WHO WE ARE

FRONT DESK MANAGER & PILATES INSTRUCTOR

After an 18-year career in bank operations management, Angela decided it was time to focus on family and find what truly makes her happy. At the beginning of 2023, she began exploring all her interests that had been shelved due to a demanding career. Pilates was at the very top of her list. From the first class she knew Pilates was what her body and mind needed. Pilates quickly became a passion as she loved the strength, flexibility and endurance gained from her practice. Angela also fell in love with the community at Essential MVMT and knew this would be the perfect place to begin her second career.

Outside of Pilates, Angela enjoys pottery, gardening and spending time with her husband, Brad, and two amazing boys, Owen, and Finn. Angela holds a degree in Business Management from the University of Montevallo.

PILATES INSTRUCTOR
Lauren was first introduced to Pilates during postpartum physical therapy following the birth of her twin sons via c-section. During a hard physical recovery, she loved that Pilates was safe, yet challenging for her body. Pilates has been a great outlet both physically and mentally, and now, she has a strong desire to share this passion with other women. In October 2022, Lauren began her extensive 600 hour certification in the Classical Pilates Education program. She loves being a part of the Essential MVMT community as she continues her certification and gains more experience teaching group classes.

Outside of the studio, Lauren is married to her husband, Patrick. They met at Auburn University, where she graduated with a degree in Business Finance. After moving to Birmingham and having her first child in 2020, Lauren has had the privilege to be a full-time stay-at-home mother. When she isn’t in the studio, she enjoys her time with her 4 children.

PILATES INSTRUCTOR

Nikki discovered her love for Pilates while navigating through pregnancy and post-partum recovery. Pilates aided her not only physically, but mentally and emotionally in her recovery and became a passion of hers along the way. In 2021, Nikki began extensive training through the Classical Pilates Education Program and is now apprenticing at Essential MVMT to continue her education and gain more experience teaching. Nikki grew up with an active lifestyle, competing in gymnastics, dance, cheer and track and has completed half marathons along the way.

She is eager to share her knowledge and love for movement to help others along their own journey and looks forward to being a part of a sweet community of clients and friends in the world of Pilates. Outside of Pilates, Nikki is a wife and a mom to an adorable, baby boy, Charlie. She holds degrees in Accounting and Industrial Design from Auburn University and uses those to run her own fine-art wedding invitation business, Nikki Stanford Artistry

PILATES INSTRUCTOR

Paige Hubbard is a dedicated Pilates instructor with over a decade of experience, certified by Polestar Pilates, Balanced Body, and NASM. She specializes in pre/postnatal care, injury prevention, and working with diverse populations of all ages and abilities. Her teaching journey has taken her to major cities like Chicago and Atlanta, as well as internationally in the Middle East, shaping her dynamic and well-rounded approach to movement.

With a B.S. in Health and Human Development and Nutrition, Paige integrates mindfulness, education, and movement to help clients build strength, improve mobility, and feel their best. She believes in challenging both the body and mind—not just for her clients, but in her own life as well. A lifelong mover, she continuously pushes herself through Pilates, yoga, travel, and outdoor adventures. Her passion lies in creating a space where others can learn, grow, and connect with their bodies in a safe and inspiring way.

Maria began her Pilates journey shortly after moving to Birmingham, when her doctor encouraged her to explore a lower‑impact approach to movement. What began as a personal search for healing quickly grew into a deep appreciation for the method’s ability to restore strength, alignment, and connection to the body.

A year into her practice, Maria began formal training through Essential MVMT’s 500-hour Classical Pilates program, earning her Comprehensive certification in 2025, followed by her National Pilates Certification (NCPT) in 2026.

Outside the studio, Maria enjoys playing pickleball, serving with her church, and spending time with her chocolate lab, Megan. She graduated from the University of Georgia with a B.B.A. in Real Estate and now works in commercial real estate finance, specializing in private mortgage banking.

BARRE & PILATES INSTRUCTOR

Katie Drozd was introduced to the Pilates Method as a young dancer while studying ballet at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Pilates supplemented her training with a deeper understanding of the mind-body connection, and helped her improve coordination with strength with length. As a dancer with scoliosis, Pilates has helped Katie find balance and alignment, carrying her across the stage and through life! Inspired to help others discover the wonders of Pilates, she completed her Mat certification under Carrie Pagès in 2021.

Katie recently moved to Birmingham, to pursue a dance career with the Alabama Ballet. Additionally she is a dance educator and barre instructor, and loves sharing the joy of movement. Katie can’t wait to teach in the Birmingham area and help clients build confidence and vitality through Pilates!

