Meet the Team
Jodi Scardino
FOUNDER / INSTRUCTOR
Jodi is a Certified Pilates Instructor educated from the Balanced Body University and Authentic Pilates Learning Center. Jodi’s passion for Pilates began with a bodily injury that paved the path for her recovery through the methodology demonstrated through the Pilates principles. Jodi’s experience has fueled her desire to become a versatile instructor, skilled to adapt to develop her clients’ strengths and improve upon their weaknesses, while ensuring an overall effective Pilates workout.
Jodi has also specialized in pre-natal and post-natal Pilates as well as training NFL football players to strengthen and recover from season to season.
Jodi strives to continually further her education in order to acquire new skills that she can pass on to other clients and instructors. She is currently studying under master instructors from the 2nd generation of Joseph Pilates methodology . She is excited to offer her program to this community and become a key inspiration for her clients’ aspirations to make the changes to promote a healthier and happier lifestyle.
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Alexa Micciulli
INSTRUCTOR
As an advocate for health and fitness Alexa finished her Barre certification in 2020. She taught at Tritone Triple Barre Studio for 3 years. In 2022 Alexa decided to take action on her love for pilates and began her certification for IMX Reformer Pilates and upon passing the curriculum she began working for Persistence Pilates. Alexa's early morning energy is contagious, catch her 6 AM and 7 AM classes to find your best self!
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Rose Gallegos
INSTRUCTOR
Rose is an IMX certified Pilates instructor, and has a certification from Integrated Nutrition as a Health coach. She taught group fitness classes at Peach Farm Fitness for two years. With a background in fitness and health, Rose has a passion for helping others live a healthy lifestyle. She brings her fun personality to her classes with the intention to give her class members a great experience while having fun at the same time.
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Juliette Phillips
INSTRUCTOR
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Amanda Fagone
INSTRUCTOR
Amanda is certified in IMX Pilates, with continuing education under Jodi Scardino. She is a self-taught flow artist and hoop dancer, with a background in ballet, tap, jazz and pole dance. She is passionate about healing injuries and physical disabilities through intentional movement. Amanda truly believes pilates is for everyone and lives by the Persistence Pilates motto: focus on what you can do, not what you can't!
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Elizabeth Stile
INSTRUCTOR
Dance, movement and music have always been a way of life for Elizabeth. At the age of 5, she started studying ballet and singing in choirs; in her teens her studies expanded to jazz, modern and tap. She earned a BFA in Dance from Adelphi University where she also studied theater and voice. From there she taught Dance in Brooklyn, NY, Northern NJ and an extensive stay teaching at a dance school in Palermo, Sicily. For years she studied at Dance Space in NYC with Lynn Simonson and Laurie DeVito. The natural next step in her career was receiving the Pilates Certification in NYC where she studied under the direction of Romana Kryzanowska, an original student of Joseph Pilates, and taught in various studios throughout the city. Currently she is working on getting her yoga certification and studying Pilates with Jodi Scardino. Elizabeth is extremely happy to have the opportunity to work with Persistence Pilates.
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Anissa Egar-Smith
INSTRUCTOR
Anissa is trained and currently studying at Authentic Pilates Learning Center under second generation Pilates master teachers. She comes to Persistence Pilates with 27 years of experience in Rutherford Public Schools where she mentored and trained colleagues as well as educated and nurtured students throughout her career. Along with her classical Pilates education, trauma informed practices and mindfulness techniques are key components to how she approaches Pilates in her daily life as well as in the lives of her clients. Anissa believes that creating a studio environment where everyone is welcome and safe are fundamentals to supporting clients. Learning is a passion for Anissa and the 6 Principles of Pilates (concentration, control, centering, breath, precision and flow) are at the core of her teaching to ensure her clients grow strong in mind and body.
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Denise Romano
INSTRUCTOR
Denise discovered Pilates in the early 2000s at an Equinox Gym in NYC, where she was first introduced to the transformative power of the practice. After pursuing a mat certification, life took a busy turn as her career and raising a family took center stage, and Pilates was put on the back burner.
After dealing with a back injury, she rediscovered Pilates and realized how essential the practice was for both physical recovery and overall well-being. As a client of Persistence Pilates, she learned about the Apprentice Program at Authentic Pilates and embraced the journey. She is trained and certified by 2nd-generation Joseph Pilates Master Trainers and is continuing her education.
With over 25 years of experience in the corporate world, she brings a unique perspective to her Pilates instruction, blending her leadership and organizational skills with her passion for wellness. Denise is often quoted as saying, "I’ve dedicated more time to my Pilates education than I did to earning my MBA."
She is excited to share her knowledge and help others experience the physical and mental benefits of this life-changing practice.