Hire Laura to lead a workshop for you

Upcoming

Workshop

Teaching Pilates Through a Trauma-Sensitive Lens

Sunday April 12, 2026

10:00am - 5:00pm

Pilates People, New York, NY

In this 6 hour workshop (we will take a 1 hour lunch break from 1:00pm-2:00pm), Laura Khoudari and pilates instructor and Pilates People studio owner Cassandra Koenig, will guide pilates instructors and pilates instructors-to-be through the reality of being a trauma informed movement practitioner in the Pilates world.

Together we will explore trauma - what it means, what it looks like and how it can impact a person's movement practice - and learn how we can avoid doing harm as instructors (and hopefully, help!).

You will walk away with new, practical tools that you can put into immediate play to help craft classes and sessions that are better suited for those living through and recovering from trauma.

*If you have trouble signing up please email info@pilatespeople.com

Sign up Via Mindbody

Offerings

WORKSHOP

Writing as a Pathway to Self Care, Personal Discovery and Healing: A Narrative Healing Workshop: Featuring Laura Khoudari & Lisa Weinert

Unlock the healing power of writing. In this immersive two part workshop Narrative Healing author and founder Lisa Weinert, and trauma-informed coach and author Laura Khoudari, will guide you through the healing power of storytelling with a mindbody approach to writing.

This two-part, trauma-sensitive workshop, offers gentle embodied movement and mindfulness practices, along with writing prompts to wake up the stories we’re holding in our bodies so we can process them, release their meaning, and utilize their true impact. The result is finding your authentic voice in everything you do and say.

This program can be tailored to audiences big and small. Ideal for:

Workplace Wellness Programs
Wellness Retreats
Health and Wellness Centers
Conference

PRESENTATION

Book Talks: Lifting Heavy Things Fireside Chat with Laura

Did you read Lifting Heavy Things, and now you want to share its lessons with your community or organization? Would you like to engage in a lively conversation with me and ask me questions tailored to your community’s needs? Using a fireside chat format, book talks are an excellent way to do just that.

These events allow you to explore the themes in Lifting Heavy Things in a way that aligns with the people that make up your community. You are the expert in you after all!

This program is designed for audiences as small as 20 or as big of the audience that your venue can hold. Ideal for:

Workplace Wellness Programs
Wellness Retreats
Health and Wellness Centers
Fitness Studios
Continuing Education Programs for Wellness Professionals

ONLINE DIRECTORY

Movement@Home

I no longer offer my own personal training services. I remain committed to community care, which means supporting clients, people looking for support, and other fitness professionals. I encourage you to refer to Movement@Home for my crowdsourced directory of trauma-informed and HAES-aligned movement practitioners offering remote at-home services.

BESPOKE EVENTS

Custom Workshop With Laura

In addition to my programs above, I can also create custom offerings for your event and audience. Whether it's combining elements of Mindful Movement, Writing About Trauma, and/or a Book Talk or working with you to design a custom trauma-informed wellness event, I'd love to partner with you.

Ideal for:

Wellness Retreats
Writing Retreats
Professional Support Organizations
Workplace Wellness Programs
Health & Wellness Centers
Writing Groups

Testimonials

"Laura helped students understand how coaching can be adapted to account for trauma, embodiment, and the lived experiences people carry with them into training. She made meaningful connections between physical practice and questions of spirituality, helping students think about exercise as something that can shape how we understand ourselves and move through the world with grace. The way she engaged students’ questions and connected her work across exercise science, trauma, and personal history made the session meaningful and practical. We highly recommend her!"

Laanna Carrasco, Instructor, Harvard Extension School
"Laura's trauma work in using strength training as an embodied movement practice is a much needed conversation on college campuses. I was so excited to invite Laura to share her knowledge to our students, faculty and staff members. Laura was able to provide easy movement-based exercises that students can practice in the comfort of their own spaces as well as opening the idea that the campus gym can be a supportive space for all bodies. Thank you, Laura, for introducing embodied movement within an inclusive and trauma informed lens. Your work is truly an essential component in wellness."

