Our Instructors
Jen Montgomery
Jen Montgomery is a certified Pilates instructor and specialist with over 15 years experience teaching Pilates classes, privates and semi-private sessions. Her passion is in sharing and tailoring the Pilates repertoire to create effective and safe instruction for all ages, groups and fitness levels. She holds certifications with STOTT and BASI Pilates.
Jen specializes in group reformer classes, Pilates for corrective exercise, physical therapy and rehabilitation, Pilates for older adults, Pilates for athletes, Pilates for tweens and teens, Pilates for figure skaters and Pilates for dancers.
Jen believes that Pilates is for everybody, and is passionate about sharing the love, whether it be assisting in a physical therapy patient’s recovery, modifying or intensifying exercises for clients in our group classes, or tailoring exercises for elite athletes.
Outside the studio her family and golden retriever keep her very busy and active. When she’s not in the studio she loves activity outdoors, including hiking, golf & pickleball. She and her family love to adventure and travel whenever they get the chance.
Certified Pilates Instructor, Studio Director
Ashley Recktenwald
Ashley is a Balanced Body Certified Pilates Instructor, with 4 years experience teaching at Pilates Shoppe. After suffering a broken pelvis and back surgery in her early 20s, she was introduced to Pilates during physical therapy and fell in love with the reformer and everything Pilates has to offer. Pilates not only helped her regain her strength, but transformed the way she moved and felt everyday.
After more than 15 years of dedicated practice, Ashley decided to turn her passion into a profession. Today, she loves helping clients build strength, improve mobility, and leave each class feeling more confident and connected to their bodies.
Before becoming an instructor, she played college volleyball, lived and worked in Japan, built a career in finance, and then stepped away from the corporate world to raise her 3 children.
When she’s not in the studio, Ashley enjoys spending time with her husband, 3 kids, dog, and 2 cats. You probably won’t ever find her sitting still. If she’s not on the field watching her kids play sports, you’ll find her at the beach, cooking, playing the piano, watching live music, traveling, or making jewelry.
Certified Pilates Instructor
Christy Mellor
Christy grew up on the gulf coast of Florida and attended Florida State University, where she met her husband. Both of their children were born in Tallahassee, FL before the family of four moved west and settled in Aliso Viejo in 2015.
Christy injured her lower back in 2017, and after working through several unsuccessful treatment options over the course of the next year, she became a patient at Aliso Viejo Physical Therapy. As part of her rehabilitation process, Christy was referred to the Pilates Shoppe where a Reformer Pilates regimen greatly improved her lower back pain, increased her overall body strength and changed her life.
In 2021, Christy went through Balanced Body Reformer Teacher Training. She’s grateful for the opportunity to now be teaching pilates with the hopes of helping others gain the same health benefits that she has experienced! Christy also works as an aide at Aliso Viejo Physical Therapy, where she interacts closely with patients as they go through their own rehabilitation process — a unique opportunity that helps her modify exercises for her Pilates clients when needed.
When she’s not at the Pilates Shoppe, Christy enjoys spending time with family and friends, going to the beach as much as possible, and attending and volunteering at Compass Bible Church in Aliso Viejo. She also loves coffee and crocheting!
Certified Pilates Instructor
Caitlin Huggins
Caitlin grew up here in south Orange County and led a very active lifestyle in her youth, competing in horseback riding and soccer until moving away for college at the University of San Francisco.
After living and working abroad post college, Caitlin settled back in Orange County and in 2011 discovered The Pilates Shoppe when she was looking for something to add to her hiking and yoga routine. She instantly fell in love with Pilates and quickly convinced her fiancé to join her to get in shape for their wedding. Eventually she recruited her parents to join the Pilates Shoppe, where they continue to stay active weekly, and continued to practice Pilates throughout both of her pregnancies. Caitlin loves that Pilates can reach a broad spectrum of participants and can be modified through various phases of life.
In early 2023 she completed Balanced Body Pilates Instructor Training and has also trained with the Pilates Shoppe Instructor team.
Outside of Pilates, Caitlin loves spending time with her family, traveling, going to the beach, snowboarding and all things that foster creative outlets and various forms of maintaining an active lifestyle.
Pilates Instructor