ABOUT US
At Yin Yang, all of our instructors are highly trained and committed to teaching you in a way that helps you connect to your body.
MEET OUR TEAM
We are a Pilates and Yoga studio in Lake Zurich, Illinois, and we have been in business since 2007. We serve clients in Lake Zurich, Barrington, Lake Barrington, Forest Lake, and Deer Park, in Illinois.
We have served hundreds of clients over the years to achieve their optimal health and fitness through our classes, which center around optimal health of the body, mind, and spirit. We are dedicated to offering one-on-one training with our certified and experienced instructors.
Our goals include enhancing sports performance, achieving weight loss goals, supplementing rehabilitation from injury, surgery, or chronic diseases, strengthening the lower back, improving posture, improving flexibility, and generally providing you with physical health.
MELISSA CAPITANO, NCPT
Owner, Ying Yang Pilates & Yoga, Yoga Teacher & Pilates Instructor
I was born and raised in Kankakee, IL, the oldest of three. My mom had six brothers, so I grew up surrounded by a big extended family of uncles, aunts, and cousins. Community has always been important to me, and I loved being part of a team. Growing up, I played just about every sport: basketball, cheer, volleyball, track, softball, bowling, dance, and more. I was never the star athlete or the best dancer, but I loved the technique. I could break down the mechanics of a volleyball spike or a bowling throw, even if my body didn’t always execute it perfectly. In college, I swam competitively, and after one race a teammate told me, “It looked perfect, beautiful form, but it just wasn’t very fast.” That moment has always stuck with me; I’ve had an eye for movement, technique, and alignment, even when performance wasn’t my strength.
After getting married, I moved to North Carolina and started graduate school. While working as a teaching assistant, I discovered how much I loved teaching and being part of a supportive team. Around that same time (1998), I started practicing yoga, and for the first time in years I felt reconnected to my body. That sense of flow and presence – like when I was dancing, swimming, or pitching – became something I continued to seek.
Life took us through several moves before we returned to Illinois in 2015. Along the way, I searched for connection and community. I joined Moms’ groups, PTOs, book clubs, yoga, and even a tap dance class. In 2010, I completed my YogaWorks 200 level teacher training, which deepened my appreciation for mindful movement. When we lived in Northern Virginia, I found Pilates. It took me a while to try it – I was a yoga snob! Then, in 2012, I decided to get my training with Balanced Body and I’ve been teaching Pilates ever since. Pilates gave me that same sense of connection, structure, and flow that yoga had brought me, but in a new and exciting way.
After ten years of teaching, I had the opportunity to complete a mentorship and advanced training with Lesley Logan, who trained under Jay Grimes. That experience reignited my passion for Pilates and gave me a deep love for the classical work.
In 2021, I also found my home and community at Yin Yang. When I’m teaching Pilates or yoga, I feel fully connected – to my clients, my body, and the present moment. My hope is that you feel that same sense of connection and flow when you step into class.
GIA CAPITANO
Studio Manager, Pilates Instructor, Barre Instructor
Gia joined the Yin Yang Pilates and Yoga family bringing energy, warmth, and a passion for movement and community. As a studio manager and a dedicated instructor in both Pilates mat and barre, she builds inviting, empowering spaces for students of all backgrounds to discover strength, balance, and joy in their bodies. Having earned her Dance Education degree from Illinois State University in 2025, Gia blends her academic foundation in movement with real world teaching experience to craft classes that are as thoughtful as they are invigorating. Continuing her journey of growth, she’s currently training under her mom, Melissa Capitano, to become a fully certified Pilates Reformer instructor. This highlights both her dedication to the practice and the family legacy of wellness she’s carrying forward. Gia’s goal is to support every student, new or experienced, to feel confident, connected, and celebrate both on and off the mat
MICHELLE SIEGAL
Pilates Instructor
Michelle discovered Pilates in 2012 while recovering from injuries and surgeries, and quickly noticed less pain and more ease in her everyday movement. She went on to complete comprehensive training with a strong focus on the classical method, while also drawing from contemporary principles to meet each client’s individual needs and goals. Michelle brings an energetic, compassionate approach to her teaching, helping clients build strength, confidence, and body awareness through safe, intentional movement. Outside the studio, she enjoys crocheting and working creatively with her hands. A former hockey player, she values strength, resilience, and teamwork, and is a proud wife and parent of two grown children.
TAVA MATESI
Pilates Instructor, Assisted Stretching Instructor
Tava Matesi is a graduate of Illinois State University, where she earned a degree in Dance Performance with a focus in Pre-Health for Physical Therapy. As a professional dancer, Tava has performed in various productions throughout the Chicagoland area. In addition to performing, she teaches Ballet, Jazz, and Contemporary dance classes. Tava has also completed her Pilates certification and loves teaching Pilates and other group fitness classes. She is passionate about fitness and enjoys helping others on their personal fitness journeys.
ERIN O'NEILL
Yoga Instructor
Erin first discovered yoga as a teenager when she practiced it as a complement to her blended martial arts training in Kenpo karate. She went on to complete three Teacher Training with YogaFit, and completed a 200 hr Yoga Teachers Training Program through The Lotus Yoga Centre with Anita Maher. She is a Registered Yoga Teacher through the Yoga Alliance and currently teaches a variety of classes in the area along with working here at Yin Yang Pilates and Yoga. Erin’s teaching style draws from the Vinyasa tradition, which she finds to be beautiful, graceful, and alive. Using a strong flow and mindful interplay of the body and breath, she seeks to leave her students feeling revitalized, expansive, and nourished by the end of each class.
ELAINE RAMESH
Pilates Instructor
Bio coming soon!
MORGAN BRANSON
Front Desk/Marketing Coordinator
Morgan first discovered Yin Yang Pilates & Yoga as a mom of three young kids, quickly finding it to be a place of refuge and connection. She fell in love with the community, the teachers, and the balance of movement and mindfulness the studio offers. With a background in counseling and marketing, Morgan brings a thoughtful, people-centered approach to everything she does. Outside the studio, she enjoys tending to her vegetable garden, cooking, reading, and spending time with her family and pets.
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