Movement Elevated: Where every body belongs

Rachel Lando and Kristy Smith, co-owners of Movement Elevated, stand inside their new studio in lower Pinebrook ahead of its Nov. 15 grand opening. The space will offer Pilates, yoga, and rolling classes designed to be accessible for all bodies and abilities. Photo: Rachel Lando

PARK CITY, Utah — Movement Elevated, a new movement studio, is opening in lower Pinebrook, blending athletic training with a focus on accessibility, community, and care. Co-owned by Rachel Lando and Kristy Smith, the studio will open on November 15 at 3156 Quarry Rd, Suite M, the former location of Tadasana Yoga Studio.

For Lando, the studio is rooted in personal experience. Diagnosed with diffuse scleroderma in 2012, she says her recovery was long and isolating. “It’s really difficult to get back up once you’ve been diagnosed with a chronic illness,” Lando said. “The resources available are limited and costly. We need a hand to hold that helps us rise.”

Pilates, rolling, and breathwork became integral to Lando’s own healing process after years of fluctuating health and undergoing surgeries. She is a comprehensive Certified Pilates Teacher (CPT) through Balanced Body, a 500-hour Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) through Rachel Scott Yoga, and a TUF Certified practitioner, trained by her mentor Jill Miller, whose method focuses on breathwork, rolling, and corrective exercises. Lando also calls herself “an anatomy lab geek,” having attended cadaver labs in Colorado Springs for the past four years. She has studied with movement educators such as Jules Mitchell and her primary anatomy teacher, Dr. Gil Hedley.

Lando and Smith met while teaching at Club Pilates and discovered their shared desire to create a welcoming space for everyone, from elite athletes to those with physical limitations. Smith, a former federal law enforcement officer who moved to Park City 16 years ago, found Pilates during her fitness routine while working for the FBI. After retiring in 2019, she completed comprehensive Pilates training and began teaching.

“Opening our own studio allows us to truly serve the community,” Smith said. “We can donate to local causes, add classes when there’s a need, and maintain flexibility for anyone who walks through our door.”

Movement Elevated will offer a wide range of classes, including Pilates reformer sessions, yoga-lates, Qigong, foundation training, fascia-release rolling, sound-bowl meditation, and specialized programs for individuals with chronic illnesses, Parkinson’s disease, or multiple sclerosis. Classes for teen athletes are also planned.

To enhance accessibility, the studio provides various membership and punch-pass options, including an introductory package that features three group classes and one private session. Lando emphasized that their approach is centered on the six original Pilates principles: breath, control, concentration, centering, precision, and flow, which are adapted to meet each person where they are.

“We see the individual in front of us,” she said. “Our goal is to help people feel strong, connected, and elevated.”

Smith envisions the studio as a gathering place for both locals and visitors. “We want everyone to feel welcome and capable,” she said. “No matter your size, shape, or ability—we’ll find a way to move together.”

Movement Elevated will host an open-house celebration on Saturday, November 15, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will feature class demonstrations, refreshments, and an opportunity to meet the instructors.

“We’re just excited to be here,” Lando said. “This is a group of neighbors coming together to offer movement to our community.”