Allison Gonzalez's 20-year career as a classical ballerina led her to France, Italy, New York, New Jersey, and, finally, New Orleans, where she served as director of the New Orleans Ballet Ensemble. In that capacity, she implemented Pilates mat classes as a form of core training for the dancers and quickly developed a passion for the exercise regimen. She headed to the Pilates Studio of New York to study under Romana Kryzanowska, a dedicated student of the fitness method's creator, Joseph Pilates. She acquired her 600-hour teaching certification and set out to share Pilates with others at Evolve Classical Pilates. In addition to Allison's notable Pilates résumé, the studio boasts dozens of certified teachers of gyrotonic exercise, including one who teaches Pilates classes in Japanese.