Meet The Team

Desima Dawdy

Desima Dawdy, A.A., B.S., A.C.E., Certified Corrective Exercise Specialist is the director and owner of Pilates Performance & Rehab. She completed her four year Pilates course-work, observation, apprenticeship and certification process from Polestar Education. Desima was comprehensively trained and certified as a Pilates Practitioner and has also served as a mentor and teaching assistant for both Polestar Education's Allegro Reformer and Comprehensive Studio/Rehab Hybrid Series.

Desima is a licensed provider of Ron Fletcher Towelwork®, Floorwork®, Barrework™, and Fletcher Shoulder Stabilization Programming.

Desima is also a Certified BioMechancis Method Exercise Specialist. The BioMechanics Method® is a systematic process used to alleviate back pain and other chronic pain This revolutionary approach to pain relief incorporates structural assessments, corrective exercise techniques and life coaching strategies into a simple system that makes improved function and pain-free living a reality for people plagued by muscle and joint pain. The BioMechanics Method Corrective Exercise Specialist credential is the highest-rated CES program in the health and fitness industry.

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Read More about Desima on our Gallery Page

Joni Wells

Joni received her Comprehensive Pilates training through Polestar Pilates Education.

The Polestar curriculum, designed by physical therapist and Orthopedic Certified Specialist Dr. Brent Anderson, is based on a scientific foundation of anatomy, physiology, biomechanics and motor control. It integrates scientific research findings in the areas of orthopedics, sports medicine and movement science.

Joni is also an instructor for TRX Suspension training and CoreAlign.

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Joni has an extensive background in fitness and sports performance with over 30 years of teaching experience.
Joni started Pilates rehabilitation after a leg injury in 1999 where she was able to fully understand the multiple imbalances that can come with sports training and the overuse and abuse theory that causes problems for many athletes.

Joni offers private lessons and small group personal training in Topeka, as well as specialized injury prevention programming for all types of active lifestyles and sports.

She can be reached at jonijwells@gmail.com

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Ashley Sandefer

Graduating from K.U. with a degree in Exercise Science while also studying dance at KU, Ashley shadowed and interned with Physical therapists. She worked at Bird Physical Therapy in Lawrence, KS before having children and moving into the Pilates field. She found Pilates to marry the beauty and art of dance with the science of biomechanics and kinesiology. Ashley had the opportunity to study under the first Polestar certified instructor in Kansas and began teaching in 2002. Her certifications range from a comprehensive Balanced Body education, Fletcher towel, barre, and floorwork, to HARDCORE barre, the Franklin method, CoreAlign, and many others along the way.

With a passion for movement as it relates to trauma, Ashley was a part of a group helping to educate and bring Trauma Informed Care to practitioners, lawyers, judges, and officers of the law. Believing movement to be truly a holistic endeavor, Ashley loves to see people benefit from all types of movement for improvement of mind, body, and soul.

Katie Tryon

Katie Tryon has been helping others find their own love for movement since 2006. In 2010 she completed her STOTT Reformer and Mat Pilates verifications. And has been growing a passion for Pilates ever since.

“I love when a client walks in with a back issue or muscle instability but walks out confident that I can help give the tools they need to walk taller and more confidently.” 

Having used Pilates as a way to rehab her own back injury, Katie knows how much success any person can have with a little dedication and patience. 

“We aren’t here to see results overnight, but if we give it some time and effort clients and even myself are amazed by the stability, core strength and longevity Pilates offers those who give it their best shot!” 

Katie has experience working with the young, the young at heart and special populations including Prenatal clients as well as those who have recently been cleared for movement following hip/knee/joint replacement. 

Kristin Salmans

Kristin has lived in Lawrence since 2013. Prior to that, she lived in various places around Alabama, Texas, Illinois, Virginia, Nebraska and Germany as an Air Force spouse. Kristin began practicing and teaching Pilates matwork in 2003, shortly after the oldest of her three children was born. She also has twins who were born in 2010. In 2016, Kristin completed the 520 hour Comprehensive Instructor Training program through Balanced Body Education and began teaching private clients & small groups, in addition to mat & barre classes. She also holds certifications through AFAA, Balanced Body Barre, TRX and several indoor cycling certifications. Upon completion of her Classical Pilates Master Teacher Program with Lesley Logan, she will be a third generation teacher of the Joseph Pilates method.

