Teachers
The Well Loft is a unique place to work on your wellness with a variety of classes and workshops. We encourage you to allow our expert teachers and staff deepen your knowledge and lead you on an inspired path of fitness. We invite you to read their philosophies as it relates to their methods of teaching. 

Ava Adames

(Click here to read Ava'a Blog)
Ava is an exercise physiologist, ACE certified personal trainer, wellness coach, and certified equipment and mat Pilates Instructor, as well as mat Pilates teacher’s trainer. Ava obtained her MS degree for Exercise Science at California University of Pennsylvania. Her Pilates certifications are with Pole Star Pilates and Power Pilates. She has also trained through The New York Pilates Studio and has over 10 years of personal practice using the classical Joseph Pilates method and over 9 years in personal training. Ava currently owns and operates The Well Loft, LLC in Philadelphia. Ava's philosophy is that total beauty is captured best when strength is worked on and displayed from the inside out.

Katie Buell

Katie discovered yoga in 2008, and Mat Pilates in 2010. Katie was instantly captivated by the rejuvenating practice of yoga and felt the firing spark of core strengthening from Pilates so she decided to dive deeper into both. Katie's passion for yoga has grown throughout her everyday life as she thrives on the connected balance of the mind and body in a way that a regular gym routine had not previously offered. Her love for yoga led her to complete Yogawood’s 200 hour teacher training program. Upon finishing that she next delved into the Pilates world and became a mat certified instructor with AAAI. Always  learning, Katie is now studying Springboard Pilates equipment work and is very eager to share the art and philosophy of both Yoga and Pilates and their endless possibilities with you!

Heather Alessi
(click here to read Heather's Blog)

Heather Alessi started her formal dance training at age 7. She has studied various styles of dance ranging from pointe ballet and tap to modern and hip-hop and has performed with various companies throughout the Greater Philadelphia area. She served as Co-Director of the dance program at Awbury Recreation Center for 3 years as well as the ballet teacher for the program. She has recently shifted her focus from dance to fitness training but feels that dance has given her a good foundation for her new direction, especially with core training. In 2011, she served as head choreographer for the Philadelphia Flames, a semi-pro football dance team that trained at the Well Loft and began assisting with the Fit Boxing for Women class offered at the Well Loft. She is eager to merge her dance background with her new found love of fitness training and provide students with a unique experience that helps them achieve their fitness goals.    

Ora Nitkin-Kaner

Ora first began practicing yoga in 2006 at Toronto's Yoga Sanctuary and Octopus Garden, then spent 2 years in New Orleans practicing at the Wild Lotus Yoga Studio. She received her 250-hour teaching training from the Yoga Sanctuary in Toronto, learning how to teach Ashtanga, Hatha, and Restorative Yoga, as well as studying Anatomy and Hindu Philosophy. Ora has taught groups and private students in the US and Canada, and love's teaching. Her philosophy is that the most important part of being a yoga teacher is honoring each student's ability, and helping them find their strength and softness in each pose.