About me.

  • Ali (she/they) earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy from Temple University and holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences with minors in Dance and Somatics from Drexel University. She has a diverse background in outpatient care, having worked as a rehab aide, administrative assistant, and licensed physical therapist. During her doctoral training, she gained additional experience working on the cardiac units at Temple Hospital.

    Ali also provides backstage physical therapy support at the Walnut Street Theatre, working with dancers and actors in live productions. While at Temple, she conducted two original research studies: The Impact of Participating in a Human Anatomy Cadaver Course on Mental Health for Doctor of Physical Therapy Students: A Qualitative Study, and The Evaluation of a Novel Injury Prevention Educational Initiative for First-Year Dance Students. Her research has been presented at Temple University Research Day, the APTA’s Education Leadership Conference, the Dance Science and Somatic Educators Conference, and the Somatic Dance and Movement Conference.

    Ali approaches physical therapy with a holistic lens, emphasizing the integration of physical, emotional, and mental wellness in each patient’s care.

  • Ali is a comprehensively trained Pilates instructor, having completed the 450-hour Drexel Pilates Training Program during her undergraduate studies. She has taught in a variety of settings, including gyms, studios, and for both dance and gymnastics teams throughout the Philadelphia area.

    She currently teaches group classes, private sessions, and specialty workshops. Her workshops—such as Pilates and the Pelvic Floor and Pilates and Joint Replacements—have been presented at Drexel University and EveryBody Movement and Wellness. Ali blends classical and contemporary Pilates methods to support functional movement and whole-body wellness for every client.

  • Ali began dancing at a young age, training in ballet, jazz, modern, contemporary, hip hop, acrobatics, and tap. She found joy and freedom in movement and community, and began teaching during high school to share that passion.

    In college, Ali was a member of Drexel’s FreshDance and Drexel Dance Ensemble, choreographing works for both groups. In 2021, she was invited back to remount one of her original pieces as a dance film, which premiered in February of that year.

    Ali has performed with several Philadelphia-based companies, including Hillary Pearson Dance Company (HAIR) and Burgundy Blue Dance Company (The Album Series: Dreamland), with whom she continues to perform.

  • Ali is deeply passionate about education and mentorship. She serves as an adjunct professor at Stockton University, where she teaches Dance Kinesiology. At Drexel University, she is a senior instructor in the Pilates Training Program, guiding apprentices through classical and contemporary repertoire, teaching pedagogy, and leading anatomy labs.

    She also created and implemented a dance-specific injury prevention and awareness curriculum as part of her graduate research. This included lectures, labs, and functional movement screens for university dancers. Ali is committed to continuing her teaching at both the studio and university levels in physical therapy, Pilates, and dance.

  • Outside of her clinical and teaching work, Ali serves as the President of Woman Within Eastern USA, a global organization dedicated to empowering women and gender-expansive individuals. In her free time, she enjoys dancing, rock climbing, and spending time with her partner, kids, friends, and dogs.

    She brings together her passions for physical therapy, Pilates, and dance to create supportive, inclusive care environments. As a queer clinician, Ali values authentic connection, uplifting the LGBTQIA+ community, and advocating for patients’ physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

    Her core values are:
    Integrity. Resilience. Determination. Connection.

Testimonials

  • "Ali is a phenomenal Pilates teacher - knowledgable, kind, creative and incredibly insightful. She has profound knowledge of Pilates principles, but it's her unique insight into the body's movement that makes her so extraordinary. She always makes the perfect, precise adjustments, and her ways of explaining things just make sense. On top of it, Ali has a way of making anyone she teaches feel comfortable, safe, at ease - a skill I think just can’t be taught. Each session with Ali is transformative - I walk out of our sessions feeling stronger, more connected with my body, calmer, all the good things. And deeply grateful for her guidance and presence. She's the best!”

  • "Ali Lodise led the dance screens and workshop for dance majors with care and clarity, making PT material approachable and relevant. Her warm and supportive presence left a lasting impression, sparking curiosity and encouraging students to think more deeply about movement and how to care for their bodies. Ali has a rare ability to translate technical knowledge into meaningful insights that truly resonate."

  • “Ali's skilled pre-op Pilates sessions prepared me for shorter after surgery PT care. My muscle re-education was expedited. Pain management was improved and post-op PT knee surgery treatments shortened. Now, with that knowledge Pilates is routine. I learned awareness engaging deep core muscles which had eluded me. I benefit with increased flexibility and wow does it improve my range of motion. Notable mental stamina on the tennis court with less injuries. Improved balance and quality of life is in my control. I owe it to this practice.”

  • "Over the years she has been many things to me. It is the combination of her disciplines in dance, Pilates and physical therapy that really kept our sessions challenging and creative. She is able to synthesize her knowledge and focus on building my strength as she considers my physical constraints As an educator her work is deep and she keeps it fun!"

  • "She’s informal enough to make me comfortable, professional enough to have me leave every session feeling physically stronger and at least a little bit healthier and more able bodied, and sneaky enough so that when I’m not in Pilates I’m thinking about my posture, hips, breathing, rib cage placement, the direction of my toes, rolling my back, and firming up my glutes. Two months of Pilates one-on-one with Ali has accomplished more than a year of PT."