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Our Team

We invite you to read more about our team. As you will see, everyone at Body Balance is passionate about their work and they are committed to delivering you the finest service, in a warm, inviting and personal setting.

Kristi Reed and John Perez
Owners

Kristi and John have always had a passion for wellness. With a unique, combined expertise in fitness, therapeutic massage, and nutrition, they created Body Balance, a place where you can leave your busy life behind, and focus on developing a healthy lifestyle.

They designed all their services – from fitness to massage to nutritional services – to be offered in a one-on-one, private setting, assuring that each client’s individual needs are met. This year they will be celebrating 15 years of excellence.

 

Kristi Reed

As a certified massage therapist, fitness trainer and sports & weight management nutritionist, Kristi embodies the philosophy behind Body Balance – providing each individual with the resources to live a balanced, healthy life. Kristi inspires the staff to reach to their highest potential and helps everyone to grow through her commitment to education, excellence and goal setting.

As a result, Body Balance has continued to grow and meet the highest levels of excellence. Kristi is as enthusiastic today, as she was 15 years ago, when she founded Body Balance, to provide a warm, inviting and personal environment where individuals can meet their goals, while having fun.

When not at Body Balance, Kristi makes it a priority to carve out time to create art and photograph the world around her. She loves getting outdoors to "breath-in" nature and enjoys traveling around the world. Most importantly, Kristi is grateful for her life and loves spending time with her soul mate, John, keeping fit, eating well, staying healthy, and enjoying the "present" moment.

 

John Perez

Enjoying his many fitness certifications and education over the years within the health field, John has been a fitness “aficionado” since the age of 18. Before coming to California, John was a personal fitness trainer in New York at the Vertical Club, the “Studio 54” of Health clubs. In New York, John trained top Ford Models, Hollywood actors and actresses, daytime soap opera stars, dancers and other New York socialites. Since joining Kristi at Body Balance, John’s passion for fitness became contagious, and Body Balance quickly became known as the best place to receive personal one-on-one, private fitness training and achieving outstanding results.

John is known for his exuberant, positive outlook on life and the ability to connect with everyone that enters the door at Body Balance. His warm greetings make everyone feel at home, and his highly motivating and energetic workouts result in unsurpassed satisfaction.

Outside of Body Balance, John’s passions include: keeping fit, tennis, photography, meditating, reading, traveling, creating art, dancing, and all kinds of music. The key to his boundless energy is his ability to find a harmonious balance between passion for fitness, loved ones, his family and friends.

 

Matt King
Certified Personal Trainer

As a fitness enthusiast, Matt has a great passion for helping people change their lives. He believes that motivation, sound nutrition and the appropriate exercise design are the key components to achieving a healthier body. Matt holds a B.S. in Kinesiology from Cal State East Bay (w/ emphasis in Exercise Nutrition and Wellness) and is currently perusing a Master’s degree in Exercise Physiology from San Jose State University.

In his spare time Matt enjoys working out, running, watching sports (especially bay area football, hockey and baseball), learning martial arts, snowboarding and playing video games. Through education, exercise, and lifestyle modification, Matt enjoys helping individuals bring their health and fitness status to the next level and feel great through the process. He believes that workouts should be individualized to fit your personal needs, and not only change your physique but also improve your functional capacity for a healthy and practical quality of life.

 

Didi Lacroix, M.S.

Exercise Physiologist & Certified Fallproof Specialist & Personal Trainer
From hospitals to colleges and the community, Didi has a wealth of experience in fitness and fall prevention with older adults.  She leads a supervised exercise program in a retirement residence and gives fall prevention instructor workshops for the Alameda County, trains older adults, organizes wellness events, and writes published fitness articles.  She has pioneered an in-home balance and mobility program for frail older adults coached by 40 college interns.  She wrote fall prevention program manuals and worked as exercise physiologist for two hospitals, while teaching senior fitness classes for colleges.  

Didi’s passion for physical fitness and well being is a by-product of an early professional career in classical ballet and modern dance.  Prior to the fitness world, she founded and managed companies involved with imports and wholesale distribution of fine furniture and decorative accessories.  In leisure time, she enjoys running, cycling, weight training, swimming, scuba diving, hiking, skiing, and practicing yoga.  

