About Katie
3rd Generation Pilates Teacher, MS Kinesiology, MEdL, Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher, Certified BRM® Pro, Kinesiology Professor, Huge Body Nerd
Hey there, I'm Katie!
I’ve been in love with Pilates since 2004—but what’s kept me here isn’t just the workout.
It’s what it gives you over time.
Early on, I saw how Pilates could change the way I moved. As a dancer, I remember skipping my usual barre warm-up one morning, taking a Pilates class instead—and walking into rehearsal feeling more centered, more balanced, and stronger than usual. That was the shift.
But what stayed with me even more was what happened later.
Through pregnancy, postpartum, and every season since, I experienced what it feels like to trust my body as it changed—not fight it, not fear it, but work with it.
That’s what Pilates gave me.
And it’s what I teach now.
Because your body is meant to change over time. The goal isn’t to hold onto an old version of yourself—it’s to keep building a body that supports who you are now.
Some Topics I'm Passionate About
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Helping you build a body that stays strong as life changes
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Teaching movement that actually makes sense (no guesswork, no randomness)
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Blending structure and intuition—because you need both
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Creating a system you can stick with, not just something you try
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Supporting women through every season, from career shifts to motherhood and beyond
My Pilates Pathway
Every woman's journey is different, but the need for strength, knowledge, and support is universal. Here’s how I went from ballet dancer to physics teacher to prenatal movement specialist—and why I’m so passionate about helping women prepare for whatever comes their way.
The Early Years:
The Dancer
Growing up as a ballet dancer taught me how the body moves—and how it can be pushed beyond its limits. Much like dance, there is both an art and a science to Pilates.
2016:
The Diastasis and Perinatal Specialist
During my first pregnancy, I realized how much was missing from traditional prenatal fitness. Determined to change the conversation, I became certified in prenatal exercise and diastasis recti recovery through The Center for Women's Fitness.
2007 - 2020:
The Physics Teacher
I spent 13 years teaching high school physics, during which I earned my Masters Degree in Education, developing a deep understanding of how we learn best.
2019:
The Kinesiologist
Katie Donnelly, MS
I completed my MS in Kinesiology (with a 4.0, I might add!). Over those three years, I dove into the research surrounding prenatal exercise and diastasis recti recovery. I also became an adjunct professor of Dance Kinesiology at DeSales University where I still teach today.
2012-2013:
The 3rd Generation Pilates Teacher
After 10 months of training, I completed my Fletcher Pilates Comprehensive Teacher Training. I saw firsthand how movement could be used to rebalance the body.
2021:
The Body Ready Method™ Professional
I deepened my expertise by becoming a Certified Body Ready Method™ Pro, allowing me to integrate advanced birth preparation strategies into my work. I’m now a Teaching Assistant and guest speaker for the program.
Success Stories
“When I started, I had constant underlying pain and so many movements felt off. Now I’ve built a full practice and feel so much more confident in my body. It’s not about being perfect—it’s that I know how to listen and adjust when something doesn’t feel right.”
- Nicole M.
“Katie’s understanding of the body made it easy to trust the process. I always felt supported, challenged, and taken care of at the same time.”
- Rosemary Y.
Here are some fun facts to get to know me better.
I've been a performer my whole life. Ballet dancer, flute player, marching back drum major, and high school physics teacher (yes, that's totally a performance!)
Speaking of physics... I'm just an all around nerd. My favorite things are Star Wars, Doctor Who, Lord of the Rings, Outlander, & anything by Sarah J. Maas.
I'm a hardcore introvert. I love teaching you and working with you but afterwards, I need my family to pretend I don't exist!
