Kerri Saum

About Kerri

Meet Kerri Originally from the Northeast, Kerri began her Pilates journey over 20 years ago, receiving her Balanced Body certification from Leslie Clayton at the Body Awareness Studio in Atlanta, GA. Shortly after completing her training, she moved to Asheville with her young family and began teaching Pilates, starting with mat classes at the Grove Park Inn before moving into group reformer instruction at local studios. Since then, she has completed Classical training, accumulated countless continuing education hours, and earned her National Certification through the NPCP. Kerri was part of the original teaching teams that opened both Club Pilates Biltmore Park and Club Pilates Charlotte Street, and she now serves as a Master Trainer, mentoring new instructors as they begin their teaching journeys. As a self-described purist, Kerri specializes in the fundamentals and principles of Pilates, believing that true transformation happens when students fully engage with Joseph Pilates’ six original principles. Her teaching philosophy focuses on explaining the why behind each movement—empowering clients to move with intention, intelligence, and awareness. She also brings a healthy dose of humor to every class: “Without humor, Pilates (and life) are just too hard.” Kerri wants every student to leave her class feeling accomplished, challenged, and happy. She believes that doing Pilates correctly is hard—but that’s where the growth and reward live. For her, Pilates isn’t just exercise; it’s about improving the quality of life and finding joy in movement. She loves the supportive, community-driven environment at Club Pilates and feels deeply grateful for her fellow instructors and clients. As a Master Trainer, she finds immense joy in mentoring new teachers and watching their passion and confidence grow. Outside the studio, Kerri enjoys spending time with her husband of 26 years, connecting with friends, gardening, painting, baking, hiking, and taking art and anatomy courses. She’s endlessly fascinated by how the human body works—and she’s recently discovered a new love for pickleball (and admits she’s pretty good at it!). One of her most memorable teaching moments came when a client told her, “Since doing Pilates, I’m now allowed to babysit my grandson because I can finally get off the ground fast enough to chase him.” That moment, Kerri says, will stay with her forever. Her mottos: “Just. Be. Kind.” and “I’m always learning—because if you’re not learning, you’ve stopped growing.”

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