Finding New Momentum

Overcoming obstacles caused by the pandemic, the virtual version of this popular festival still achieved its goals.

- By Anne Marie O’Connor

OF THE MANY EVENTS THAT WERE CANCELED DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC, THE MOMENTUM FE S T, WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 26-28 IN WESTMINSTER, CO, WAS ONE THAT WAS ESPECIALLY DE VA STATING TO PILATES FANS. As the impact of the virus began escalating in March, “it became clear that things were possibly moving [toward cancellation],” relates Jessica Valant, a Pilates teacher and physical therapist who founded the festival three years ago with her husband, Brian Valant. “We officially made the announcement to cancel our in-person event at the end of April.”

But like people around the world, Valant quickly pivoted to reconceptualizing Momentum Fest as an online-only event that was dubbed the “Momentum Fest Virtual Experience.” The live classes, workshops, sessions, roundtables and talks were all done on Zoom.

Valant says that having to pivot to a virtual event “taught me that we are all looking for something positive, hopeful and inspiring right now, that community can be found through a computer screen and that we are so grateful to be a part of this industry.”