Didi holds an MS in Kinesiology / Exercise Physiology, a BS in Business Administration / Marketing, along with certifications as Fallproof Balance & Mobility Specialist Instructor, SFA Senior Personal Trainer, and Arthritis Foundation Exercise Instructor.

Mary La Grave-Suter
Certified Massage Therapist

Mary is known for her intuitive sense and commitment to helping her clients maintain balance of body, mind and spirit through personal awareness. In addition to offering Swedish and Soft Tissue Therapies, Mary has advanced studies in Pre-Natal, Reiki, Lomi Lomi and La Stone Therapies.

When Mary is not working wonders with her clients, Mary follows the advice she gives her clients- "take time for yourself by working out and receiving bodywork".

 

Barbara Perez
Licensed Esthetician

Barbara is a California Licensed Esthetician with an extensive background in Clinical Esthetics. Her training includes studying under the instruction of Esthetician and acne expert Laura Cooksey who has treated hundreds of acne clients. Her clinical training was with renowned acne research Dermatologist, Dr. James Fulton, co-developer of Retin A and founder of The Acne Research Institute. Barbara feels that it is important to continually attend training classes that focus on the latest advances in the esthetic industry.

Barbara specializes in treating acne, performing corrective skin care, as well as preventative skin care.

Whether you’re looking for correction, prevention or maintenance, she will work together with you to develop the mix of treatment, product and daily routine that will change the way you look and feel using a variety of effective, efficient treatments tailored specifically for your skin.

Achieving optimum skin health does not have to be overly complicated, time-consuming or expensive.

When not doing Esthetics Barbara enjoys spending time with her family, friends, cooking, and attending advanced esthetics classes.

 

Christina Pimentel
Certified Massage Therapist

Christina Pimentel is a Certified Massage Therapist who studied at The World School of Massage and Holistic Healing Arts. She has training in many modalities including Deep Tissue, Swedish massage, Hot Stone, Soft Tissue Release, Pregnancy massage, Infant/child massage and Vibrational Healing Massage Therapy (VHMT). She is known for her therapeutically firm nurturing and skillful touch especially in the massage modalities of Deep Tissue, VHMT, and Hot stone.

When not facilitating healing in others, Christina spends her time with her partner, her daughter and their two dogs. She enjoys keeping healthy through weight lifting, punching bags, yoga, hiking, gardening, meditating, cooking, eating, and creating art.

 

Carl Siu
Certified Personal Trainer

Carl is certified through the National Health Club Association (NHCA). He has been a personal trainer for seventeen years. His passion for personal training began in Hawaii where he was also a lifeguard at the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Resort. Working on the beaches taught him the importance of being both mentally and physically fit. After moving to Southern California he began his interest in boxing and studying Muay Thai, body building and continued his certification to be a Personal Trainer.

Like the ocean, life can calm one minute and rough the next. Helping people better themselves physically promotes self-confidence and when that happens they are better prepared to take on life’s big waves.

 

Pamela Smiley
Certified Massage Therapist

Pamela Smiley trained at the Chicago School of Massage Therapy and specializes in deep tissue massage. She embraces the Body Balance philosophy and clients respond to Pamela's outstanding therapeutic massages and warm personality. Working exclusively on Sundays, Pamela will enhance your weekend and prepare you for your busy week ahead.

Pamela loves being active and is often found outdoors, playing softball in Pleasanton and going to baseball games — especially returning "home" to Wrigley Field to cheer on her Cubbies. Pamela also enjoys her family, friends and traveling.

 

Olivia Soares
Certified Massage Therapist

Olivia who attended and graduated from The Massage Therapy Program in Bend Oregon, has trained and has successfully completed an array of massage therapy modalities, to include, Reflexology, Neuromuscular / PNF / Myofascial Release, Hot Stone, Integrated Therapy and Chinese Cupping. Olivia’s dedication, enthusiasm, professionalism, and her knowledge of a variety of massage techniques are so much valued.

Olivia recently moved to the bay area and is very much enjoying living in her new home called Pleasanton. Her passion for the outdoors includes Snowshoeing, Wakeboarding and since she is originally from the Carribean, she also enjoys fishing and free diving for Conch. Olivia is extremely excited to be planning her upcoming wedding this summer and loves to spend time with her fiancé and her adorable 3 pound dog, named Chai.