About Studio KDRx Pilates

Studio KDRx Pilates lives inside Kristen Dockter’s Houston Heights bungalow — a bright, welcoming home where 500 square feet are devoted to helping you move with ease, breathe deeply, and discover strength you didn’t know you had. 

Here, you’ll train on authentic Gratz apparatus, the gold-standard equipment designed by Joe Pilates himself. From your first session, you’ll feel the difference: precise, supportive, and tailored to your body.

Progress looks different for everyone, but it always feels like freedom

At Studio KDRx, “small” is a strength. Our intimate space means your session is never rushed, never crowded, and always shaped around what your body needs that day.

We work with every body: 

  • Beginners discovering Pilates for the first time
  • Athletes chasing peak performance 
  • Lifelong movers refining their craft
  • Retirees protecting their independence

Since our studio is part of Kristen’s home, we’re able to keep costs accessible without compromising on the quality of care or equipment. What you’ll find here isn’t just Pilates. It’s a place to move without judgment, to be met exactly where you are, and to leave feeling more capable, more at ease, and more at home in your own body.

Meet The Team

We’re a small but mighty crew – three teachers who bring diverse expertise in Pilates, nursing, neurokinetic therapy, reflexology, and bodywork. Together, we see what others might miss, helping you move safely and confidently.

All our instructors have completed 650 hours of comprehensive training, learning the Pilates system directly from second-generation teachers. Kristen further advanced her expertise by graduating from Kathryn Ross-Nash’s advanced teacher training and is also a Level 3 Neurokinetic Therapy specialist. Gimell focuses on pre-natal and post-natal Pilates and is a trained reflexologist, while Hannah specializes in posture and breathwork to support performance arts.

Kristen Dockter

Founder and Instructor

Gimell Ruiz

Instructor

Hannah Dargahi

Instructor

Emmy

Relationship Manager

Find Your Path to Strength and Wellness

Shona B.

“Kristen and Gimell are wonderful. I’m so glad I found them. 15 years ago, I had a kidney transplant and have other autoimmune disorders. Every time I tried to start working out, I would get sick. I was out of shape, had poor body awareness and was in constant pain. They both have deep knowledge of Pilates and muscular structures and an amazing ability to target my problem areas. I’m pain free and getting stronger every day. They are worth every penny!”

Brittany S.

“Kristen is the best around. She is very knowledgeable, patient and aligns your body like no one else. Her in home studio is clean and fresh with a beautiful and relaxing view. Highly recommended.”

Kathy D.

“I decided to do a pilates sessions after my 70.3 ironman. Kristen listened to my needs and was able to customize a session that helped my whole body loosen up and unwind. She is very knowledgeable and explains the exercises well.”

Patrick M.

“As a former athlete now in my mid 50s, I have navigated more than my fair share of physical challenges after years of football, wrestling and rugby. Four knee surgeries, a bone graft and metal pins in one ankle, rupture and repair of both bicep tendons, countless sprains, multiple shoulder dislocations with reduced range of motion, joint degenerative disease in my neck and lumbar spine, and now inflammatory arthritis affecting all my joints. Add to that the reality of a sedentary job, and you can imagine how far my mobility and strength declined.

When I began Pilates with Gimell, my primary goal was simple: to move better and reduce pain. Thanks to her personalized plans, encouragement, and adaptive approach, I not only regained mobility but also reached a point after 18 months where I could safely reintroduce strength training.

Over the past six months, combining Pilates with Gimell and strength training has transformed my daily life. I’m more active, my recovery from everyday tasks has greatly improved, and I’ve experienced healthy, sustainable weight loss. Beyond the physical gains, I’ve regained a sense of capability and confidence I thought I might have lost for good.

Gimell is more than just a skilled Pilates instructor she is someone gifted with tremendous soft skills who knows how to work with complex injury histories, tailoring each session to meet individual needs while steadily building progress. I wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone seeking not just to recover, but to thrive.”

We Don't Just Teach Exercises,
We Change Bodies

1

Every Session Starts With You

We begin with a consultation to understand your injuries, fears, and goals. Your Pilates journey should start with your story, not our schedule.

2

Expertise That Goes Beyond Pilates

Our team blends Pilates, neurokinetic therapy, reflexology, and bodywork to create tailored programs custom to you.

3

We Meet Your Body Where It Is Today

Swollen, tired or sore feet? Let’s do Reflexology. Bad pain day? We adjust everything. Can’t do something the “normal” way? We find your way.

4

We're Here for the
Long Haul

We consistently show up and walk with you through your wellness journey. When something isn’t working, we change it. When you need something different that day, we pivot. 

