The Momentum Fest ambassador program highlights teachers in our community who are energetic, excited and driven in their movement practice and love of life. They embody our mission of inclusion, community and joy and are helping to spread Momentum Fest’s vision to their hometowns and studios!
Meet Our 2021 Momentum Fest Ambassadors
Amanda Kindschy – Team Leader
Amanda was raised in the suburbs of Milwaukee, Wisconsin where she grew up riding 
horses, doing gymnastics, and playing team sports. She loved being active, but hadn’t found an activity she wanted to continue into adulthood. That all changed when she discovered Pilates in 2013. She was trained by Club Pilates in 2015 and since then has pursued continuing education and mentoring with teachers such as Anula Maiberg, Try Fry, and Carrie Pages. She’s passionate about being both a Pilates teacher and student. Amanda’s also excited to be a part of the current movement of teachers working to create an inclusive Pilates community where there is a feeling of mutual respect and appreciation for different types of purposeful movement. This is Amanda’s third year as a Momentum Fest ambassador.
Emily Sharpe – Team Leader
Emily Sharpe is a Pilates Method Alliance Certified Pilates Instructor, comprehensively trained through Balanced Body and also trained in Balanced Body MOTR, the BODHI Suspension System and Balanced Body Barre. Emily discovered Pilates over 10 years ago as a means to heal chronic knee pain and find an outlet of movement she enjoyed. She diligently studied the method by taking group classes and privates, ultimately leaving her advertising career to pursue teaching Pilates full time. Emily brings energy, passion and enthusiasm to her teaching and continues to deepen her knowledge of movement through workshops, mentoring sessions and conferences to keep up to date with current techniques and trends in the industry. When not in the studio Emily can be found exploring the outdoors, hiking with her husband and friends and traveling to adventurous places! This is Emily’s third year as a Momentum Fest ambassador.
Ashley Chubrik
Ashley is a Pilates Educator and Faculty for Pure Body Teacher Training, where she also serves as Director of Communications + Community Engagement. She first started teaching Pilates alongside a corporate career in education and employee development before making it her full time career in 2010. She has completed three comprehensive certifications, and continues to deepen her knowledge of anatomy, body mechanics, and the latest Pilates science by attending workshops and seminars throughout the country.
In 2019, she was inspired to blend her past experience in education and development with her passion for the Pilates method, and transitioned to teaching and mentoring teachers. This is where she truly feels in service – inspiring teachers to use their unique talents and strengths to move toward their goals and reach their full potential authentically. Her thoughtful approach combines her background in psychology and professional development with a strong understanding of business metrics and brand alignment – a unique combination that drives results and offers immense value to those she serves. She is known for leading with empathy, inclusivity, and a passion for creating kindness and community in everything she does.
Marisa Oldefest
Marisa is a PMA Certified Pilates Teacher, Qualified Fletcher Pilates Teacher and Certified Massage Therapist. Marisa developed a love for movement through dance and she went on to study ballet with the Colorado School of Ballet and Performing Arts. She found Pilates after an auto accident left her with a neck injury in 1996. After just one Pilates private session session she felt immediate relief from her pain and realized she needed to become a teacher so she could share the benefits of the Pilates method with others.
She owns Peace of Mind Pilates in Denver, Colorado. Marisa truly loves teaching every body at every age and stage of their life! This is Marisa’s second year as a Momentum Fest ambassador.
Kim Burgoon-Luchs
Kim Burgoon-Luchs is a Pilates teacher in League City, TX. While studying dance in college, she fell in love with the Pilates method and knew she’d eventually become a teacher. She enjoys using Pilates to help people balance their everyday activities. Kim volunteered at Momentum Fest 2019 and is so excited to return as an ambassador for Momentum Fest 2020! This is her first year as a Momentum Fest ambassador.
Amy Peters
My absolute favorite part of owning a studio is to see our clients achieve their fitness goals . Seeing them become stronger and more confident is truly rewarding. The sense of community and support at the studio is unique and makes me feel like a proud momma.Our studio is a safe place for people of all ages, shapes and degrees of fitness to come together and celebrate the joy of movement. Sharing my passion has been a life long dream come true. This is Amy’s second year as a Momentum Fest ambassador.
Stacey Extence
Stacey began practicing Pilates in 2011 to become healthier and soon realized it was offering more benefits. Pilates became a form of therapy for her mind and soul, making her fall in love with the movement practice. Stacey enjoys practicing Pilates at home, in a studio and seeking out studios during her frequent travels. She is a Pilates enthusiast who loves sharing the method with anyone who’s willing to listen and try it out! She is currently completing her full comprehensive teacher training with Peak Pilates. This is Stacey’s third year as a Momentum Fest ambassador.
