Our Philosophy
At Fusion Pilates Asheville we share a vision for spreading the life changing benefits of Pilates, Gyrotonic, and complimentary healing modalities to people who are passionate about learning about their body through movement. Instead of putting our clients through the same repetitive choreography where we “tune out, and push through it”, we encourage our clients to actually TUNE IN to their bodies, and experience the power and potential of their mind-body connection. Our instructors with decades of experience are constantly practicing, refining, and exploring new avenues which keeps the practices that they offer to their clients alive and evolving. We empower each client with a solid movement foundation, and then systematically layer more challenges that maximize your athletic and movement potential for your own unique set of circumstances and goals. We offer a wide range of differentiated instruction because we see that a “One Size Fits All Fitness” approach is severely limited, and falls short on results.
We have a passion for sharing how cutting edge science meets ancient movement practices to maximize not just how your body looks, but how it actually feels and performs on a daily basis. No matter your movement goals, we can help you reach higher levels of performance as defined by YOU!
Our Instructors
Jennifer Gianni
Jennifer has 20 yrs of experience in the mind/body field. She has completed 3 full Comprehensive Professional Pilates Teacher Trainings, is certified by the Pilates Method Alliance, and is a faculty member of Balanced Body University (the world’s largest Pilates training program) which allows her to share her passion with other up and coming Pilates instructors. She is also the owner/director of FusionPilatesEDU.com, a resource website for Pilates Instructors around the world.
Her deep interest in women’s health led her to create a series of 7 DVDs which have been sited as some of the safest and most effective programs for Pre and Post Natal women. She shares this work along with workshops on Menopause, Diastasis, Anatomy, (and many others), to Pilates instructors across the globe. While Jennifer is passionate about teaching – she is also a passionate student and constantly updates her knowledge by attending continuing education workshops with the finest minds in movement.
But Jennifer’s first love and core passion lies with her clients at the studio. “The privilege of bringing everything I’ve learned and continue to learn back to the studio to help my clients progress week after week is what gives me the greatest joy…”
Amy Dowling
A native of South Carolina, Amy Dowling lived all over the US pursuing a dance career before returning to graduate school to earn an MFA in performance and choreography from Florida State University. It was here she was first introduced to Pilates by Tom Welsh who was pioneering a program in Dance Science where she immediately became intrigued by the way the method brought her into more awareness and intention. A life-long mover, this intersection of mind and body set her on a whole new path of exploration.
For 18 years, she served on the dance faculty at Western Carolina University where she taught modern dance, dance history, choreography and anatomy. During one of her commutes she encountered an interview on NPR with Jennifer Gianni, Balanced Body master teacher trainer and owner of Fusion Pilates Asheville. Amy immediately connected with Gianni’s therapeutic approach to the work and as a result she embarked upon a comprehensive teacher training through Balanced Body and began formally teaching the method in 2013. Currently, functional movement is her passion – helping clients connect how what they do in the studio can be brought into their everyday lives is a primary focus of her work.
April Skelton
April Skelton is a mover and movement educator based in Asheville, NC. As a 15-year coach of aerial arts and with a background as a licensed physical therapist assistant, April brings experience with a wide range of clients and patients to her teaching. A native of Georgia, April fell in love with the Pilates method under the instruction of Amanda Martin (Balance Pilates, Atlanta/Athens), whose therapeutic, eclectic approach was a balm for the pains of overuse and extreme movement that April accumulated through aerial performance. After relocating to Asheville, April’s study under Jen at Fusion reignited her passion for the work, as Jen helped her heal through her postpartum period.
She is passionate about helping people move with more ease and joy—from professional circus artists to retirees recovering from joint replacement. She is an apprentice at Fusion Pilates, working toward her Balanced Body comprehensive certification.
Ashley Mitchell
Ashley has been a lover of movement her whole life. From Barre to Yoga classes, she noticed very quickly how Pilates made her feel different than other fitness methods. Her neck and back pain from sitting all day at a desk went away, her posture improved, and her daily activities became easier. She wanted to be able to bring this same feeling and gift to others. Ashley started her teacher training in March of 2020 at Fusion Pilates through the Balanced Body curriculum. Her biggest joy in teaching is seeing the progress and difference it makes in her clients every day lives.
Joy Siler
After several years in Philadelphia, Joy is glad to be back in her hometown of Asheville. It was while studying theatre performance at Appalachian State University that Joy discovered the healing power of movement. Joy began as a yoga instructor, completing her training at Asheville Yoga Center in 2019, and soon felt drawn to Pilates after a semester-long mat course. Joy began to train as a teacher with her mentors in Boone, but was unable to finish the program due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Joy has had the privilege of working for multiple studios. She was even able to teach in a physical therapy clinic, working closely with the PTs which fueled her love for rehabilitative movement.
Joy is constantly learning more in order to better support those she works with. She strives to show up with curiosity, humor, and grace every time. The more she does this work, the more she understands that there is no “right” way to move, and yet there is always the invitation to connect more deeply.