Anne Nelson

For Anne, movement is not just a practice—it is a lineage and a lifeline. As a third-generation dancer, she brings over 20 years of experience across multiple disciplines, including ballet, aerial arts, and a specialization in physically integrated contemporary/modern dance.

While studying at Auburn University, Anne sustained a life-altering spinal cord injury that left her paralyzed from the waist down. She began an extensive neurorehabilitation process at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, GA and while navigating her ongoing recovery she graduated Cum Laude from the AU College of Nursing and Department of Theater and Dance in her wheelchair. It was during these years of intense neuro-physical therapy and dance minor courses that Anne was introduced to Pilates. Using the Reformer to relearn how to move and walk again, she experienced its transformative power firsthand— further fueling a lifelong fascination with how the body adapts, overcomes, and heals.

Now completing her comprehensive instructor training (PMA-ITTAP) through Pilates Academy International and The Onyx Method, Anne’s teaching is grounded in advanced anatomical knowledge, injury modification, and the healing power of embodied cognition: the belief that the mind-body connection is deeply shaped by how the body moves, shares memory, and guides healing. She brings a rare, invaluable perspective to the Pilates community, empowering clients to discover the profound healing connection that comes from mindful, intentional movement.

Outside the studio, Anne is a full-time Registered Nurse with five years of post-anesthesia care experience, a professional dancer with Sanspointe Dance Company, an Alabama Dance Council board member, and Curator of the Movement Matters: Physically Integrated Dance article series, where she beautifully balances the elements of clinical science and artistic expression.