Kamalar’s Story

I am a lifelong mover and learner. I began dancing at 4 years old and studied Vaganova (Russian) Ballet throughout high school. I grew up in St. Paul, the youngest of four (and a fraternal twin) and graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Dance. After college, I enrolled in Pilates training at SweatShop Fitness in St. Paul which included an internship program.

Pilates opened a new world for me - a world where I could continue to move my body and stay flexible and mobile without dance. My love of movement grew and my passion for teaching others emerged. I worked as a dance teacher, a Pilates instructor, and a Personal Trainer. I continued to expand my love of learning through various workshops, continuing education credits, and additional certifications.

In 2015, I was ecstatic to be pregnant, but experienced hyperemesis gravidarum (severe nausea, vomiting, and heartburn) throughout the pregnancy. This condition made it extrememly difficult to exercise or incorporate much of a Pilates practice. On the good days, I would move on the reformer, walk, or take prental yoga classes. On the bad days, I would simply breath.

After the birth of my first son in 2016, my interest in women’s specific fitness expanded. I wanted to better understand the pelvic floor muscles - the same muscles I had been cued to lift duirng many a ballet class, and in turn encouraged exercise participants to do the same.

I began down a road of any/all courses available regarding prenatal exercise, pelvic floor dysfunctions and disorders, birth & delivery positioning and outcomes, and postpartum exercise particularly, healing diastasis recti.

Breathing Bodies Pilates, LLC was born in 2017 (originally named Breathing Bodies, Moving Mommies, LLC). I worked primarily as an independent contractor throughout the Twin Cities but also rented space at The Pilates House in Hopkins. I was one of the first instructors at Amma Parenting Center in Edina when they launched a fitness program. Similarly, I taught for WomanWorx in Maplewood when Minnesota Women’s Care clinic expanded their offerings to include Pilates reformer classes. In 2019, I was recruited to launch the Pilates program at the New Hope Lifetime Fitness. Early in 2020, I birthed my second baby boy. Although my knowledge about fertility, pregnancy, labor & delivery, and postpartum had grown, I was faced with a new challenge: facial paralysis. This diagnosis continues to take me down a road of discovery and curiosity regarding women’s bodies and hormones and health care. Stay tuned.

Education & Certifications

  • Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Dance - University of Minnesota, Twin Citites

  • Stott Pilates Certified Instructor - Level 2, Mat & Reformer

  • NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine) Certified Personal Trainer

  • NETA (National Exercise Trainer’s Association) Group Fitness Certification

  • WellCoaches Health Coach - Core Coaching

  • MUTU Pro

  • Body Ready Method Pro

  • Jessie Mundell’s Prenatal & Postpartum Exercise Specialist *in progress

Additional Trainings

  • TRX Qualified

  • CPR/AED

  • Stott Pilates - Injuries & Special Populations - 2013

  • 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training - LifePower - 2013

  • Paragon Pilates Mentor Series - Prenatal/Postpartum & Understanding the Pelvic Floor

  • Birth Doula - DONA

  • Pink Ribbon Breast Cancer Exercise Specialist

  • Size Inclusive Pilates

  • Spiral Spine Scoliosis Retreat - Brentwood, TN