Ellie Tor, Studio Owner

Welcome! I am Ellie and I have been teaching Pilates for 20 years. I am certified in Pilates through the PhysicalMind Institute and I also teach TRX and stretch therapy. I opened Wellspring Pilates in March 2021 to create a fun, welcoming space for all ages and abilities.

When I was first certified in Pilates the ideas centered around the “right” way to exercise, precise movement and control. The original Pilates method was created with perfection in mind and after years and years of strict ballet training, I was drawn to Pilates for that exact reason! But a decade or so into my career, I looked around the rooms where I taught, looked at the people I was teaching, and I saw and I felt a lot of unnecessary tension.

I started to shift my thinking and my teaching to enable more freedom of motion and less preoccupation with perfection. I freed up my Pilates cues to create a more positive and affirming atmosphere. During classes and sessions with me, I hope you get an effective workout, I hope you leave a good mood and I hope you laugh really hard at least one time.

Elaine Waksmunski, Instructor

Elaine is a movement teacher with a passion for helping people achieve an empowered connection to their health and wellbeing.  She aims to give students a comprehensive toolkit for a mindful lifestyle that is grounded in purposeful and sustainable movement. This goal is reflected in her extensive and broad training(s).

Initially certified in Integral yoga, Elaine began teaching in 2008.  Over the years her training expanded to include certifications in yoga therapeutics, yoga for trauma, yin yoga and fascial release techniques. After experiencing the benefits of pilates during injury rehab Elaine knew it was a perfect addition to the toolkit! She was STOTT PILATES trained in 2018. Elaine teaches classes delivered with warmth, humor and clarity and is available for both classes and private sessions.

Diane Pinzon, Substitute Instructor

A decade ago, I hurt. I’d wake up in the morning and it hurt to move. I had sustained no injuries, and I had no real issues; I just hurt. My back felt like it was 85, not 45. “I’m too young for this”, I thought. A friend invited me to go with her to a Pilates class and without knowing what Pilates was, I reluctantly tagged along.

Fast forward to today. Ten years later my back feels like I am 25. I received my designation of Certified Pilates Instructor after 700 plus hours of training. My name is Diane Pinzon and I have recently moved to Charlottesville from Virginia Beach, where I owned my own Pilates business and also taught at a local studio. I am thrilled to bring my expertise and business here, offering my clients a caring approach in a comfortable setting. I’ve adapted Joseph Pilates’ philosophy “you are only as young as your back feels” as my mantra. So if you want to feel the power of Pilates, I would love to show you how. From my soul to your soul, I hope to see you in the studio!