In September 2025, a back injury landed Kristen in the emergency room, barely able to walk. After more than ten years of chronic pain she had lost her muscle, her strength, and, as she puts it, a piece of herself. She felt like she was living in a prison of her own aches and pains.

Then a new reformer studio opened nearby. She walked in guarded and afraid, carrying one small, stubborn ounce of faith, and got through a full hour without sharp pain for the first time in longer than she could remember. Eight classes a month soon became unlimited. She went every single day.

Months later the pain was practically gone, and she had her life back: walking, standing, playing with her kids, dancing with her husband. That comeback became a calling. Today Kristen is training to teach, so she can meet people exactly where they are with empathy and grace, and still give them the kind of workout that leaves their legs trembling in the best way.