About

NICE TO MEET YOU

I'm Gina Santangelo

Proud owner of GLOW Body Pilates Studio in Ridgewood, New Jersey, and founder of Flow Pilates Centre in Tenafly, New Jersey, my career in fitness has spanned over three decades, driven by an unwavering passion for health, movement, and holistic wellness. My expertise spans across multiple disciplines, making me not just a trainer but a true wellness visionary.

My Approach: Pilates as the Foundation for Strength & Mobility

Pilates is the foundation of everything I teach. Whether a client is just beginning or has years of experience, I always start with Pilates as the core practice. The principles of alignment, breath, control, and precision are fundamental, no matter what other modalities we incorporate. As my clients build stability, mobility, and confidence, we gradually integrate strength training, muscle synthesis, and functional movement to enhance endurance, bone density, and resilience.

Every program I offer is tailored to the individual, ensuring that each person moves safely while gaining strength, stability, and long-term vitality. The goal is not just fitness—but lifelong functional strength and movement freedom.

My Journey & Passion

Growing up in the heart of NYC, my love for movement began early. I immersed myself in ballet, tap, and jazz, and my flexible body and strong core were further developed through family yoga sessions during the Woodstock era. My first real experience with fitness was at just 12 years old, when I discovered my mom’s Jane Fonda Workout Vinyl in 1976. I was hooked. That moment led me to purchase the workout book, which I still own today!

As my knowledge deepened, I fell in love with Callanetics Exercise and its revolutionary 3-D spiraling technique, which I became certified in back in 1998. The fluidity and precision of Callanetics allowed me to personalize my approach for every client, helping them achieve their strength, flexibility, and movement goals.

Diving Into Pilates Mastery & Flow  Pilates Centre

Pilates became a major cornerstone of my expertise. I am fully trained in all Pilates Apparatus, including the Reformer, Stability Chair, Cadillac, Barrels, and Mat Work.

After sharing my craft locally in Tenafly, NJ, I founded Flow  Pilates Centre in 2001, a studio dedicated to high-quality Pilates instruction, functional movement, and teacher training. Flow became a recognized teacher training center for Stott Pilates in Toronto, Canada, where I trained instructors in the highest standards of Pilates methodology.

In 2003, I expanded my approach by certifying in Yamuna Body Rolling, Yamuna Foot Focus, and Yamuna Face Ball, studying under founder Yamuna Zake. These specialized techniques deepened my understanding of structural alignment, joint mobility, and muscular recovery, further enhancing my ability to support clients.

After 15 years of guiding clients and mentoring future instructors, I made the decision to sell FLOW Pilates Centre in 2016 to return to a more personal, client-focused environment. While I valued mentoring and managing a team, my true passion has always been working directly with clients—problem-solving structural issues, refining movement, and immersing myself in the craft. This led to the opening of GLOW Body Pilates Studio in Ridgewood in 2017, where I could fully dedicate myself to hands-on instruction and individualized training.

GLOW Body Evolution & The Muscle Integrity Program

In 2018, I launched GLOW Body Evolution, a proprietary program designed to blend dynamic movement, core strengthening, and functional mobility work to help clients build strength and balance while staying injury-free. This program remains an integral part of my teaching and continues to evolve alongside my latest offerings.

In February 2025, I launched The Muscle Integrity Program: Strength for Life, a progressive strength and mobility program designed to improve muscle tone, build bone density, and enhance overall movement quality. This program integrates seamlessly with Pilates, allowing clients to tap into muscle synthesis and strength-building without bulk.

Guiding Women of All Ages Through Strength & Wellness

Today, as a Master Fitness Instructor, Mindset Coach, and Detoxification Specialist, I offer personalized private and semi-private sessions at GLOW Body Pilates Studio, working with women of all ages at every stage of life. My thriving studio specializes in supporting women through peri-menopause, menopause, post-menopause, pregnancy, and post-pregnancy, helping them build strength, maintain bone density, and improve overall vitality.

My approach is not just about strength, toning, and lifting—it’s about developing alignment and posture for strong, pain-free movement patterns, improving gait and foot stability to prevent injury, and building core and functional strength to support everyday movement, longevity, and resilience. Pilates remains the foundation of all my work, ensuring strength training is intentional, safe, and rooted in strong movement mechanics. I also offer complimentary Mindfulness & Nutritional Counseling with every program, ensuring my clients receive a holistic, well-rounded approach to health.

Author & Advocate for Clean Living

As part of my commitment to educating and empowering women, I have written two books that reflect my passion for health, nutrition, and movement:
"Eat Clean, Live Free" (2015) explores clean eating, detoxification, and mindful nutrition, while "Pilates for Beginners" (2016) provides a foundational approach to Pilates for strength and flexibility.

A Personal Journey Through Loss & Healing

In 2011, my life took a profound turn when I faced the unimaginable loss of my 18-month-old daughter to SUDC. This tragedy reshaped my path, leading me to deepen my understanding of clean eating, mindfulness, and holistic healing.

While this was the most painful experience of my life, it also gave me purpose. My heart will forever bear a tear, but through that very tear, my daughter's light continues to shine. Every time I support, guide, and empower others on their wellness journeys, I know her presence is there.

Start Your Journey Today

If you’re looking to move, feel, and live better, I invite you to reach out and explore which program fits your needs best. Whether you’re starting with Pilates as a foundation or ready to integrate strength and mobility work, I look forward to guiding you toward a stronger, more resilient body and mind.