Hey There!
We’re Krystle Howald and Amy Kiefer -
Sisters and co-founders of Expecting and Empowered.
We’re on a mission to empower all women to thrive both physically and mentally throughout their pregnancy and postpartum journeys.
Our business was born when we experienced pregnancy ourselves. Even though we had both earned prenatal certifications, exercise science degrees and Krystle was working as a physical therapist and Amy as a personal trainer…we were still surprised at how demanding pregnancy was on our bodies. We knew then and there that women needed more guidance and a program they could trust.
Krystle Howald
DPT, PCES
I’ve been working as a physical therapist for 12 years. At this point I’ve treated hundreds of pregnancy and postpartum patients. Everything I’ve learned in those years has gone into creating Expecting and Empowered - a resource that I now recommend to ALL of my pregnant and postpartum clients. As I like to say, “motion is lotion”- movement during these physically demanding years sets you up for a smoother journey.
Amy Kiefer
RN-BSN, NSCA-CPT, Certified Doula
After starting my personal training career working with pregnant clients, I realized there were far too many misconceptions still floating around. I’m on a mission to bring clarity to all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
I’m also a mom to 3 little ones who have blessed me with the ability to marry education and personal experience. I love bringing this to our educational resources and podcast.
As Seen in:
Meet the App Instructors
Jacquelyn Brennan
EMPOWER YOUR CORE INSTRUCTOR
Jacquelyn owns Pilates + Coffee, a Chicago-based pilates studio, with her husband Ryan. With her 14 years (and counting!) as a Pilates instructor, she has become widely renowned as the instructor that instructors want to learn from. We are so excited to include her instruction in the Empower Your Core section of the app because she understands how to help people move better in the body they have – to eliminate pain, strengthen weaknesses and improve performance - especially fellow moms! Jacquelyn is a mom of two.
Karin Dabrowski
Empower Your Core Instructor
Karin is a PMA-CPT Pilates Instructor and Thai Bodywork Specialist, working under Jacquelyn at Pilates + Coffee. Karin brings a calming presence and intentional energy into her Pilates practice - we always leave her classes feeling challenged AND refreshed. As a mom herself, she understands just how important the ability to regulate your breath and reconnect with your core is for your overall well-being.
Abby Green
Empower Your Run Instructor
Abby is a UWCPC Certified Mindset Coach, lifelong runner and mom of three littles. Abby’s passion for inspiring people shines through in her running coaching, and you’ll finish your cardio session ready to conquer the rest of your day.
Shreya Patel
PRENATAL YOGA INSTRUCTOR
You’ll want to flow with Shreya everyday after you experience her calm and mindful prenatal yoga classes. She’s a certified Yoga Teacher (Vinyasa, Yin, Prenatal & Postnatal) and a mom of two. Shreya inspires women to find balance and wellness in their daily lives through the practice of yoga. She’s dedicated to helping women everywhere develop a mindfulness practice to help them through the challenges of motherhood.
Emily Garbutt
Postpartum yoga instructor
Emily’s passion for mindful movement comes through in her grounded and intentional yoga sequences. As a certified postpartum yoga teacher with a decade’s worth of teaching experience, she believes in the power of daily movement. She loves supporting women on their wellness journeys and guiding them through empowering yoga practices.
Taylor Kaulius
Postpartum Yoga Instructor
Taylor is a mama to two little girls (best job ever!) + a yoga teacher since 2014. She believes yoga is a practice that allows you to feel more “like you” - the layers of mother and wife or whatever labels you may carry start to unravel and you get to come home to yourself. Taylor brings a joyful energy and creative sequencing to each of her flows to help you feel a little more like you when you leave your mat. Already whole, already worth. As you are.
Ready to empower your pregnancy and postpartum?
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