About Kari

Woman with long brown hair sitting barefoot on a modern chair, wearing a dark green sleeveless outfit.

Cristy Karinna Orozco left the corporate world to build something of her own, something that truly helped people feel better in their bodies and in their lives. That dream eventually became Every Body Plus, a boutique fitness studio in downtown Buffalo, grounded in care, community, and the belief that movement is for every body.

Today, as a mother, entrepreneur, and teacher, she continues to study and grow, always learning more to better serve those who trust her. KARI Pilates is a natural extension of that journey. A practice dedicated to individual instruction and the depth of Classical Pilates, located in House Eleva, a welcoming space for movement, body wellness and personal care. 

More about House Eleva
Side profile of a bearded man with curly hair stretching in a gym
Close-up of a black leather armchair with padded armrests and warm orange lighting
Two musicians playing a cello together onstage, with one guiding the bow and the other fingering the strings.

Over One Thousand Hours of Classical Pilates Training

Pilates instructor assisting a woman during a reformer workout in a studio

Karinna's love of teaching Pilates at Every Body Plus led her to deepen her studies. As her teaching evolved, she became increasingly drawn to the depth and precision of Classical Pilates. She completed nine months of mat training at all levels, followed by another nine months of comprehensive training covering all the Classical apparatuses.  

Karinna has completed more than 1,000 hours of lineage-based Classical Pilates training, well beyond the hours typically required for certification. This is far more than the weekend or reformer-only certifications some instructors hold. Her experience continues to grow through teaching, personal practice, mentorship, and ongoing study.

Pilates instructor guiding a woman through an exercise on a reformer machine in a mirrored studio

An Unbroken Classical Pilates Lineage

Pilates lineage describes the connection between a teacher and the earlier generations who passed down the method to their students. Karinna's primary training follows a direct, unbroken line:

Joseph & Clara
Pilates

Black-and-white photograph of a smiling couple sitting together, with the shirtless man crossing his arms.

Brooke
Siler

Black-and-white portrait of a smiling woman wearing a white blouse and dark blazer
Smiling woman with long reddish-brown hair and pink highlights wearing a red top

Romana
Kryzanowska

Cristy Karinna
Orozco

Michelle
Leach

Woman performing a Pilates core exercise on a mat with her legs raised and extended
Woman with long brown hair sitting cross-legged on a modern chair, wearing a dark green outfit against a light background
Two women performing a partner Pilates exercise on a padded reformer platform.

Romana Kryzanowska was one of the "Pilates Elders," the first-generation students of Joseph and Clara Pilates who went on to teach others. Through mentorship, each teacher passes along how movements connect, how the apparatus supports the work, and how to guide different people through the system. Karinna compares it to a Jedi trained by their master. After years of learning directly from someone who learned directly from the source, you gain the breadth of knowledge to safely guide every body that walks through the door.

For Karinna, lineage is both a connection to that knowledge and a responsibility to continue studying. It informs her respect for the method's principles, sequencing, and use of the full Classical apparatus. Her teaching honors that tradition while responding thoughtfully to each individual.

There is a difference between knowing the exercises and knowing the system deeply enough to read a body, adapt in the moment, and guide each movement with genuine precision. In a one-on-one session, that depth of training is what you are truly investing in.

Woman with long brown hair sitting barefoot on a pale green modern chair against a white background
Black padded aluminum walker in a room with wooden furniture and framed artwork

The KARI Experience

Whether you are a beginner, intermediate, or advanced, you are met exactly where you are in your very first session. Karinna stays fully present with you, honoring your limitations and motivating you toward your goals at a pace that feels safe and comfortable. She guides you with hands-on cues and clear demonstrations, always asking permission first, and uses plain language so you never feel judged. Your privacy is protected, and the work is adapted to your body.

In Classical Pilates, the equipment is integral to the method. Its proportions, springs, and mechanics shape how an exercise feels, the support it provides, and the control it requires of you. KARI Pilates intentionally curated Classical apparatus from respected makers, including Gratz, Pilates Design, and Legacy Pilates Apparatus. Sessions use the Reformer, Cadillac, Chairs, Barrels, and High Mat depending on what your body needs that day. Like the teaching, the equipment reflects our commitment to applying Classical Pilates as a connected system. Over time, you leave feeling stronger, more capable, and more in tune with your body.

Woman performing a Pilates reformer exercise while an instructor observes in a mirrored studio

Duets: Practice With Someone You Love

Four tan rounded shapes arranged in a two-by-two grid on a black background

Prefer to practice with a partner? Duet Pilates sessions let you and a partner, friend, or spouse share a session with Karinna's guidance, working side by side as she moves between you. You still receive the same attentive, personalized teaching that defines a private session, with each exercise adapted to your bodies and goals.

It's a warm, connected way to experience Classical Pilates together, whether you're motivating each other, celebrating a milestone, or simply enjoying the calm of House Eleva in good company. The care remains personal, the space remains intimate, and you both leave feeling stronger.

Explore Your Options

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Pilates education varies widely in length, scope, and assessment. Classical Pilates certification requires extensive, in-depth training, including observation, practice teaching, and hands-on work with the full apparatus: the Reformer, Cadillac, Chair, and more. Programs also require candidates to demonstrate a deep understanding of the original method, its sequencing, and its principles.

  • The lineage guarantees authenticity: the original method was passed directly from Joseph Pilates to his Elders, a faithful chain of teachers. You can trust that you are learning the true system with classical equipment, not a modern reinterpretation.

  • The Gratz Reformer is one of several classical equipment manufacturers that produce handcrafted reformers to Joseph Pilates' original specifications, so the classical work is performed exactly as intended. Its precise spring resistance and true dimensions are something mass-produced reformers can't reliably deliver.

Close-up of a spring-loaded exercise machine cable and wooden handle in a gym
Close-up of a black leather drum throne with a wooden leg and rubber foot on a hardwood floor

  • Yes. KARI Pilates welcomes all experience levels. You don't need prior experience, strength, flexibility, or familiarity with the equipment to get started. Every session is one-on-one, so the work is tailored to where you are today. As your body is ready, sessions progress from beginner to intermediate to advanced.

  • Yes. People with injuries or movement limitations are welcome. Before your first session, you'll discuss your medical history, current concerns, and any guidance from your healthcare provider. Medical clearance may be requested as appropriate. Exercises, apparatus, and pacing are then selected with those needs in mind. Pilates can complement your healthcare or physical therapy plan but does not replace it.

  • Bring a friend, partner, or family member to share your private Classical Pilates session. Kari provides personalized instruction tailored to each person’s abilities and goals. You’ll always train with someone you choose, never a stranger. Established clients enjoy their first guest complimentary, with future duet sessions available for an additional $50.

Smiling woman with long brown hair and hoop earrings posing for a portrait

See It for Yourself

The best way to understand this work is to feel it. Book a private session to experience what truly personal Classical Pilates in Buffalo can do for your body and mind.

Book Your Private Session