Taking a class or workshop with Kristy today involves the perfect blend of structure and freedom.
With 20 years of group fitness experience, Kristy creates a welcoming space for her students who often feel transformed by session’s end. Kristy McNaughton, a former Division 1 field hockey player, was also a three sport athlete. After collegiate field hockey came to an end, Kristy missed the camaraderie the team environment provided and felt isolated. Much reflection on her part revealed that she had a difficult time determining who she was other than an athlete. Eventually Kristy discovered a passion for Pilates and began her physical fitness training in that regimen. In 2006 she obtained her Mat Pilates certification out of Boston, began teaching classes, and regained that “team connection” immediately. Her students became her team, as they met weekly for group fitness classes. Through group fitness she found that she loved helping others improve their level of fitness, and finding their own inner athlete all over again on the mat. Kristy acquired a certification in Group Fitness in 2010, and thereafter became a Certified Personal Trainer through the World Instructors Training School. In 2016 she fell in love with Les Mills, a renowned world-leading group fitness company, through their brilliant choreography, and music. That same year she obtained her Combat, and HITT training certification. In 2018 Kristy went to Kripalu, the largest yoga-based retreat center in North America, and trained under Toni Bergins obtaining her Journey Dance Module I Apprentice Program Certification. In 2019 she completed a level one Thai Yoga Massage Training, and is also an RYT, 200 hour yoga certified instructor, learning from one of her greatest mentor’s Melaine Burns, located in Wiscasset, Maine. With 15 years of group fitness experience, Kristy creates a welcoming space for her students who often feel transformed by session’s end. Her love for creativity shines through with her own unique blend incorporating multiple modalities into one class. Each body and soul will respond to her unique and holistic approach to teaching fitness. All levels of being will be empowered and transformed — physically, emotionally, and spiritually, and her positive vibes ripple through her teaching allowing students to find their own personal power. When not teaching fitness, Kristy is teaching personal finance to high school students, introducing them to tools and concepts that will empower them to make wise financial choices in the future. McNaughton obtained her Master’s Degree in Teaching from the University of Maine at Orono in 2003 and began teaching high school that same year. Her love of fitness incited her to initiate a yoga fusion elective course in the school, which she herself teaches. Kristy enjoys time with her family and friends, hiking, swimming, gardening, relaxing at camp and, most memorably, free dancing with her children. Her favorite vacation activity is to visit other fitness studios because, according to Kristy, the best way to enhance her teaching is to take classes from amazing instructors around the country.
01/04/2026
A participant slipped this reflection into my hands after a recent Evolve, as a reminder of why we gather.
Reading it again over the break brought me right back to that sacred pause we create together.
"Tonight, I felt as though time stood still. It was as if the earth slowed while the light faded from the afternoon to eve; dusk left no ticking on my head. It made me realize that our moments don't need to be hurried, that the days can be long, even though we are scheduled. That we can create and carve time and beauty into our days – it is us who ready ourselves with 'do's,' turning them into 'have-to-do's.' If we can still the moments and extract the beauty, and appreciate each one, then we can ultimately experience joy in all we do. We can learn in quiet our minds by selecting the noise we hear and can deflect the feelings that want to overtake our bodies and hearts by remembering ourselves. Setting our intention and turning inward can reestablish life where greatness, even in the littlest of moments, can exist. Love thyself, and let others see so they can learn to love themselves too – and so together we can empower and spread joy."
If you've joined us before, you know this feeling.
If you've been feeling the quiet call, maybe this is your gentle nudge.
Who’s joining us? Drop a heart if this is something you would enjoy! 💗
11/15/2025
✨ Two Days of Pure Magic ✨
I’m still buzzing from leading this week’s Train-the-Trainer with created by Emily Read Daniels. Her vision, her science-informed approach, and her heart are woven into every part of this work.
Stepping into this role feels like everything I’ve done has prepared me for this moment.
For 20+ years I’ve lived in two worlds:
📚 public education
🧘♀️ embodied movement, yoga & connection
This weekend… those worlds finally merged. And it felt like home.
What makes this two-day training so brilliant is the format.
It’s not sit-and-get.
It’s embodied.
It’s interactive.
It’s felt in your nervous system first, so you can create spaces of true felt safety for others.
People don’t just learn this work — they experience it.
They move.
