About Kristi Cooper

Primary Teacher Training: BASI Pilates®

Kristi, a BASI Pilates® Principle Instructor, had her first exposure to Pilates at the age of 13 when she took a “teen class” taught by Kathy Corey in Solana Beach, California. Kristi loved Pilates right from the start. She took lessons for two years and became a teacher herself at the age of 15. “I knew back then that I would always have Pilates in my life in some way,” says Kristi of her immediate love and passion towards the work.

Continued learning is always a high priority for Kristi, so after earning her degree in Communication at UC Santa Barbara, she decided to explore the method in more depth with Cathie Murakami. Two years later, after earning a certificate from Synergy Systems™ and the Physical Mind Institute®, Kristi met and aligned with Master Teacher Rael Isacowitz , the founder and director or the world renowned Pilates education organization, BASI Pilates®.  Kristi earned her certification with BASI in 1998 and shortly after, accepted an invitation to work with Rael in his studio in Costa Mesa, California. It continues to be a privilege for Kristi to call Rael her mentor and friend. Kristi has since been named a Principle Instructor for BASI Pilates® which gave her the opportunity to teach the BASI Pilates® certification in Japan, South Africa, China, Australia, Greece, and both coasts of the US.

Kristi's approach to Pilates maintains that the exercises practiced in the Pilates method are the vehicle which drive us towards increased  awareness, balance, and harmony.  “Through Pilates we can begin to bridge the gap between the body and the mind that seems to exist when we aren't paying attention.”