About us.

About us

Who We Are + Our Mission

McKinney Movement Center is a movement studio where you will learn to move smarter and more efficiently from our intelligent, passionate, and experienced staff members. We teach proper body mechanics, principles of alignment, balanced body effort, and injury prevention tactics to our clients of all ages and backgrounds through movement modalities such as : Pilates, Gyrotonic®Exercise, the LYT Method, Yoga, and Barre.

Our mission is activate confidence and engage joy in all of our clients, one session at a time. Through balanced body kinetic movement methods and cognitive connection work, our clients will discover their inner strength, experience joyful exercise, rehabilitative benefits, prevent injuries, and become smarter movers.

We help our clients create and set goals whether related to rehabilitation, maintenance, recovery, or excellence in their sport/hobby. We believe that through the practice our clients will experience more joy in their everyday living, movement, and this will help them form a renewed positive attitude towards life and their achievement capabilities.

Our Teachers

It’s all about the people

EMILY IVA FLOYD-LYNCH

Studio Owner, Certified Pilates Instructor, NCPT

GYROTONIC® Pre-Trainer,

GYROTONIC® & GYROKINESIS® Trainer

BFA, Florida State University

JACLYN SARTORE

Studio Coordinator & Pilates Instructor

BS, Texas A&M

CAILEY BRANDON

Certified Pilates Instructor, NCPT

Neuromuscular Reprogramming Certified Level 2 & Smartspine Practitioner

BS, MS, University Texas - Dallas

TAMARA BARIL

Certified Pilates & Barre Instructor

BS, University of Texas

SYLVIA SCHEPPS

Certified Pilates & GYROTONIC® Instructor

Licensed Massage Therapist

BS, University of Texas,

CAROLYN KELLY

Certified Pilates Instructor

Smartspine Practitioner

*More Details To Come!

KOREN SLOAN

Certified LYT Method Yoga & Barre Instructor

BFA, Kent State University

VANESSA ROGERS

Certified Yoga Instructor & Smartspine Practitioner

KATIE POTTS SHOLTY

Certified LYT Method Yoga & Barre Instructor

BFA , University of the Arts

STEPHANIE GORDON-MEEK

Certified Pilates Instructor

Licensed & Board Certified Physical Therapist

DENYSHA GRISBY

Pilates Instructor & Apprentice

BBA, University of Houston

HARLI MILLER

Pilates Instructor & Apprentice

Social Media Manager

Emily Iva Floyd-Lynch

Owner, Certified Pilates Instructor, NCPT

GYROTONIC® Pre-Trainer, GYROTONIC® & GYROKINESIS® Instructor

BFA Dance, Florida State University

Emily the Owner of McKinney Movement Center, a Movement Studio that provides a cutting edge approach to fitness & wellness as well as a community of teachers and clients that love to move & believe it has the power to change us for the better. Along side owning the studio Emily is a Comprehensive Certified Pilates Instructor through Balanced Body (500+ Hrs) and The National Pilates Certification Program (NCPT). She also teaches the GYROTONIC® & GYROKINESIS® Methods, Progressing Ballet Technique, and is certified through the Titleist Performance Institute to train and assess Golfers. She also recently completed Level 1 & Level 2 Scolio Pilates Teacher Training, Scoliosis Specific Exercise.

Originally from Jacksonville, Florida, Emily holds a BFA in Dance Performance & Choreography from Florida State University (FSU) where she studied under Dance Medicine Specialist Dr.Thomas Welsch & Professor/Gyrotonic Master Trainer, Anjali Austin. It was then that she experienced the Injury Prevention elements Pilates & the Gyrotonic Method provide for Sport Specific Training. After graduating, Emily moved to New York City to dance professionally and work with dancers of the Joffrey Ballet School Trainee Program. While there she also worked in Arts Administration for notable schools in the Northeast such as The Rock School For Dance Education, The Bolshoi Ballet Academy (NYC Summer Program) Peridance Capezio Center, and Wingspan Arts. Her dream was to improve the quality of life for athletes and dancers in pre-professional schools so they could have a prolonged professional career if they desired. Emily has experience in creating specialized program development for wellness, injury protocols, and creating a healthy environment for dancers to get the support they needed mentally and physically.

