Our Staff
Ashley Herrman, DPT
Educational Background: Ashley graduated with an Associate of Science as a Physical Therapist Assistant, and practiced for a few years while earning her Bachelor of Health Science from Washburn University, and then received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of Kansas Medical Center. She has been practicing in outpatient orthopedics since 2003. Extensive continuing education has been pursued through North American Institute of Orthopedic Manual Therapy (NAIOMT), Kinetic Control, Polestar Pilates Education, Michigan State University's School of Osteopathic Medicine (craniosacral) and Schroth Barcelona Scoliosis Physical Therapy School (C1 and C2 certified). In her career she has provided individualized rehab for all types of musculoskeletal injuries of the spine and extremities, post-surgical rehab, sports medicine, and neurologic conditions. Thoroughly analyzing a patient’s movement patterns and muscle imbalances are crucial to her practice, as is extensive patient education so to ensure long term success.
Pilates: Ashley did her rehabilitation specific Pilates training through Polestar Pilates Education in Kansas City, taught by Noelle. She completed her apprenticeship hours and successfully passed her graduation exam, allowing her to be an official Polestar Pilates Practitioner. Ashley also is trained in Oov and Konnector.
Sports Medicine: Ashley particularly enjoys working with athletes, as they prepare to return to sport after injury. As an athlete herself, Ashley understands the demands of sports and rehabilitates them using her extensive continuing education. This even extends to dance medicine, as she applies biomechanical principles to allow for restoration of dance technique.
Dance Medicine: Although Ashley is not a dancer, she is experienced with treating the needs of the dancer and has excellent success in her outcomes. She has taught performers from Broadway shows as well as local dance studios.
Leslie Ricketts, MPT, COMT, MCT
Educational Background: Leslie graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Exercise Physiology from Drury University, prior to earning her Master of Physical Therapy from Rockhurst University. She has been working in outpatient orthopaedic settings since 2002, where she has had the opportunity to work with all types of orthopaedic issues, and has specifically enjoyed working with patients with neck and back pain. This led her to advance her training and receive a certification in manual therapy through the International Academy of Orthopedic Medicine (IAOM). She has done extensive training through the IAOM related to treating the shoulder, elbow, hip, and knee as well. Additional training occurred through the Institute of Physical Art (IPA) and this has been helpful in improving patient muscle activation and function. Leslie’s treatment focus is on identifying the source of the dysfunction, improving the joint mobility or stability, correcting the muscle imbalances, and returning the patient to her/his best mechanics and function. She believes in strong communication with her patients so to address their dysfunctions and collaborate to meet their goals.
Sports Medicine: Leslie enjoys using her own personal experience as an athlete, in addition to her training, to aid in her care of athletes of all ages. Her MOVNAT certification has enabled her to provide natural movement education and instruction to beginner through advanced mover. She has worked with athletes from many different backgrounds and strives to provide individualized sport-specific therapy to each patient. One of her favorite sports is soccer where she continues to stay active by coaching a youth team.
Pilates: Leslie is a Polestar Pilates Education graduate, having studied the comprehensive rehabilitation series and enjoys how much benefit Pilates brings her patients.
Monika Overend, PTA, NCPT
Educational Background: Monika graduated with an Associate of Science as a Physical Therapist Assistant from Kansas City Kansas Community College. Throughout her clinical internship experiences she enjoyed working with orthopedic, post-surgical, musculoskeletal, neurologic, dance medicine, and chronic pain cases. Additionally, being able to tie her experience from Pilates teaching with rehabilitation is another asset she honed when training with Kinesphere Physical Therapy on her final internship. She has a passion for helping people and providing personal one-on-one care, where her number one priority is assisting others in reaching their goals. Monika can be seen after our patients are first evaluated by one of our physical therapists.
Pilates: Prior to becoming a PTA, Monika completed her Polestar Pilates comprehensive training with Noelle as her instructor and mentor. Her love of Pilates began when she experienced an overuse injury she obtained from ballet. With Pilates as a main tool in her rehabilitation program, she was able to fine-tune her body mechanics and eliminate her pain. She is also a Nationally Certified Pilates Instructor, as well as trained on the Konnector.
Dance Medicine: Monika grew up dancing several styles, with a special interest in ballet. She trained with the Kansas City Ballet School and has also performed several performances with the Kansas City Ballet. Since graduating she has enjoyed teaching ballet and specializing in dance medicine. With a special eye for correcting technique, and the ability to understand dance terminology as well as relate the unique demands placed on dancers, she is an ideal choice for our dancer patients. Monika is certified in Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT).
Noelle Dowma DPT, BFA, NCPT, CMTPT
Educational Background: Noelle graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ballet Pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma and then received her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. She has been working in outpatient orthopaedic settings since 2002. Since graduation, Noelle has pursued extensive continuing education through Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (has taken ALL of the offered courses), Kinetic control, Pilates based coursework, C1 and C2 BSPT Schroth certified, manual lymph drainage certified by Evergreen Certifications, Progressing Ballet Technique, and is Dry Needling Certified through Myopain seminars. Musculoskeletal injuries of the spine and all extremities are her main realm of experience. In addition, her areas of specialization include: osteopathic based manual therapy, Pilates based rehabilitation, dance medicine, craniosacral therapy, dry needling, manual lymph drainage, osteoporosis, hypermobility syndromes, and scoliosis. Noelle is the owner of Kinesphere Physical Therapy LLC.
