When's the last time you felt GREAT?

Something we hear – again and again – is that people come to us in pain, or tense, or unable to sit/walk/be comfortable for long stretches of time, but after spending a month or two of quality time with us, they aren’t living in the same discomfort.  They are living pain-free, or atleast in a lot less pain than they used to live in.  Or they are happier, less stressed, and feel more connected to other people.  Or maybe a combination of all of the above.

If you want to know how we judge the quality of our work – that is EXACTLY the standard that we hold ourselves to – we want you to be more comfortable, happier and more connected.  The world becomes a better place every time someone feels a little more free from pain, anger, loneliness or tension.  

So, are YOU ready to feel GREAT?

kristi shaw

Kristi Shaw, Owner, Ph.D., RYT 500,
Pilates Method Alliance - Certified Pilates Teacher (PMA-CPT), Certified Yoga Therapist (IAYT).
Kristi loves alignment-based movement and therapeutics! Kristi trained in a mentoring program with Kelly Roberts of Beach Pilates in Bethany Beach, DE,  focusing on the BASI School of Pilates.  Kristi is a  Certified Pilates Teacher through the Pilates Method Alliance, a notable certification in the field of Pilates.
Kristi approaches classes from a place of curiosity and discovery, encouraging students to drop preconceived stigmas of body conditions, to be open to the deep-seeded wisdom that our bodies are screaming at us to listen to, knowing that we are all much more than a diagnosis.

Kristi's classes are slightly irreverent, inquisitive and fun. She laughs a lot and her students do too. She believes that conscious movement doesn't need to be stuffy.

karen knauss

Karen Knauss, RYT 200, Physical Therapy Assistant, Pilates Teacher and Radiant Child Yoga Teacher.
Karen blends her physical therapy background with alignment-based yoga and Pilates instruction.  Karen trained in a mentoring program with Kelly Roberts of Beach Pilates in Bethany Beach, DE,  focusing on the BASI School of Pilates.  Karen is scheduled to complete her certification through the Pilates Method Alliance in late Spring 2019, a notable certification in the field of Pilates.
Trained in Yoga at Willow Street Yoga Center by Maria Hamburger, Joe Miller and Natalie Miller, Karen continues studies in children’s yoga through Radiant Child and Ashaya Yoga with Todd Norian.  Karen is a certified stand-up paddle board instructor,  and is a certified Yoga of 12-Step Recovery (Y12SR) leader.

Karen's classes offer a beautiful depth of knowledge in body mechanics and alignment, with a focus on self-awareness for optimal performance. 

our teachers in training

andrea hoopes
Jess weems

Teaching faculty, Andrea Hoopes (RYT 200, Mat Pilates Instructor, Barre Sculpt Instructor) and Jess Weems have joined our in-house Pilates mentoring program. You might see them assisting or observing our teachers during classes, as they train in the Pilates method. Get excited! These teachers-to-be have great backgrounds in body mechanics and are eager to begin their Pilates teaching careers at Coastal Retreat!