Wellness Professionals

Owner, Mark Langowski, is a graduate of the Professional Golf Management Program at Ferris State University, where he studied Business, Golf Management and Biomechanics. During his time at Ferris State in Michigan, Mark successfully completed both the PGA of America's Golf Professional Training Program (GPTP), as well as, the National Academy of Sports Medicine’s (NASM) program to become a Certified Personal Trainer.

During college, Mark worked under nationally recognized teachers at golf courses across the country, getting first-hand experience and training about the importance of optimum biomechanics in a performance driven environment. Following his work as a golf teaching professional, Mark went on to work at Equinox Fitness Club in Darien, CT. At Equinox, he developed highly personalized training and nutritional programs for his clients. He quickly became a highly sought after personal trainer known for getting results. This experience brought to fruition his own company, Body By Mark LLC™.

For the last seven years, Mark and his team have had the pleasure of working with clients throughout Connecticut and New York. Clients they have worked with include, professional athletes, television personalities, CEO's, and hundreds of other other walks of life. His team of highly qualified professionals are now the most sought after group in the area.

Frank Distasio received his Bachelors of Science from the University of Connecticut. His background in pre/post operative orthopedic rehabilitation allows him to diagnose, treat, and correct somatic dysfunctions like back and neck pain, joint and soft tissue trauma, and workplace injuries including repetitive stress disorders and sports injuries. Frank has developed individual treatment plans to prevent loss of mobility and restore function by formulating fitness and wellness oriented platforms for healthier and more active lifestyles. His ability to utilize therapeutic exercise and functional training allows him to offer a very specialized service that no other trainer in the industry can.

Frank is IFPA, NASM, ISSA, ASMA, APEX, and AED certified.

With over a decade in industry experience in sport specific, functional, and strength training coupled with his orthopedic background makes Frank a very complete and sought after trainer. His education and experience allow him to train people of all fitness levels. His methodologies have been successfully applied to a full spectrum of people; youth, geriatric, rehabilitation, professional athletes, and celebrity clientele.

Born and raised in Seoul, Korea Mimi Y Cho attended Art and Music Junior and High School. Upon graduating High School in Korea, she moved to New York. After many years of working in a highly competitive and stressful environment during which time matters, her life made a turn for the worse and severely damaged her health. Yoga not only helped her overcome her health concerns but also her spirituality.

Mimi now helps her clients work towards inner peace while introducing yoga to their current daily routines. Mimi has over 500 hours of Kripalu yoga certification and is prenatal certified.

Bottom Line: Mimi will get to know your body and your needs in order to give you the most effective yoga session you have ever had!

Get Started: Contact mark@bodybymark.com to book a session with Mimi.

Why: Read Testimonials from local Body By Mark clients who have had the opportunity to work with Mimi already.

• "Mimi was AMAZING!!!!, my body feels incredible."
• "My body feels great Mark, she is the best I have ever had!"
• "Mark, I am hooked!!! I need to book her again...soon, thanks again."

Alexandria Crow

Training for many years as a gymnast, then training others as a gymnastics coach helped prepare Alex for navigating the complex and inextricably linked relationship between one's thoughts and one's actions. She learned in gymnastics, and then in yoga asana, how to quiet the voices that tell you that you cannot do something and instead listen to those that support and propel a high-quality practice. That is a skill that applies both on and off the yoga mat and is a fundamental part of her teaching.

Alexandria has completed extensive training beginning with the YogaWorks 200-Hour Certification Program. Following that she completed a lengthy one-on-one apprenticeship with James Brown (owner of YogaPoser and former lead teacher trainer for YogaWorks) over the course of almost 1,000 studio and classroom hours, her considerable gifts as a teacher have lead her to be named as YogaPoser's Lead Teacher Trainer. She has co-taught five, 200-Hour Trainings over the past years.

Alex has been featured in the pages of Yoga Journal and was their October 2010 cover model. In addition to leading teacher trainings Alexandria teaches publicly for YogaWorks in Santa Monica, and teaches YogaPoser's signature Ashtanga based classes in Venice. Alexandria also works privately with her clients in the greater Los Angeles area, catering to their personal needs and goals.

Alex says: "My daily practice has shown me a fearlessness within myself that I never knew existed. I deeply value my responsibility to push my students to and past their physical limits so they can also live with a fearless approach to life."

Top fitness model and pro figure model Mindi Smith has over 10 years experience in the field of personal training, nutrition, speaking, and is motivating and inspiring men and women of all ages through her unlimited accomplishments and ability.

