004. Rachelle first discovered the benefits of Pilates in Charlottesville when Robin offered a sample class at the outpatient clinic she was working at. She was changed forever. She was amazed at how much better her body felt after just one session. She was also frustrated that traditional PT exercises did not feel as effective. Following the birth of her first child, she sought out Robin’s expertise to help with postpartum symptoms, attended reformer classes, and returned to running and softball. Years later, Rachelle returned to Louisiana with her family, and she completed the Polestar Comprehensive Series to become a Certified Pilates Practitioner in 2016.
With an athletic background, 18 years of outpatient PT experience, a CSCS certification, and Pilates training, Rachelle uses this unique skill set to create classes and programs that will help you achieve the goals that matter most to you.
She is passionate about teaching healthy movement no matter the fitness level. She loves working with endurance athletes, golfers, new and soon-to-be Moms, dancers, and everyday mortals looking to make a commitment to whole body health. Whether it’s using a physioball, dumbbell, mat, or reformer, there’s plenty of resources to help you achieve your goals. If you want to improve swimming technique, efficiency with biking, running, drive the golf ball further, lift your child without back pain, bend far enough to tie your own shoe, or simply sit, stand, or walk without pain, no goal is too big or too small.
Contact: rachelle@trupilates.com
Paige Werman
Paige's Pilates journey began at a young age as a necessary supplement to her dance training. As a hyper-mobile professional dancer and dance instructor, Pilates has been her primary method of rehabilitating and preventing injuries for 15 years. She has been dancing since she was two years old and teaching dance for over 11 years. Paige has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Alvin Ailey/Fordham University with a double major in Environmental Policy.
Paige earned her Comprehensive Pilates Certification through Balanced Pilates in New York, NY and began teaching in 2019. She also received her Xtend Barre certification and has been practicing yoga since 2008. She has discovered that the body is a complex ecosystem that requires a balance of elasticity, strength, plasticity, balance, breath, cardiovascular, and precision training. She brings her dancer mentality into class to offer variety, flow, and specificity to each exercise.
Paige is originally from South Florida and recently moved to VA from NYC. She is about to begin studying landscape architecture and urban planning at UVA and enjoys gardening and hiking.
Damien Lowery
Damien is a comprehensively certified Pilates instructor through Somaphyx, who has a profound passion for empowering individuals through movement. Being an athlete of varying modalities from yoga, conditioning, to strength training he has experienced the transformative effects of movement in his own life, and is dedicated in sharing its benefits with others. His philosophy revolves around developing personalized approaches that cater to the unique needs and goals of each client.
Through assessing movement, he gains insight into client’s abilities and limitations, allowing for a tailored Pilates session to maximize their goals while ensuring safety and wellbeing. Education forms a fundamental part of his teaching, as he strives to empower clients with knowledge about their bodies and the purpose behind each exercise. This not only motivates them to actively participate in their fitness journey but also fosters a deeper understanding of their physical capabilities.
Damien has been a lifelong fan of the fitness industry. Growing up playing all the major sports, practicing martial arts, being a personal trainer at Gold’s Gym, and teaching Les Mills classes has provided him with a holistic view of what movement looks like across modalities. His exposure to Pilates was during this Gold’s Gym era and wasn’t until years later that he was able to pursue his NCPT certification.
As a Pilates instructor, Damien views his role as not only guiding clients through exercises but also acting as a positive role model. Encouraging self-acceptance and self-care, he creates a supportive environment where everyone feels valued and empowered, regardless of their background or abilities. Damien is committed to staying adaptable and progressive by incorporating contemporary practices and staying informed about the latest developments in the fitness industry.
Outside of the Pilates/Fitness world you’ll find Damien spending time with his wife Anna, daughter Sydney, and extended family. There is always some DIY project around the corner or some beach somewhere.
Amy Isakson
Amy’s introduction to Pilates was at truPilates in 2017 as a path to fully recover from an injury. She was amazed by how Pilates not only helped her body to heal, but actually became stronger than she was pre-injury. Inspired by her personal experience with truPilates she became certified through Stott Pilates Training in mat and reformer Pilates exercise to help others feel comfortable and strong in their bodies.
She is passionate about health and wellness, and she has enjoyed a career in healthcare for over 20 years. She appreciates working with people of all ages and all fitness levels and helping them find mindful movement. She believes Pilates meets people where they are in their health and fitness journey and can improve lifestyle and wellness for everyone. She enjoys helping clients connect with their bodies and making Pilates approachable.
Amy spends her free time with her husband, three sons, and black lab. She is enthusiastic about deepening her own Pilates practice and enriching her teaching.