Khloe
Better Body Mascot
Our meet and greet aficionado. Khloe is our most requested staff member. She will welcome you to the studio and congratulate you on a job well done on your way out. You'll leave stronger and better than before, and all warm and fuzzy too. She loves children and on top of all that, is hypoallergenic!
Better Body encourages Peace, Pilates, and Pups.
Krisi Frazee, M.S
Better Body Founder
Founder of Better Body, Krisi holds an M.S in Exercise Physiology and a B.S. in Psychology. Her entrepreneurial spirit has lead her to manage and operate Pilates and Fitness businesses for over 15 years. Starting in Corporate Wellness where she designed and implemented wellness programs for Corporate America. She has taught for the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and later spearheaded her own Portable Pilates business serving residents living in Northern Virginia. Her strong compassion for people has brought her to specialize in clients with special needs, clients with injuries, and clients with chronic back pain. Krisi brings dynamic and progressive innovation to her Traditional approach to Pilates. Her unmatched ability to motivate, originate, and inspire has earned her recognition as being one of the top Pilates experts in her field.
Krisi began her Pilates apprenticeship under disciples of Romana Kryzanowska and learned from master instructors such as Bob Liekens, Peter Fiasca, Kathryn Nash, Mauri Windsor, and Michael Rooks. She holds a Certification from Power Pilates, New York, 2004 and received her Baptiste Yoga certification in 2007. She continues her training in the Classical approach and uses her unique creative edge to reach clients' true potential. Krisi continues honing her skills with private training and continued education and believes in practicing what she preaches by including Pilates into her daily life.
Other pastime experiences include theater and film where she worked in a wide array of movies and documentaries. Hobbies include writing, yoga, taking runs along the river, and spending time with her family in Pittsburgh. She has a strong compassion for animals; particularly the canine sort, and contributes to various animal shelters. Krisi lives in Vienna Va. She stands by her mantra: "You will be better than before".
Becky Epstein
Studio Administrative Assistant
Becky grew up in Westchester, New York, where she began studying dance at the age of 5. She continued her dance training throughout college, and she now has the pleasure of sharing her passion for dance with others as a full-time Elementary School Dance Teacher within Fairfax County Public Schools. She earned a BA in Dance from James Madison University, where she also received her Virginia teaching license in Dance. While studying dance at JMU, she began to develop an interest in Pilates and realized how beneficial Pilates is for dancers. Becky believes that a dedicated practice of Pilates will allow greater control of the body and will promote a sense of well-being and balance in your life. She completed her Basic and Intermediate Mat Pilates training through Peak Pilates. She is also a certified to teach Balanced Body Barre. Becky is excited to work with the Better Body team.
Lindsey Mitchell
Instructor
Lindsey found her love for Pilates after completing a BFA in acting and beginning a career in Shakespeare education and performance. She found herself trying multiple studios to and from rehearsals and quickly learned there are a several different approaches to the Pilates method. Her absolute favorite style was found with Classical Pilates led by the instructors of Better Body. She was surprised at how challenging small, precise movements could be and how it’s disciplined systematic approach really does work. Lindsey holds her Pilates Certificate from Power Pilates and her Barre Certification through Vbarre. She has studied with Sheri Berkowitz, Karina Thek Linebeck, and Veronica Combs.
Karisa Skiba
Instructor
Karisa comes to Better Body as an experienced System level 3 classical Pilates instructor with over 8 years teaching experience, and 10+ years of personal Pilates study.
Karisa began studying the method while rehabilitating from a dance related injury while living her ballerina life years ago. As a soloist for The Milwaukee Ballet, she practiced Pilates to refine technique, build a longer, leaner body, increase strength, coordination, and grace which resulted in a long, healthy career of 13 years working for Milwaukee Ballet, Chautauqua Ballet and various guest appearances. Pilates was an integral part in her return to the stage after two pregnancies and she continued to dance professionally until after her second son celebrated his first birthday.
