LESLEY BELL
FOUNDER & CLASSICAL PILATES TEACHER
Lesley fully embraces Gloria Gasperi’s approach to Pilates and completed her Comprehensive Teacher Training Program (Pilates E-motion Teacher’s School) in 2019 and the Master Program in 2022. Lesley was selected by Gloria to become a Teacher Trainer for her school and, in 2020, Lesley activated the training program in Sicily at her studio, Palermo Pilates©, in collaboration with Gloria. It is a great honor for Lesley to collaborate alongside her mentor Gloria and her immense joy to spread this approach and share it with others
Lesley began her Pilates teaching career in 2010 working for multiple gyms for a decade and this year has professionally qualified for the (APPI) Italian Pilates Professionals Association as MASTER TEACHER 5TH LEVEL.
In 2016, she created the Palermo Pilates© Symposium with the intention to create an educational event where teachers from around the world could unite and learn. In the same year, she opened her first Pilates studio, which today has become Palermo Pilates Studio, School & Events.
SKILLS achieved
- Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology from the Università Niccolò Cusano di Roma (2024)
- Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology (cultural, biological and forensic) with Honors from the University of Wyoming, USA (2003)
- MASTER TEACHER 5th Level with APPI n°C014
- European certification for BLS-D (2021)
- Body Asset© Pilates Education (Basic level) with Francesca Cusin Marletta (2015)
- Pilates for Neurological Conditions with Mariska Breland (USA) at Live & Breathe Pilates Dublin (2015)
- Humany Anatomy Cadaver Laboratory with Practical Application to Movement at the University of Keele, School of Medicine (UK) with Prof. Lagopoulos and teacher Rebecca Leone (2015)
- 176 hours of Pilates training (Skype) with Rebecca Leone in Florida (2014)
- Innovations in Pilates with Anthony Lett in Naples (2014)
- Training for Postural Technician with Dr. Luigi Gallo in Palermo (2012)
- Twenty years of dance training jazz, tap, ballet and modern
FRANCESCA TAVELLA
CLASSICAL PILATES TEACHER
- Master’s Degree in Sport and Motor Activity Management (2022)
- Master’s Degree in Biodiversity and Evolution (2015)
- Bachelor’s Degree in Biological Sciences (2013)
- Pilates E-motion Teacher’s Training School with Gloria Gasperi – Comprehensive Diploma (2023)
- Pilates teacher training course with Lesley Bell at Training Sport Accademy (ente di promozione sportiva C.S.C. riconosciuto dal CONI) (2017)
- European certification in BLSD/PBLSD Basic Life Support Defibrillation adults and children at UREPA (2021)
- Staff at Palermo Pilates Symposium (2019-2021-2022)
- Workshop “Longevity, the Brain and Pilates” cwith Dr. Nicole Marcione (2019)
- External Expert of the Project “Balliamo Insieme” at the high school “Guglielmo Secondo di Monreale” (2018)
- Member of the dance company Franco Zappalà at the Teatro di Verdura Palermo (2015)
- Continuous Pilates training with Lesley Bell at Oxygen Fitness Place (2011-2018)
- 10 years of dance training in ballet, modern and contemporary
- 10 years of dance Artistic Gymnastics training
SEBASTIANO MARCO TAORMINA
CLASSICAL PILATES TEACHER
- Scientific High School Diploma
- Pilates E-motion Teacher’s Training School with Gloria Gasperi – Comprehensive Diploma (2023)
- European certification in BLSD/PBLSD Basic Life Support Defibrillation adults and children at UREPA (2021)
- Staff at the Palermo Pilates Symposium (2019-2021-2022)
- Workshop “Longevity, the Brain and Pilates” with Dr. Nicole Marcione (2019)
- Training as Instructor of the sport A.S. Gymnastics Finalized for Health and Fitness – BI001 at the National school of Libertas’ Sports Training (2019)
- Instructor at various gyms (2018-2021)
- Continuous Pilates training with Lesley Bell at Oxygen Fitness Place (2012-2018)
SILVIA RICCOBONO
CLASSICAL PILATES & VINYASA YOGA TEACHER
- Diploma in Piano at the “Alessandro Scarlatti” Conservatory in Palermo (2019)
- Yoga teacher certificate 250hr (basic) at Hari-om School (2020)
- Yoga teacher certificate 300hr (advanced) at Hari-om School (2021)
- Animal Flowmotion Master Training at Hari-om School (2022)
- Functional Training course at the Hari-om School (2022)
- Master Training in Meditation and Yoga at the Hari-om School (2023)
- Pilates training with Lesley Bell at Pilates E-motion Classical Pilates School (2023-ongoing)
