A dual citizen of Brazil and the United States, Christina has spent her entire life working in the art of moving the body efficiently, first as a professional ballet dancer and currently as a Pilates teacher. She has been specializing in private instruction of the original Pilates Method in her Sarasota, Florida studio since 2000. Trained and certified by Joseph Pilates' protege, Romana Kryzanowska, Christina has a true love for, and devotion to the Pilates Method. She discovered the value of teaching young children Pilates when she began working with a young boy who was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of seven. Since then she has used Pilates to help many children recover from sports injuries, learn about correct body mechanics, and discover the benefits of mindfulness in movement. NOTE: "Discovering Joe Pilates" was illustrated by Taís Haydée Gadar, an 8 year old student of the Pilates Method. Pilates photography for "Discovering Joe Pilates" was modeled by Marcelo Gadar (age 10), and Taís Haydée Gadar (age 8).