Deborah Lessen has been around for a long, long time, and she is to me a cult figure in the Pilates world. I see her as the unofficial grand ‘teacher of teachers’ because she is sought after by many ‘big Pilates names’. I met Deborah last year at the PMA […]
The Pilates Wunda Chair™ – By Kathy Corey
Originally designed as the first piece of Pilates home exercise equipment and a living room chair for small New York apartments, the Wunda Chair is certainly one of the most challenging and effective pieces of Pilates equipment. Because Mr. Pilates wanted his program to be accessible to everyone, he created […]
My View of the Pilates Learning Process – by Christina Maria Gadar
When I was about fifteen years old my ballet school started to offer Pilates mat classes. This sounds great to me now, but back then I was a bunhead that only had time for ballet. I remember cutting many of those Pilates mat classes to practice my pointe work in […]
There Is No Pilates Breathing! By Bob Hannum
I know what you’re thinking. This guy’s nuts! Joe Pilates emphasized breathing above all else as found in his books and films, and as told by Pilates Elders. But stay with me a moment, because as surprising as it sounds, I think you’ll agree! The Cardinal Principle Breathing was so […]
The Pedi Pole – by Kathy Corey
When I first started Pilates over 36 years ago, my back was in terrible shape. Due to a 30-degree scoliosis, one side of my back was overdeveloped and rigid while the other side was hyper-flexible. Coming from a dance background, I compensated by cheating my way through the movements which […]
Where Pilates Ends Garuda Begins – Brett Interviews James D’Silva
James D’Silva is the creator of the Garuda Method of exercise. The Garuda is known in Indian mythology to be a large sacred bird that changes its form according to its function. With a thriving studio based in London former dancer James D’Silva found ‘Garuda’ to be a fitting name […]
Kathy Grant Heritage and Big Bear – by Jon Hawkins and Sunni Almond
This is post contains 2 articles, one by Jon Hawkins and the other further down by Sunni Almond. Kathy Grant Heritage Training by Jon Hawkins Kathleen Stafford-Grant was one of the individuals who learned directly from Joseph Pilates, known collectively as The Elders. Kathy was one of the many dancers […]
A Kind Statement from David Rosencrans
This statement from David Rosencrans is in reply to my recent article Modern Pilates Apparatus is Also Cool. David is the head of manufacturing and marketing at Gratz Industries. Hi Brett Although I do not personally engage in social media I feel like I know you through the forwded versions […]
The 80” Universal Reformer: A Great Fit – by Andrea Maida
Brett Miller is correct! Size does matter. And I believe the 80” Gratz Universal Reformer is the ultimate partner for your Pilates workout. It is efficient. It can be unforgiving. It is for exercise, and exercise is uncomfortable. I am happy to participate in this conversation about some of the […]
A Pilates Success Story?
Imagine if you will, being a person with a deep love for Pilates, but having no one to share it with. Kind of awful, wouldn’t you say? Such was the case for a new friend of mine, Hanne Bignell, living in Norway. Let me tell you a little about her […]
Pilates Complete
Some of you may remember the dynamic duo of Pilates Complete, introduced here over 1 year ago when Pilates Intel had 149 subscribers. Since then, Linda, Jasmine and I have come a long way in our respective endeavors. These ladies are fun and successful, their attitude and innovation makes their […]
Q&A with Siri
Dear Siri, Can you give me advice on how to deal with clients who want to be “beaten up”? I sometimes get clients coming from a fitness background (these tend to be women, but can also be men) who don’t quite understand the depth of Pilates and the fact that […]
A Sagittarian Summit (a piece about Siri Dharma Galliano) – by Brett Miller
Short Starter from Siri When Brett Miller walked in you could see the man had been working on himself for decades and he looked younger, fitter, and cuter than his photos. The internet has allowed many people to create and project a reality success without an experience and people with […]
Breathing New Life into the Body – by Andrea Maida
In Return to Life, Joe Pilates touts the benefits of a full deep breath. He maintains that shallow, lazy breathing deprives the body of the amount of oxygen necessary to fuel the blood. Indefatigably and conscientiously practice breathing until the art of correct breathing becomes habitual, automatic and subconscious, which accomplishment will result […]
Masterminding a Pilates Workshop – by Tracy Maurstad
“First you jump off the cliff and you build your wings on the way down” ~Ray Bradbury When I needed some guidance with my first scoliosis client, I went to Twitter for help (in case you didn’t know, Twitter has a great Pilates community of generous teachers communicating 140 characters […]
Joe Pilates – Learning to be an Animal
There is a happy band of people, of which I am an aspirant member, who are distinguishable anywhere by their springy step and “saved” look from the mass of their contemporaries who shuffle and shamble in untidy corpulence around us. We know that we are saved because we faithfully attend […]
Article for Pilates Intel – by Andrea Maida
I recently taught a client at Vintage Pilates who asked what had initially brought me to Pilates. After telling him my story he agreed it is the same reason many of us come to Pilates: pain and embarrassment. Spot on. My formal education is in the theatre and I also […]
Is Position Enough – by Brett Miller
One fine May morning I was lazily scrolling through my Facebook newsfeed when this comment grabbed my attention, “When we do the exercise correctly and the body is in its correct position, its true alignment- there is not thought nor need to fire the correct muscles that need to work, […]
A Peek at Michael King’s World – by Brett Miller
Michael Alan King Having spent the first 35 years of my life basically living everywhere, in the last 10 years I have been a one-city-kind-of-guy. Trained and certified in Stockholm it’s been great, though one drawback is that I have not been aware of the bigger world of Pilates. In […]
Master Teacher Kathy Corey Joins Pilates Intel
Hello dear readers, do I have BIG news for you today. So big, that once I again I am sending out a SPECIAL EDITION of Pilates Intel. It will be short and sweet, and exciting. I want to announce that the intelligent, vibrant and ever giving Kathy Corey is joining […]
