Instructor Spotlight: Brooke Benton

Brooke showing us how it’s done. “A man is as young as his spinal column.” - Joseph Pilates

If you’ve stepped inside our studio, you most likely have had the honor of meeting Brooke Benton, instructor extraordinaire!  Brooke exudes an energy and radiance that is magnetic; to know her is to have your life truly enriched, and if you don’t know her, you want to!  When Brooke is not teaching Pilates, slaying powder, racing her mountain bike up and down the single track, and taking care of her husband and two children, she’s keeping our beautiful studio up and running!  That’s right, in addition to all of the above, Brooke also manages everything here at Good Movement Studio; from our teaching staff, to the schedule, the studio buildings, our Covid cleaning and health & safety protocols, all of our member accounts, the marketing, the finances, the parking…. and anything else you can possibly think of!  We’ve even seen her roaming the hallways with a mop and a toilet plunger, so we could likely even add “plumber” to her resume.  Brooke wears many hats and not only is she the one that keeps this place running, she’s the glue that holds us all together. 

Today we are so thrilled to be able to share Brooke’s Good Movement story!  So, without further ado, here’s this month’s instructor spotlight: Brooke Benton!

Brooke with her husband Andy, daughter Presley (age 5), and son Johnny (age 2)

The Early Years…

Brooke is a Colorado native and was born and raised in Steamboat Springs, CO.  Her parents and many good friends still reside there, and her brother now lives in Denver with his wife and two daughters.  Brooke attended the University of Oregon where she studied dance, kinesiology, and anthropology, and upon graduation in 2004 she moved to San Francisco, CA.  She intended on staying for only a few years but ended up staying 8! During her time in San Francisco, Brooke danced and performed with Bandaloop, an international dance company known for their unique fusion of combining physicality with choreography and climbing technology, for a “vertical” performance!   While dance was her passion, she supplemented her income by teaching at a thriving Pilates studio in the heart of the city.  Teaching movement classes began as a way to pay the bills, but Brooke quickly found that she was drawn to the connection between dance and Pilates and discovered a love for teaching.  She enjoyed it so much that she opened up her own Pilates studio in Sausalito, CA, just north of San Francisco.  Brooke says of this experience:

“I had always wanted to be a business owner and took on the challenge.  It was a huge learning experience for me, as well as a stressful one, but quite the education.”

3 years into owning her own business, Brooke and her boyfriend (now husband) found themselves yearning for more of a work/life balance.  As outdoor enthusiasts who loved to ski, bike, hike, and camp, Park City and Utah seemed to have everything they were looking for.  In addition to allowing them to be closer to their friends and family in Steamboat, it provided them with a new adventure! 

This is Brooke’s ninth winter in Park City and over the course of the last (almost) decade, she got married, had two kids (Presley, age 5 and Johnny, age 2), moved three times, and has a tribe of amazing friends!  Instead of pets, Brooke says they “collect outdoor gear.” Sounds like many of us mountain adventurers who live in PC!

Brooke crushing the single track

Searching for Good Movement…

Brooke says she was “enticed by Emma” (the owner of Good Movement Studio) to come visit, what was then called, Studio Pilates. 

“I was teaching Pilates at another local studio and about to have my first baby when Emma approached me with the idea of Good Movement Studio and shared with me her vision for the Colby School redevelopment.  She asked me to help her start the studio on the property where the facility currently sits and I said YES!  Together we’ve turned it from a 1 room Pilates studio, to a state-of-the-art, multi-discipline health and fitness mecca!  It has been so extraordinary to watch the evolution of this space and our clients - growing together.  Emma’s business savvy and positive energy are nothing short of remarkable.  It is an absolute pleasure to work for and with her; she’s always in my corner supporting and cheering me on.  I feel truly grateful and honored that I get to call this my “job” and have Emma as a boss and mentor.”

Brooke’s Areas of Expertise…

Brooke has over 15 years of experience teaching Pilates and now teaches privates, semi-privates, and group fitness classes.  She has trained all levels and fitness abilities, including clients with Parkinson’s Disease, and those post-injury and post-op.  She says her favorite special populations to train include pre & post-partum clients and those in breast cancer recovery.  She most enjoys teaching on the Reformer and utilizing Pilates specific props, especially the Oov.  Brooke says of the Oov “it challenges the body on a whole new dimension, which is great for those that want to go deeper into their practice and for us as instructors to learn more about a client's movement patterns and/or compensations.”   

Brooke teaching her young daughter Presley how to ski.
“Children are great imitators, so give them something great to imitate.” - Anonymous

I Love Teaching at Good Movement Studio Because…

“I love, love, love the clientele!  We have such a great community of people that join us to move every week/month.  So many have stuck with me over the years and it's been rewarding to see how strong and confident they've all become.  They no longer see what we do as just exercise but as a way of life, as part of a regular routine in their world.  We have all laughed a lot together, some of us cried together, and we all have learned so much from one another.  The connections are really the BEST! I truly enjoy working with all the other instructors and with our fearless leader, Emma.  I love to learn and take class from all of our talented and educated teachers - they make working out both fun and challenging.  I always learn something when I take a class from one of them.  And have I mentioned that Emma is the BEST boss ever?!” 

The More You Know…

We asked Brooke what she wishes more people would know/think about when working out…here’s what she had to say:

“I think a few things that often get overlooked are breath and deep core connection (these are also things I work on regularly for myself, too).  The two go hand-in-hand but usually the breath is the least emphasized.  I try to cue the breath as much as possible in my training sessions with clients, but it is something we ALL can work on outside of the studio.  If we are breathing properly, we will help stimulate the deep core muscles.  Especially with my new postpartum mamas, breath and deep core stimulation is something we talk about a lot.  I think everyone can benefit from more awareness and connection in this area.”

Brooke living life to the fullest!
“It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness.” - Charles Spurgeon

Wow Brooke!  What a story!  It’s safe to say we all learned not only a few exciting things about you and the unique experiences and lessons that have molded the incredible person you have become, but we are also walking away with a few helpful tips on training and taking care of our bodies.  Here’s to more intentional breathing, not just when we are working out, but when we are going through our daily lives! 

Come check out one of Brooke’s amazing Pilates classes at Good Movement Studio today or contact us to set up a private or semi-private training session with her!  You won’t regret it and will be sure to leave feeling a little taller, a little stronger, and a lot more energized as Brooke certainly has some energy and positivity to share!