Shila Tirabassi LaGrua
Meet Shila Tirabassi LaGrua
Shila’s journey into the healing arts began with a deep passion for movement as an internationally touring professional modern dancer. A graduate of the Juilliard School in NYC, Shila had the privilege of performing and directing with renowned companies and choreographers, including Merce Cunningham, Lar Lubovitch, Martha Graham, Robert Battle, and Stephen Petronio.
While in New York, Shila supplemented her dance career by teaching yoga and Pilates. She completed her yoga training under Cyndi Lee at OM Yoga Center, where she developed the Core Yoga Program, blending yoga with Pilates principles. Her Pilates training, with Kelly Kane at The Kane School of Core Integration (now Kinected), focused on therapeutic movement to reeducate the body.
After retiring from her professional dance career, Shila returned to her hometown of St. Petersburg, FL, where she discovered Neurosomatic Therapy under Paul St. John. She spent years honing her skills as a Neurosomatic Specialist at the St. John-Clark Pain Treatment Center in Clearwater, FL, and later served as faculty at The Center for Neurosomatic Studies, where she developed the Therapeutic Exercise curriculum.
In 2018, Shila opened Body Center St. Pete, continuing her mission to share her knowledge of functional movement. She teaches anatomy to Pilates and Yoga Teacher Trainings across the country and leads retreats worldwide. Body Center St. Pete is proud to be an Offsite Training Center for The Kane School of Core Integration.
Shila’s ongoing curiosity about the body led her to pursue advanced education in a wide range of disciplines, including Pilates for Neurological Conditions, NASM Personal Training, Prenatal Fitness, Thai Yoga Bodywork, Restorative Yoga, Postural Respiration, human cadaver dissection with Gil Hedley, Muscle Activation Technique, Alexander Technique, Oov levels 1,2,3,, Feldenkrais, and The Barral Method of Visceral Manipulation. She also holds a Schroth Method Base Level Certificate from the Barcelona Scoliosis Physical Therapy School.
Shila is currently developing Spiral Theory, a unique manual therapy and movement technique designed to address scoliotic patterns that lead to pain and dysfunction. This innovative methodology focuses on realigning the body and restoring balance by targeting the specific challenges posed by scoliosis.
Her educational course, recognized by the Florida Board of Massage, provides massage therapists and movement practitioners with effective tools for working with clients with scoliosis. Shila is also creating comprehensive online learning programs to demystify the process, empowering practitioners to confidently treat and support clients dealing with this complex condition.
Shila, also a Reiki practitioner, brings a holistic approach to her practice, blending manual therapy with functional movement to help clients achieve alignment, strength, and ease. She believes that all bodywork is, at its core, energy work, and she is deeply grateful for the teachers, clients, and students who continue to inspire her.
Get to Know the The Body Center St. Pete Team
Shila Tirabassi LaGrua
Shila’s journey into the healing arts began with a deep passion for movement as an internationally touring professional modern dancer. A graduate of the Juilliard School in NYC, Shila had the privilege of performing and directing with renowned companies and choreographers, including Merce Cunningham, Lar Lubovitch, Martha Graham, Robert Battle, and Stephen Petronio.
Delfina Bonilla-Lopez
Delfina Bonilla-Lopez, LMT, CNS, RYT-200, YTU, CPT, is a passionate bodywork specialist and dedicated advocate for the body’s innate capacity for restoration. With a lifelong love of athleticism and movement, Delfina is committed to helping her clients rediscover their body’s natural potential through Neurosomatic Therapy, corrective exercise, and a range of holistic techniques.
Alyson Ballow
Alyson is a LMT, CNS, RYT-300 and has received her AFAA certification in Group Fitness Training. She has continued education and certifications for Community Yoga Outreach, The Art of One-on-One, and AcroYoga, both Lunar Therapeutics and Solar Acrobatics. She graduated in June 2014 from Warrior One Yoga (Orlando, FL) and in August 2022 from the Center for Neurosomatic Studies (Largo, FL).
Tania Drago
Tania Drago is a dedicated practitioner specializing in Pilates, with certifications from Club Pilates and The Kane School of Core Integration. Originally from Boston, MA, Tania’s passion for helping others achieve a balanced, healthier lifestyle led her to pursue a career in wellness after studying Criminal Justice at Northern Essex.
Heidi Brewer
Heidi Brewer, a native of the Pacific Northwest and University of Washington alum, has been a dedicated dance artist and movement specialist in Seattle, NYC, and LA since 2001. She is a Certified Pilates Instructor through the Kane School and Kinected in NYC, where she also serves as the Communications Director. At Body Center St. Pete, Heidi is a Pilates Instructor, guiding clients in achieving optimal alignment and movement and Kane School Teacher Trainer, teaching the Pilates Method to future instructors.
Brunella Lucchi
Brunella Lucchi, originally from Italy, has built an impressive career in manual therapy, driven by her passion for helping clients overcome pain and restore balance. After studying foreign languages and literature at the University of Bologna, Brunella’s pursuit of knowledge led her to the United States in 1991, where she discovered her passion for manual therapy and soft tissue treatments.
Martha Spalding
Martha Spalding, PT, IMT, NTP, FLT, is an experienced Physical Therapist with over 30 years of expertise in Integrative Physical Therapy. After graduating from the Boston Conservatory with a BFA in Dance, Martha pursued a career in professional dance. However, after a career-ending injury, she shifted her focus to physical rehabilitation, earning her Physical Therapy degree from the University of Illinois in Chicago.