Naomi Leiserson
Founder & Master Instructor
Naomi was first introduced to Pilates at Saint Francis Memorial Hospital’s Center for Sports Medicine where she worked with 1000s of patients during her seven years as an instructor. She continued to study Pilates and broaden her understanding of movement by training with many master Pilates teachers across the U.S. In addition, Naomi received her certification in Gyrotonic, the Franklin Methode and the Hendrickson Method of Massage and Manual Therapy. In 2000, she joined forces with Susan Gray and Nora St. John to open Turning Point Studios in Walnut Creek.
Naomi credits her love of dance as her initial inspiration for discovering Pilates and movement education. “I have personally experienced the many advantages of using Pilates for athletic performance enhancement, rehabilitation and post surgical recovery,” says Naomi. “Pilates continues to prove it’s worthiness every time I Salsa dance, hike, backpack, scuba dive, or go jogging. There’s an experiential advantage in everything I do.”
Danica Radulovich
Instructor
Danica found Pilates after a high school injury and fell in love with the results she saw inside and out from the mind-body connection. After graduating from UCLA and working in the pharmaceutical industry, she decided to pursue a fulfilling full time career helping others find similar ease and comfort in their own bodies. She completed her Balanced Body Comprehensive Instructor Training with Tom McCook at Center of Balance in Mountain View and is enjoying teaching with and learning from the incredibly knowledgeable and passionate instructors (and students) at Turning Point.
Danica is also a student of Ayurveda, a lover of Yoga, dogs, dance and a former marathon runner. She hopes to spend a lifetime helping others enjoy life’s every move.
Jennie LaSalle
Instructor
Jennie’s Pilates journey started in 2011 following a back injury. After completing physical therapy she looked for a way to continue strengthening her back and core to fully resolve her back issues. She began working with instructors at Turning Point in a combination of classes and private instruction and found that she was not only getting relief from back pain, she was also becoming stronger and more flexible than she had ever been. This inspired her to become a Pilates instructor as a second career in order to help others move towards being stronger and healthier. Jennie’s training has been from Tom McCook at Center of Balance and Naomi Leiserson and Julie Lushington at Turning Point and she continues to benefit from the tremendous guidance and teaching of these Turning Point Master Instructors.
When not teaching or participating in Pilates, Jennie enjoys hiking with friends and her dog Zoey, traveling with her husband and spending time with her children and grandchildren.
Paula Santana
Instructor
Paula first discovered Pilates while pregnant with her first child. Pilates’ emphasis on mind-body connection, precision, and balance really resonated. She deepened her practice and connection to the Pilates community when she stumbled upon a mat class with a loyal following. Paula credits her classmates and instructor for inspiring her to become a Pilates teacher! She completed comprehensive training in all apparatus with Body Arts and Sciences International. Paula has a master of public health and is also a board-certified health and wellness coach.
Paula believes strongly in the power of lifestyle behaviors to transform one’s health. She worked nearly two decades in biotech and has witnessed the role Pilates and mindful movement can play in disease prevention, management and rehabilitation. She is mom to two children, one with a rare syndrome and physical disability. In this role, she advocates for increased access to healthcare and lifestyle medicine. Paula is excited to share her joy of movement with you!