Hristoula Harakas is originally from Greece and first came to BodyTonic in 2003, completed the Teacher Training Program under Jennifer DeLuca and Caitlin Cook in 2004 and was hired as a teacher at BodyTonic in 2005!

Hristoula has attended workshops with Irene Dowd, Enja Schenck, Blossom Leilani Crawford, Clare Dunmphy Hemani, Brooke Siler, Kathi Ross Nash, Sonje Mayo, Jillian Hessel and more. As a professional dancer and Dance Education major, her area of expertise is in various techniques and options for movement, and different ways of seeing the body. She has had a lifetime of education in dance, bodywork, and somatics. Hristoula has collaborated with and danced for many artists and considers them all to be influential in her work, with Merce Cunningham and Mikael Baryshnikov being the highlights.

What she loves most about Pilates is its non-discriminatory effectiveness; it simply works for everyone.  Hristoula has taught the most athletic and the most compromised clients, spanning all ages, levels of athletic ability and cognitive understanding. She pays very close attention in her sessions and hopes the result leaves clients feeling enthralled, humbled and eager for more. 

What she appreciates most about BodyTonic is the community.  The staff, leadership and clientele are generous, kind, adaptable, and committed.  It feels like a home.

When she’s not working, Hristoula loves being with her family, enjoying art and vacationing by the sea.