For Kelly Leonardi, movement has always been about more than performance. Before founding Blue Moon Pilates in 2002, the Orange County studio owner spent 15 years as a professional ballet dancer, performing nationally and internationally.
Those years spent onstage shaped the way she approaches movement, instruction, and connection.
“Dance shaped so much of who I am: teaching me discipline, artistry, adaptability, collaboration, and the deep connection between physical movement and emotional well-being,” Kelly says.
Pilates entered her life as a tool for conditioning and recovery during her dance career and eventually evolved into something deeper. “Pilates became an essential part of my life,” she recalls. “Over time, I realized Pilates was about far more than exercise. It became a way to help people reconnect with themselves and move through life with greater confidence, understanding, and ease.”
Today, Blue Moon Pilates has grown into one of the nation’s largest Balanced Body training centers and Orange County’s only authorized training center through Balanced Body, Inc.
Despite its growth, the studio has maintained a deeply personal approach, made evident in its mission: Clients • Community • Each Other.
“At the heart of Blue Moon Pilates is the community and team,” she says. “I wanted to build a place where people feel connected through movement, education, and shared growth.”
The studio is defined by its spirit of inclusivity. Kelly believes “Pilates is for every body,” welcoming everyone from professional athletes and dancers to seniors, prenatal mothers, rehabilitation clients, and cancer survivors. Smaller class sizes and individualized instruction allow clients to feel supported physically as well as emotionally.
Kelly’s experiences with motherhood, entrepreneurship, breast cancer, surgeries, and recovery have profoundly influenced her guidance. She sees Pilates as an invitation. “Pilates has remained a grounding force that continually helped me reconnect to myself through every phase of life with greater awareness, compassion, balance, and strength.”
Kelly is also passionate about mentorship, education, and growing the Pilates community, with the studio training more than 100 new teachers each year. Helping instructors build confidence and meaningful careers has become one of the most fulfilling parts of her journey.
For those seeking an intentional path to wellness, Kelly believes Pilates offers something uniquely transformative.
“People often begin Pilates hoping to improve strength or flexibility,” says Kelly. “But what they frequently discover is that it also helps reduce stress, improve concentration, support healing, and create a stronger relationship with their body and overall well-being.”