Kelly Leonardi

Kelly Leonardi is a comprehensively certified Pilates instructor, educator, and studio owner with nearly four decades of experience in movement education, trained by first- and second-generation Pilates professionals.
She founded Blue Moon Pilates in Orange County, California, in 2002, building it into one of the leading Pilates Studios and Balanced Body Authorized Education Centers, known for excellence, friendliness, thorough training, customer care, and a heart-centered, inclusive community.
Since 2013, Kelly has served as an Educator for Balanced Body Education, teaching comprehensive certification courses, designing numerous workshops, and mentoring instructors worldwide through her Mentoring with Kelly sessions. She holds national certification through the NCPT, along with advanced credentials in CoreAlign, MOTR, BODHI, BB-Barre, the Konnector, the Pink Ribbon Program, and the American Ballet Theatre’s National Training Curriculum.
Before founding Blue Moon Pilates, Kelly enjoyed a 15-year career as a professional ballet dancer, performing nationally and internationally in both classical and contemporary repertoire. From 2015 to 2024, she also served on the faculty at the American Ballet Theatre William J. Gillespie School at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, mentoring and training eight pre-professional graduating classes.
Kelly’s work is grounded in preserving the joy of movement and the integrity of Joseph Pilates’ method while mentoring future generations of instructors. She continues to provide education, mentorship, and community-centered studio leadership with clarity, care, and purpose.
“What I love most about my studio is witnessing the ripple effect of movement, clients discovering new possibilities in their bodies, my team growing in their craft and careers, and our community shining brighter together. It’s an honor to lead such a talented, curious, and caring group.” ~ Kelly Leonardi