- Ju Hong, Director of Be Well, Mount Holyoke College
“Laura artfully connects with and inspires the audience through her knowledgeable, engaging delivery and reassuring presence."

– Brooke Rosenbauer, Senior Manager, Corporate Social Resonsibility, at Guardian Life
"With expertise and compassion, Laura guided our group of animal welfare and veterinary professionals through a series of powerful reflections and writing exercises. Laura brings a unique blend of knowledge, humor, and humanity to her trauma-informed writing workshop and the experience was very well received by everyone who attended. I highly recommend Laura's services!"

- Jessica Dolce, The Compassion in Balance Program
“Delightful, raw, original -- Laura is a powerhouse speaker with a message that will help heal the world.”

– Kate Eckman, Senior Vice President, Verb Technology
"I was privileged to get to work with Laura to craft a discussion at the Care4You conference for helping professionals about boundaries, trauma, and her empowering journey into powerlifting. She was warm, authentic, and utterly professional at every step along the way. She’s a captivating speaker and lovely person. I hope we get to work together again soon!"

– Sarah Stewart, Owner and Lead Trainer, Open Minds
“In the middle of the pandemic, I asked Laura to facilitate Lifting Heavy Things to my online trauma-informed movement group. From the moment Laura started her presentation I knew her voice would be heard. She has a very natural way to incorporate her education, experience and vision for mindful movement that inspires you to move from within. Laura’s presentation was such a treat that comforted me when everything around was unknown. She is an inspiration!” -Riikka Wilson, Owner, Riivve Body

-Riikka Wilson, Owner, Riivve Body
"“Thank you. You seem so authentic and approachable- your genuineness in this conversation and difficult (and highly relatable!) story was inspiring.”

-Anonymous, Attendee, Book Talk for Bergen’s Promise

Prior Offerings

PRESENTATIONS & SPEAKING

Pilates People’s Exhale 2024 Retreat

Embodied Journal Program

New Jersey Integrated Mental Health Conference 2023

Mindful Movement: The Most Empowering, Transformative, and Self Compassionate Approach to Moving More and Feeling Better Even if You Hate the Gym

Institute on Violence, Abuse, and Trauma 27th Annual San Diego Summit
Mindful Movement: The Most Empowering, Transformative, and Self Compassionate Approach to Moving More and Feeling Better Even if You Hate the Gym

Somatic Experiencing International
Lifting Heavy Things: Using Strength Training To Support Trauma Healing - A Three Part Webinar

La Clinica De La Raza
Embodied and Resilient: Shifting Your Relationship to Exercise and Movement Through Practice, Resources, Relationships, and Strengths

Social Justice Body Movement Summit
Trauma-Informed Strength Training

TEND Academy Annual CARE4YOU Conference
How Do We Talk About Trauma? A Discussion on Boundaries

Williamsburg Strengthworks’ Queer Culture & Fitness Panel Discussion
Panelist

Science of Touch
Masterclass Guest

The Breathe Network
Making The Body a Safe Space: A Somatic Approach to Establishing a Sense of Safety in Your Own Body

Goodwill Excel School
Lifting Heavy Things: A Workshop

BOOK TALKS

Harvard University Extension School, Cambridge, MA

Imperial College Healthcare — National Healthcare Service Trust, London, England

Bergen’s Promise, Hackensack, NJ

Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA

Reebok Women’s Network, Boston MA

Stefanie Michelle Binge Eating Recovery, Online

WRITING WORKSHOPS

Compassionate Badassery Labs
Writing About Trauma

Narrative Healing
Writing About Trauma with Lisa Weinert

MOVEMENT WORKSHOPS

The Breathe Network
Making The Body A Safe Space

Being In Body
Intro to Embodied Strength Training

Riive Body
Workshop on Movement and Stress

National Cathedral School
Intro to Embodied Strength