writer, mover, teacher, seeker
Jennifer is a writer and a movement facilitator who blends two passions—movement and writing—to create unique classes and workshops that draw from a variety of inspiration: Pilates, restorative movement, yoga, strength work and art. Each session is infused with a generous dose of grace, play and curiosity, and guided both by ancient inherent wisdom and by the latest science research. One in the same, some might say.
There is more wisdom in your body than in your deepest philosophy. ~Friedrich Nietzsche
Pilates was developed by a man named Joseph Pilates (who didn’t call his work “Pilates;” that was a “thing” that turned into a shitshow all its own after his death, in 1967, and remains a shitshow today). Rather, he called his work “Contrology,” a made up word that holds the entire essence of his method: control. His knowledge of movement and the holistic mind-body method that he developed as a result, was and still is brilliant—light years ahead of his time. The original Pilates mat work consists of 34 specific exercises, done in a specific order without any special equipment—just you and gravity, baby. Apparatus, such as the Reformer and Cadillac, as well as other props, were developed later, when Mr. Pilates saw just how weak modern bodies were—most were too weak to do his simple (lol) exercises. The apparatus is used to “fill the gaps” of mat work, when we discover how formidable an opponent gravity can be, as well as to add resistance training to exercises with the genius of spring tension physics.
Disenfranchised with traditional Pilates programs, I happened upon Rebecca Leone and her powerful take on Pilates (I think via another pelvic floor search, curiously). Rebecca is a Romana-trained Pilates teacher who applies up-to-date contemporary science to Pilates, with the smartest and most entertaining delivery I’ve ever found in a teacher, all while honoring, protecting, respecting Joe Pilate’s legacy. I’ve learned more about Joseph Pilates, the man, from Rebecca, than from any other source. She’s not only a spectacular teacher, but a cherished mentor and friend. Working with her continues to have a deep impact on my Pilates teaching and personal practice.
I got better at Pilates, not by doing Pilates, but by quitting Pilates for a few years while I gravitated toward a program called Nutritious Movement, developed by Katy Bowman. I think what first lead me to her ground-breaking work was a Google search about the pelvic floor—Pilates teachers talk about it all the time, but in bizarre, nonsensical language like “engage your pelvic floor like it’s an elevator in a 10 story building, but just to the third floor.” WTeverlastingF? My Google search led me to this article: Pelvic Floor Party: Kegels are NOT Invited, and I was hooked. I devoured every blog post Katy ever wrote, bought all of her books (which now number 8 or 9), and after much hemming and hawing (I was in grad school, had only just barely finished my Pilates training but still felt desperately lacking in so many ways as a movement teacher), I registered for her Restorative Exercise Specialist program. The Nutritious Movement program gave me all the information my mind, body and soul were craving, but did not get in any certification I’d done prior. Like, “why can’t I sit crosslegged?” and “why does forward bending hurt some of my clients’ backs?” and “what’s the deal with barefoot shoes anyway?” and “how can I truly make my core stronger? And my hips stop hurting? and, and and…life changing doesn’t even…
I am not a yoga teacher, as it’s a practice that has showed up only recently in my life, but in a short time, it has profoundly impacted my life, and I know that I will be a lifelong student of yoga. A wise teacher recently told our class, it is our holy obligation to share, not hoard, no matter what our experience level is. I feel yoga is the spiritual piece that my soul has been longing for, but my brain decided to take the long, winding, scenic route to get to it. I find the spiritual texts of yoga to be my absolute favorite part; the profound wisdom contained in ancient words brings a calm centeredness to my life that I’ve not experienced before. With my restorative and trauma-informed background, I take a unique approach to practicing and teaching asana—I strive to imbue my practice with grace, kindness and non-judgment. It’s my goal to make my classes truly accessible to all who arrive. I try to let go of preconceived ideas of what a pose “should” look like, and instead, get curious about how it can support and nourish me today, how can I bring an awareness to parts that might be neglected or forgotten, so that all of my parts benefit, not just the parts that I’m already aware of or already “good” at.
Your soul loves you so much, it will use your body to get your attention. ~ jkh
Solos are individual private sessions (in person or Zoom) that use Pilates apparatus, along with a variety of movement philosophies, to support whole body movement, with a focus on personal wellness needs and goals. Joseph Pilates never intended for his work to be elitist or inaccessible—his vision was for his program to be readily available to everyone. I wholeheartedly believe in teaching in this spirit—making private sessions, group classes and the equipment, available to everyBODY – not just the ones who can afford private sessions. Ask about my Pay What You Want, and experience how this deep work can change the way you move in every aspect of your life.
Duets are semiprivate sessions with another student, offering an affordable option to work with a friend or be paired with another person with similar movement goals. Both receive personalized movement guidance using Pilates apparatus, along with a variety of movement philosophies that support each person’s wellness needs and goals. Joseph Pilates never intended fo this work to be elitist or inaccessible—his vision was for his movement program to be readily available to everyone. I wholeheartedly believe in teaching in this spirit—making private sessions, group classes and the equipment, available to everyBODY – not just the ones who can afford private sessions. Ask about my Pay What You Want option, and experience how this deep work can change the way you move in every aspect of your life.
Please contact Jennifer to arrange prior to purchase.
Workshops may be pop-up in nature, or arranged with an organization with a specific theme in mind—foot or hip health, for instance, or pelvic floor awareness (all folks have pelvic floors, y’all). Watch for workshop announcements here and on social media, or contact Jen to schedule!
