team

All Bella Forma Pilates instructors are highly skilled pilates professionals who each bring their unique talents to your sessions. We encourage you to benefit from different Bella Forma Pilates instructors who have all completed the most rigorous certification programs.

Gina Axelson, Owner & Certified Pilates Instructor

Gina began her pilates journey at the urging of her younger sister, Patty, and like most people was hooked on pilates from the very beginning. After years of private instruction and a desire for a career change, Gina left her corporate job in 2001 and completed her first pilates certification with Cathleen Murakami of the PhysicalMind Institute. At the same time she completed the UCSD Extension professional certificate for Exercise Science & Physiology while becoming an ACE certified personal trainer. In 2002 she opened her first pilates studio, GP Pilates of Pacific Beach, which allowed her to fuse her love of pilates, people and business. In 2004 she jumped at the opportunity to be certified by Pilates Master Teacher, Kathy Corey, of West Coast Pilates and started the long process of creating her second studio, Bella Forma Pilates which opened in August of 2006. She continued her pilates education by attending annual conferences, became PMA Certified, and attended the BASI Pilates Comprehensive Certification Program in 2008. Gina currently lives in Leucadia with her husband and son and is grateful for all the people and joy pilates has brought to her life for more than a decade.
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Alison, Certified Pilates Instructor

Alison is a native of Southern California and has had a passion for dancing since the age of four. She completed her bachelor’s degree in Dance and Liberal Studies at Loyola Marymount University in 2000. It was after a dance injury during her senior year that she discovered Pilates and its healing benefits. She received her Pilates Certification in 2001 through Long Beach Dance Conditioning Center, under the direction and mentorship of Marie Jose Blom. She is committed to helping her clients’ maximize their potential, while paying close to attention to their health and fitness goals, emphasizing good body mechanics, Pilates form and technique.

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Angelique, PMA®-Certified Pilates Instructor

Angelique is a native of Southern California and a graduate of UC Irvine with a B.A. in English.  She began taking dance lessons at 6 years old and by the age of 16, started to teach.  After incurring a hip injury while still in her late teens, she was introduced to Pilates and became fascinated with the intricacies and complexities of the body.  She continued to pursue her passion for movement and danced and taught professionally for more than 20 years.  Years later while living in New York, she earned her first Pilates certification through The PhysicalMind Institute in 2003 after an 11 month intensive apprenticeship program under the direction of Master Teacher Elizabeth Gillies.  Angelique was then invited to teach at Elizabeth’s studio for the next 4 years where she was profoundly influenced by Ms. Gillies’ dedication to rehabilitation and innovation.Utilizing intuitive cueing and a meticulous eye for form and proper body mechanics, Angelique provides a unique experience for each of her clients and their personal needs and goals.  She strives to instill a clarity and deep understanding of the work to her diverse clientele such as those with shoulder pain, fibromyalgia, hip replacement, osteoporosis, ACL repair and scoliosis.  Angelique has trained extensively in Pilates protocols for specific populations.  She is a post-rehabilitative breast cancer exercise specialist with a certification through The Pink Ribbon Program.  Additionally, she completed the Fusion Pilates for Pre/Post Natal teacher training course with Jennifer Gianni.  Angelique’s focus and specialization is working with individuals with low back pain.

After joining BFP in August 2007, Angelique subsequently pursued her second Pilates certification by completing the BASI Comprehensive Teacher Training Program in 2008.  The following year she became a certified BalleCore BARRE Mat instructor.  In 2011 she graduated from Long Beach Dance Conditioning’s Core Intelligence Course and Master Mentorship Program—Master Evolution 1 & 2 taught by legendary Master Teacher, Marie-José Blom.  The same year, she earned her certification as a SmartCore trainer for the SmartSpine system—a unique wellness aid for therapeutic movement and back pain management, created by Marie-José.

As of 2011, Angelique became a licensed GYROKINESIS® apprentice teacher.  She studied with Authorized GYROTONIC® Master Trainer and Classical Pilates Master Trainer, Kathy Van Patten and anticipates completing her full certification in summer 2012.  She is also a M.E.L.T. Method® (Myofascial Energetic Length Technique) Hand and Foot Instructor.  M.E.L.T. is a Hands-off Bodywork™ approach that simulates the techniques and the results of manual therapy.  Angelique was certified by M.E.L.T. Method® creator, Sue Hitzmann in 2011.

Angelique has been certified by the Pilates Method Alliance since 2010.  She finds inspiration from her many amazing and devoted clients at Bella Forma.


Anne, Certified Pilates Instructor

Anne graduated from Texas Christian University and quickly joined the corporate world. Throughout Anne’s life she has been highly involved in swimming, marathons, and yoga, so when she heard about Pilates she was immediately curious. Anne began practicing Pilates in early 2005, and got certified by KORE Pilates in La Jolla, California. After receiving her certification she decided to leave a successful career in order to dedicate more time towards Pilates. Anne has a real passion for seeing her clients reach their own personal goals while realizing the multiple benefits of Pilates. She also enjoys traveling around the world, hiking, reading, and spending time with her husband and son.
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Janice, Certified Pilates Instructor

Janice has a Bachelors degree in Food Science and Nutrition from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. She worked for many years in medical sales before leaving the work force to raise her two children. An avid runner and biker, Janice found Pilates in 2002 as a way to complement those activities and to prevent injury. She fell in love with the practice of Pilates and was amazed at the changes she saw in her own body. Encouraged by her instructor at the time, she pursued her initial certification through PhysicalMind Institute and began teaching mat classes immediately. She has since completed her comprehensive certification through Balanced Body University and feels so fortunate to be doing something she is passionate about every day.
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Oralia, Certified Pilates Instructor

Oralia Martinelli began practicing Pilates in 2004. She fell in love with the form, beauty, and precision of its movement. As she developed strength and physical fitness, she realized that Pilates was not simply a twice a week exercise routine in her life but rather Pilates was a part of her life. In 2007 she decided to attend Body Arts and Science International (BASI) in Costa Mesa, California and enrolled in the Comprehensive Pilates Teacher Training under Master Pilates Instructor Rael Isacowitz. She completed the program and received her BASI certification in 2008.  She then continued her training at J.L. Body Conditioning in Del Mar, California. She completed an apprenticeship program under another Master Pilates Instructor, Julian Littleford. There she gained valuable experience working with very diverse populations, such as the elderly, post-rehab patients, prenatal and postnatal women and stroke victims. In 2008 she received her second certification as a Pilates Full-Apparatus Instructor. She was then given the opportunity to work at J.L. Body Conditioning under the supervision and mentorship of Master Julian Littleford from 2008 to 2010 as an instructor

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Susan, Certified Pilates Instructor

After a life-long commitment to nutrition and fitness, through teaching aerobics and running, Susan was introduced to the Pilates Method in 2002 while living in Santa Barbara, California. She immediately became hooked on Pilates and continued to practice for the next six years. After moving to Carlsbad, California and semi-retiring from a career as a paralegal, she finally had the opportunity to pursue her passion for Pilates in the form of a new career. Susan completed the rigorous Body Arts and Science International Comprehensive Teacher Training Program in May 2008 and received her BASI certification in Spring of 2009. Her passion for Pilates has given her a personal goal to help her clients become better connected to their bodies so that they not only feel good, they look good, while also enjoying all the benefits continued movement brings to one’s everyday life.
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Want to learn how Pilates can change your life? Visit http://www.bellaformapilates.com