About Tara

Tara Coyote first started her teaching career through teaching art and dance to children.  Past educational experiences include Movement Art Therapy at the Tamalpa Insitute with Anna Halprin and a massage degree.  Tara has been an athlete and a dancer all of her life, appearing in numerous individual and group performances. It is through her deep love of movement that she has learned to balance and nurture her whole being. She is inspired by the transformative work of Pilates and Gyrotonic exercise methods and is honored to be able to share these healing modes of movement with others.

Tara is certified in both Pilates and the Gyrotonic exercise method. Tara studied Pilates with master teacher Ellie Herman (a 800 hour certification course). She has been certified in Pilates by EHS Pilates Institute and by Balanced Body University. Tara was trained in the Gyrotonic exercise method at San Francisco Gyrotonic with Debra Rose and Nora Heiber. In the last year, she was recently trained by Yamuna Zake (of Yamuna Body Rolling) to be a certified foot fitness teacher and is certified in Gyrokinesis as well. As part of her ongoing education, she is continually attending new workshops to learn new methods of rehabilitation to help her clients. 

Tara has studied and taken work-shops with Juliu Horvath, Ellie Herman, Debra Rose, Tamara Yoneda, Nora Heiber, Eric Franklin, Elizabeth Larkam, Lolita San Miguel, Karen Clippinger, Kathy Corey, Rael Isacowitz, Julian Littleford, Christine Romani-Ruby, Kathy Van Patten, Paul Horvath, Sebastian Plettenberg, Angela Crowley, Yamuna Zake, Madeline Black, Leda Franklin, Liz Koch and Sharon Gallagher.

In her five years of teaching she has found great rewards in helping people find their own individual expression in movement, whether it be healing an injury, toning the body, loosening tight muscles or relaxing the mind. Using many tools and the modalities of Pilates and the Gyrotonic exercise method, plus extensive rehabilitation knowledge Tara can create a exercise regimen that works to bring your body into balance again.

Her latest journey of learning takes her on the path of Yamuna Body Rolling. In the near future she will be offering group classes and private sessions with these techniques.

As the mother of a eighteen-year-old boy, Tara understands the needs of parents and is flexible with her schedule. She will work with you to design a program that is in harmony with your lifestyle.

*Tara is insured through the IDEA Health & Fitness Association and is a member of the Pilates Method Alliance.

What people say:

"Tara is an excellent pilates instructor both for private and group classes (I have done both w/her). She is focused on technique and giving a good workout but makes it fun at the same time. She is good at tailoring the workout to the individual to make it continually challenging and interesting."

Karyn, Mother of 3, Age 38

"I would like to share with others my personal experience with taking Tara's classes. I have taken private and group pilates classes with Tara for several months now and have found them to be very beneficial with toning, sculpting and energizing for my body and mind. I continue to see progress with the reshaping of my body, and find my posture has improved too. I am a 52 year old woman with a family who works in the grocery trade and my hours are extremely early with long days. Tara is such a breath of fresh air and a delight to spend time with, and she takes my personal needs into consideration at all times that I forget how tired I am when I engage in her class. Thanks Tara for being you and helping me to stay well."

Darlene O'Shea

"Tara Coyote is the COOLEST chick on the planet; however, thanks to those two no-talent actresses Scarlett Johansson and Naomi Watts she is only the third-hottest chick on the planet. Oh, well...
Seriously:
The most important quality that any personal trainer can have is a real and true sensitivity to the client. This is what Tara brought to our Gyrotonic sessions, and because she is so tuned-in what she recommended not only worked, but also felt physically perfect for wherever I was at the time. Highly recommended!"

Richard Redmond, 56

"I have been in Taras' Pilates class for 6 months and my body has changed for the better. Her gentle and compassionate way of teaching is so loving and healing that I always feel uplifted when I leave."

