Our EQ Instructors

Paola Franchi 

Paola moved to Georgia from Chile in 2014, by then she was already working for years as a Physical Educator in schools & colleges, as a Pilates instructor and recognized gymnastic coach in her country.

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After years of teaching, and going through a second comprehensive Pilates certification, Paola decided to open her own Pilates Studio in Santiago, Chile (2010). As part of this journey, she traveled to California to gain Probridge certification in BASI Pilates. Later, she pursued the Mentor Program and Master I & 2, specializing in Pathologies and injuries.

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Paola also has a master's degree in Psychology for infants and youth, as well as specializing in the 65 plus population, certified in TRX suspension training Group, TRX personal trainer, TRX camp, TRX sports & medicine, and TRX RIP trainer.

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She has worked since 2015 in a physical therapy center helping patients to regain muscular balance and functionality, as well postpartum clients. Paola has also worked in different studios and gyms in Georgia teaching Pilates.
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She is bilingual, teaching in both Spanish and English.

Hanbi Hong

Hanbi’s Pilates journey began in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, a time that inspired her to turn inward and connect more deeply with movement and wellness. It was during this time that she met her mentor, Paola, and developed a profound dedication to the Pilates method.

In addition to being a certified Pilates instructor, Hanbi is a 500-hour Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) and a Family Nurse Practitioner. She brings a unique blend of clinical knowledge and holistic awareness to her teaching, creating a space where healing, mindfulness, and movement come together.

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Hanbi values genuine, meaningful connections with her clients and is committed to offering thoughtful, precise instruction in every session. Her approach is grounded, intentional, and always centered on supporting each individual's journey toward balance and well-being.

Heather Sansbury

Born and raised in Connecticut, Heather attended Northeastern University in Boston, where she explored different academic paths before ultimately following her true passion for health and fitness. Her years working in the medical field, selling spine implants, gave her a deep appreciation for the importance of caring for our bodies and preventing injuries—a realization that ultimately inspired her to pursue Pilates.

Heather is a certified Pilates instructor through BASI Pilates and has been teaching for three years, with experience in all-levels of reformer, mat, and senior Pilates. She is also a certified barre instructor and has been teaching barre for over six years. Her teaching style is passionate, inspiring, supportive, challenging, and always tailored to each individual. She strives to create safe, engaging, and motivating classes that help clients build strength, improve alignment, and move with greater ease.

For Heather, Pilates is beautiful to teach because there is such harmony in good movement. Helping clients create healthy movement patterns they can carry throughout life is incredibly fulfilling—it’s like undoing years of poor posture habits. She loves seeing people leave class feeling open, taller, and more confident. Her greatest joy is empowering clients to feel proud of their bodies at every stage of life, honoring the truth that every body is different and that’s a beautiful thing.
Heather has called Georgia home for over 20 years, where she lives with her sweet husband, their three amazing children, their dog, and a lively brood of chickens. Outside the studio, she enjoys being outdoors, spending time on the water, dancing, sewing, creating, and enjoying all things music and theatre.