Pilates Intel Online Newsletter for the Pilates Teaching Community

In 1973, Ron Fletcher opened his studio of Body Contrology on the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, California, on the top floor of the Aida Grey Beauty Salon. He came to the west coast from New York with the blessing of Clara and Joe Pilates and the blueprints of the Universal Reformer and other apparatus. It was the first Pilates Studio on the west coast.

There was no formal paper work, only a handshake and a hug. It was a magical time on Rodeo Drive. A young hair stylist from London by the name of Vidal Sassoon opened about the same time, a few doors down Rodeo. Richard Simmons opened his juice bar on the other side. Bikram was packing them in with his yoga classes across town and Jane Fonda had opened her first aerobics studio.

I had heard about Pilates, but it was only available on the east coast at the time. I had dance friends in New York who loved it. It was my love of dance and movement that brought me to Ron in 1976. The studio was becoming very busy and had a 6-month waiting list despite having 13 Reformers, barrels, chair, Trapeze table, tower, pedi-pull and a large room for floor work. Ron was looking for teachers with dance background. He felt that dancers had “inside information” about how the body moves, took direction well and were not afraid to think.

The apparatus was completely foreign to me. A ballet barre and center work was my comfort zone. My first week, I didn’t see Ron at all. He was busy with the photo shoot for his book, Every Body is Beautiful.

I must have looked forlorn on that first day because Buddy Sperber (an amazing teacher) took pity on me and took me under his wing that first week.

42 years ago, Pilates was unknown to the general public. Our student base was mainly actors, directors, writers and those that could afford $100 for 10 classes. Ron knew Candace Bergen and Ali MacGraw from New York and through them it all began.

There was no certification program. No videos, no workshops, no PMA, no synopsis. You watched, listened, took notes, and most importantly, put it in your brain and body 5 days a week for a year. Ron would hold weekly teacher meetings with us where we would study individual exercises as we executed them.

We picked the brains of students who were in town from New York (students of Romana who came to take class and use the equipment).
I learned so much from the generous and kind Donald McKayle (brilliant dancer and choreographer and loved by everyone). He taught me the long and short box exercises.

Ron was a true master of the floor work, bringing his background of Martha Graham technique to the floor, making it much more than just mat exercises. The classes had a flow and gracefulness to them.

The Reformer exercises were designed to warm up the body in a sequential order much like a ballet class. I stick to this order in my classes, starting with feet, ankles, arches and working our way up to the arms.

The order was printed on a board attached to the ceiling over each Reformer. Students followed the order as teachers walked the floor making corrections. New students had private lessons.

There were usually 4 or 5 teachers on the floor to teach the Trapeze Table, large and small barrels, pedi-pull, chair and tower. We would take turns bringing a group of students into the adjoining room for a basic mat class which also had a board with the 12 basic floor exercises. We always used the original Pilates mats which have the perfect placement of foot straps, handles and boxes for feet for the saw stretch.

Ron’s 10:30 classes were for intermediate/advanced students. I hate to throw around the word “genius”, but I must say, his classes were brilliant. He had an amazing eye and a passion for how the body moves. He titled his book “Every Body is Beautiful” because he really meant it! He had the ability to teach with marvelous images and cues and could spot every student no matter how large the class and make corrections. “A correction for one is a correction for all,” he would say.

The first group Reformer class I taught was with the dancers of John Clifford’s Los Angeles Ballet. They would come in early to do their Pilates before going to company class. I stood on a box, clapped my hands and we all started together with the leg and foot work. It’s such a wonderful memory! The breathing was our music and it was beautiful.

Of course, one does not have to be a dancer to achieve Pilates. It’s good for everyone. The point is to make a strong articulate body that moves with ease and grace. Pilates enhances any activity no matter what it is. I had a ninety-year-old student tell me he was the only one of his friends who could still look over his shoulder to back his car out of the driveway.

I don’t have a paper certificate to hang on the wall. Ron never gave one to any of us. It just never occurred to him. I’m sure if he were alive today, he would give all of us who studied and taught with him the most beautiful of all certificates! That said, I have some concerns about this newest generation of certified teachers. I have observed many of these new franchised studios who charge big bucks for a certification and then put them on the floor to teach. Don’t get me wrong, there are many wonderful hard-working new generation teachers out there who have studied with the elders and first-generation teachers. I have had some of them come to my studio as guest teachers.

I choose my teachers from my student base. They apprentice with me and go out to study with an elder or first-generation teacher. They begin to teach when the work is not only in their brain, but in their body as well.

I believe, as teachers, we have an obligation to pass the true essence of the work as created by Joe and Clara on to the next generation while being careful to whom we are entrusting it. A student must not be afraid to take on the hard work of the Pilates process. That’s what it is – a process, not magic. It takes time and money. Spend the money wisely and travel to the nearest elder to spend some time studying. When you feel you are ready, locate some studios that are hiring teachers and start taking classes. Think of it as an audition so the owner can see it in your body, your personality and your attitude.

I firmly believe after 42 years that you must have the work in your body as well as your brain.

I was with Ron Fletcher from 1976 until 1986 when I opened my own studio. 42 years after first meeting Ron, I am still learning and feel blessed to share Pilates with my students and those that choose to teach.

Pilates is truly timeless and will be with us for many generations to come.

Let’s hope it never loses the true intention.