ABOUT JAQI

It all started with mom...

I was born and raised in Hong Kong, the city of lights in the Orient. A quiet and shy girl my mother put me in leotards and leg warmers at the age of 9 for dance aerobics, which sparked my love of fitness ever since. At 9th grade, I petitioned and succeeded in putting step classes on the sports curriculum for my peers as an alternative to team sports requirements or hitting the weight rooms with the dudes and wrestlers in the school gym. While completing my B.A. at the University of Pennsylvania I taught step aerobics classes at the Gymbel gym. I majored in Political Science, and was fascinated with the part of it about what motivates people, how power is used and perceived, about religion and sociology. I entered into it the wrong way, in human designs you will understand that things do not end well when entered incorrectly. For fear of disappointing my parents I did not declare a sociology major, which is where my real passion laid, Poli Sci (Pre-Law) allowed me to take a bunch of sociology courses! My passion lies in the study of empowerment and disempowerment of humanity at large.

Then I became one myself...

I took up yoga to calm my mind during two back to back pregnancies, but unfortunately injured my neck and shoulders after a year of practice. I not only found Pilates to rehab her injuries, I also regained her midsection tone back quickly with Pilates after exhausting other modalities including yoga, cardio and weight training. Pilates did it and I have been hooked ever since.  I was interested in the study of functions and how correct use of our physical blueprint through the Pilates method brought health, joy and happiness, the feeling is akin to the body singing a most beautiful song, or eating the most delicious meal, or seeing a beautiful work of art within one's movements. Pilates required so much focus that I got to break away from the mind and find refuge within my movements, and I wanted to transfer that experience to others. 

Education and Certifications


  • University of Pennsylvania, B.A. '97. Political Science
  • Certified Usui Reiki Master. NYC. '98
  • PhysicalMind Institute: Mat Pilates 2003
  • Polestar Pilates: Complete Studio Apparatus 2005
  • Peak Pilates Full Studio Certification 2008
  • Power Pilates Comprehensive Apparatus Certification 2010
  • Russian Kettlebell Training, Certified HKC 2012
  • Certified Health Coach, Institute of Integrative Nutrition 2013
  • Certificate of Sound Healing, Master Satya Brat, NYC, 2015
  • VoiceBio Practitioner
  • Bodytalk Systems Advanced Practitioner-In-Training
  • Inherited Family Trauma with Mark Wolynn
  • Level 3 Practitioner- Soul Detective with Dr. Barbara Stone
  • Soul Realignment Level 2 Practitioner
  • Steel Mace Flow Honors Coach
  • Steel Mace Vinyasa Level One
  • Viking Ninja Steel Mace Coach Level One
  • Enlifted Mindset Coach Level 3 
  • Advanced Teacher Mentorship with Philadelphia "Pilates Doyenne" Karen Carlson- ongoing
  • Certified Psych-K Facilitator
  • Quantum Human Design Practitioner