A Review of Benjamin’s Workshop in Stockholm – by Brett Miller
Benjamin Degenardt was here in Stockholm early in June, and I was able to attend a workshop that he held at the beautiful and classical Pilates Scandinavia studio in Östermalm. It was a very rewarding experience and I thought I’d present a review of the day for Pilates Intel. The […]
The Pilates Mistress
As administrator of Pilates Intel, I am notified each time we get a new subscriber, with information of their name and email address. Out of interest, and if time permits, I Google the new subscriber to see if I can’t learn more about who they are, and what they do. […]
An Osteopath’s Approach To Pilates – by Jon Hawkins
Probably much like a non osteopath’s approach to Pilates I am constantly energised by how deepening my knowledge and experience constantly evolves how I practice. I initially started learning to be a Pilates instructor to fill a gap in my knowledge about safe and effective exercise for my clients, really […]
5 Pressing Reasons to Continue your Pilates Education – Andrea Maida
Romana’s Pilates Continuing Professional Education Seminar with Cynthia Lochard Garland Studios, Sherman Oaks, CA Post-workshop on Saturday afternoon, 5pm-ish…driving south towards I-5 after first procuring a treat for the trip back to San Diego. It’s been nearly 7 hours of Pilates, friends… Someone needs a cookie. The left side […]
How I fell into the Pilates retreat business – by Mareile Paley
Some years back, while living and working in Hong Kong, I got an unexpected and exciting request from the editor-in-chief of AsiaSpa Magazine: To go on (and subsequently write an article about) a Pilates retreat in Asia. “We are yoga’d out”, she said, “we need something fresh and different.” Full […]
From Sceptic To Convert – by Jehane Lindley
A new client walks in, they have been referred and this will be their first experience of Pilates. Unsure of what to expect but not believing it will be much, they sit wide-eyed, waiting. Recognising this ‘first-timer expression’ you approach them to do the meet and greet. For the most […]
Personal Profile – Jon the Osteopath
I guess you have noticed, we usually like to have an article about a person in the Pilates community in each edition. Today is no different. Want to introduce you to a sensitive and dedicated fellow who joined Pilates Intel a few weeks back, an Osteopath based in London, Jon […]
9 Myths and Misconceptions about Pilates – by Kathy Corey
When I tell people that I’m a master Pilates trainer, I get a lot of interesting reactions. People who practice and love Pilates are quick to ask their burning questions or express their envy at my “dream” job. But many people who are less familiar with the popular form of […]
Personal Profile – The World According to Allison – by Jehane Lindley
Thirteen studio locations, 45 staff and thousands of clients – it sounds like a lovely situation to find yourself in, or perhaps something that would happen to a friend of a friend of yours, but a myth it is not. This situation is a reality for Allison Beardsley, founder and […]
Personal Profile – Master Teacher Kathy Corey
Sure, we all know that Pilates is a great rehabilitative activity, and a top notch fitness form. But I think we can agree that Pilates is above all else is an art form, otherwise, why the great passion? I am pleased to introduce a lady who is a champion of […]
Fatal Simplicity – by Brett Miller
Until recently, before starting this magazine, I’ll admit I did very little reading of blogs, or to put it more succinctly, none at all. This lack of prior interest in no way reflects how impressed and even slightly envious I am of people who write blogs – it takes creativity, […]
Coming of Age – by Jehane Lindley
Beginning to teach Pilates is an experience I would acquit to being adolescent. Not in the hormonal or rebellious way but in a way that begs an answer to the question, ‘Who Am I?’ Now before you make any wise cracks, I’m aware adolescence is not so far in my […]
Personal Profile – Pilates Complete
In this edition I have the pleasure of introducing two friends of mine, Jasmin Salhi and Linda Erlandsson, who run “Pilates Complete” in Gothenburg, Sweden. STOTT Pilates trained and the best of friends, they inspire to find innovative ways to offer the complete Pilates experience. For example, in the summer […]
Out of the Studio, Into Our Bodies – by Benjamin Degenhardt
Of course you already know how important daily movement is for you. You read about all the amazing benefits for your body, mind, spirit, and its contribution to an overall happy and healthy life. After all, it’s what you preach day in and day out. But truth be told – […]
Teaching topic – Do you believe your center? by Brett Miller
Maria and Jonas are a couple and train with me together, bi-weekly, as Jonas’ work takes him out of Stockholm every other week, during which Maria takes a private. This particular session, I have them on the Cadillac doing the Teaser with the Pull-down bar- one of my favourite exercises […]
Teaching Topic – Reaching Effectiveness in Our Actions; a Feldenkrais approach to Pilates
Did you know that most people over the age of 45 would choose to walk around a fence instead of jumping over it? It’s hardly strange considering it might be viewed as child’s play, because in a way, it is. As adults, people train in gyms or ride to work, […]
Community News – Red Nosed Pilates
Yes, you read the headline correctly, VERY VERY MANY Pilates enthusiasts from the Cobham Pilates Studio in Surrey UK donned red noses and crowded into a large room on March 10 this year in support of Red Nose Day, the culmination of the British charity Comic Relief. Studio owner Donna […]
Teaching Topic – Working Symmetrically
“For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple and wrong.” – H. L. Mencken This week I thought I’d take up a subject that is close to my heart, one that I’ve been looking into for some time now in both myself and my clients. And that […]
Community News – Pilates over Skype?!?!
I was cruising around on the net and found a completely new (to me), and unique idea–Pilates via Skype!! Thats right, a personal Pilates lesson over live-video!! A Brooklyn, New York based company called MyBOD Wellness, founded by Denise Posnak, has initiated this idea, and has been operating since January […]