As a movement educator and specialist, Emily has been teaching movement for over 15 years. Her Pilates & Gyrotonic teaching journey began in Florida where she trained under Balanced Body Master Trainers, Vicki Sullivan, Cheryl Forehand, and Kristen Sullivan at Body Balance Institute (BBI) and completed a one year apprenticeship. While teaching full time at BBI she also had the opportunity to work at the PGA Corporate Headquarters, TPC Sawgrass & World Golf Village. Emily moved to North Texas in 2017 and has worked for several Pilates studios in the North Texas area. She eventually found her home at Craig Ranch Fitness + Spa where she was the Pilates Program Coordinator & Manager for 5 years. When the gym was sold to a corporate company, Emily decided to open McKinney Movement Center so she could continue offering a cutting edge, accessible, expansive, and life changing approach to fitness & wellness in the community. Emily not only has a passion for movement, but believes that movement truly has the power to heal. Her hope is to help all of her clients experience joy and freedom in their movement while they develop the confidence they need to be the best version of themselves!

Meet your instructors

“The true teachers are those who help us think for ourselves.”

- Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan

JACLYN SARTORE

Studio Coordinator & Pilates Instructor

BS, Texas A&M

Jaclyn is the Studio Coordinator and a comprehensive certified Pilates Instructor. She holds a Bachelors of Science in Dance Science from Texas A&M University. She has been teaching Pilates for several years now and is currently finishing up her NPCT license. Jaclyn is also a full time Dance Educator for the Joffrey Ballet School’s Trainee Program here in North Texas and continues to be a mentor to many young dancers seeking professional careers.

As a classically trained dancer, Jaclyn Sartore was introduced to Pilates at a young age as a way to enhance her ballet training. While attending Texas A&M University as a Dance Major, Pilates played a major role in the curriculum of the dance program. While studying and practicing the principles of Pilates in school, Jaclyn developed a true passion for understanding the functionality of the human body, as well as using Pilates as a means of preserving the body. This newfound passion for movement outside of the dance studio inspired her to pursue not only Pilates training, but Yoga as well as she was curious about deepening her understanding of the mind-body connection.

In 2015, Jaclyn pursued her 200 hour Yoga Certification with DeAnna Shires, through Breathe into Awareness Yoga. Shortly after, in 2017, she earned her certification as a Pilates Fitness Instructor with Christine Sahoury of AllPilates Studio, in Frisco, TX.

Jaclyn has taught at several studios in Frisco, Plano, and McKinney, TX over the last 4 years, teaching both group classes and private instruction. In addition to teaching Pilates, she continues to pursue her passion for dance and teaches ballet in Plano, hoping to inspire the next generation of to move mindfully with purpose.

CAILEY BRANDON

Certified Pilates Instructor, NCPT

Smartspine Practitioner & Neuromuscular Reprogramming Level 2

BS, MS, University Texas - Dallas

Cailey currently holds a Masters Degree in Applied Cognition and Neuroscience from University of Texas - Dallas and is a Comprehensive Certified Pilates Instructor, NCPT. She is also a certified SmartSpine™ Practitioner & a Level 2 Neuromuscular Reprogramming (NMR) Provider. Aspiring to prove how movement can aid in both physical and mental wellbeing, she first accomplished her undergrad in Cognitive Psychology which led her to continue in pursuance of her Masters Degree.

As a pre-professional ballerina, Cailey experienced the benefits of Pilates at a young age when training locally with a teacher who helped her continue to love movement, despite her injuries. She found a passion for pilates that widened beyond the boundaries of cross-training. She has experienced firsthand how injuries left dancers in overtime, often managing a less than ideal quality of life.