Christine Brusca Hall
A lifelong fitness and wellness practictioner, Christine is the owner of Studio 8 Pilates in Chicago. She is a certified pilates instructor through the PhysicalMind Institute and the Pilates Method Alliance. Chris has been teaching pilates since 2006 and her passion is training people who want to move better, feel better and live healthier lives. Christine discovered Pilates after complications stemming from childbirth and diastasis recti. She was seeking alternative methods of exercise to safely rehabilitate herself without surgery. Christine feels fortunate that she has access to such amazing continuing education in Chicago and is allowed to spread the Pilates message throughout her community. This is Christine’s second year as a Momentum Fest ambassador.
Tanesha Manigo-Brown
Tanesha had thoughts of becoming a teacher, but it wasn’t until she took her first Pilates class during graduate school that she realized Pilates would be her subject. Pilates quickly became her passion, her purpose, and now the gift she continually shares with others to help them gain complete control over their bodies. Tanesha is Advanced Pilates Mat certified through Peak Pilates and an AFAA Certified Group Fitness Instructor. In addition, she is trained in the Bodhi Suspension System and holds instructor certifications in Pop Pilates, PIIT28 and POUND. Tanesha is the owner of Orange Groove Pilates Studio in Brunswick, GA where she’s making exercise less of a chore and more of a well-deserved experience. When she’s not teaching, she’s creating memories with her husband and two children.
Nicole Peterson
Nikki’s Pilates journey began over 10 years ago when she attended her first Pilates workshop to fulfill a need for continuing education units for group fitness certifications. It was love at first sight! Nikki holds certifications in ACE, NASM, Tabata Bootcamp, and Strong by Zumba. She is also PMA certified, and is comprehensively trained through Pilates Sports Center, currently bridging with Polestar Pilates to expand her knowledge of rehab-based Pilates. Nikki is the owner of Nikkifit Pilates and Fitness LLC , a home based studio. Nikki desires to share her passion with a diverse population that would not ordinarily see themselves as Pilates practicers, demonstrating that Pilates truly is for everybody. This is Nicole’s first year as a Momentum Fest ambassador.
Lori Watson
Lori Watson owns and operates her private studio in San Jose, CA. Although she was always active and loved fitness, it became a challenge in 1983 after a bad auto accident led to three back surgeries. She discovered Pilates during her recoveries and once again she felt strong and fit. This experience led her to change professions and get numerous certifications in Pilates and Gyrotonic. she has run her business for 16 years. She believes movement especially Pilates is good for everyone and focuses her practice on clients with movement disorders and physical impairments.
Rachel Piper
Rachel has a background in Biological Sciences and hs been working at a local biotech company since 2001. She is a classically trained comprehensive Pilates teacher who originally went down the teacher training path to gain more knowledge and to help her autistic son with balance and flexibility. Now she strives to help others find joy in movement while feeling included within the community.
Her Pilates experience, from the beginning, was full of inclusion and acceptance even though she practices Pilates in a bigger body. She believes that you should love your body for what it can do, no matter your size, your age, or your current abilities. She believes in teaching in an inclusive and accepting way, where she makes the exercises work for the body – not by cramming a body into an exercise. Rachel works towards creating space for people who might not think they have a place in Pilates whether it’s because of gender identity, race, size or shape, physical state, or being neurodiverse.
Kelly Hendricks
Kelly is a lifelong athlete with a passion for movement! She fell in love with Pilates after experiencing how it improved the activities she loves from hiking, skiing, trail running, sprint triathlons, swimming, and most importantly keeping up with her three young kids. She followed her passion of health and fitness in 2015 by deciding to own and operate three Club Pilates studios and became a certified Pilates Instructor in 2019. Kelly loves how Pilates can help everyone’s body from a seasoned Ironman triathlete to someone who has never worked out before and everyone in between. Her passion is to improve the lives of everyone around her with better health by bringing communities together with a positive heart & mind. This is Kelly’s third year as a Momentum Fest ambassador.