Kristin holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Baylor University as well as a Masters in Health Systems Administration from Georgetown University. She currently practices as a nurse with Douglas County Health Department and serves on the Board of Trustees at LMH. Kristin is also active in the community, passionate about voter rights and civic education, also serving on the Board of the League of Women Voters. This background and experience are a perfect complement to the teaching and practice of Pilates. She truly loves working with clients of all ages and abilities. The greatest reward to her is seeing the amazing transformations of her clients, not only physically, but in mind-body balance and confidence.

Jen Nichols

Jen Nichols is comprehensively trained through Polestar Pilates Education, an internationally recognized program focused on whole body wellness, healing through movement and mind-body-spirit connection. With a background in dance and a deep understanding of movement, Jen designs her classes to promote strength, flexibility and balance while emphasizing proper form and technique.

After having her first son, Jen decided it was time to follow her passion for teaching. Jen’s love of Pilates grew out of her love of dance, as they share many of the same principles of movement. Her journey began at Pilates Performance and Rehab in 2007, where she taught reformer, mixed apparatus, mat and yoga. After several years and following the birth of two more babies, she decided to take time off to focus on her family. Time has flown and now her oldest is off to KU, and with her younger chicks not far behind, she has decided to return to PPR to continue her teaching career. 

Jen’s passion is to bring out the potential in every student by building strength, confidence and pride in oneself. She is most gratified when her students tell her how they have applied their newfound strength, balance and mindfulness in everyday life.

Lorna Jarrett

Lorna is a graduate of Polestar Pilates Rehabilitation Track with PMA (Pilates Method Alliance) certification. Lorna is a licensed allied health provider (PTA) through the Kansas Board of Healing Arts and holds a Master of Science in Kinesiology with a corrective exercise and orthopedic rehabilitation emphasis. She utilizes her clinical knowledge and dance background to create Pilates programs for overall conditioning and musculoskeletal conditions. 

Combined  Specialty Certifications include: Pilates for MS & Neurological Disorders, American Institute of Balance/Vestibular Rehabilitation, TheraPilates ™ Bone Building & Injuries 15 years as a certified personal trainer (NSCA-CPT). Lorna is engaged in community leadership in Kansas City. She is a board member of the American Physical Therapy Association- Kansas Chapter, the PTA Caucus Representative for Kansas and Healthcare & Wellness domain leader for the non-profit Unite KC founded by Dayton Moore and Creativity and Faith Network Leader for the Sending Project. She has developed several Pilates studios which integrate whole body health with whole body movement. 

Valuing leadership and education, she is currently completing her Doctorate of Health Science (DHSc) from A.T. Still University school of Osteopathic Medicine, with emphasis in leadership and organizational behavior.

Lorna’s training philosophy is to use Pilates as a tool to move your body from function to a level of optimal performance. Her heart is to mentor those with a desire to dedicate their perfect work to wellness, rehabilitation, and fitness. 

Kathy Selig

Kathy Selig is a retired physical therapist who practiced for 42 years and was undeniably one of the best of the best. She graduated from Kansas State University and KU Medical Center with primary interest in the field of orthopedics and sports medicine. She practiced for 21 years in collaboration with orthopedic pioneer and Desima's mentor, Dr. Phillip Baker, founder of Kansas Orthopedic and Sports Medicine.

She became familiar with Pilates when she assumed the role of Clinical Manager of Rebound Physical Therapy's Satellite Clinic, which was originally located in Desima's gym, Absolute Fitness where Pilates Performance & Rehab  originated in 2000. When both facilities relocated to temporary accommodations due to construction delays, she, Desima, Joni, and Heather Brewer, PTA, ATC, worked side by side at a co-op space affectionately known as "Camp Pilates."

Kathy saw the profound benefits of Pilates Apparatus and Methodology and began incorporating fundamentals of core strengthening and muscle balance into her practice. The staff and clients of PPR also greatly benefited from Kathy's expertise and patient care. Kathy has now ventured into a new wellness role and has completed the certification course in CoreAlign® training. She has enjoyed this functional progression of her interest in Pilates. Kathy has a long-standing concern for decreasing core strength and balance deficits in the general and aging population. Kathy will be focusing on Fall Prevention and Gait Training with weight bearing exercises and strengthening of the core muscles facilitated through the CoreAlign®.

Kathy and her husband live in the country with their three lab puppies and enjoy time with their children and families, including three beautiful granddaughters.