In 2020, Cailey retired from pointe shoes to become a Comprehensively Certified Instructor. She is an Instructor that believes in the power of the mind-body connection. While Cailey is still a dance instructor to both competitive dancers and individuals with mental disabilities, she believes that Pilates has an inexplicable ability to stabilize and strengthen the core for balance.

Cailey specializes in working with clients with pain and neurological injury, and her approach is to further implement her clients’ understanding of embodied cognition and neuroplasticity through the healing form of controlled movement and exercise. In 2022 she completed her Internship hours at MMC for her Masters Degree and was a able to lead and create an educational workshop called "VERB" for those with Parkinsons Disease and MS where she taught participants skills related to balance, gait, and ways to overcome spasticity to develop better motor-control.

She enjoys working with clients of all backgrounds but specifically those with neurological related conditions and motor control disorders, ie: Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, POTS, former stroke patients, neuropathy, tremor amongst others. Outside of MMC, Cailey has the opportunity to serve as Spotlight Academy of the Arts Coordinator for Belong Disability Ministry at Highland Park Methodist Church. She had the privilege of Producing Spotlight's Annual Production this past February 2024, "Mission : Mirror Mirror". Currently, Cailey is working on a few exciting creative projects where she will combine her love of teaching, cognition, and neuroscience in a way that will lead more movement teachers to understand their abilities to help client's change and maintain healthy living.

TAMARA BARIL

Certified Pilates Instructor & Barre Teacher

BS, University of Texas

Tamara has a degree in Advertising from the University of Texas at Austin and is a Comprehensive Pilates Certified Teacher through Hilary Opheim. She began the first 14 years of her professional career as a non-profit fundraiser, but has been active in dance and group fitness her entire life.

After having children, she made the decision to become a stay at home mom, and soon after discovered SoulCore, a movement that combines christian prayer, core strength and functional movements. After practicing SoulCore for about a year and seeing the positive impact that a mind and body routine had on her health, prayer life and family life, decided to become a certified leader. Through leading SoulCore classes at her parish St. Jude in Allen, she decided she could serve her community better by furthering her education in Pilates, which had become the base practice for the movement element of her classes. She received her Mat Pilates Instructor Certification through Polestar Pilates and obtained her Group Fitness Certification. From there, she then discovered a love for Pilates Equipment!

In 2022, Tamara and began her Pilates Teacher training as a Studio Apprentice at McKinney Movement Center. In 2023, she obtained her Barre Fitness Certification through MMC. Tamara is currently studying to take her NCPT license exam and is thrilled to be going into her second year of teaching at McKinney Movement Center.

Tamara's greatest passion is introducing Pilates and mind / body fitness to those who have never experienced functional movement and combining it with internal prayer. She truly believes Pilates can improve the quality of life for any and everyBODY. Tamara has experienced first hand the positive effects of practicing Pilates consistently as therapy to improve the effects of aging and pregnancy/childbirth on the body. The goal of Tamara's group and private classes is for each participant to improve their individual and overall feeling of wellness, and to allow each person options to modify throughout the class for each exercise so they will feel empowered to fulfill their own potential, wherever they may be on the fitness spectrum.

SYLVIA SCHEPPS

Certified Pilates & GYROTONIC® Instructor

Certified Rolfer® & Licensed Massage Therapist

BS, University of Texas

Sylvia has a BS in Therapeutic Recreation and is a certified Gyrotonic® Teacher. With a passion for rehabilitation, movement, and swimming she knew she wanted to work in the rehabilitative sector of movement.

