Our Instructors
Maria Sison-Wright, PT
Maria Sison-Wright is the owner of Inner Core Wellness. She has been practicing as a physical therapist for 34 years, with extensive experience in orthopedics, neurology, and sports injuries. In 2004, she received her Pilates certification under the tutelage of master teachers Romana Kryzanowska and her daughter Sari Mejia Santo in New York City. She is currently a Level 4 Romana’s Pilates® Instructor Trainer. Additionally, she is a SFMA (Selective Functional Movement Assessment) specialist and a fully certified MELT Method instructor.
Thanks to her strong interest in Pilates, functional movement, and the MELT Method, Maria has been able to integrate Pilates principles and functional training into her physical therapy practice, achieving positive results with her patients. She believes in a “whole-body” approach to physical therapy, addressing the body as a whole and rehabilitating not only specific injuries but also the overall well-being of her clients. Maria is an active member of the APTA and Romana’s Pilates and is also deeply involved with MMOM USA, an organization that provides free volunteer medical services to underprivileged communities in the Philippines and Guatemala.
Loren Shell
Loren Shell has always found joy in movement and exercise, as a young dancer and later as a runner. She discovered Romana’s Pilates while looking for continued educational opportunities after a career change from teaching elementary education to group fitness.
Loren was referred to Inner Core Wellness by another Romana’s Training studio in Virginia Beach and completed the intense 1.5 year program in the Fall of 2020 under the mentorship of Maria Sison-Wright. Loren also has ACE Fitness certificates in Group Fitness and Functional Movement. Loren is so excited to continue working with Inner Core Wellness.
Sunhae More
Sunhae More has always been extremely passionate in the fitness industry. She loves learning about people’s movements and working to find the right workout for them. Her love with Classical Pilates began in 2017 and despite the challenges of numerous moves as a military family, she couldn’t stop Pilates. She has taken lessons around the world in cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, Seoul, and Hiroshima; always dreaming to become a Classical Pilates Instructor.
In 2020, she began working under Brenna Hosang, in Virginia Beach, and Maria Sison-Wright completing her certification as a Romana Instructor in early 2022. Sunhae is also a certified ACE personal trainer and Peak Pilates Instructor level 1. She is fluent in Korean and can teach in either Korean or English depending on the client’s preference.
Lori Popovich
Lori Popovich 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 earned her Personal Trainer certification from ACE in 2013, including an Orthopedic Specialist certification, among others from the ACE, and furthers her knowledge through various continuing education courses. Lori also graduated from Boston College with dual degrees in Finance and Personnel Management. She enjoys the outdoors especially hiking and skiing.
Tamar Reisner
Tamar is a certified classical Pilates instructor and professional dancer based on the East Coast. She loves guiding her clients as they strengthen the connection between their body & mind through the practice of Pilates.
Tamar was certified through the Romana’s Pilates Teacher Training Program, a comprehensive and authentic classical Pilates training program handed down directly from Joseph Pilates to Romana Kryzanowska, Joseph Pilates’ protegé. Tamar has completed over 900 hours of rigorous training under the mentorship of Master Teacher Trainer and Level II instructor Cynthia Shipley and has worked with a number of Pilates studios in the mid-Atlantic region. Eager to keep learning, she often attends workshops and continuing education seminars to deepen her knowledge of the body and the Pilates method. When Tamar isn’t teaching or performing, she enjoys spending time with her two cats, Archer and Zuzu.