Hometown:
Washington, D.C.
Certifications:
CPNYC Comprehensive Training Course
Degrees:
BA Dramatic Literature, George Washington University; MFA Directing, Actors Studio Drama School, NYC
Years Teaching Pilates:
1 Year
Top 3 Hobbies or Activities:
Nature walks, Reading great works of fiction, Travel
Other Things Going:
Worked for years in theater education with kids and teens, providing creative and open avenues of expression to young people from all backgrounds. Especially love working with youngsters from disadvantaged areas or situations. Looking to find a way to create that in NY.
What kind of bagel do you like and how do you prefer to “dress” it?
MMMM… onion bagel with veggie cream cheese aaarrrllllghh
What’s your favorite exercise to teach and do you have a special spin to it that you love?
I love teaching Short Spine. This is such a great one because a lot of people think at first that it’s just throw your legs over your head and then enjoy rolling down, but then you get to tell them no, first initiate with your abs & lift your hips, and then go with the legs, and keep resisting with your heels like crazy while rolling down and it suddenly become so much harder, engaged and articulated. After a momentary regret that it’s no longer just fun, most clients really love the extra work involved and they get so much more out of it.
If Joseph Pilates were alive today, what would you ask him?
What do you think of different groups within the Pilates world contending with what is most true to your original exercises? Are you a purist or is it your intent that people simply get the most benefit possible out of what you created?
Top 3 places you’ve traveled?
Kenya, Provence (France), and Wallachia (Romania)
Top 3 things on your “To Do Before You Die” list?
Go to New Zealand, Contribute greatly to the freedom, exploration and self-love of children, Hanglide
What’s the farthest point from the Core studio (or NYC) that you’ve done Pilates?
Washington, D.C. – gotta work on that one!
What’s your Pilates “a-ha” moment?
A teacher finally telling me how to do Rolling Like A Ball correctly, keeping a tuck the whole time (no wavering pelvis!). Until then I thought it was so easy and I was just having a ball (pun intended). Who ever thought just rolling around was so darn hard?!
Two words that describe your teaching style:
Focused and fun
Favorite type of sessions or classes to teach and why?
I like one on one sessions the best for now. I just love to get deep into it with someone and get to know the client. That said, teaching a high energy mat class is definitely second in line.
Care to share any teaching blunders?
Oh teaching blunders, how we thank thee for your lessons. Yes, try teaching 4 people in a Tower class on arc barrels and forgetting to put a mat under the barrel to stabilize the darn thing. Why does that barrel keep moving – that is so annoying!
Where can we find you usually on any given Friday eve?
Home chilling out or sipping a tea or eating a delicious meal with friends or family.
Mat Class Gone “Mad”
The first time I taught a group Pilates mat class, I felt like I was going to (expletive verb) dag nab it! I asked the (adj) flowery class, if anybody was new to Pilates and they had all been taking class for (number) 4 minutes. After I found out how long the (adj) functional class had done (adj) pervasive Pilates, I had to throw my plan out the (adj) fungible door! Their Hundred looked like (noun) elephants gone wild, and their Teaser was (adj ending in ing) blossoming.
(exclamation!) For the love of all that’s holy! Someone (verb) digested which made the class go wild. (body part plural) Arms were (verb ending in ing) bending like (animal) chihuahas everywhere. And I only had (number) 7 seconds to get the class to Seal. You could see the sweat through my (article of clothing) scarf. In the end, my (adj) blustering class left feeling (adj ending in er) nerdier, and I feel (positive emotion) peacefulness about being a Pilates instructor. Sign up now for my (exclamation!) “get thee to a nunnery! class.