They regulate.
They connect.
They feel the science in real time.
That’s why people stay engaged.
That’s why it lands so deeply.
When I first took this training 2.5 years ago (shoutout to the 🙌), it hit me on a visceral level.
It’s grounded in real science — Dr. Dan Siegel, Stephen Porges, Bruce Perry, Brené Brown — and rooted in what it means to truly understand the nervous system.
Emily once said:
“I see everything in humans through the lens of the nervous system.”
Back then I didn’t fully get it.
Now? I do.
Completely. In my bones.
This work has stretched me, challenged me, and grown me. It’s helped me understand my own reactions with more grace and curiosity. And when we offer ourselves compassion instead of criticism… everything shifts.
💛 Connection deepens
💛 Learning expands
💛 Empathy becomes embodied
I’m so grateful:
✨ To Emily Read Daniels for creating this work
✨ To the Maine DOE for supporting educators in this way
✨ To every teacher who showed up open, ready, and brave
I feel the movement.
I’m honored to be part of it.
And this is only the beginning. 💛🧠✨
11/11/2025
How are you feeling in this moment?
Take a breath.
Notice what’s here, not what you think you should be feeling, but what’s actually present.
We’re so quick to mask, edit, or explain away our emotions.
This is a space to simply notice.
No judgment.
No fixing.
Just awareness.
If you feel comfortable, drop a word, a sentence, or an emoji below.
“Trust your inspiration and devotion. When things get overwhelming, they will come back to the sweet pure space within you where your project was being birthed inside of you.
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Kristy McNaughton, a former Division 1 field hockey player, was also a three sport athlete. After collegiate field hockey came to an end, Kristy missed the camaraderie the team environment provided and felt isolated. Much reflection on her part revealed that she had a difficult time determining who she was other than an athlete. Eventually Kristy discovered a passion for Pilates and began her physical fitness training in that regimen. In 2006 she obtained her Mat Pilates certification out of Boston, began teaching classes, and regained that “team connection” immediately. Her students became her team, as they met weekly for group fitness classes.
Through group fitness she found that she loved helping others improve their level of fitness, and finding their own inner athlete all over again on the mat. Kristy acquired a certification in Group Fitness in 2010, and thereafter became a Certified Personal Trainer through the World Instructors Training School. In 2016 she fell in love with Les Mills, a renowned world-leading group fitness company, through their brilliant choreography, and music. That same year she obtained her Combat, and HITT training certification. In 2018 Kristy went to Kripalu, the largest yoga-based retreat center in North America, and trained under Toni Bergins obtaining her Journey Dance Module I Apprentice Program Certification. In 2019 she completed a level one Thai Yoga Massage Training, and is also an RYT, 200 hour yoga certified instructor, learning from one of her greatest mentor’s Melaine Burns, located in Wiscasset, Maine.
Taking a class or workshop with Kristy today involves the perfect blend of structure and freedom. With 15 years of group fitness experience, Kristy creates a welcoming space for her students who often feel transformed by session’s end. Her love for creativity shines through with her own unique blend incorporating multiple modalities into one class. Each body and soul will respond to her unique and holistic approach to teaching fitness. All levels of being will be empowered and transformed — physically, emotionally, and spiritually, and her positive vibes ripple through her teaching allowing students to find their own personal power.
When not teaching fitness, Kristy is teaching personal finance to high school students, introducing them to tools and concepts that will empower them to make wise financial choices in the future. McNaughton obtained her Master’s Degree in Teaching from the University of Maine at Orono in 2003 and began teaching high school that same year. Her love of fitness incited her to initiate a yoga fusion elective course in the school, which she herself teaches.
Kristy enjoys time with her family and friends, hiking, swimming, gardening, relaxing at camp and, most memorably, free dancing with her children.
Her favorite vacation activity is to visit other fitness studios because, according to Kristy, the best way to enhance her teaching is to take classes from amazing instructors around the country.
Empowered Movement Class Description: Come feel more connected to your body! An all-in-one workout that repairs your joints and muscles while you sweat and strengthen using your own body weight! Your breath being the main focus, this class opens with vinyasa yoga movements and segues into guided free movement, with exercises that will get you sweating. 😅 These hand picked playlists throughout the entire journey will allow you to go DEEP. Come feel the spiritual aspect when closing your practice.
