Katharine Livingston

Pilates Instructor

I discovered Pilates while pursuing my degree in Dance at California Institute of the Arts, and it quickly became an essential part of my physical practice. As someone with hypermobility, I was drawn to the focused strength and stability Pilates offered, as well as its emphasis on understanding how the body works.

I have always been fascinated by systems and structure. Before studying at CalArts, I spent a year in engineering school, and I came to see Pilates as a way of applying that same curiosity to the body—understanding how its individual parts work together to create efficient, integrated movement.

After graduating, I moved to the East Coast to dance professionally and continued exploring movement practices that could deepen my understanding of my own body and make me a more capable performer. I had the opportunity to study Pilates and apprentice with Karen Carlson, whose approach profoundly influenced my teaching. I was drawn to her emphasis on going beyond choreography to explore the anatomical, functional, and kinesthetic purpose behind each movement.

During this time, I was also deeply influenced by the Feldenkrais Method and its exploration of how subtle changes in movement pathways can create meaningful shifts in habitual patterns.

As I began teaching and working with a wide range of bodies and needs, I continued to expand my education. I studied Thai massage, Shiatsu, and the Franklin Method, seeking tools that could help clients navigate chronic pain, postoperative recovery, childbirth, and the many physical challenges that come with life. During the pandemic, I discovered LYT Yoga and completed teacher training in that method as well.

I see Pilates as a powerful foundation for body education. I integrate the knowledge and principles I have gathered from these complementary modalities into my Pilates practice, with the goal of helping each client develop greater awareness, strength, ease, and confidence—not only in the studio, but in everyday life.

More than 40 years into my relationship with Pilates, I feel fortunate to have a very full toolbox and an ever-growing curiosity about movement. I’m thrilled to be back in my hometown of Portland, where I look forward to sharing what I’ve learned and continuing to learn alongside a new community.