Jennifer Kries

Jennifer Kries Pilates Instructor

Dancer, choreographer, yoga devotee, author and Pilates expert, Jennifer Kries, is an internationally renowned mind-body-spirit innovator. A true Pilates pioneer, she is credited with being the very first to bring Pilates, and The Method, the groundbreaking synthesis of Pilates, Yoga and Dance to a mass audience. Her award-winning videos, The Method Series, and Jennifer Kries DVDs, have sold over 15 million units worldwide and along with her featured appearances on Fit TV’s,The Method Show, revolutionized the fitness community, starting the explosive wave of enthusiasm for Pilates and mind-body exercise.

Jennifer discovered Pilates’ timeless principles at age 13 as an aspiring ballerina in a mat class, then called “Contrology,” at New York’s School of American Ballet given by Pilates disciple, Eve Gentry. She then went on to do the majority of her study at the famed Drago’s Gymnasium in New York City, where she was certified through the original Pilates Studio under the tutlege of The Method’s true doyenne, Romana Kryzanowska, and is one of the country’s privileged few 2nd generation Classically trained Pilates Teachers.  She honors tradition and brings a dynamic and progressive perspective to her Pilates teaching, proudly passing the torch with her revolutionary work that inspires people in the passionate spirit that led Joseph Pilates to create his system.

She has studied with an eclectic array of yoga luminaries such as Lindsey Clenell at the Iyengar Institute in New York City, Alan Finger, Founder of the ISHTA System and BeYoga Studios, NYC, Kofi Busia, one of B.K.S. Iyengar’s renowned Senior teachers, Sarah Powers of Yin Yoga and Mindfulness practices and Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa, one of the world’s premier Kundalini teachers. Jennifer’s signature style, a dynamic, core-strengthening Hatha Vinyasa, combining Kundalini and Yin, takes the practitioner on a lush, visceral journey that harmonizes, empowers and transforms.

The synergy of her Pilates and Yoga background, her intensive study of anatomy, coupled with her own study of eastern philosophies, such as Qigong with Masters, Mantak Chia, and Roger Jahnke led Jennifer to develop her latest DVD Series, Hot Body Cool Mind: The Life Force Power System.

Jennifer is an acclaimed guest lecturer and instructor at renowned educational health institutions and spa facilities worldwide such as Kripalu, The Omega Institute, Canyon Ranch, Cal-a-Vie, and Rancho La Puerta among others. One of the world’s preeminent mind-body teachers, she is responsible for launching many of today’s most respected professionals who teach traditional, Classical Pilates. She is the creator and producer of several other original DVD Series, and modalities, including her all-new Waking Energy: Ancient rejuvenating practices, Hot Body Cool Mind Series: The Life Force Power Workout, The Pilates Method Master Trainer Series; the definitive resource for Pilates professionals, teachers-in-training or Pilates devotees, Yin Yoga, Hot Body Dance; New Body! Pilates, Energy Flow Vinyasa; and author of The Pilates Mat Book and Pilates Plus Method.

Jennifer has appeared as a guest on Entertainment Tonight, CNN, The Food Network, and QVC, as well as in numerous national periodicals, Vogue, Self, Fitness, Allure, Yoga Journal, Pilates Style, Total Health and most recently, graced the cover of American Fitness Magazine as their January 2013 Feature Story, “Tap Into Your Waking Energy.” She is also a featured guest writer on such online venues as Huffington Post, MindBodyGreen, Elephant Journal andSparkpeople.

As much a star of dance as a fitness expert, she has trained, performed with and choreographed for dance companies worldwide including New York City Ballet, Hubbard Street Chicago, Opus I Contemporary, Balletto di Toscana, the Bat Sheva Dance Company, Philadanco, the Pennsylvania Ballet, and Lar Lubovitch. She founded her own company, Contemporary Dance Theatre New York in 1997 and has choreographed several seasons of work in New York City, performing at Lincoln Center and other renowned venues to sold out houses and rave reviews.

Her approach to fitness and wellness is unsurpassed. Jennifer brings unmatched clarity, insight and an extraordinary perspective to her teaching. Jennifer has inspired countless readers, practitioners, graduates of her programs, and viewers alike to embrace her all-encompassing philosophy of movement, art, health, life and energy. Through her compelling and uplifting work, she leads people to discover their essential aliveness. They experience a joyful connection to themselves, tapping into a reserve of power and freedom like never before. Her attention to detail, superbly empathic, intuitive and dynamic teaching style, artistry, and knowledge of Eastern healing techniques makes her one of the most highly sought-after mind-body teachers today.

 

Jennifer's Classes