Susan Clark Waters
PTA, BFA, NCPT
Studio Owner, Susan Clark Waters is a Physical Therapist Assistant, Core Connections Pilates Instructor, and certified in GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS® methods. She became a Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher in 2013 and a Balanced Body Educator, teaching Mat, Reformer, and Apparatus. In 2014, Susan added Anatomy in Three Dimensions™ to her master educator teaching repertoire in 2015 and CoreAlign® in 2019. Susan began Balanced Body MOTR training in 2016. In 2019, she became an Integrated Movement Specialist.
Susan graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 2002 with a BFA in Dance. She received her initial Pilates training certificate of completion from Wendy LeBlanc-Arbuckle at the Pilates Center of Austin in 2003. She has taught internationally and completed continuing education between 2008 and 2010 with Madeline Black. Susan became a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) in 2008 after graduating from Austin Community College, and where she specialized in functional core stabilization and myofascial release.
In 2009, Susan became a certified GYROKINESIS® Instructor and completed her GYROTONIC® certification in 2011. Both trainings were under the instruction of Master Trainer Amy Ell, and Susan tested out with the creator of the GYROTONIC EXPANSION SYSTEM®, Juliu Horvath, in Münstertal, Germany. Susan has also worked with Master Trainer Anjali Austin of Florida State University and Master Trainer Leda Franklin of England. In January 2013, Susan completed a course with Master Trainer Angela Crowley in Miami, FL on GYROTONIC® applications for High Level and Elite Athletes. In the summer of 2015 she completed, GYROTONIC® Pathways of the Shoulder, Hips and Spine. In September 2013, she completed the teacher training course of certification on the JUMPING-STRETCHING BOARD with Master Trainer Irene Pulli of GYROTONIC® San Diego. She became a GYROTONIC® Pre-Trainer in 2017. In 2018, Susan completed the GYROTONIC® Level 2 Program under Irene Pulli and in 2019 became GYROTONER® certified under Master Trainer Anjali Austin of GYROTONIC® Tallahassee. Susan attended the “Pilates on Tour” conference in Los Angeles in November 2013. While in LA she received certificate from Elizabeth Larkham’s course “Heroes in Motion”, which, focuses on Pilates training for individuals that have experienced trauma in some form (i.e. amputation, PTSD, and brain injury). Susan began Balanced Body MOTR training in 2016 and Balanced Body Barre in 2013.
While growing up here in Pensacola, Susan danced for Kaleidoscope, now known as Ballet Pensacola, and performed many featured roles in The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, and Cinderella. Susan enjoyed traveling the country to attend summer dance festivals, which include the Joffrey Ballet, the Atlanta Ballet, the Boston Ballet, the White Mountain Dance Festival, the Walnut Hill Dance Festival, the American Dance Festival, the Bates Dance Festival, the Florida Dance Festival, and the local PJC festival. When Susan attended the Bates Dance Festival, she was the administrative intern for two summers and was the student administration assistant for the American College Dance Festival when the University of Texas hosted it in 2002. In Austin, Susan worked and taught at many Pilates studios and physical therapy clinics, including Ballet Austin. Susan was also a guest teacher and lecturer for the dance department at the University of Texas at Austin.
Susan serves on the Pensacola Little Theatre Board of Trustees, the Ballet Pensacola Board of Directors and the Friends of Downtown Pensacola Board.
“My biggest piece of advice to my students is to really focus on the principles and the basics. If you understand why you’re choosing to do an exercise and why a certain client needs an exercise, then you’re going to become a very talented teacher.”
– Susan Clark Waters