She defies the perception of women in the fitness industry as genuinely beautiful and feminine with a plethora of fitness editorials, pictorials, covers, and features in all mediums from magazines to websites to television. You can find much more of her work at www.MindiSmith.com. As Mindi Smith amply proves, "Women can have muscle, yet still be feminine!"

Mindi is enthusiastic and extremely dedicated to helping others reach their fitness goals! Mindi is excited to join the elite team of fitness professionals under Body By Mark!

Colleen Breeckner has been a student of yoga for more than 16 years and has been instructing since 2005. She has continued her yoga education in the Anusara yoga system under founder John Friend.

Colleen's teaching methodology is enhanced by her knowledge and study of yoga in many different styles including: Astanga, Sivananda, Kundalini, Iyengar, Kripalu, as well as a variety of Vinyasa styles.

Come experience the inward and outward transformations that yoga can offer.

Blair Brodar is a NASM certified Personal Fitness Trainer as well as a Celebrity Fashion Stylist and Image Consultant. Upon receiving her Bachelor's Degree in Visual Arts and an Associates Degree in Applied Science from the accredited Parsons School of Design, Blair has nurtured and developed a strong sense of style and a genuine understanding of the human body. These two tools are essential to creating powerful personal images allowing her clients to achieve a complete total body transformation.

Blair has traveled the world training and styling clients for TV appearances, magazine covers, music videos, album covers and runway shows. She frequently appears on The Rachel Ray Show speaking about the importance if engaging in a healthy lifestyle and covers topics such as, Fitness, Shopping for Your Body Type, and How To Build a Working Wardrobe that makes getting dressed easy and fun. Her clients include; Leighton Meester (Gossip Girls), Deal or No Deal, MTV, FOX, The Food Network, L¹Oreal, Gwyneth Paltrow, Oprah Winfrey, Natalie Cole, world renown DJ Eric Morillo, Jonathan Peters, The New York Dolls and The Outdoor Network. Her work has been featured in high-profile ads, international and national magazines including; iPod, Cosmo, Essence, Zinc, Nylon and OI.

Under Blair's expert guidance, beauty and fitness convene to emerge a distinct and stunning personal image. Clients have praised her positive outlook, easygoing personality and her ability to make "working out" and "shopping" a fun experience for anyone. See more of her styles at www.blairbrodar.com.

Susan Johnston is a registered yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance and a student of yoga for 15 years. Influenced by many different styles of yoga she has come to embrace the principles and spirit of Anusara Yoga. . Susan's teachings are influenced by her therapeutic training, bringing the physical body into an optimal alignment , benefiting the body as a whole to create balance. She teaches a practice that nourishes the body, mind and heart, opening oneself up to their true potential on and off the mat.

Susan is honored to share the gift of yoga, which have helped her to experience life more fully.

Molly Lehman received a BA from James Madison University where she studied Dance and Kinesiology. She always thought she would continue performing forever, until she was injured and started practicing yoga to heal.

With the heart of a dancer, vinyasa yoga was a natural transition and a way to share her knowledge, her experience and her love for movement and anatomy. Once she started teaching and saw the joy yoga brings to people's lives, she knew it was what she was born to do.

Molly was certified to teach with Yoga Spirit Studios and Healing Center in Hamilton, MA. Upon graduating she moved to NYC where she has been teaching privately and to large groups since 2004. She teaches for New York Yoga's teacher training, at the United Nations, and leads 2 yoga retreats a year to exotic locations. She has traveled as far as New Zealand and has been on tour with The Dave Matthews Band. Molly's easy going personality and fun approach to yoga will have you touching your toes in no time:) Her balanced approach to health and wellness is influenced by her studies at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.

Molly feels blessed to have furthered her studies, recieving a 600hr certification with the beloved Yoga Master Sri Dharma Mittra ("the rock of yoga") direct recipient of the Sri Swami Kailashananda lineage.

Michael Bistolas is a certified strength and conditioning specialist, Olympic weightlifting coach, and certified fitness trainer with 11 years experience. He has a BS from the University of Connecticut, as well as certifications from the National Strength and Conditioning Association, USAW (the national governing body for Olympic weightlifting in the United States), and the National Academy of Sports Medicine.

Michael has been a manager for Equinox Fitness clubs, as well as an instructor for local personal trainer workshops. He has also been a consultant for articles in Men’s Health Magazine and Self Magazine.

Michael’s specialty is in applied kinesiology, allowing him to analyze an individual’s body movements and address deficiencies while maximizing his client’s progress towards their goals. He has helped hundreds of clients ranging from children to the elderly, athletes to the sedentary. Michael has helped his clients lose weight, increase strength, improve skills in various sports, and improve their general fitness levels, which is why he is considered one of the area’s elite trainers.

