BERNADETTE CERAVOLO
Pilates Center By Bernadette
260 Crandon Blvd., Ste. 36, Key Biscayne
305.365.8171
PilatesByBernadette.com
As a former professional dancer with the world-renowned Australian Ballet Company, Bernadette Ceravolo, Founder & Principal of landmark movement studio Pilates By Bernadette, Pilates was a complementary aspect of maintaining a vocation she loved. Discovering the still-emerging Pilates method matched her need to maintain strength and flexibility in the field of dance, Ceravolo eventually moved to New York to study with famed instructor Romana Kryzanowska (who herself trained under founder Joseph H. Pilates); and, after a rigorous training process, became dedicated to instilling others with the passion and fulfillment her craft has yielded. “There’s nothing like taking someone through the Pilates process and helping them unlock their pain and transform their mind and body,” she says. While Ceravolo loves learning and understanding what’s trending in the fitness scene, she tempers her observations with her traditional Pilates background and its applications in order to better serve and personalize routines for her clients. “From the instant you step through our doors, we’re dedicated to giving you the original method of Pilates,” she says. “We’re particularly proud to hold this authentic label…The Joseph Pilates method is truly unparalleled if you take the time to legitimately understand his work.”
“All my client transformations have been incredibly special to me…My clients and their goals challenge me to bring out the best in them and in myself.”
Pilates Power
Like many of the fitness pros around the world, Ceravolo doesn’t believe there’s any singular way to get fit quick. “The best things in life take time, dedication and determination to accomplish them,” she says. “Do what you love with passion and enthusiasm; the rest will fall into place.” Eager to promote her craft, Ceravolo recommends people interested in the fantastic benefits of Pilates training to contact her studio for customized programs and healthful tips.
ALEX CURE
Cure Fitness
1800 SW 1st Ave., Brickell
786.286.2480
Cure-Fitness.com
A distinctly Miamian fitness professional intent on helping folks radically reinvent the way they approach their bodies, Alex Cure’s life has followed a tenor many in Miami would identify with. Born in Brazil, Cure’s future as an athletically inclined entrepreneur seemed to have been fated from birth. “I’ve been active and involved in sports since I was young,” he says, citing an intense physicality present in even his earliest of memories. Certain that something was lacking in the modern concept of physical fitness, Cure Fitness and its methodology was founded on a process drawn from a decade working with some of South Florida’s top personal trainers. Intent on the idea that true fitness means so much more than dumbbell reps in another cutesy cookie-cutter facility, Cure’s process ensures that clients maximize all aspects of their lifestyle, a transformation the trainer finds so much more satisfying than any salary. “I can’t just put on a suit and sit in a cubicle,” he says. “I need to interact with people, make them feel good about themselves — to help others find the same passion for fitness that I have is more rewarding than you can imagine!”
“Trends are a dime-a-dozen, but that’s really all they are, just passing fads. I just do what I know works and try to have a little fun while doing it.”
Lifestyle changes
Are you eager to transform your flabby frame into a social media stunner? Not sure where to start? When? How? Well, whatever you decide, understand that It’s going to take some patience to get the results you want. “There’s no quick fix to anything,” says Cure, “but if you work a little bit day by day, you will see some significant results before you know it. Consistency is the most important factor in any effective fitness regimen.”
WILLIAM “COACH” CAMERON
Cure Fitness
1800 SW 1st Ave., Brickell
508.409.8781
Cure-Fitness.com
A local strength and conditioning pro plying his trade in The Magic City for the last 12 years, William “Coach” Cameron of innovative fitness experts Cure Fitness got his start in the field the way so many do: participating in childhood athletics programs. “I’ve always been involved in all kinds of sports,” he says. “I started receiving training from a young age, and knew I couldn’t make it as a professional player, but I thought maybe I could help others perform at a higher level.” Proud of a number of notable client transformations (including, but not limited to, training children to be future elites in their sports of choice), the aspect “Coach” appreciates most about his vocation? The freedom it provides him. “I love being wherever I want to be whenever I want, with no one telling me what to do,” he says. “I never really liked the idea of being stuck in an office all day!” His advice for the aspiring fitness gurus of tomorrow? The job isn’t as easy as it looks. “People entering the field just because they want extra money are destroying the industry,” he says. “Fitness takes education, talent and a good eye for inadequacies of movement — those are the aspects that really matter.”