In 1996, She became certified in Structural Integration-Ida Rolf Method, which is considered to be fascial bodywork, an adjunct to her movement education! In 1999 Sylvia completed her Massage Therapy License and began pursuing her love of working in aquatics. She obtained her certifications in “Bad Ragaz”, Halliwick, Watsu, and Adapted Aquatics techniques for individuals with disabilities. For many years she ran her own company, Aquatic Solutions Inc. that was a community-based water therapy company with programs for all ages and disabilities. Sylvia consulted with hospitals in aquatic therapy, and began teaching workshops in aquatic therapy techniques all around the DFW metroplex.

In 2006, in search of adding to her movement background, Sylvia completed her Pilates Comprehensive teacher training through Balanced Body. Today she specializes in Therapeutic Pilates and Pilates for Seniors. In 2016 she opened Ideal Movements Pilates Studio where she created, “Empowering Your Exercise” program; a fascia education program for foot conditions, wrist, and back problems. After 2020 many things changed and Sylvia discovered Gyrotonic® Exercise. She completed her pre-training in Ft. Worth at Studio G and then began taking Gyrotonic session with Emily at MMC. In 2023, Sylvia completed her Level 1 Gyrotonic® Foundations course with Cheryl Dunn in Austin, and her apprenticeship at McKinney Movement Center. She completed her license and certification for GYROTONIC® in 2023 and now teaches privates and semi-privates at McKinney Movement Center.

Sylvia continues to study movement courses in water and on land. She loves using her knowledge of anatomy, movement, and pilates to create core exercises for her clientele. Sylvia enjoys sports, spectating and loves gardening and tennis. Her philosophy is “Movement is Fun” and she hopes to share that joy with her clients.

KATIE POTTS SHOLTY

LYT Method Yoga & Barre Instructor

BFA , University of the Arts

Katie holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater from University of the Arts and is a LYT Yoga and Barre Teacher. She is a E-200 RYT certified instructor through Yoga Alliance with over 500 hours of training emphasizing anatomy, kinesiology and yoga philosophy. She has been teaching since receiving her certification in 2013.

In 2020 she discovered LYT Yoga, a yoga methodology developed by a physical therapist to retrain the body and brain to move better so you feel better. In 2021 she completed her second 200hr teacher training in LYT yoga and continues her training LYT. In 2023, Katie pursued her Barre Teacher Certification at McKinney Movement Center. Katie teaches group classes and also thoroughly enjoys training clients privately that have goals that seem unachievable in the group class. No matter your limitations whether they are linked to fear, former injury, or range of motion, Katie loves helping you find a way to move that is safe, feels good in your body, and gets you one step closer to achieving your goals.

Katie is passionate about teaching students of all ages and experience levels and believes that yoga is not just for the young and/or flexible. She came to teaching movement because she grew up singing, dancing, and acting. Performing demands energy and connection between yourself and the audience. Connection is an integral part of yoga. Yoga postures not only strengthen the body, but deepen our mind-body connection so that we learn how to care for our whole selves.

Katie strives for students to leave her classes feeling better, not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually. Breath and movement allow us to process thoughts and emotions so they don’t stagnate and become physical ailments. By expanding our awareness, we avoid falling into the mindless traps and habits that don’t support our intentions and goals.

KOREN SLOAN

LYT Method Yoga, Barre Instructor

BFA, Kent State University

Koren is a LYT Yoga Teacher, Barre Instructor and more. She has carried her love of movement throughout her life for as long as she can remember. From a young age, she was a dancer and athlete and eventually pursued a degree in Dance Performance at Kent State University. After injury and hip surgery in her early twenties, she became more interested in anatomy and functional movement patterns. Now a self-declared anatomy nerd, she believes that movement is medicine and a massive component in aging well.

Koren is a 500-hour LYT yoga certified teacher and holds certifications through Pinnacle Performance Biomechanics and AntiGravity, Barre, Cycle and Trampoline training. She is also a Somastry Therapeutics Facilitator. An avid hiker and backpacker, she is on a mission to climb to the highest point in all 50 states.

Koren loves all animals but has a soft spot for farm animals and adopting senior dogs. Compassion is at the forefront of her vision for all beings. She loves it when people explore many movement modalities and is excited to help people reach their fullest potential!

