Meet the
Bodies In: Motion Instructors
Jennifer Milner, NCPT
Jennifer Milner is a certified Pilates trainer specializing in dancers and post-injury recovery. With a background in professional dance (classical ballet and musical theatre), she brings a unique perspective to her work. After a career-ending knee injury, Jennifer became passionate about helping others achieve their full potential. Certified in the Pilates method and dance rehabilitation, Jennifer has trained a diverse clientele, including Olympic athletes, Broadway stars, and dancers from renowned companies. Her expertise and compassionate approach have made her a sought-after trainer. Based in Dallas, Jennifer continues to work with dancers locally and nationally. She's a member of the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science, dedicated to helping clients achieve peak performance and a healthy body.
Dr. Linda Bluestein
Dr. Linda Bluestein, M.D., is a board-certified anesthesiologist, integrative pain medicine physician, and former dancer. As the founder and host of the popular podcast, "Bendy Bodies with the Hypermobility MD," Dr. Bluestein provides invaluable insights and support to individuals grappling with hypermobility disorders. Her expertise is widely recognized, contributing to key publications such as the influential book, "Disjointed – Navigating the Diagnosis and Management of Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders." Dr. Bluestein serves on the Allergy and Immunology Working Group for the International Consortium on EDS and HSD, the Medical Advisory Board for Standing up to POTS, the non-profits Bridge Dance Project and EDS Guardians, and is the Pain Management Committee Chair for the non-profit EDS Research Foundation.
Kathleen McGuire Gaines
Kathleen is a former dancer, a writer, a mental health advocate, and a fundraiser. As a dancer Kathleen trained at the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School and the San Francisco Ballet School in their pre-professional divisions. She also spent summers at the School of American Ballet and the Chautauqua Festival program.Over the last 10 years, Kathleen has written more than 100 articles on dance for Dance Magazine, Pointe, Dance Spirit, and Dance Teacher magazines and is a contributing writer to Dance Magazine.Kathleen also serves as a member of the development committee for the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science.Minding the Gap was founded as a reaction to the outpouring of support Kathleen received after she posted the article" Why are we still so bad at addressing dancers' mental health" on the Dance Magazine website in the summer of 2017. Her ambition is to enact a movement which results in mental health being regarded with the same seriousness as physical health in dance culture.
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Jason Harrison
Jason is a strength coach at the New York City Ballet who also works with dancers from the Dance Theatre of Harlem, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Sacramento Ballet, Dayton Ballet, Ailey American Dance Theater, and School of American Ballet. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), a Functional Range Conditioning Mobility Specialist, a United States Weightlifting Level One Coach, and a member of the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS), where he has spoken multiple times and for which he has written a strength and conditioning curriculum.
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Claire Hutchinson
Claire Hutchinson is an Alabama Ballet company dancer, ballet instructor, and mindset mentor for pre-professional dancers. She began her career with Charlotte Ballet II and trained in the Pre-Professional division at Miami City Ballet School, where she performed alongside Miami City Ballet across South Florida as well as on tour to Chicago and Lincoln Center in New York City. Throughout her career, Claire has had the privilege of performing featured roles in works by choreographers such as Twyla Tharp, George Balanchine, James B. Whiteside, Peter Chu, Christopher Bruce, and Garrett Smith, among others. Her professional experiences, as well as her own struggles as a young dancer, have made her passionate about guiding the next generation of dancers—helping them navigate and understand the physical, mental, and emotional demands of a career in ballet while taking care of themselves not just as dancers, but also as humans.
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Kristin Koskinen, RDN
Kristin Koskinen, RDN, LD,CD is a registered dietitian who grew up dancing. Her interest in nutrition began when she was in her teens and danced in a pre-professional ballet company. Now, she is a resource for dancers and those who support them. Kristin owns a private practice where she offers nutrition counseling with a focus on performance nutrition. Her integrative approach recognizes that nutrition isn’t just about the food you eat. It’s important to take many factors into consideration, including environment, cultural influences, social norms, and body image, especially when working with dancers. She is an active member of the International Association for Dance Medicine & Science, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Doctors for Dancers, and a founding member of DanseMed. She is a frequent contributor to media including Dance Magazine, Shape, Oprah, Healthline, NBC, and Today.com. You can find her on social media or at her website, www.eatwellpros.com.
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