Verena ("V.")-Owner Hailing from sunny 
San Diego, Verena (“V.”) has successfully passed on her proudest accomplishment, Bird Rock Yoga Studio, and is now excited to pursue her new endeavors with 9th & 9th Pilates right here in Salt Lake City. After many years working as an animal trainer, Verena’s intuitive sense of the beings around her was her inspiration to pursue a Vinyasa teaching certification through Corepower Yoga in 2006. Having fallen head-over-heels for her new passion, she immediately began teaching full-time throughout San Diego, and has since received her E-RYT 200 accreditation. Originally European, Verena has lived and travelled extensively throughout the world. Repeatedly adapting to new cultures and surroundings has taught her the importance of flexibility in the mind above all else. Drawing on the mind-body connection she began practicing and instructing Power Vinyasa Flow, matching breath to movement and focusing on “being” rather than “doing”. Amazing teachers such as Steve Ross, Budokon’s Cameron Shayne, Erich Schiffman, Michael Fukumura, Rachel Krentzman, Bhava Ram, Simon Park, the gang at White Lotus Foundation, and each and every student she has ever had the privilege of teaching have all helped to shape her path. V’s style of teaching can be described as light-hearted and personal. Caring deeply about her students’ growth and well-being, her classes will allow you to flourish in your own personal yoga journey at a pace that works for you. Her goal is to create a welcoming and supportive community at 9th & 9th Pilates (and beyond), where everyBODY is celebrated on and off the mat. Verena is STOTT Pilates trained, TRX suspension training trained and the owner and founder of the barrEVOLUTION brand.
Laura Madsen-Instructor Laura Madsen, also known as the “Energizer Bunny,” comes to us from Price, Utah. Laura has a BA in Communications from the University of Utah.
When she’s not burning our cores, she’s teaching PE to little munchkins at Whittier Elementary.
Christian Sorensen-Instructor Christian Sorensen, a former BYU ballroom dancer, hails from Gillette, Wyoming. Christian is known for his intense, high-energy Pilates workouts and is often referred to as the "Mad Dane." He thinks all workouts should be fun, and by "fun" he means "challenging."
When not putting students' obliques and glutes to the test, Christian puts his English MA to work in technical writing and editing.
Nate Marcotte-Instructor Nate is a Salt Lake City resident and is avid endurance athlete, yogi & pilates practitioner. Nate's goal is to show students how practicing across multiple techniques helps compliment both the physical fitness & mental toughness required to make gains in personal performance & sense of well being. When taking a class from Nate, students can expect to be challenged with concepts & techniques that improve not only their practice in studio but extend to their other daily activities as well. Nate works to ensure students make connections with the common threads of core stability, solid foundation & moving with intention throughout each class he teaches.
Amanda Bennion-Instructor Amanda Bennion, a native of Sandy, Utah, has years of experience in movement, having been trained in Russian Ballet since the age of four. Amanda teaches Pilates and dance to both young and old throughout the Valley, and can occasionally be seen doing breathtaking moves in various local aerial dance performances.
Amanda is completing her degree in Political Science at the University of Utah and dreams of joining the circus and becoming a Ninja warrior. Seriously.
Heather Blackburn-Instructor Heaher is a Salt Lake City native received her Bachelor’s degree in Exercise and Sports Science from the University of Utah. She has over 8 years of experience in the fitness industry and has had the opportunity to work with people of all fitness levels from cardiac rehab patients at the University Hospital to professional athletes. She believes that no matter what your current fitness level is, you can enjoy exercise and can achieve a new level of fitness and health. After almost 20 years of dance training, Heather discovered pilates in 2006 and received her STOTT Pilates training in 2007. She has been teaching pilates for the last four years and truly loves it. Heather is also certified in Kinesis, TRX and is a NASM Certified Personal Trainer. While not busy with work, she enjoys chasing after her energetic two yearold daughter, gardening and spending time outside.