VANESSA ROGERS

Yoga Instructor & Smartspine Practitioner

Vanessa is a 500-hour registered yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance and a Smartspine Practitioner providing restorative recovery sessions. She earned her certification through Grow Yoga Teacher Training in McKinney, Texas, and her certification as an Aerial Yoga instructor through The Yogi Treehouse training program. She has been teaching since 2016.

Vanessa loves the flow of Vinyasa yoga, the spiritual and rejuvenating aspects of Yin, and Restorative yoga practices, as well as aerial yoga because of it’s way to affect the body in a new, fun loving and beautiful way.

"From my first class, yoga became my passion," Vanessa shares. "I have had the privilege to practice and study with an amazing community of yoga teachers. Their loving wisdom has inspired me to craft my classes with a blend of mindfulness, compassion and invitation to self exploration - which may include learning to have fun and laugh at yourself! “ Her hope is that her students will find what she does: physical strength and stamina, yes, but also leave with a clearer mind, a more balanced life, and the interplay of the body, mind and breath on and off the mat.

Vanessa has also had the privilege of serving the role as Coordinator of Patient Services at Baylor Scott & White Dallas Diagnostic Association, Plano, Texas. As a spouse and mother of military officers, Vanessa has developed a keen interest in Trauma-informed yoga and has completed multiple training in this field of study.

STEPHANIE GORDON-MEEK

Certified Pilates Instructor

Physical Therapist

Stephanie is a full time Physical Therapist at Integrated Physical Therapy in McKinney and has been teaching Pilates for over 20 years as a comprehensive Certified Pilates Instructor through Polestar. She has experience in a variety of outpatient orthopedic settings and enjoys using Pilates based movement to reduce pain, enhance strength and improve functional mobility. She has her Physical Therapy degree from University of Colorado Health & Sciences Center and studied Health Care Administration at California State University/Long Beach.

Her Pilates journey began with her receiving her Pilates rehabilitation certification from Polestar Education. From there she saw improvements in many of her clients and pursued the Pilates for Buff Bones© Instructor Certification. She now specializes specifically in working with clients that need to build and maintain a healthy and balanced bone density program, specifically those with osteoporosis, osteopenia, arthritis or other joint related issues. She also has a passion for women's health and is a certified Pre & Post Natal Pilates Specialist through Center For Women's Fitness and is Graston certified M1.

DENYSHA GRSIBY

Pilates Instructor

Born and raised in Dallas, Texas Denysha holds an B.B.A in Accounting from the University of Houston. Back in 2021, she underwent back surgery for a herniated disk. After the surgery she suffered depression and severe anxiety because she did not think she could move around like she once did pre-surgery. Before her injury she had a heavy athletic background that involved strength training, boxing and belonging to a running group called Black Girls Run.

While still named Cooper Craig Ranch, Denysha was introduced to Emily and tried a pilates intro but decided that day it wasn’t for her because she was always chasing the biggest calorie burn. Little did she know she just had not made the connection in her body yet. It was not until finding Mckinney Movement Center that she fell in love with the pilates practice. She utilized pilates and yin yoga to aid in her recovery from surgery. McKinney Movement Center philosophy and welcoming environment increased her passion for pilates, her desire to learn more about the human body and the injuries that hinder the bodies of everyday people.

It was not long before she decided she had to be a part of this beautiful movement and seek her full comprehensive certification here at MMC. If you have not seen her around already which is almost impossible because she is in the studio just about everyday you will see her friendly face around soon enough so make sure to say hello. She believes that Pilates is for everybody and with the right community and tons of consistency you too will experience the freedom it can bring to your mind and body. While not at the studio Denysha currently works full-time as a Sr. Treasury Analyst for an auto repair company. She enjoys spending time with friends and family and loves good music, dogs, babies and a great tv drama.