Osazee "O" Omokaro was born in Nigeria and lived there for thirteen years before moving to Connecticut with his family. He has always been a passionate athlete, who enjoys basketball, soccer and football.

Osazee attended the University of Connecticut (UConn), where his hard work and dedication to being a better athlete finally paid off when he made the UConn men's basketball team his junior year as a walk on. Osazee was a member of the Division 1 basketball team under legendary Head Coach Jim Calhoun from 2004-2006. See link: http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/m-baskbl/archive/conn-m-baskbl-2006-roster.html.

In addition to Osazee’s ability as an athlete, he also has a natural talent for training and coaching. He spent time after his senior year of college developing his coaching skills by working as a coach's assistant with the UConn men’s basketball team. Osazee was an Assistant Coach for the Connecticut Wolfpark AAU team based out of Danbury, Connecticut during the spring and summer of 2006. He has also spent several summers as a coach for the Jim Calhoun Basketball Camp and the Hatters Hoop Camp, both in Connecticut.

Osazee is a certified trainer by the American Sports and Fitness Association (ASFA). Osazee’s enthusiasm and positive energy combined with his experienced background in competitive athletics and sports training make him a very sought after trainer. He is committed to helping people achieve their personal fitness goals.

Osazee brings to any training program his strong background in competitive athletics and sports training, along with his enthusiasm, positive energy and commitment to enhancing a client's personal performance to reach his/her personal fitness goals.

Body By Mark South Carolina: Chris Czartosieski

A lifelong athlete, Chris graduated from St. Bonaventure University in 2005 and holds a degree in Physical Education. He teaches Elementary Physical Education in Summerville. Chris is nationally certified with AFAA. He enjoys running, weightlifting and outdoor recreation. Chris has worked with clients of all ages and shapes, and enjoys the diversity.

Many clients have already had the pleasure of working with Chris and they can't say enough good things about how knowledgeable he is about the body and how challenging his workouts are!

Chris travels to see clients throughout Charleston, Sullivan's Island, Isle of Palms and Folly Beach. Contact us to find out if he can travel to your home in South Carolina!

Body By Mark Los Angeles, California: Anne Israel

Anne discovered yoga in high school when a teacher and devoted yogi began to show her basic poses and stretches on the beach after surf sessions. Anne soon pulled together a small group of students and convinced the teacher to lead yoga classes on the days when there were no waves. Though she never managed to hone her surfing skills, she sure enjoyed yoga.

As a lifelong athlete and fitness addict, Anne didn't consider yoga to be a workout, but rather a good stretch, and her personal practice followed an ebb and flow pattern throughout college, as she revisited yoga only when she felt she "needed" it.

It wasn't until she first walked in to her first vinyasa flow class that she discovered the amazing athleticism involved in this type of practice. Though she wasn't entirely sure she would survive the class, she knew instantly that she had found something amazing. She made it through that first day and returned time and time again, inspired by the toning and lengthening effect that it had on her muscles. Anne has continued to enjoy the full-body workout that is a byproduct of this practice and loves watching her students experience the same great benefits, regardless of their level of experience.

Anne can do workouts at your home or hotel gym, on the beach or at the park! In LA, the possibilities are endless with such beautiful weather!

Irina Kuteyeva

Irina is a Classical Certified Pilates Instructor. Irina’s first encounter with Pilates inspired her to get certified in Comprehensive Pilates Training in 2007. She has been teaching since then in some of the finest studios and gym facilities around NY. Irina has tough many clients varying from different injuries to different shapes. Irina strongly believes that Pilates is for everyone and is essential for everyone’s well being.

“It is my personal quest to ensure that every client leaves satisfied, whether you come to recover from acute injury, chronic condition or simply want the best workout you've ever had!”

Elizabeth Jimenez Japal

Elizabeth is a licensed massage therapist and certified pilates instructor who has been teaching for over 9 years. She was a gymnast who represented her native country, the Dominican Republic, in international competitions and later went on to receive a BFA in dance from the University of Oklahoma.

After moving to New York City, she performed on Broadway and at the Met with Antigravity dance company. Elizabeth continued to expand upon her movement and body awareness experience by getting certified in pilates and most recently became a licensed massage therapist, receiving her training from the Finger Lakes School of Massage. From gymnastics, to dance, to pilates, and massage, Elizabeth feels most rewarded when she is helping others achieve their fitness goals and all around well-being through the healing of body and mind. She is a mother of three lovely children.