Alma , 70, Marriage & Family Therapist

"I had only tried Pilates a few times prior to working with Tara and never really felt inspired. Tara has a very gentle way about her and she is a great listener to better understand personal needs and goals. I have been with Tara for about the past 6 months and have had very positive results! I had a dull pain in one leg and dull pain in my shoulder...both gone (even after years of chiropractic work)! I also feel stronger and motivated to stay committed. I work with Tara privately and I participate in a mat class and a reformer class. Having these options is great and, although I was always weary about classes, Tara gives individual attention to ensure that the movements are done correctly. She will also modify depending upon your ability. I have enormous trust in Tara and as a result she has been able to get out of my comfort zone. She is incredibly supportive and I really feel she has my best interest at heart. I could not be happier and I highly recommend Studio Equilibria! Thank you Tara!!"

Rachael Shander

"I've been working with Tara twice a month doing private pilates sessions. I find the hour I spend with her every other week very helpful in loosening my tight muscles and understanding my body. I had a problem with my knee, and after one session with Tara and loosening the muscles along the side of the leg near the knee with the roller, the pain was GONE. Tara is professional and very pleasant, and her studio is great !! Easy parking too. Always a plus. Thanks Tara !!"

Dalila Cunha, Massage Therapist

"I first went to Tara for individual sessions after a series of injuries made exercising difficult on my own. Tara's expertise, guidance and encouragement have been an invaluable support. She's designed a flexible program for me, including Gyrotonics and Pilates, adjusting it to my needs. Working with her, I feel more at home in my body again. I'm stronger and have lost the extra weight I gained after my injuries. I'm especially happy with the wonderful Gyrotonic system, which I think brings together the best of many other approaches, along with it's own unique benefits ... and it's also fun. I highly recommend Tara, as well as the Gyrotonic system."

Veronica Smith

"My life changed when I started working with Tara. It was so subtle, definitely not a drastic thing. Her beginning class just got me thinking, breathing and listening to my body in a different way. It's not about pain and suffering; it's about the joy of engaging core muscles! When I'm riding my bike up a hill, I think about engaging my abs and it's easier! She makes working out in her classes so fun by utilizing the interesting visuals that come with each exercise, i.e. 'squeezing the tangerine', or 'pearl buttons down the back', or even 'barbie heels'! Tara always moves on to something new BEFORE we ever have a chance to be bored or checking the clock. Indeed, sometimes I sneak in a few extra repetitions though I realize more and more how deliberate her tempo and intensity truly is.
Her sing-songy voice is a delight to follow and I've never had a teacher who genuinely smiles so much! She clearly loves what she is doing. The most notable quality however is her consistent and continual committment to improvement and growth by attending workshops and trainings ALL THE TIME, always bringing back new concepts, ways of doing similar exercises, that she is freshly excited about.
I also love her sense of flow: it feels like we are part of a choreographed piece, from the beginning to the end of class. All in all, Tara models a lightness of being that her students want to emulate, thus creating disciples in all of us. Although my new home is farther away, I have based my whole weekly schedule around my Studio Equilibria classes because it is a part of my life that is 100% positive and I want it to continue!. My New Year's Resolution: Keep going to Tara's class every week!"

Anny Owen

"Tara's classes and private sessions gave me a much deeper understanding of
problems I was having in my back as well as the tools to heal it. With her
help, I am now much stronger and pain free."

Mika Scott

"I'm a dedicated Pilates participant at Tara's studio in San Anselmo. What works, and drives my dedication, is Tara's teaching style. She's not only knowledgeable and competent, but sets a pace that makes the hour seem effortless (even tho' it's not!) The results are amazing. Tara takes the time to make the classes fit each individuals' needs; , her energy is positive and boundless, and I guarantee a good time, as well. She has definitely changed my life; and I can't recommend Tara's classes more highly."

Susan Lerer

"I've been taking pilates classes at Stuio Equilibria for over a year now and, after just a few sessions, I could really feel a difference in my core strength, flexibility, toning, & balance. Tara is a wonderful teacher! Since the classes are small, she is able to pay attention to each person individually and is sensitive to everyone's needs. She is caring and gentle, and she also makes the class fun. I highly recommend pilates with Tara."

Lynn Charne