Today we’d like to introduce you to Cristi Eid.
Hi Cristi, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
By the age of 23, I’d already undergone my first back surgery. Looking back now, I realize that surgery might have been avoided if I’d received proper postpartum care after my emergency C-section. My core was weak, exercise felt awful, and as a single mom, I was completely spent—pouring every ounce of energy into raising my child, working, and trying to climb the corporate ladder.
For two decades, I lived the “road warrior” life in the tech world—planes, meetings, hotel rooms, and little to no real movement. My body was paying the price for years of hustle and high heels. Evenings were filled with dinners, social obligations, and catching up on work in hotel rooms. As I entered perimenopause, I found myself completely depleted—physically, mentally, and spiritually.
Then came my wake-up call. One morning, as I was rushing to catch a flight, I suddenly collapsed—face first—onto the tile floor of my bathroom. Bloodied, concussed, and terrified, I lay there waiting for my husband to return from getting coffee. The next day, I knew: the ladder I was so desperate to climb was literally killing me. Something had to change.
That change came in the form of Pilates.
After just ten sessions, I felt a profound shift—physically, mentally, and emotionally. Pilates reignited my connection to movement, something I had loved as a child and through high school. My instructor, Lauren, was loving, patient, and reminded me that I mattered. I’d leave each session taller, lighter, and freer—like my body had finally exhaled after years of holding its breath.
The studio, tucked in the small coastal town of Half Moon Bay, California, became my sanctuary. The atmosphere was calming, and the community was so inclusive and uplifting. One day, I saw the owner, Catherine, posting a sign for upcoming teacher training. Her studio was a Fletcher Pilates Training Facility—and they were preparing to train a new generation of instructors. It felt like a literal sign from the universe.
After more than 25 years in corporate America, I resigned from my tech career and began training to become a comprehensive Pilates instructor—right there in the very studio that had helped me heal. Before long, I was hired to teach, clocking 35 hours a week doing what I loved most: helping others reconnect with their bodies.
A few years later, my family and I returned to our Southern California roots. I began teaching in various studios, from boutique spaces to larger gyms, but I quickly realized that large group classes felt more performative than personal. I wanted something deeper and more therapeutic.
That curiosity led me to a physical therapy clinic in Tustin, CA, where I specialized in Pelvic Floor Dysfunction—an area I found both fascinating and deeply underserved. My passion for learning took over, and I immersed myself in courses on pelvic floor health, breathwork, neurology, and scoliosis—because in the body, everything is connected. Those years deepened my understanding of movement, pain management, and the resilience of the human body.
Eventually, I opened my own business, offering private sessions throughout Orange County and even out of a small home studio. But by 2022, I was craving stability and community again. One day, I came across an Instagram post from two pelvic physical therapists looking to share their space. I met with them—and the universe spoke once more.
From the moment I walked through the door of KOR Physical Therapy and Wellness, I felt the healing energy of the space that Melia and Melissa had created. I knew instantly this was where I was meant to be.
Today, I’m proud to say I’m not only part of KOR, but also a co-owner of this incredible clinic.
At KOR, we work with everyone—from athletes to desk-bound professionals, postpartum and menopausal women, and active agers. Our goal is to help every client build strength, balance, and confidence through mindful movement and breathwork that restores the body and calms the nervous system.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road—but honestly, where’s the fun in that? Every bump, detour, and setback has taught me something invaluable. I truly believe our biggest growth comes through challenge. Struggles give us perspective; they force us to pause, reassess, and rebuild with intention. If you’re willing to do the inner work, those tough moments become the very things that shape your strength and your story.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
At KOR Physical Therapy and Wellness, we focus on supporting women through every stage of life with specialized programs for pelvic floor dysfunction, menopause coaching, and breast cancer recovery. I’m so proud to be part of a team that truly believes in treating the whole person, not just a diagnosis.
Our approach is deeply holistic. We look at how everything in the body is connected—muscles, fascia, breath, and even emotions—and we use a combination of manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, and visceral mobilization to restore function and ease. Every session is one-on-one and completely individualized, so we can meet each client exactly where they are in their healing journey.
We offer a Pilates-based movement class to help women rebuild core strength, improve mobility, and reconnect with their bodies after experiences like childbirth, surgery, or hormonal changes. It’s not just about exercise—it’s about helping women feel strong, confident, and at home in their bodies again.
We also offer a Bone Building class designed to support those managing osteoarthritis, osteopenia, and osteoporosis. It’s one of our most empowering classes because it helps clients safely strengthen their bones, improve posture, and gain confidence in their daily movement—proving that it’s never too late to build strength from the inside out.
What I’m most proud of at KOR is the environment we’ve created. The moment you walk through our doors, you can feel that this is a safe, supportive, and compassionate space. We listen. We educate. We collaborate. And we celebrate the small wins along the way, because those are the moments that build real healing and empowerment.
At the end of the day, my philosophy is simple: movement is medicine, and every woman deserves to move—and live—without pain, fear, or limitation.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Taking risks has been one of the biggest themes of my life, especially when it came to changing careers. Leaving a stable, decades-long corporate job to start completely over in a new field was terrifying. But at some point, the fear of staying the same outweighed the fear of change. I knew deep down that I couldn’t keep living a life that didn’t align with my values or my well-being. I wanted to have a positive impact on people’s lives.
When I made the decision to step away from the corporate world and move into health and wellness, it felt like jumping off a cliff without a parachute—but it was also one of the most liberating choices I’ve ever made. Taking that leap allowed me to find my purpose, reconnect with my body, and build a career centered on helping others heal.
What I’ve learned is that risk-taking isn’t about being fearless—it’s about trusting yourself enough to step into the unknown. Growth and comfort can’t coexist. Every risk I’ve taken, even the ones that didn’t go perfectly, has led me closer to the life I was meant to live.
Now, I encourage my clients to do the same in their own way—whether that’s taking a small physical step in their healing or a big emotional one in life. Because when you move with intention and courage, that’s when real transformation happens.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.korphysicaltherapyandwellness.com
- Instagram: cristie_fitpro
- Facebook: Solar Plexus Pilates
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cristinaeid/
- Other: https://www.solarplexuspilates.com
