MEET US
ANNA L. VALLE
Founder
Anna L. Valle is the founder of Rivers Run Pilates and Specialty Fitness. Anna is a Certified Pilates Instructor, Fitness Professional and former professional dancer. She maintains National Certification in Pilates through Balanced Body Pilates, Personal Training Certification through AFAA and Fitness Nutrition with NASM. Other notable certifications are; Definitive Barre Fitness, Progressing Ballet Technique for Dancers, CTMaxx Cognitive Fitness and more. She maintains ongoing continuing education with industry leaders and master trainers, so she can inform clients and offer current best practices in fitness and Pilates practice.
She is happily married to David (who also practices pilates), they have four adult children, two wonderful grand-kids, two cats and enjoy adventure and travel! Fort Myers is their home and they deeply value relationships built right here in Lee County.
She embraces each opportunity to work with clients in the Southwest Florida area!
Click here to read more of Anna’s healing testimony and journey in Pilates Practice: https://pilates-fit.net/why-pilates/
MICHELE L. WRIGHT
Certified Reformer Pilates Instructor
Exercise has always been a huge part of my life. I always believed working out had to be hard and strenuous – no pain no gain was my mentality. That was until an injury to my spine occurred and diagnosis of thyroid disease. These setbacks were devastating. Having faith in God, and a whisper in my heart to try pilates, I began in July of 2020. My old mindset struggled with the idea, because I had always thought it wasn’t hard enough. Boy was I wrong! Pilates not only changed my life but it has given me fitness gains I used to only dream about. Since making pilates the core of my fitness routine, not only have I crushed my fitness goals but I’ve healed all pain and limitations in my spine. I fell so in love with Pilates and decided to become a Pilates instructor! I cannot wait to share pilates with everyone I meet. I love that Pilates is healing and versatile. Pilates is for novice to elite; for the young to the advanced ages. I’ve never found anything that compares.
Michele, also a professional hair stylist, lives in Fort Myers with her husband, two teens & little dog, Sparkles. She loves nurturing and healing through all areas of life. We are very thankful to have her teaching with us at Rivers Run Pilates!
CRYSTAL MARTIN, M.Ed.
Pilates Reformer Teacher
My favorite quote by Joseph Pilates is, “Physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness.” I believe this to be true and have always been a seeker of the most effective fitness methods for my health and well-being. I found the magic of the Pilates Reformer after seeking rehabilitation from a yoga injury. When I began referring to my reformer practice as “my secret weapon,” I knew it was a subject I had to teach. I’m a registered yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance and Balanced Body trained in Reformer Pilates.
I have a master’s degree from FGCU in Curriculum and Instruction, and this is my 30th year teaching for the Lee County School District. I love to garden and enjoy candlelit dinners with my husband, who also practices Pilates at Rivers Run.
TAMMY PANKAU
Certified Pilates Teacher and Credentialed Personal Trainer
I began working in the fitness industry as a group fitness instructor in 1992 and a few years later became a certified personal trainer. I have worn many hats in the fitness industry; managing personal training programs, group fitness programs and owned a fitness center in Northwest IN. In 2002 things came to a halt after a car accident that stopped me from being able to walk. I was in therapy for many months and was told at 28 years old that I needed a spinal fusion. So instead, I tried Pilates as part of my rehabilitation and it was amazing how it helped me get back on my feet again with no surgery. That is when I began my journey into Pilates teacher training. I wanted to help other people understand what the benefits of Pilates are.
I am certified on all apparatus with Balanced Body Pilates, ACE personal trainer and I am certified with Barre above as a Barre instructor. I live in Leigh Acres with my husband, 2 kids, and Shih Tzu, Molly. I love to go to the beach and go kayaking.