Our Team

About Us

The MIXX Fitness team at the Los Altos studio

Meet the founder and instructors behind MIXX Fitness. A team dedicated to helping you move better, feel stronger, and reach your goals.

Nellie Brook

Founder of MIXX
Nellie Brook, Founder of MIXX at MIXX Fitness

After earning her Master of Arts degree in Exercise and Sport Science from the University of Sydney, Nellie has spent more than 20 years developing and teaching Pilates programs for clients with specific medical needs, including chronic back pain, spinal stenosis, hip and knee replacements, and more.

Her experience includes six years as the Pilates Department Manager for Fitness and Wellness Services in New Jersey, as well as owning and operating her own Pilates studio in Sydney, Australia. Six years ago, Nellie opened MIXX Fitness in California, where she continues to bring her experience, care, and personalized approach to helping clients move better, feel stronger, and achieve their goals.

Smadar Sweiry

Instructor
Smadar Sweiry, Instructor at MIXX Fitness

Smadar is coming to MIXX with 10 years of experience in teaching Pilates. She was first interested in Pilates because of her own back problem and was amazed to learn how Pilates improves injuries and posture. In 2011, she was licensed as a Pilates Mat Instructor and taught in Israel before moving to California in 2013. She is STOTT PILATES Certified, a mother of two, and enjoys staying active with Pilates, hiking, and yoga.

Jennifer Makower

Instructor
Jennifer Makower, Instructor at MIXX Fitness

Jen stepped away from her career as a Speech Language Pathologist working in special education in order to raise her three children. Now that her youngest is in his last year of high school, she is ready to start something new. She has always valued an exercise routine, but it wasn't until she discovered Pilates three years ago at MIXX studio that she truly enjoyed it. After watching her mom suffer at the end of life with several medical issues and physical limitations, she is committed to keeping active. Pilates is the perfect exercise to help with core strength, balance and flexibility which are all key for healthy aging. She looks forward to sharing her enthusiasm with students of all ages and abilities.

Irit Avidov Shachrur

Instructor
Irit Avidov Shachrur, Instructor at MIXX Fitness

With a background in dance spanning more than 12 years and over a decade of Pilates practice, Irit has always been passionate about movement and its ability to improve everyday life. She sees Pilates as much more than just a workout. It is a way to build strength, improve movement, and enhance overall wellbeing.

The opportunity to turn her passion into a career came when she discovered MIXX Fitness and its teacher training program. Irit loves the versatility of Pilates and its ability to meet people where they are, whether they are looking to stay active, improve performance, or recover from an injury.

Her goal is to help clients move with confidence, feel stronger in their bodies, and enjoy the journey along the way.

Sue Choi

Instructor
Sue Choi, Instructor at MIXX Fitness

Sue came to Pilates later in life and was drawn to how it made movement feel more intuitive and accessible. Having navigated her own shoulder and neck injuries, she helps clients build strength, improve mobility, and better understand their bodies. She believes exercise should be effective, sustainable, and fun, and strives to make movement approachable for every body. Sue trained with Nellie Brook, completed comprehensive Pilates teacher training at the College of San Mateo, and is a certified 500 hour yoga teacher.

Efrat Bigman Volk

Instructor
Efrat Bigman Volk, Instructor at MIXX Fitness

Efrat has been a Physical Therapist for over 25 years. During this time, she has worked in both hospital and home care settings with all age groups from children to the elderly, treating both chronic and acute conditions with physical activity, including Pilates. Efrat believes that physical activity is important at any age and in any condition. She loves hiking and trains everyday. She is a mother of three. With her youngest starting college, she now has the time to help you improve your strength, flexibility, and mobility. She looks forward to meeting you in her classes and sharing her experience.

Shiri Eshed Shahar

Instructor
Shiri Eshed Shahar, Instructor at MIXX Fitness

Shiri's Pilates journey began seven years ago while recovering from an injury. She was instantly captivated by the magic of the practice. Its precision, intentionality, and the seamless way it strengthens both the body and the soul.

As a dedicated member of the MIXX community for more than five years, Shiri underwent a complete lifestyle transformation. Her fascination with anatomy and movement inspired her to transition from a student to an instructor, where she now applies her professional background as a multidisciplinary designer to crafting creative and thoughtful class sequences. Shiri views movement through a lens of aesthetics and flow, with a special affinity for the Chair and exercises that challenge strength and balance.

Outside the studio, she continues to integrate beauty and creativity into all aspects of life and enjoys long daily walks with her dog, Molly. She looks forward to sharing her passion and enthusiasm with the MIXX community.

Tamar Sofer-Geri

Instructor
Tamar Sofer-Geri, Instructor at MIXX Fitness

Tamar has been practicing Pilates on and off for the last 20 years and credits her “bossy older sister” for urging her to find a form of exercise that would help alleviate the back and neck pain she was suffering from. Pilates did that and more! Last year, Tamar decided to take her Pilates practice up a notch by participating in the MIXX teacher training program. She loved gaining a deeper understanding of why things are done the way they are and how she can help people get the most out of their own Pilates practice by improving their precision and focus. Tamar's favorite exercise is short spine massage and she promises to end (almost) every class with legs in straps!

Jean Ikeda

Instructor
Jean Ikeda, Instructor at MIXX Fitness

Jean discovered Pilates over a decade ago while recovering from a back injury and it completely transformed her relationship with her body. By building strength from the inside out, especially through deep core work, she was able to heal and return to an active life. That experience sparked a passion for Pilates as a powerful system for recovery and resilience. She is dedicated to helping others feel strong, supported, and confident in their bodies, no matter where they're starting from.

A Note from Nellie

I created MIXX after years of exploring, studying and teaching different training and exercise methods.

As a mom of three and a wife to a super busy husband with my own career ambitions, I always tried to find the complete program that best fits my (changing) body and my (busy) mind, as well as my schedule, life priorities and most importantly… my budget. Workout by workout, through struggles and success, I created the MIXX concept.

I am so happy I now get to share MIXX with you! It's a revolutionary method, yet simple and focused on helping you reach your own goals for mind and body.

See you at the studio!

Nellie