About Clarissa Shepherd-Hayes
Clarissa Shepherd-Hayes is a comprehensively trained Classical Pilates educator, Master Trainer, studio owner, author, and movement strategist committed to preserving the integrity and elevating the standard of Pilates education.
Comprehensively certified through Peak Pilates and fully trained through Club Pilates, Clarissa serves as a Master Trainer, mentoring and developing instructors nationwide with a focus on precision, leadership, and depth of understanding.
Her advanced credentials include specialized training with Oh Baby! Fitness, TRX Suspension Training, and Master Trainer status with Barre Above. She also serves as an On-Care Postpartum Movement Specialist for Sanu Postpartum Care, guiding mothers through intelligent, restorative recovery.
For the past three years, Clarissa has trained professional athletes for the Washington Commanders, applying classical Pilates principles to optimize strength, control, mobility, and resilience at an elite level of performance.
She is the founder of Shepherd Method Pilates, a Classical Mat Teacher Training program designed to cultivate technically skilled, confident instructors grounded in mastery of the fundamentals. Her philosophy is clear: excellence is not found in reinvention, but in refinement. When the work is taught with clarity and intention, it transforms both body and teacher.
Clarissa is also a children’s author, writing Sage Does Pilates, Babies and Barre, and an ABC-themed movement book that introduces young children to strength, confidence, and body awareness through purposeful movement.
Based in Sterling, Virginia, where she owns and operates her studio, Clarissa continues to mentor instructors, develop specialized trainings, and build programs that bridge classical tradition with modern application.
Outside of her professional work, she enjoys salsa dancing, studying Spanish, and spending time with her husband and two daughters — a balance that reflects the very foundation of her teaching: strength, grace, and intention in every season of life.