HARLI MILLER

Pilates Instructor

Harli is originally from Utah, she first moved here in 2021 to attend the Joffrey Ballet School Texas Trainee Program, from which she will graduate this May. During her time at JBS Texas, Harli was introduced to Pilates through Jaclyn Sartore. She loved how strong it made her feel and how it eased the pain in her lower back, a result of a dance injury.

In October of 2023, she started working the front desk at MMC and the following month, started her Comprehensive Certification with Emily! Harli loves interacting with clients and greeting them with a warm smile and looks forward to growing within the MMC community as an Apprentice Teacher.

What our clients have to say about training at MMC...

Meet Hannah

"I’ve taken Pilates classes at a number of studios (SolidCore, Session, etc.), but Mckinney Movement Center is easily the best. At other studios, I didn’t get the feedback and instruction that I was looking for. The instructors at McKinney Movement Center put together really diverse sessions, whereas at other studios I felt like I was doing the same exercises over and over again. They also know their clients - what their goals are, pain points are, etc. - and put together sessions that are thoughtful of each person in the class. I also love the variety of equipment that we use (chair, rings, box, hand weights, etc.). This variety is far more than I’ve experienced at other studios and introduces new challenges and complexity to each workout. I also love the community I’ve built at McKinney Movement Center. The owner makes it a point to talk to everyone, the instructors get to know me as a person, and I’ve made genuine friends in class. If you’re up for a challenge - take Jaclyn’s Power class. You won’t regret it!! "

Meet Shannon & Phil

Phil : " I'm an avid golfer and I love the mobility and balance work I get from Pilates. It has helped my golf game quite a bit and we really like our Instructor, Jaclyn, as she does a very good job of customizing the exercises to our specific needs. My posture has gotten much better since doing Pilates also, and I love the ability to come in each session and do something new. We are never doing the same thing twice, always learning something new and building on it. "

Shannon :

"I started Pilates because I had a lot of back problems and ended up having a back surgery. I wasn't motivated to come at first and Phil encouraged me to go by saying he'd go with me. So we started out with Duet sessions once a week and fell in love with it! Now we do group classes and our duets. The extreme knowledge that the Instructors have here at MMC is so amazing. They can look at our bodies and see when certain muscles are firing or aren't and help us figure out what we need to do to work on that and build more connection. I can't believe how strong my core is at my age and NOW I can really chase the grandkids and lift them! "

Meet Fay

" I have been doing Pilates for better than 6 years, both Mat and Equipment Pilates. I fell in love with the equipment classes because of the way it makes me feel and move - the resistance training, the stretching... and you can do so much on it! It's amazing what the Instructors come up with and I really love the challenge and that's why I keep coming to MMC. Every time I come to class there is always a difference between the class before it, it's never the same. The instructors here really make a difference because they care, the attention to detail is there like no where else I have trained. One of their first questions when you walk in the door is, "is everything ok with you today?"
and I really love that and the individual attention. I don't want to be injured, so I really love the one on one attention even in the group classes. At MMC it's not about the numbers. As I'm aging, I am focusing more and more on balance, building my bone density, and obtaining better posture all of which my classes at MMC help me with! "

Meet Vivien

"I started taking sessions at MMC a year and a half ago because my friend's daughter trained with Emily as a pre-professional dancer. I take Pilates equipment classes 3 times a week. I tried a Private Session with Emily and fell in LOVE with the Gyrotonic® Method. I enjoy playing badminton and dancing (Ballet and Traditional Chinese Dance) on a regular basis and I feel like the sessions all help me so much, especially the Gyrotonic because it helps me with strengthening my core. My body feels so much more balanced and I can tell that it has helped me to build up my muscles in my legs too! I really like MMC Pilates classes because they help me make sure to use the proper muscles and form - it is Traditional Pilates, not the sport kind, so you will feel real change and adjustments and results. My back and neck always feel so much better after my sessions!"