“I rarely implement trends in my practice because I believe that nothing beats the basics!”
No Shortcuts
Want Coach Cameron’s advice on getting fit quick? Don’t look for a quick fix! “People always want something quickly, but that’s not how fitness works. People fail to realize that the people they see on magazine covers and in music videos have been working out, consistently, for a very long time.” Aware, as any professional in his field is, that everyone’s regimen should be individualized, he has one warning for people who find their fitness instructions in YouTube videos and magazine articles. “Always remember that what works for someone else may not work for you… people really need a professional to introduce them to proper exercise habits.”
LINA VALLEJO
Skanda Yoga Studio
328 Crandon Blvd #208, Key Biscayne
786.567.8124
SkandaYogaStudio.com
A lifelong yogic practitioner mindful of the manifold benefits her practice has afforded her, Lina Vallejo’s finest moments come when she can enliven and enlighten members of the community in their own potential. “While I see client transformations every day, one has always stuck with me,” she says. “One time, a young woman came to us because she was overweight and on over 18 different prescription medications for everything from high cholesterol to mental illness. In less than 2 years, her doctor had suspended all her prescriptions. When she came to tell me how grateful she was that yoga had done this for her, I just smiled. I knew I wasn’t responsible. It was her consistency and discipline that made those changes possible. That’s the true magic of yoga.” As an innovator eager to provide the best possible enhancements to her clientele, Vallejo is quick to point out that practicing a centuries-old art doesn’t mean you have to throw away modern medical advances. “Our program at Skanda is amazing because we use several modern scientific stretching techniques that aren’t used in many standard classes,” she says. “We’ve combined the best techniques of many traditions to communicate an original and specialized style.”
“I love to see the sunrise while practicing, and there’s nothing like witnessing the full moon with the rhythm of drums.”
yoga Fit
When asked for the swiftest tips and techniques to battle the bulge, Vallejo is quick to recommend a practice gaining a lot of traction in the last few years. “My top tip is to practice yoga daily,” she says. “This helps people stay in shape not only physically, but mentally and spiritually as well.” Does she have any accessory tips for getting the most out a new yoga regimen? Surely. “It’s vital you have a diet based on protein, vegetables, fruits and low carbs, and to start your day in a state of gratitude and appreciation.”
ROBERT DIDONATO
Myocortex
Human Performance Systems
111 SW 3rd St., 5th Floor, Miami
305.400.4727
Myocortex.com
Athletically inclined since his youth, Myocortex co-founder Robert Didonato found his life radically altered by a series of injuries, shattering any dreams he had of continuing a career in college baseball. Eager to innovate where others might despair, Didonato’s impairments motivated him to seek a deeper understanding of the body and the mechanics that drive it. Now a highly-trained neuromuscular specialist dedicated to a scientifically grounded approach to fitness enhancement, Didonato’s finest moments lay in educating his clients on the value of exercise. “I love that moment when clients understand that exercise is a process, and not a program or quick fix,” he says. “At Myocortex, we have a systematic approach to studying and improving the human body, valuable to anyone, whether they’re a fitness enthusiast, athlete or novice.” Ever-watchful of the many advances taking place in his field, Didonato pays careful attention to the foundations of exercise — optimal muscle function and isometric exercise is vital to the MCX process. “Currently, we are one of the few countries in the world utilizing the Isophit Exercise System,” he says. “Our goal at Myocortex is to create an environment where all fitness levels can succeed.”
“Miami provides endless opportunities to educate and challenge the fitness community and Myocortex has a commitment to do just that through our work in the city.”
Consistency wins
Disparaging of flash-in-the-pan trends and untested fads, Didonato finds there’s only one real answer to the age-old issue of how to get rid of loose love handles. “Unfortunately, there’s no single tip to get fit quick,” he says. “Making exercise and eating clean a lifestyle is the only key to success.” Citing innumerable innovations in the sports medicine and strength and conditioning community, Didonato heartily recommends anyone interested in getting stronger, leaner and healthier to stop by Myocortex for a customized fitness regimen guaranteed to improve stamina and quality of life.