5

We Help You Reconnect With Your Body

Feel strong, capable, and confident again. We won’t just manage symptoms, but we’ll help you discover what your body can truly do when it’s supported and understood.

6

Every Body Belongs Here

Whether you’re 18 or 81, recovering from surgery or training for competition, dealing with chronic pain or just wanting to feel strong again — this is your place. All bodies can do Pilates.

The Difference You’ll Feel

Think about how you’ll feel when you can: 

  • Carry your groceries in one trip
  • Climb stairs without pain or breathlessness
  • Bend to pick up something without bracing yourself 
  • Feel strong, capable, and confident in daily life

That’s the change Studio KDRx members feel. Real results that show up in everyday moments.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes you different from other Pilates studios?

We’re not a commercial studio. We’re a home studio where you get personal attention from day one. We start with consultation, not class placement. And when your body needs something beyond Pilates (e.g., massage, reflexology, injury assessment), we can provide that too.

Not at all. We’ve worked with people who couldn’t touch their toes and watched them discover mobility they didn’t know was possible. Your current fitness level is exactly where you’re supposed to start.

That’s exactly why we exist. Gimell’s nursing and massage therapy expertise, combined with Kristen’s knowledge of body mechanics, mean we can work safely with complex conditions. We’ll never ask you to push through pain.

READ FAQs

Kristen Dockter

Founder and Instructor

Kristen Dockter established Studio KDRx Pilates in 2018 after a long career as an engineer and project manager. She embraced fitness passionately in her 20s when her mother was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and deteriorated rapidly. During her fitness journey, she earned a black belt in karate, completed century bike rides, ran half marathons, backpacked and competed as a national-level figure athlete. Today she enjoys hiking and agility training with her Pilates Dog, Emmy, and staying fit with Pilates.

Kristen trained in classical Pilates at Washington Avenue Pilates and Real Pilates NYC, and in 2025, she completed Kathi Ross-Nash’s advanced Pilates teacher training program – one of the most respected in the world. She also holds a Level 3 certification in Neurokinetic Therapy, a method of reprogramming the nervous system and improving movement patterns.

Her unique combination of analytical thinking, athletic background, and deep anatomical knowledge gives her the intuition to help clients progress faster and safer. Clients say she has the rare ability to listen to the body and discover what it truly needs.

Gimell Ruiz

Instructor

With a bachelor’s degree in nursing and training in massage, reflexology, and yoga, Gimell brings a holistic lens to Pilates. Her own health challenges led her to explore alternative therapies, learning from respected teachers, including Dr. Aris Latham, Piper Yoga, and Catherine Allen of Poppy Perinatal. Along the way, she noticed something important: People were addressing the same issues again and again, without lasting change. That realization sparked her search for something deeper – a way to move beyond recurring patterns.

In 2023, Gimell was awarded the prestigious Kathy Grant Scholarship by Control Studios Houston and completed the Real Pilates Teacher Training program. She now teaches Pilates full-time, weaving her diverse background and healing practices with the precision of Pilates.

Known for her keen eye for alignment and her ability to inspire students to try hard things, Gimell blends her love of anatomy with genuine encouragement. She also sprinkles in her knowledge of alternative approaches, including reflexology, into client work.

Soon, she will continue her Pilates journey with Inelia Garcia in Brazil. Inelia is an internationally renowned teacher who trained with Romana Kryzanowska, just as Kathi Ross-Nash did.

Hannah Dargahi

Instructor

Hannah was first introduced to classical Pilates while studying music at Hofstra University in New York. Years of poor posture had begun to affect her singing voice, and she turned to Pilates as a way to find balance. What began as a search for vocal support quickly turned into a lifelong passion for movement and wellness. 

In May 2023, Hannah completed her Real Pilates Teacher Training, immersing herself in the method that transformed her own body and voice. Her unique background in theatre and vocal performance gives her a deep understanding of breath, rhythm, and body awareness — qualities she now brings into every session she teaches. 

Hannah’s mission is to combine her love for the arts with her passion for anatomy, helping fellow performers and movers discover strength, alignment, and expressive potential. Whether guiding an artist to breathe more fully or supporting a retiree in building confidence, she approaches every client with patience and creativity.

Emmy

Relationship Manager

Emmy, the Pilates dog – or affectionately known as MC for C-curve, is our relationship manager. She ensures that everyone knows they are loved and cared for and adds a bit of playfulness to your hour. She senses when clients are sad or tired and sometimes lays beside them while they work out or curls up in their lap.