Upon retiring from The Milwaukee Ballet company, she pursued her classical Pilates certification from Power Pilates in Annapolis, MD and New York, NY. She taught for 2 years in Northern VA both private and group apparatus and mat classes, and another 4 years in Milwaukee, WI. Additionally, she happily accepted an invitation to teach for University of Wisconsin-Peck School of the Arts as a guest lecturer in 2011. She was also a curriculum instructor for The Milwaukee Ballet School and trained/coached dancers for prestigious ballet competitions. While living in Tanzania from 2013-2015 she developed a vibrant Pilates clientele instructing many clients of varied cultures both in private and group classes. She continues to engage in the work through continuing education and weekly workouts.
Karisa is known for a keen eye for precise, proper placement while performing the Pilates Method exercises for optimal results and progression. She has challenged many types of clients from athletes, to the elderly, to the injured to enhance their daily lives as well as develop their game/performance. With firsthand experience working with physical therapists as a patient and also on the other side of the table, working with PTPlus’ Amy Snyder MPT, DPT, she was able to develop skills to help patients in the Pilates studio to achieve healthier function. Understanding many options for modifications, she strives to develop a challenging session for all clients, even if they have some physical challenges. She is driven by a passion to help clients develop a stronger, balanced, healthier body that works efficiently and provides a feeling of wellness and strength from within.
There’s nothing that she’s found that gives your body an inner warmth and strength like Pilates. Plus you’ll define your muscles, build tone and flexibility and hopefully have fun as well. She looks forward to meeting you!
Lori Popovich
Instructor
Became a student of classical Pilates in 2003 in an effort to heal herself from a chronic back injury she sustained from participation in high school sports. Overtime, Lori learned to initiate movement from her core/powerhouse, using the classical exercises developed by Joseph Pilates, ridding herself of chronic pain and compensatory weaknesses. She attributes a significant percentage of her full recovery to consistently and persistently doing Authentic Pilates 2-3x a week taught from properly trained instructors. Lori was so inspired by the results (increased strength, mobility, stamina, control, improved posture from proper pelvic & spinal alignment), as well as by the dedicated instructors around her, she decided to become an instructor herself. In 2008, Lori became a certified Power Pilates Instructor following the rigorous 600 hours+ Power Pilates Comprehensive program which includes Beginner, Intermediate & Advanced Systems. In addition, she received her Personal Trainer certification from ACE in 2013, and furthers her studies of the body & exercise through continuing education courses. Lori also graduated from Boston College with dual degrees in Finance and Personnel Management.
Lt. Matt Michaelson, M.S., ACSM-CPT
Instructor, Personal Training / Self-Defense
Matt is a former U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel who comes to Better Body with over 25 years experience in health, wellness, physical fitness, and Martial Arts/Self-Defense expertise. A native of Long Island, N.Y., Matt received his B.S. from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and went on to serve a 20-year military career with service overseas in Okinawa, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Earning a Masters in Kinesiology from Indiana University in 1998, Matt returned to West Point as an Instructor and Asst. Professor in Physical Education, where he instructed hundreds of cadets in close-quarters fighting and self-defense, and presented at both State and National-level ACSM and AAHPERD conferences. As a Certified Personal Trainer with ACSM, Matt enjoys designing specialized fitness programs for corporate professionals in DC, NoVa, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and New York, and conducts group Self-defense Workshops and Personal Training at Better Body. He is also available by appointment for individual and group fitness sessions/programs.
Jamie Miller
Instructor
Jamie has been a comprehensive certified Peak Pilates instructor since 2015. She began her Pilates practice in 2008, having suffered a minor back injury. Inspired by her sessions with Krisi and all of the Better Body team, she quickly became a devotee. Pilates has continued to assist Jamie through two shoulder surgeries. She is a believer in the benefits of the practice for all bodies – no matter a person’s age or physical condition. Jamie’s teaching approach is cool, calm, and collected. In her spare time, she loves to travel, read, and try new restaurants. She lives in Arlington with her sun-loving orange tabby, Seamus.