The Class That Changed Everything
“...you should do what makes you feel good no matter who is watching, because you just might turn into the best version of yourself while you're doing it."
Four weeks after giving birth to her third child, Emily Phillips found herself awake at 3am, feeding her newborn and thinking about movement.
It wasn't about losing weight or "getting her body back." It was something much deeper.
"I can distinctly remember being about four weeks postpartum, breastfeeding my little baby at 3am and feeling an intense desire to move my body," Emily recalls.
After three high-risk pregnancies, she had reached a point where she wanted something for herself.
"I finally felt ready to take my life back and find movement."
At six weeks postpartum, she booked her first hot Pilates class.
She had no idea it would completely change the direction of her life.
More Than Exercise
Today, Emily wears many hats.
She is a mother of three children under five, an attorney, a full-time content creator and a Pilates instructor.
But none of those roles existed in quite the same way before Pilates entered her life.
"I started my Pilates journey very newly postpartum with my third child," she says.
"I was struggling with postpartum depression and wanted an outlet, and began using Pilates classes as a way of getting a mental break."
What began as a way to escape for an hour quickly became something much more significant.
"It quickly evolved into so much more than that. It began to shape my entire life. My body was changing, my mind and my outlook was changing. My community that I chose to surround myself with was changing, and I found myself while being in that room."
For Emily, the studio became more than a place to exercise. It became a place to heal.
A Moment She'll Never Forget
There is one memory Emily still carries with her.
During that very first hot Pilates class, standing inside a heated room wearing oversized dark clothing, she made a spontaneous decision.
"I decided to take my shirt off and move in just a sports bra."
What happened next surprised her.
"The most incredible thing happened...nobody looked. Nobody cared."
That simple moment reshaped the way she viewed herself.
"It was the most freeing moment of my life, and I learned a very valuable lesson that day, which was that you should do what makes you feel good no matter who is watching, because you just might turn into the best version of yourself while you're doing it."
Rebuilding Through Movement
Pilates became a cornerstone of Emily's recovery from postpartum depression.
Rather than simply improving her physical strength, it helped restore confidence, routine and perspective.
"Pilates helped me so much with my postpartum depression. It provided a framework for how I would begin to live my life."
The combination of breathwork, movement and dedicated time for herself became transformative.
"It combined breathwork and movement, and allowed me to feel strong and confident. It also gave me an hour a day to just be there for myself."
As a mother, that lesson has stayed with her.
"It helped me by teaching me that showing up for yourself as a mother is not selfish, it's selfless."
Finding a New Mission
As Emily became more immersed in Pilates, curiosity turned into education.
"As time went on, I became more and more invested in the practice, and found myself wanting to learn more about form, movement, choreography and transitions."
She became certified and almost immediately began teaching.
"I fell in love with translating that feeling to others."
Around the same time, another moment changed her perspective.
"I saw a video on social media of a girl saying Pilates was not for people over 200 pounds and from the second I heard that, I knew it was my calling and mission to change the way people viewed bigger people."
She began posting videos of herself practising Pilates.
The response was immediate.
"I think those videos started gaining traction because I was doing what no one else felt comfortable to do, which was simply to show up in a bigger body and take up space."
Walking Away From Law
Emily genuinely enjoyed practising law.
"I loved being an attorney for so many reasons. It was intellectually stimulating, challenging and it brought out my creative side, especially in my writing."
But motherhood changed what success looked like.
"I could not stand being away from my children while billing long hours or being in court."
She planned to return after maternity leave.
Instead, Pilates and content creation opened an entirely unexpected path.
"Right before then my social media platforms started to take off, as well as my decision to become Pilates instructor certified, and I decided to see that through."
Learning From Every Class
Emily believes her years as a dedicated client shaped the instructor she is today.
"I made it my mission to truly understudy the industry."
She took classes across different studios, studying not just the exercises but how instructors made people feel.
"I started keeping mental notes of what landed and what didn't."
Today, that philosophy shapes every class she teaches.
"I think as a Pilates instructor, you become a vessel for people's emotions. People come from all walks of life, and inviting them to be part of the experience and community is tremendously healing."
For Emily, creating that safe space is especially important for mothers.
"Giving that person a space that they want to keep returning to fill up their own cup - that is what instructors should be doing."
She believes that investing in yourself isn't selfish - it helps you become a better parent.
A Place to Belong
For Emily, every class comes back to one simple goal.
Belonging.
When asked what she hopes every client leaves with, her answer is immediate.
"I would hope that she believes that she belongs. I would hope that she feels so proud of herself for showing up, and I would hope that she leaves my class believing that she is confident, she is capable, and she belongs."
————————-
Emily is the founder of The Well by Emily, a movement platform rooted in a “come as you are” philosophy. With a growing online library of workouts and pop-ups planned across major cities, Emily is on a mission to make movement accessible anywhere, anytime, sharing her belief that movement is medicine.
——————————
Kristin McGee is a nationally recognized yoga and Pilates teacher, speaker, mompreneur, and author. With over three decades of experience in the fitness and wellness space, she has had a continuous roster of high profile celebrities, pioneered the launch of Peloton’s yoga and pilates program, and recently branched out on her own to launch Kristin McGee Movement.
In addition to her blog content, Kristin offers 1-on-1 virtual sessions, corporate wellness programs, speaking engagements, and brand collaborations.