ABOUT NICK

Nick or "dr nick" as he is sometimes called, has been involved in wellness, healthy living, preventive medicine, health-related fitness, the science of movement, and Pilates style exercise for the past 45 years. All these evolved from his classical ballet experiences and university studies in the USA and abroad. He has worked with: adult fitness programs, obese children and adults, aspiring ballet dancers, recovering substance abusers, and stress patients, in addition to mentoring university students doing their internships for advanced degrees in the health related professions. Under a grant from the National Institute for Disabilities, Rehabilitation and Research, Dr. Cucuzzo orchestrated a model pediatric burn rehabilitation program in Galveston acting as Director of the first Children’s Wellness Center in the Shriners Hospital system. The center took a holistic approach to improving severely burned children’s musculoskeletal conditions and their families’ quality of life by increasing their levels of physical activity which included the innovative use of the Pilates reformer and Cadillac. Nick has taught Pilates mat classes for seniors in Santa Fe, New Mexico, ballet dancers in Ancona, Italy and the general public. He has attended university and professional language schools in Italy, Greece, Australia, Mexico and Norway. Beginning in 1980 at Houston Ballet Nick has personally exercised with Pilates to keep himself balanced, capable and resilient to the demands of a professional dance career, and, the stresses of modern day living. He looks forward assisting clients in their personal quest for achieving what he likes to call “optimal wellness” . Nick is certified through the Physical Mind Institute in NYC for the Reformer, Cadillac, Wunda Chair, and the classical mat work.

His academic degrees include: a Masters of Education, Univ. of Houston in Exercise Science, and a Ph.D. with a full graduate assistantship, the Florida State University in Movement Science. He has taught and held professorships at Santa Fe Community College, Western New Mexico University, Virginia’s Old Dominion University, Univ. Texas MedicalBranch Galveston, the University of Florida, and Stetson University. Pick his brain, he's a pretty interesting guy!--
Nick Cucuzzo Ph.D. cell: 346-648-0026