BARRE & PILATES INSTRUCTOR

As a professional ballet dancer, I was introduced to Pilates as a form of cross training and injury prevention. Pilates brought me strength I didn’t know I could have, as well as a deeper connection to my body. It gave me a new appreciation for my body and for all types of movement, quickly becoming an important part of my life and my training! I completed my Reformer certification courses through Balanced Body in the summer of 2024, and am working to complete my student teaching hours.

I moved to Birmingham in 2023 to dance for Alabama Ballet, after performing with Charlotte Ballet for two years. I also love teaching ballet and sharing my love of movement with others!

PILATES INSTRUCTOR

Kate Lickert is a certified yoga, barre, and Pilates instructor who joined Essential MVMT after relocating to Birmingham from Columbia, Missouri. A graduate of the University of Missouri, she began teaching in 2023 and brings a warm, energetic approach to every class. Kate is passionate about helping others build strength, confidence, and mindfulness through movement.

BARRE INSTRUCTOR

Jamie Zarrilli Grimes started her dancing at the age of three in Huntsville, AL and has been teaching and choreographing for over fifteen years throughout Alabama. In August 2004, she received a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Dance and a minor in Theatre from the University of Alabama. At UA, she was a member of the Alabama Repertory Dance Theatre and Dance Alabama where she performed soloist roles and earned scholarships for five American Ballet Theatre Summer Intensives.

In 2015, Jamie furthered her study of anatomy, human movement, and injury prevention by completing training to become a certified instructor of barre fitness. She is currently the Company Manager for Magic City Performing Arts and the ballet instructor at Vestavia Dance where she is certified with Youth Protection Association of Dance. Jamie has lived in Vestavia Hills for the past 15 years with her husband, Charley, and their three sons. She loves sharing the art of mindful movement in all forms and honoring the body throughout all stages of life.

YOGA INSTRUCTOR

Alicia received her yoga, group exercise, and personal training certifications while she was in college at the University of Alabama. She has continued to teach yoga since 2016.

She studied food and nutrition to become a registered dietitian and felt drawn to the exercise space as a complement to her degree of choice. While in college, she taught small group personal training classes, spin, several yoga and mat pilates classes, and strength classes. She quickly realized she was particularly drawn to yoga and has continued to teach on and off as she pursued additional education and her career. She has a particular passion for teaching slow flow and beginner friendly classes.

Alicia graduated from the University of Alabama School of Law and is now a law professor teaching contracts, business law, and health law courses. She publishes in the area of health policy, focusing on topics that impact rural communities. When she is not teaching, she offers nutrition coaching and counseling services through her online private practice, Cold Brew and Carbs. She incorporates yoga into her private practice to teach mindfulness and other intuitive eating practices. She also incorporates yoga into her personal routine to counterbalance her type A personality and practice the beauty of living in the present.

When she is not working, she loves to read, hike, tent camp, cook, develop recipes, and spend time with her husband and their crazy goldendoodle, Moose.

VIRTUAL EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

Karen is the Essential MVMT Virtual Executive Assistant, who has been an integral part of our team for over a year. With a knack for handling both administrative tasks and backend operations, Karen ensures the smooth flow of our operations with her organizational skills and keen eye for detail.

What truly sets Karen apart is her initiative and ability to work autonomously, allowing her to excel at her own pace with minimal supervision while maintaining the highest level of professionalism.

Outside of work, Karen's creative spirit shines through as she's fond of doing handy crafts, DIY projects, planting and engaging in outdoor games like volleyball and badminton and she is always eager to explore new ideas. Karen brings this same enthusiasm and creativity to everything she does, both inside and outside the workplace.

PILATES INSTRUCTOR

Logan found Pilates after her gymnastics career came to an end. After spending so many years in the gym, she knew she still wanted to move her body, but Logan needed something that wasn't as hard on it. Once she was introduced to Classical Pilates, Logan instantly fell in love with it. She loved that it challenged her in a completely different way while also helping her feel stronger and more connected to her body.

While she was at Palm Beach Atlantic University, she decided to start her Classical Pilates certification and earned certification in the summer of 2025. Since then, Logan loved getting to share Pilates with others and helping people feel stronger, more confident, and capable in their everyday lives.

She recently graduated from Palm Beach Atlantic University and have officially made the move to Birmingham, Alabama! She’s so excited to be here and can't wait to meet everyone.

Whether it's your first class or you've been doing Pilates for years, she hope you always feel welcomed, encouraged, and leave class feeling your best.