Kat empowers people...
With over 40 years of teaching experience, Kathleen Keller helps people retrain their bodies, relieve tension, and rediscover fluid, pain-free movement.
Her dynamic approach blends Rehabilitative Pilates, Fascial and Functional Fitness, Self-Myofascial Release (SMR), and TRE® – Tension & Trauma Release Exercise.
A former national-level gymnast and professional dancer, Kat has been immersed in movement since age five. Her teaching journey began in 1977 in Vancouver, Canada where she led packed Jazz and Disco dance classes complete with bell bottoms and head bands.
Everything shifted in 1997 when a serious back injury sidelined her dance career. That event became a turning point. She discovered Pilates, and her passion for therapeutic and rehabilitative movement was launched.
Kat's Timeline
Laying the Groundwork | 1997 to 2001
Driven to understand how bodies heal with movement, she completed a 1000-hour Pilates Rehabilitation apprenticeship at The Method Center and became one of the first certified Stott Pilates instructors in Vancouver. She immersed herself in health and movement science, earning a university certificate in Health & Fitness, the foundations of Kinesiology.
She was key in launching the Canadian Pilates Association, serving on its founding board to develop and support national standards for the profession. In 2000, she discovered Self-Myofascial Release and it was love at first roll.
While teaching Pilates and SMR at various clubs and studios, Kat opened her own space. She then expanded through a partnership with the Canadian Pilates Institute, completing her second hands-on apprenticeship. These formative years shaped the fascia-focused, rehab-rooted approach she’s known for today.
A Teacher Across Continents | 2002 to 2008
Kathleen didn’t just teach Pilates; she sparked a movement in countries where it never existed. Invited by the family of Malaysia’s Prime Minister, she opened multiple studios across the Southeast Asia seaboard. She trained Pilates apprentices, many rising from poverty to later become studio owners and teacher-trainers. While teaching and running studios full-time, she also cracked off two more Pilates certifications, Polestar and Meridian. Behind it all, she faced physical attacks, chronic pain, and systemic corruption. But the fierce dedication of her students and the new lives they built made this the most profound chapter of her career.
Clinically Based & Trauma-Informed | 2009 – Present
Since returning to Canada, Kat has worked exclusively in physiotherapy clinics, collaborating with and learning from top rehabilitation experts in Calgary. In 2017, she discovered TRE® – Tension & Trauma Release Exercise. A simple yet profound technique that helps the body release deep-seated tension held in the nervous system. After experiencing its powerful effects in her own trauma recovery, she knew she had to bring it to her clients. Today, her programs include Rehabilitative Pilates, Fascial and Functional Fitness, Self-Myofascial Release (SMR), and TRE® – Tension & Trauma Release Exercise. Click here to see teaching locations.
Sessions are available in several settings to suit your needs:
- Kat’s serene home-based studio (SW Calgary)
- Elevate Movement Therapies and Performance (SE Calgary)
- House calls at your location using your available equipment
- Virtual sessions from anywhere
All sessions are personally booked and customized by Kat to ensure the right setting, timing, and combination of modalities for your goals and well-being. Together, we’ll assess your needs and choose the approach that best supports your movement, recovery, and resilience.
Kat has a passion for helping health professionals prevent pain, manage stress, and extend their careers. She has presented at numerous international health conferences and professional development events across North America. (click here for speaking webpage)
She has developed her own signature approach to Self-Myofascial Release (SMR) and has taught it to more than 3,000 health professionals worldwide including: physiotherapists, chiropractors, physicians, occupational and massage therapists, Pilates, Yoga and dance instructors, personal trainers, and full dental and healthcare teams.”
Education
Pilates Certifications:
- Polestar® – Hong Kong
- Merdian Pilates – Malaysia
- Merrithew® Pilates (formerly Stott) – Canada
Pilates Apprenticeships:
- The Method Center – Pilates Rehabilitation – 1000 hours, Canada
- Canadian Pilates Institute – 350 hours, Canada
Additional Related Certifications:
- Anatomy Trains® – Myofascia Teacher Associate – Thomas Myers, USA
- Advanced TRE® Provider – Tension & Trauma Release Exercise, USA
- Fascial Fitness Trainer – Dr. Robert Schleip PhD., Germany
- Yamana® Body Rolling Practitioner – New York, NY
- Health and Fitness Certificate – Simon Fraser University, Canada
