If you are not a current student at SRJC, your first step will be to apply to the college to be able to register for classes: https://admissions.santarosa.edu/new-or-returning-credit-student-information

Instructors:

Tara Jacobson, Program Co-founder & Coordinator

Email: tjacobson@santarosa.edu

Tara Jacobson is a dedicated educator and practitioner in the fields of kinesiology, fitness, and health, with a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and a Master’s degree in Exercise Physiology from San Diego State University. With over 30 years of teaching experience, Tara brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her role as a full-time Kinesiology Instructor, program coordinator, and department chair at Santa Rosa Junior College.

Tara's journey into movement and wellness began with her early love of dance, which eventually led her to become a dance and fitness instructor starting in high school. After college, she completed her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training in Integrative Yoga Therapy at Bodyworks in Petaluma and later expanded her expertise with a 300-hour Yoga Teacher Training in Shamanic Awakening in Sacred Valley, Peru. 

In addition to her yoga training, Tara holds credentials from ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine) as an Exercise Physiologist and NSHC (National Society of Health Coaches) as a Certified Health Coach. She is a Balanced Body certified Comprehensive Pilates Instructor with most of her training completed locally with Gwen Miller. 

Throughout her career, Tara has been deeply involved in teaching a diverse range of lecture and activity-based classes in Kinesiology, Fitness, Yoga, and Pilates Instruction in a variety of formats: in-person, online, hybrid, and HyFlex. Tara has developed and coordinated three career education certificate programs in Fitness, Yoga, and Pilates instruction playing a crucial role in helping shape the next generation of instructors to meet local industry needs with affordable and accessible training opportunities. She promotes diversity and inclusion so that individuals of all experiences and abilities can thrive.  She also teaches locally at Active Wellness Fitness Center in Petaluma. 

Jen Latourette earned a master's degree in Kinesiology from Sonoma State University. She is a Balanced Body Certified Comprehensive Pilates Instructor and is a registered Yoga Alliance E-RYT 500 and Continuing Education Provider (YACEP). She is also a Certified Triathlon Coach and also has held certifications as a Massage Therapist, Personal Trainer, and ran her own fitness and wellness business for over 20 years.  

Jen started her teaching career as a spin class and swim instructor and has taught group exercise since the age of 19. She worked as a personal trainer, group exercise instructor, and massage therapist eventually running programs and start up health clubs as a Fitness and Group exercise director while working her way through college. Jen originally found Pilates as a road to self-healing and pain management for a back injury. She was hooked after experiencing the many benefits Pilates has had in our own body and set out to learn everything, she could to become a Pilates instructor. She has been teaching Kinesiology lecture courses and activity-based classes at SRJC as associate faculty since 2017. She also works with student interns in the Pilates, Fitness, and Yoga Certificate Programs as associate faculty in the Work Experience Department. Jen has also assisted in teaching and updating curriculum for the yoga certificate programs (2017-2023) including adding DEI training and helped co-develop the Pilates Certificate Program at SRJC with Tara Jacobson. She also works full time in the health and wellness industry as a Life Enrichment and Fitness Director at Varenna of Fountaingrove where she manages all programs, facilities, staffing, and teaches spine safe Pilates mat and reformer for seniors.

Jen still coaches' endurance athletes and teaches Pilates in the community. She is a part of the amazing teaching team at Breath Diversity Pilates and Fitness where she works as a Comprehensive Pilates Instructor teaching Pilates reformer and private students. When not practicing Pilates Jen can be found spending time with her family, being a dog mom, riding her bike, and being outside on the trails. She and her partner also love making the world a better place for all ability levels by volunteering at Canine Companions for Independence and love to travel the globe exploring new places.

Carrie Stillman, Program Instructor

Email: cstillman@santarosa.edu

Carrie Stillman holds a BA in Dance from UC Santa Barbara and an MA in Dance Education from CSU Long Beach. She is a Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher (NCPT) with the National Pilates Certification Program, and the PhysicalMind Institute. She has been teaching Dance and Pilates fitness since 1994, and continuously studies current practices in functional anatomy, exercise physiology, and the practical application of using Pilates for conditioning, injury prevention & recovery, and functional movement education. She draws inspiration from an eclectic blend of several holistic movement practices to devise an integrative, thorough, and appropriate personalized program for her clients and students. She owns and operates her fully equipped Pilates studio, Mindful Movement Pilates and has been an associate faculty member at Santa Rosa Junior College since 2000 teaching Dance and Pilates in the Kinesiology, Athletics & Dance Department. In her free time she loves to be active outdoors, spread love to all animals, spend time with friends and family, promote a sustainable and equitable world, and laugh as often as possible.