Pilates and Movement Education

Lita has been a teacher of movement, fitness, and dance for over 25 years. She holds a comprehensive Pilates certification from Body Arts and Sciences International and a degree in Dance/Performance Art.  
 

Lita began her dance career in Santa Fe, NM. She spent eight years working as the Assistant Director of Pomegranate Dance Studios and the Mosaic Dance Company.  She worked as both a lead performer and instructor, and ran a unique non-profit program that offered dance instruction and mentorship to teenage girls.
 

In 2008 Lita moved to Austin, TX and began her studies of the Pilates method. She believes that Pilates offers a greater understanding of individual movement, posture, strength, and balance. Lita integrates this methodology with her dance and kinesiology knowledge to provide effective whole-body training. 

In 2016 Lita was inspired to go back to school to pursue a second career in nursing. She currently works as an acute care registered nurse and specializes in oncology. Lita bridges her knowledge of movement with her medical background to present a holistic understanding of the body and to help meet personal needs.

Lita currently offers individual and small group Pilates classes. Additionally, she is the creator of Raqslates, a hybrid fitness and dance class that combines Pilates principles with elements of Middle Eastern Bellydance to obtain a fun fusion workout. As a teacher, Lita offers education in dynamic motion and postural awareness, and encourages her students to explore, shape, and create movement.

In her daily life, Lita enjoys relaxing and playing with her husband and two kids. She is an outdoor enthusiast and a regular swimmer, and can often be found at many of Austin’s local pools. 

Raqs is the Arabic term for dance and may refer to many traditions of dance including bellydance. Bellydance, which has its origins in the Middle East and North Africa, is a movement art that is composed of layered articulations of movement. 

Pilates, developed by its founder, Joseph Pilates, is a specialized exercise system that teaches the body to work as a whole. Principles of the Pilates Method include body and postural awareness, core support, and integrated breath. 

In Raqslates, we will integrate Pilates exercises and concepts with elements of bellydance to help us enhance technique and skills and gain a deeper understanding of movement. This class is perfect for beginners who want to explore the foundations of Pilates and bellydance, as well as for a more advanced learner who wishes to elevate their movement practice