Jessica Roberts
Jessica is a Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher (NCPT) and CEC workshop provider. Comprehensively trained through Balanced Body, and a master trainer for Club Pilates. Jessica offers Pilates fitness training, workshops, and teacher training in-person and virtually at www.PilatesWorkoutsOnline.com. Jessica discovered Pilates in the early 2000s with Mat Pilates DVDs with Mari Winsor, Rael Isacowitz (and more). She discovered the Reformer with an Active Release Techniques Massage Therapist and Chiropractor. It all came together when she discovered Reformer Pilates classes in 2010 realizing how great it made her whole body feel. It was a life-changing move as she transitioned from the real estate world into a fitness career. She is constantly pushing herself and her students to reach goals and success in not only training but in all classes and avenues of their individual journeys. Jessica’s teaching style is fun, enthusiastic, and informative. It is with her great respect for the body and connection to the soul that her students resonate with clarity. Encouraging others to dream big and find their passions. Move and feel better with functional Pilates fitness with Jessica Ann Pilates at Pilates Workouts Online.
Marisa Malzone
Marisa naturally gravitated to Pilates as a dancer, and she received her certification in New York City from Brett Howard in 2007. Since then, she has taught in NYC, Hawaii, and now Colorado. She truly believes that movement heals and loves helping her clients find joy in what their bodies are capable of. She is currently a certified nutrition coach and is set to finish her Master’s degree in Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine in Fall 2021. In the meantime, she will talk to literally anyone about their hormones, and is especially passionate about helping moms regain strength in both their bodies and minds. When she’s not teaching, Marisa is hanging out with her husband, wrangling small humans, snuggling her pugs, and dancing. She is so excited to be a part of Momentum Fest and share her love of movement with such a wonderful community.
The Pilates Collective
Clara Gelatt, the owner of The Pilates Collective, was introduced to Pilates in Washington DC and completed her teacher training at Pilates of Cherry Creek under Hope Petrine in 2013. After a few years of teaching at studios around Denver, Clara wanted to create her own studio atmosphere in which instructors truly felt supported to collaborate and develop their careers as they desired. In this community environment, she felt teachers could reach their full potential for themselves and best serve their clients. The Pilates Collective has two locations in Denver. Clara is particularly passionate about working with clients living with disabilities such as MS, spinal cord injury, chronic pain, and muscular dystrophy. This is Clara and The Pilates Collective’s first year as a Momentum Fest ambassador.
Kelly Brittain
Kelly is a wife, a Mama to three small children and a lover of all forms of movement. She has always been active and played many sports but her love of dance and competitive Scottish dancing is what brought her to the world of pilates as an adult. She is a pilates enthusiast, instructor and lead instructor of all 3 Club Pilates studios in Northern Nevada. She has additional training and certifications in Barre, Barre Above, TRX, Pilates Suspension Method and is currently working toward her PMA certification. This is Kelly’s first year as a Momentum Fest ambassador.
Laura Pittman
Laura is a fully certified STOTTS PILATES® instructor in Indian Trail, North Carolina. She was introduced to Pilates as a teenager shortly after being diagnosed with rotoscoliosis. Pilates improved her posture, strength, and flexibility, and eliminated the pain of her condition. Her personal experience fueled an interest in post-rehabilitative Pilates. Her classes cater to all abilities, from fit and active to special populations such as cardiac clients, children, elderly, and many more. As a certified prenatal and postnatal Pilates specialist, and borrowing from her own experience as a three-time mom, she created Laura Pittman Mommielates, a Pilates program designed specifically for a woman’s needs during and after pregnancy. This is Laura‘s second year as a Momentum Fest ambassador.
Mindi Westfall
Mindi is a graduate of the University of Georgia with Masters in Education with an emphasis in Sports Management. She played volleyball growing up and throughout college causing her body to take a beating. Pilates has been her saving grace and she is now moving pain free. Mindi began practicing Pilates regularly in St. Louis in 2007, when she started having lower back issues due to a bulging disc caused by her many years of playing volleyball. With an understanding of the body through her experience with injuries throughout her career/life, switching from a passionate Pilates student to a teacher in 2019 was a natural progression. She loves helping people feel better about their body. Mindi brings fun and hard work to each of her sessions through sharing her passion for Pilates! Currently she is teaching for Club Pilates Parker, CO, online with Core to Coeur and in her home studio in Castle Rock, CO.
Holly Carter
Holly is the owner of Pilatez with Hollz! She offers virtual and in person Mat Pilates sessions for individual or duo privates. She has been teaching for five years and comes from a dance background but was riddled with injuries throughout her dancing years. Pilates brought her back stronger than ever and she loves advocating for those with special populations or injuries.