Currently, most of my group classes are taught at Mankato Area YMCA, where I teach a variety of classes: Pure Pilates, Restorative Flow, Pilates for Lunch, and more. Please check out the YMCA’s website, or call 507-387-8255 for more information for those classes.
Find Jen on social media to keep up with pop-up classes and other events.
BS, Creative Writing, 1991, Minnesota State University, Mankato
MFA Creative Writing, nonfiction, 2018, Hamline University
Editorial Board, 2016-2017, Water~Stone Review, Hamline University
Associate Editor, 2018, CNF, Water-Stone Review, Hamline University
Minnesota State Arts Board Emerging Artist grant recipient 2018
Minnesota State Arts Board Creative Support grant recipient 2022
Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Board grant recipient 2022
Loft Literary Mentor Series fellow in CNF, 2019-2020
I have a tiny garden plot at Heart and Soil Community Gardens near my home. My dear, extraordinary handiest of handymen, Patrick, and I put up a… Read more “Accidental Gardener June 25, 2023”
Independence Day I will always be a reluctant widow, but at times, I am also a grateful one. To have my husband’s family in my life, years… Read more “independence day, July 4, 2023”
like you i cuss like a trucker like you i sing in the shower like you i fight to the finish like you i fight for what’s… Read more “Father’s Day, June 18, 2023”
I’m a writer and movement facilitator whose work explores themes of life, death and the infinite expanse in between. I search for (and often find) connection and inspiration in my interactive process, especially as I find the courage to share more of my story with the world.
I graduated from MSU, Mankato in 1991 with a BA in Creative Writing, but didn’t do anything with my degree until my husband’s cancer diagnosis in 2009. Then, I began a blog to keep loved ones informed about Bob’s heath. As his condition turned critical, the blog became a lifeline that kept me anchored to the familiar as we plunged into the terrifying, alien world of “fight cancer.” My writing, more than anything, linked me to profound sources of support and healing, and kept me grounded while everything else was falling apart. Bob died on May 3, 2011 and it’s taken many years to transcend from that great loss. I lived in a traumatized state for many years without even realizing it. I find the resilience of the human spirit a blessed miracle—that we can keep on keeping on, and do astonishing things while dying a slow death inside. I also find it rather heartbreaking that we so grossly normalize such slow deaths in our modern hustle culture of quick fixes, numbing agents and behaviors, and other bypassing means.
The past decade since my husband’s death has been a slow, but steady path from death toward recovery, of letting go of what I thought was right, and finding my way back to myself. To recover the whole, holy divine spirit that always has, is and always will be, me, that is each of our birthright, but often become buried by external forces along the way.
I write about dichotomies—in a body, in community, in the world at large. I write of loss/recovery, movement/stillness, grief/joy, and the impact these have on one’s life and creative practice, whether in crisis or engaging with the world on a daily basis (sometimes, indistinguishable). To paraphrase John Muir, when I try to pick apart a single thing, I find overwhelming evidence that everything is indeed inextricably connected. Much of my “shitty first drafts,” as Ann Lamott calls them, are in the blog I wrote so long ago, At the time, I wouldn’t have called that “real” writing; today, I know, unequivocally, that my blog is necessary and sacred as anything, the genesis of much in my life.
I also came into movement teaching after Bob’s death. As grief and trauma-riddled as I was, my soul seems to know inherently that I desperately needed a means to metabolize the deeply disregulating “fight cancer” experience that had embedded itself into my heart, mind and soul. What I didn’t realize at the time, is that I was also desperately searching for evidence: to support my suspicions that the devastating consequences of cancer and its treatments don’t solely impact the patient (rather, everyone close to a cancer patient is permanently marked by the experience). And, to support my inherent belief that what I witnessed my husband endure was not natural or right, but frankly, pretty fucked up. We are so much more than a diagnosis. We are so much more than a tumor, or a heart attack or a GI bleed, or our pain. Both practices—writing and moving—entwined and fused together, to the point that they now feel inextricable in my life. Writing (or, in a broader sense, art) is healing, movement is healing.
While movement and writing have been enormously beneficial to move some of the electrifying energy through me, I recently have found the ancient teachings of yoga to be a profoundly soothing and calming path. Better late than never seems to be a repeating theme in my life.
Whether in sickness or in health, or any state in between, each of us are perfect, whole, divine spirits. Each of us deserve a truly holistic approach to health and wellness that deeply cares for this blessedly whole essence—our mind, body and spirit. We will suffer profoundly, for the lack of it. I strive to keep this thought at the center of every session or class or workshop that I facilitate, in every essay or article that I write.
Movement inspires my writing as much as writing inspires me to move, strong evidence that the world is abundant in nourishing movement opportunities that go beyond a typical gym experience. My desire is to provide a safe space for everyone who comes to my studio, to explore and experience movement in an open, curious, nonjudgmental and supportive atmosphere. In every session or class, I take great care to honor and respect each person I work with, wherever they are on their movement journey. We are all strong in so many ways, but strength without softness becomes brittle in time. That’s where my super power lies—helping others discover, recover and sustain strength and suppleness of mind, body and spirit—one cannot exist without the other.
I’d be honored to help you on this path of recovery, with grace, curiosity and wisdom that you already have inside of you: to help tend to the parts of you that are already strong and supple, to uncover your hidden strengths and softness, and offer ways to bestow loving kindness and respite for the parts that are working overtime. As Ayurveda and yoga therapist, Indu Aroro so wisely said, such deep work is more of a work-in, than a work-out. The most difficult, but most sacred, kind of work.