Meet mōrro Yoga and Pilates Owner Kristie Fountain
By Tianna Edwards
Starting November 1, mōrro yoga will officially expand into the space next door to it and offer Reformer Pilates! If you’re not familiar with mōrro yoga or Reformer Pilates, don’t worry, I caught up with owner Kristie Fountain a week out from the grand opening to learn all about her start with mōrro and their exciting next steps.
I met mōrro yoga owner, Kristie Fountain, on a crisp fall morning in her brand new Reformer Pilates studio adorned with 8 foot arched mirrors and floor-to-ceiling limestone walls. When we meet, this chic space is yet to be revealed and the windows remain covered with kraft paper - it’s a treat to get a sneak peek!
I’ve been a fan of mōrro (previously Modo and before that Moksha) yoga – located right next door in the same Smith Robinson building (103-27 Princess Street) – for years. It’s not just the immaculate aesthetic of the space that drew me in but the warmth of the instructors and class offerings that have kept me visiting. That’s how Fountain’s strong love of mōrro began as well.
Originally from Windsor, Ontario, Fountain and her husband found themselves in Kingston about 14 years ago after buying out one of the original owners of Pita Pit with their partners (yes, Pita Pit originated in Kingston!). Fountain’s office was across the street from Moksha and she fell in love with yoga and became an avid practitioner. She felt so passionate about the space and community that she made it known to the owners how much she would love to be a part of the business.
Fast forward to the COVID-19 shut down in 2020. Fountain explains, “We sold Pita Pit. And that does something to your psyche and your ego and finding your purpose. I knew my passion lived in wellness and yoga. I did my teacher training during COVID. And it wasn’t at that time to teach but it was to deepen my own practice and give myself more knowledge. And so, I did that and it was wonderful.”
A year later after completing a few other projects, Fountain received an email asking if she’d be interested in purchasing mōrro. And she said yes.
“I wouldn’t be able to do it without the original founders starting the first studio there and putting all of their hard work into that space and building the community. I feel so grateful every single day that I get to be a part of it and to continue that. I took over January 31st of this year,” Fountain explains.
Shortly after Fountain took ownership of mōrro, the lease sign popped up on the window right next door and she couldn’t resist the natural next step.
“I said to my husband ‘I think I should do something in that space!’” Fountain beams. Enter mōrro pilates, specifically Reformer Pilates. Reformer Pilates combines the principles of mat pilates with a Reformer machine.
“Reformer Pilates is not new but I think there is some new awareness and there is some life brought back into what a Reformer Pilates class can be. It can be fun, even though it is low impact. And so I started doing some research on what that could look like. Doing a business plan. And brought my team together and said ‘can we do this?’” Fountain explains.
The response from the team was a resounding yes with many instructors interested in getting their Pilates certifications – many of the instructors who teach in the hot studio will also be found in the Pilates space.
If you’re new to Pilates or Reformer Pilates, don’t worry. This will be a great space to start your practice.
Fountain shares, “We designed our schedule with foundational classes in mind. Beginner friendly right out the gate. There are still a lot of people that haven’t experienced being on a reformer so it’s going to be new to them. When you come in, it’s a welcoming and non-judgmental space. We’ll be giving an orientation of the machines, how to use them, how they move, and how the springs work to educate all of our guests.”
Fountain also shares that there will be lots of modifications for folks on and off the reformers so that they are meeting everyone where they are comfortable.
And for those who are ready to be extra challenged, there will be classes for you, too!
“Will we have jumpboard classes. Yes! And those are going to be so fun. They are a little bit more active, like a HIIT cardio workout. We also have a class coming out called The Shake and I am telling you, you leave with every body part shaking,” Fountain explains. “My team and I are so excited to bring a new studio into the Reformer Pilates community in Kingston. We can’t wait to move with you!”
mōrro pilates officially opens its doors on November 1!
Tianna Edwards
Tianna is a wife and mom of two young kids with a day job as an Equity, Diversity, Inclusion Coordinator at Queen's. She takes pride in living in Kingston and loves celebrating all things local (mostly food related!) through her blog, Keep up with Kingston. Follow Tianna's blog for more local food, culture and shop inspo. Get the latest from her over on instagram.