Pilates: Noelle began studying Pilates when rehabilitating a dance injury in 1992. Since that time, she trained through the Physical Mind Institute, Polestar Pilates Education and is Nationally Pilates Certified. She is a Principal Educator for Polestar Pilates Education, where she teaches fitness and rehabilitation professionals how to use Pilates with their clients and patients. Having taught across the United States, Caribbean, and Mexico, Noelle is a regular presenter at courses and conferences. Pilates was a part of Noelle’s life before becoming a Physical Therapist and it continues to be an essential part of her success with patients. Noelle developed the Pilates program at the Kansas City Ballet school. Noelle also teaches for Oov Education and is trained in the Konnector.
Dance Medicine: Noelle continues to dance today, but the professional training of her Bachelor of Fine Arts allows her the understanding of a dancer’s career, body and injuries. The Miami City Ballet and Broadway shows were Noelle’s past dance medicine experience before moving to Kansas City in 2006. Noelle teaches at local dance schools, including the Kansas City Ballet School and has been invited to teach at dance schools in the US and Mexico. As a sought after dance medicine physical therapist, Noelle works on touring Broadway shows coming through Kansas City and also served as the dance medicine specialist at Children's Mercy. She most recently presented in the 2017 International Association of Dance Medicine and Science conference. Additionally, she is certified in Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT).
Stacey Curtis Yeager, PT
Educational Background: Stacey earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Louisiana State University. She continued her education overseas, completing her Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy at the Fontys Hogeschool in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, in 1997. After graduation, she moved to New York City where her work focused on outpatient orthopedics. With extensive continuing education mainly through the Institute of Physical Art, Stacey considers herself a manual focused therapist. The focus of IPA courses is to teach Functional Manual Therapy: “Functional Manual Therapy® is an integrated and seamless treatment system which couples mechanical treatment of the joints, soft tissues, visceral and neurovascular systems with manual neuromuscular facilitation to enhance optimum motor control and human function.” Stacey enjoys providing therapy in a “one-on-one” treatment focus, where she treats musculoskeletal injuries of the spine and all extremities.
Dance Medicine: Early in her career, she treated the performing arts community by working backstage at several Broadway theaters. This work included the famed Rockettes of Radio City Music Hall and professional ballet company dancers. She presented injury-prevention workshops and body mechanics workshops to several companies.
Sports Medicine: When in New York, her other career emphasis was centered on sports physical therapy, working inside gyms and honing her orthopedic manual skills. Stacey enjoys assessing running, and sports specific physical movements, so to integrate them with her IPA training.
Yoga/Pilates: While in New York, Stacey began studying yoga, specifically Anusara Yoga, which is a style of yoga with an extensive Biomechanical basis. She completed three Anusara immersion trainings followed by a Level I Teacher Training, providing her with an in depth knowledge of the biomechanics of yoga. Stacey has also completed the first level of Polestar Pilates Education training.
Katie Cornwell, BFA, MBA, NCPT
Katie Cornwell is the owner of Kinesphere Pilates. She has a B.F.A. in ballet pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma and has been teaching ballet to all ages and levels for more than fifteen years. Katie was introduced to Pilates in college, and after developing a chronic case of tendonitis while dancing, she began to take particular interest in Pilates for both fitness and rehabilitation benefits. Pilates allowed her to maintain her level of fitness while healing her injury, and when she returned to dancing she found that she was stronger and dancing better than ever.
After more than 10 years of being a Pilates enthusiast, Katie decided to become a certified instructor. She graduated from Polestar Pilates International in 2013 and is Nationally Pilates Certified. Katie also has advanced Pilates training in women’s health and lower extremity pathologies through Polestar Pilates International, the Oov, and Konnector movement. Katie is privileged to serve as a mentor-in-training for Polestar Pilates International. She is an adjunct faculty member for Storling Conservatory through Visible College and The Culture House. Katie enjoys teaching ballet and Pilates at The Culture House as well.
Katie is married and has three daughters. She holds an MBA in business strategy from Drury University, and in a former life worked in institutional advancement and arts management. She loves empowering her Pilates clients to discover their best versions of themselves, and hopes that every person she works with leaves the studio feeling better, mentally and physically, than when they arrived.
Breanne Risenhoover
Breanne “Bree” Risenhoover originally came to Kansas City from the Denver, Colorado area to attend The Culture House’s Artist Development program as a dancer. It is there that she met fellow Pilates instructor, Katie Cornwell, who she trained with for two years. Pilates helped her through several dance injuries, and guided her to be a stronger and more passionate dancer. Bree decided she wanted to share the benefits of Pilates with others and in 2018 she graduated the Polestar Pilates comprehensive training program. Bree is a thoughtful and analytical trainer, as well as compassionate toward each client’s individual needs.