Meet Our Instructors

Darci Brawley

FOUNDER

Darci Brawley is a certified Pilates Instructor with more than 15 years experience in rehabilitation, apparatus work and Allegro through Balanced Body and Polestar Education. She is a is also a certified Personal Trainer through IDEA and AFA and a certified group exercise instructor.

Darci received certification in 1995 for Pilates Post Rehabilitation and apparatus Balance Body and Polestar education, and certification in 2002 for Pilates allegro reformer with Polestar education.

Darci has since continued her Pilates education through Stotts, Polestar, and the Physical Mind Institute. She has spent the last five years coupled with a physical therapy group using the Pilates methodology for rehabilitation for MS, and various spinal and orthopedic injuries.

Skye Madsen

Certified Pilates Instructor

Skye is a fully certified Stott Pilates instructor with a special emphasis on athletic performance, weight loss, pre and post natal, and rehabilitation. She exudes an absolute love for Pilates and fitness and is incredibly passionate about helping others become healthy, fit & reaching their highest potential.

While immersed in fitness and wellness in college she has continued her voracious appetite for learning which is why she is constantly challenging her clients (or as she likes to call them, family) giving them the highest results possible. Scoring a 97% on a very demanding test out process, Skye was invited to be a Stott Instructor Teacher Trainer.

Since first becoming a Stott Pilates instructor 8 years ago, she has transformed many bodies, and many say lives as well. Skye has spent 8 years teaching at top Pilates studios and has been involved in fitness for 12 years, as she began teaching in high school. Skye truly feels fortunate to share the gift of Pilates each day, and is so happy to be a part of the POP team!

Bianca Beach

Certified Pilates instructor

Bianca began her Pilates journey in 2019 when she needed rehabilitation for her sciatica. She completed the Comprehensive Program at BASI Pilates Newport Beach, and is currently an Apprentice there to deepen her knowledge of the body. Bianca has been with Pilates on Purpose since June of 2020, and has a passion for teaching to heal and to align the body to live the fullest life possible! She will also be graduating Chapman University in Spring of 2022 with a BFA in Theatre Performance, and was accepted into the Graduate Program to earn her Master’s in Leadership Development.

Julie Leigh

CERTIFIED PILATES INSTRUCTOR

A 200 hour-RYT through Yoga Alliance, Julie Leigh has been teaching yoga for 11 years and Pilates for more than a year. She has practiced yoga for 21 years, practiced Pilates for 10 years and has a background in gymnastics and cheerleading. A graduate of the Pilates Certification Program at Orange Coast College, Julie also graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Commerce from the University of Virginia.

Julie has been fortunate to learn from teachers all over the world. She was originally drawn to yoga while she was living in London, far from a family support network and raising newborn twins. After a traumatic birth experience left her in the ICU, Julie needed something that would help her recover physically and mentally. She credits yoga for not only helping her build a stronger body, but also helping her experience increased mental clarity and mindfulness – striving to live each moment of life fully present and aware.

In addition to her vinyasa yoga training, Julie has completed a number of intensive college-level anatomy, physiology, nutrition, kinesiology, Pilates and sports medicine courses as well as yin yoga training with Paul and Suzee Grilley. She has studied yoga with notable teachers including Dharma Mittra, Kino MacGregor, Kathryn Budig, James Brown, Bryan Kest, Baron Baptiste, Shiva Rea, Matt Giordano and Diana Christinson. Julie was trained in mat Pilates, reformer, cadillac, Wunda chair, ladder barrel and spine corrector by experienced Pilates instructors and Orange Coast College professors Delyer Anderson Coffman and David McMahan.

Julie has a strong background in partner work. She cheered in high school and at the University of Virginia, and taught for Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) both in the United States and Japan. While working at an international public relations firm in Chicago, she also coached Northwestern University cheer and judged the national high school and college UCA competitions on ESPN. Julie has trained with some of the best acro and cirque performers in the country in acro and hand balancing, and she and her acro partner have taught workshops and performed exhibitions at various events in Los Angeles and Orange County. Acro yoga has challenged her to explore the boundaries of physical strength and flexibility, all while requiring the development of a deep trust and creative partnership with another person.

Imani Bias

Certified Pilates Instructor

Imani “Ima” Bias is a Creative Entrepreneur: Dancer, Choreographer, and Certified Pilates Instructor located in Long Beach, California. Born and raised in Moreno Valley, California, Bias began dancing at the tender age of three.

Furthermore, Bias acquired a comprehensive Pilates Certification, with a specialization in Dance Conditioning as well as an AA in Behavioral and Social Studies and an AA in Fine Arts. She went on to pursue performing arts in college, as she is a graduate of Cal State Long Beach, Class of 2019. Bias has worked with over 20 music artists. Beyoncé, H.E.R., Koffee, Doja Cat, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Alex Isley, Terrace Martin, D Smoke, Roddy Ricch, and Burna Boy are some of the special artists Bias has worked for thus far. “Black is King” a film with Beyoncé, “The Harder They Fall” official music video with Koffee and “Vegas” official music video with Doja Cat are just a few of Bias’ latest contributions. In the process, Bias has worked with choreographers such as Tanisha Scott, Laure Courtellemont, Fatima Robinson, Jaquel Knight, Oththan Burnside and Parris Goebel. Bias has also assisted Tanisha Scott with choreographing the music video for Sean Paul titled “How We Do It” featuring Pia Mia.

Along with pursuing her passions, Bias has devoted time to fitness and self-healing. She has been teaching Pilates for the past six years across the Inland Empire, Orange County and Los Angeles. In addition, Bias has over 25 years of dance training which inspired her to start her own health and wellness business. She is the founder of BODHI BY IMANI LLC, established in 2020, assisting others with their own healing process through movement EXPLORATION, proper BODY MECHANICS, cultivating MINDFULNESS, MIND and BODY centering, and the use of BREATH. Bias offers open classes and private sessions for seniors, athletes, dancers, pre and postnatal clients.

Dilara Ergun

Certified Pilates Instructor

Dilara graduated from Polestar Pilates school in Istanbul where she went on to work as an instructor for two years. She started her fitness journey as a means to become more competitive at her favorite sport: volleyball, where she played and coached at the professional level for twenty years. In Turkey, Dilara was introduced to CrossFit where she competed and coached for six years. She followed her passion for sports and fitness to complete a Master’s in Kinesiology at Istanbul Marmara University before moving to the United States.

When she’s not in the gym or studio, you can also find her racing motorcycles and skydiving.

Dilara is passionate about helping her clients reach their best self. Her goal with each person is to create an individualized workout program according to their specific needs. She finds great joy in helping empower people in their fitness plan and everyday life . She believes that Pilates is an endless sea of wellness that aligns mind, body, and soul.