Get to know our Instructors
Aimee Levesque
Owner
- Certified mat and apparatus with Body Arts and Science, over 300 hours of practice and lecture
- Teaching assistant with Body Arts and Science International in Costa Mesa CA. Assisted Rael Isacowitz (Founder of BASI) and Constance Holder (director of education) in certification courses 2009. Host contact for BASI courses offered at Smart Body Pilates.
- Recipient of hip resurfacing procedure Sept 2010. Specializes in developing Pilates programs for total hip replacement, and hip resurface recipients. Read more about hip resurfacing and recovery...
- Mat certified in BASI and Physical Mind
- Yoga training through Yogafit, Levels 1 & 2
- Certified Personal Trainer & Group Fitness Instructor (ACE)
- B.A. in Psychology (concentration in sports psychology), and A.S. in Business Administration from the University of Southern Maine
- Former NAC national level sport aerobic competitor and national level Fitness America competitor
- Coach/ choreographer for competitive fitness athletes
- Been in the fitness industry for 20 years and the Pilates industry for 10 years
Contact Aimee: Aimee@SmartBodyPilates.com
Julie Suiter
Julie Suiter is originally from Charleston, WV, and was a champion gymnast and circus performer before graduating from Duke University with a degree in psychology. She spent 21 years in the corporate world, holding positions in teaching, counseling, and human resources, including serving as the Director of the Wellness Program for a Fortune 500 company. Julie has been teaching yoga for healing and transformation for 14 years, and is a fruitarian who loves acrobatics, dance, and nature. She appreciates every opportunity to speak up for the animals.Contact Julie: Julie@SmartBodyPilates.com
Rachel K. Namgong
Rachel was first introduced to Pilates in 2007 while she was recovering from a rare neurological disease which caused paralysis in her lower body for 2 years. Since then, she took various mat & equipment Pilates classes from time to time for 10 years as one of the rehabilitation treatments.She graduated Summa Cum Laude from North Carolina State University with B.S in Human Biology (Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology) in 2014. With her background in Human Biology, her interest in human anatomy and movement grew bigger as she was experiencing significantly positive results from Pilates.
After having 2 children, she was determined to re-establish her body and mind for the better. Rachel firmly believes that strengthening the body and mind have a direct impact on one's overall happiness and her genuine love for helping others provide her clients with a custom, effective experience. She completed the comprehensive teacher training modules through Balanced Body Pilates and received her full certification in 2019.
Rachel truly loves sharing her passion for Pilates with her clients as she experienced on herself. Whether you are looking for a challenging workout, want to focus on a particular goal, or you've never tried Pilates before and want to know what it's all about, she wants to be your partner in your Pilates experience!
Amelia Crabtree
Growing up outside Chicago, Amelia thought of exercise as a chore to be avoided at all costs. Through experimenting with different forms of exercise in early adulthood, she was delighted to discovered that there were many enjoyable activities that didn't involve running on a treadmill! Incorporating regular, intentional movement into her life made a night-and-day difference in the way her body and mind felt. Amelia began taking Pilates mat classes sporadically in college, but really fell in love with the method when she tried out Reformer classes 5 years later. Having experience with dance and theater, she enjoyed the feeling of support the apparatus provided, allowing her to work in a greater range of motion safely, while encouraging flexibility and building strength. Due to recurring knee injuries, Amelia has used Pilates as part of her personal rehabilitation programs due to the low-impact nature of the method.
After many years of thinking about becoming an instructor, Amelia enrolled in the renowned BASI Comprehensive Pilates Teacher Training in January 2017 and began teaching group classes and private students a few months later. She loves helping clients find the joy and freedom that comes with movement.
Having lived in Chicago her whole life, she relocated to Raleigh in August 2018 with her husband and their 2 cats––just to shake things up! Besides Pilates, Amelia enjoys cooking and enjoying all forms of art.
Frequently Asked Questions
10 Reasons to Do Pilates
Become a Pilates Pro
Pilates has made all the difference in the world in helping me be a successful masters athlete in softball and racquetball at the national level. I'm a 63 year old woman and has successfully recovered from a hip resurface one year ago! I have worked with Aimee Levesque over seven years and extensively during the recovery phase of my hip. Pilates means core strength and endurance which translates into torque, power, and flexibility in sports. Smart Body Pilates Studio is state of the art and Aimee is a superb instructor and trainer. I look forward to continuing Pilates with Aimee for many sports years to come!Dee, 63 years old
