meet our team
Core Strength Wichita opened in 2011. Our certified instructors are here to help you discover your core Strength through individual and group Pilates lessons.
Our mission is to provide our clients with optimal instruction. We will assist them in becoming more flexible and help develop more strength and wellness through exercise. We focus on building core strength and opening pathways that would otherwise deteriorate with the natural aging process.
We believe that caring for oneself is a personal responsibility and we strive to provide the state-of-the-art equipment, facility, and instructors to enable anyone that ability.
Thanks for visiting us online. Come visit us in person!
Abigail Anderson
Studio Owner | instructor
Abigail was introduced to Pilates in 2007 after suffering a hip and lower back injury resulting from an incident while horseback riding. After trying many conventional treatments for her injuries, it was Pilates that gave her the most pain relief and the ability to maintain an active lifestyle. As an avid traveler and outdoor enthusiast, Abigail is passionate about living life to the fullest. Utilizing her Pilates knowledge, she is dedicated to helping others move freely, with a focus on balance and strength so they can do what they love in life.
Certifications:
Personal Best Certified Pilates Instructor, 2011
Personal Best Mat Certified, 2010
Myofascial Release I, 2016
Fascial-Pelvis, 2016
OOV Fundamentals 1, 2017
OOV Apparatus, 2017
Equipilates Biomechanics Trainer, 2019
*Abigail is currently not accepting new clients.
Chelsea Sondergard
Studio Manager | instructor
Chelsea is passionate about helping people be the best version of themselves. She has been teaching group fitness classes since 2013 and has been personal training since 2014. She's a Colorado Native and completed her Bachelors in Health and Exercise Science at Colorado State University in 2016. Chelsea is committed to learning as much as she can in order to help her clients move pain free so that they can participate in all of their favorite activities. She came to Kansas to continue studying and completed her Masters in Exercise Science in the spring of 2018.
While Chelsea enjoys working will people from all backgrounds and abilities she specializes in working with older individuals with mobility problems get back to their favorite activities as well as helping individuals with chronic illnesses create physical activity habits that work for them and their bodies.
When Chelsea is not in the studio you can find her trying new food and craft beer around Wichita, playing with her dogs, or reading her lastest book.
Certifications:
Pilates Education Institute Certified Instructor, 2018
OOV Fundamentals 2019, OOV Apparatus 2023
FitTour Myofascial Release Foam Roller, 2017
ACE Health Coach, 2015
ACE Personal Trainer, 2014
ACE Group Fitness Instructor, 2013
Heidi Polson
Instructor
Heidi started Pilates after her first daughter was born in 2010. She suffered lower back pain from her bones not shifting back after birth. Shortly after starting pilates she found out she was pregnant with her second daughter. She continued with Pilates throughout her pregnancy with no pain. She also didn't see the things she experienced with her first pregnancy like gestational diabetes and excessive weight gain. After her second birth, she was back in her pre-pregnancy jeans!
She has continued her Pilates journey and is wanting to teach others the many benefits of Pilates. Due to living in 3 different states in the last 7 years she has learned from a handful of great instructors and seen various techniques in pilates to pass along to others as well.
Amanda McMillin
Instructor
Amanda first became a student of Pilates in 2010 to supplement and improve her weight lifting exercise routine. In 2014, she was involved in a pedestrian-vehicle accident. Her work and exercise routines were forever changed, but Pilates was the one thing that allowed her to keep moving and strengthen/stabilize the imbalances that resulted from injuries she had sustained.
Amanda has worked in the health-helping field since 2008, as a former dental assistant and as a current part time dental hygienist. After personally experiencing the positive effects Pilates had on her recovery and return to life, she decided she needed to expand her ability to help others by becoming a Pilates instructor. She enjoys helping clients find body awareness, imbalances, and gain strength and mobility to improve their every day lives. Her hope is to help others live as pain-free and as comfortably as possible. In her down time, she enjoys relaxing with her husband and two cats, spending time with family and friends, traveling, gardening, and living outdoors as much as possible.
Certifications:
Certified Comprehensive Pilates Instructor, Inhale Exhale Studio
Bachelors of Arts in Human Biology, University of Kansas
Bachelors of Science in Dental Hygiene, Wichita State University
Healthcare Provider CPR
Jamie Tabor Schmidt
Instructor
When teaching Pilates, Jamie brings her playful spirit and exudes fun in each session so students are able to engage their mind, body, and spirit. She aims to guide students to a place of freedom in their bodies by using clear alignment instructions and intuitive hands-on assists, combined with the principles of functional movement and body mechanics. Her classes provide a safe, flowing and mediative practice with a side of bliss.
Jamie is a Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher, NCPT with over 20 years experience. She’s had the opportunity to learn from many amazing Pilates teaching including Pilates elders. These include Ron Fletcher, Mary Bowen, Kathleen Stanford Grant, and Lolita San Miguel.
Jamie is a mom, wife, and entrepreneur. She’s a certified yoga teacher, RYT 200 through yoga Alliance, Barre certified through Balance Body, Aerial certified through Anti-Gravity Fitness, certified Health Coach through Institute for Integrated Nutrition, and a certified Cannabis Consultant through Lit Yoga.
Sara Foster
Instructor
Sara has spent years in the fitness industry. In the past, she taught mat Pilates, Tower Pilates, Cycle and TRX. Sara is also a Level 1 certified CrossFit coach. Her past fitness activities include distance running (having completed 2 halves and 1 full marathon) power-lifting, racquetball, golfing and boxing.
When she is not in the studio she spends most of her time with her family—husband Andy, son Camden (a Sophomore at KU) and daughter Kenzie (a Junior at Andover).
Sara enjoys watching sports and loves to participate in volleyball and softball games.
Sara views Pilates as creating longevity in one’s fitness. “Think of Pilates as Prehab rather than Rehab, it addresses imbalances in the body and strengthens all of the accessory muscles to help prevent future injury.”
Her teaching methodology is to create good fundamentals, to explain the “why” behind movements (she is from the Sho-Me State after all) and to maximize the 50 minutes you spend in her class by getting a total body workout with quick, meaningful transitions.
Cassie Zimmerman
Apprentice Instructor
Cassie is a certified Mat Pilates Instructor and is currently working on her Reformer Pilates Instructor certification!
When she’s not in the studio she loves to be active and be outdoors. Some of her favorite activities include sand volleyball, biking, and horseback riding. She comes from a big Family of 10 kids ( just like Joe Pilates). Cassie loves Kansas but also enjoys traveling and exploring new places.
Email the studio at info@corestrengthwichita.com to get started on your Pilates journey with Cassie!
Bethany Sexton
Apprentice Instructor
Bethany is currently working on both her Mat and Reformer Pilates Instructor certifications and is accepting new clients. She decided to start teaching Pilates after seeing the changes that it created in her own body and after deciding a desk job wasn’t for her.
When she’s not in the studio you can find Bethany reading (her favorites are fantasy, horror, and thriller), traveling, and hiking.
Email the studio at info@corestrengthwichita.com to get started with your Pilates journey with Bethany!