Our Team

Suzette Smith, founder

Suzette believes you have to love the body you live in. And she’s proved that by focusing on total wellness of body and mind you can truly age gracefully. At 62 years old, she’s proving it. 

Suzette was born in Chingola, Zambia and trained in Europe and New York City to become a professional dancer. She danced across Europe and later founded her own ballroom dance company, Sophisticated Steps, in New York City. She spent a decade working for the Board of Education in NYC teaching dance and choreography, and collaborated with City Center to develop dance programs in schools citywide. She was recognized as an award-winning choreographer for her work at the Professional Performing Arts School.

After fighting and surviving breast cancer in 1995, she embarked on a journey of healing, becoming a Reiki and Transformational Breath practitioner, as well as studying the healing art of Thai Yoga Massage in Thailand.  She is deeply grateful to have found Pilates as the perfect venue to synthesize her vast knowledge of the body, her innovative teaching expertise and her profound healing practices. 

Suzette received her Pilates training at the prestigious Kane School of Core Integration in New York City and her national certification through the Pilates Method Alliance. Suzette is a Barre instructor, as well as a Zumba and Nia instructor. She has her Master of Education degree with a focus on dance from Cambridge College in Cambridge, MA. 

Suzette established Shelter Island Pilates & Barre in 2004 where she now lives year-round and specializes in body alignment, postural assessment & correction, and proper mechanics. She is inspired to create a nurturing and restorative fitness environment, and her studio and staff are expressions of the values she and her business embody: expert knowledge, commitment to excellence, and customized care. 

Mary Henley returns to Shelter Island Pilates, joining us from Canberra, Australia, where she has lived with her family for the past seven years. Originally from the Washington DC/Northern Virginia area, Mary began her career as a professional ballet dancer. During her transition from performing to teaching, she discovered Pilates and immediately recognized it as the missing link in her training. 

Certified in 2010 through BASI's Comprehensive Teacher Training, Mary continues to enrich her expertise with advanced certifications and continuing education credits from Fletcher Pilates, Progressing Ballet Technique, and Mariska Breland’s Pilates for Neurological Conditions. 

Mary has shared her passion for Pilates across diverse settings, from elite ballet schools and boutique studios to Australia's Parliament House. Currently, she serves as a Senior Instructor at The Pilates Centre Canberra. Beyond Pilates, Mary is highly regarded as an instructor in ballet and stretch therapy and has led a nationally recognized Adaptive Dance program for children with disabilities. 

Currently pursuing studies in Neuroscience for rehabilitation and pain management, Mary has achieved remarkable results integrating these techniques into her teaching. She is excited to bring this knowledge and experience back to Shelter Island Pilates this summer.

Andrea Milnik began her fitness journey by striving for strength in mind, body, and soul. She has an innovative teaching style, sequencing to build strength, stability, and agility in a healthy and effective way.  She is always learning new ways to incorporate positive fitness techniques to keep your fitness journey fun and interesting.

Starting out in nursing school, with a thirst for knowledge about how the human body operates, Andrea decided to take a more holistic approach to help people live a healthy lifestyle. She is a certified Pilates, yoga, aerial, and barre instructor with a martial arts background.  Teaching for over 20 years, she loves what she does and strives to be better through each and every experience!

After sustaining injuries she discovered Pilates, and has been studying with Suzette for over 15 years.  She recently completed teacher training with Suzette, learning the mechanics that prevent injury and promote healthy aging.  

Connie's teaching focuses on the foundations that professional dancers know, focused on building length and strength while practicing correct alignment.