Success Stories

Our students and alumni from around the world have gone places and have something to say about our courses, their experience, Pilates, and where they are now.Submit Your Success Story

Tamara Newell Mark Komlos Akiko Hattori

Tamara Newell

I’ve learned how to command a room, motivate people to push past their comfort zone and help them discover they have more inside them then they realize.


Stats:

Hometown: Great Falls, Virginia
Current Residence: Short Hills, NJ
Career Before Pilates: Dancer
CPNYC Graduate: 2007 Mat Training Course & 2010 Comprehensive

Where are you now?

After just completing my comprehensive certification at CPNYC, I’m working full time in the Pilates Studio at CAN DO Fitness in Short Hills, NJ.  The environment and staff is great and I’m really being equipped to build my business as a Pilates instructor.  Currently, I’m teaching mat classes, building clientele and teaching a workshop on “Pilates for Tennis”.  Additionally, I’ve started a website (www.peacejoypilates.com), as an informational site on Classical Pilates, wellness tips and healthy recipes.  I’m working towards adding a blog and short videos that teach you how to do Pilates well to get maximum results.

Do you have a passion you specialize in when teaching Pilates and why?

I love teaching Pilates to everyone because everyone can do it!  That’s the beauty of the Method, it can get results for people of all ages, conditions and athletes.  It excites me to introduce Pilates to someone new and see them progess and I love to challenge the advanced student and continue to draw even more out of them than they thought possible.  Several of my clients so far have been Post-Natal and I really enjoy training these women.  New Mom’s are so busy and adjusting to a new lifestyle and changed body, so it makes me happy to help them achieve their fitness goals.

Top 3 things you love about being a Pilates professional?

1) Helping people!  I love being a positive and encouraging person in my clients lives.  It’s great to know you play apart in making someone’s life a little bit better.

2)  Teaching Pilates is always new to me because every body I train is different and unique.  Learning how someone moves and finding creative ways to help motivate them and achieve their goals makes me a better teacher.

3)  I love Pilates! I’m truly passionate about the Method and I know it works.  It’s helped me gain so much strength and muscle tone in my body.

What are you setting your sights on in the upcoming future with regards to your Pilates career?

First and foremost, I want to develop my teaching skills.  I just finished my comprehensive certification, so I’m really just looking forward to teaching, teaching, teaching.  Eventually, I would love to study more anatomy and functional movement to better understand the human body.  I’ve always been interested in Nutrition as well, so maybe that’s in the future.  I’d like to learn more about Post-Natal training since I’ve been getting a lot of new Mom’s as clients.  There are so many changes in a woman’s body when she has a child and I really want to develop a full understanding to help them reach their fitness goals and truly inhabit their new body with confidence.

Most exciting thing that has happened to you as a Pilates professional?

The most exciting thing as a Pilates Professional would be seeing my clients transform over time.  It’s amazing and so rewarding to watch someone literally physically change.  Whether it’s getting stronger, understanding their own body more, walking confidently or getting rid of back pain, I’m always amazed.  I’d also have to say that I get pretty excited when a client does a Teaser for the first time!  At that point our session becomes more of a celebration than an ordinary workout.

Erica Lafkowitz

I enjoy training athletes and seeing how the strength and flexibility that they build in Pilates help them progress in their sport.

Stats:

Hometown: Valley Stream, New York
Current City of Residence: New York, New York
Career Before Pilates: Finance
CPNYC Course Graduate: Comprehensive Course, April 2008

Where are you now?

I have created my own business called Erica Jane Pilates NYC (www.ericajanepilatesnyc.com) and I am currently teaching Pilates privately in one-on-one and small group sessions at clients’ homes around New York City.

Top 3 things you love about being a Pilates professional?

1. Meeting new clients and helping them meet their fitness goals and feel more confident about themselves and their bodies.

2. Encouraging clients to practice Pilates and improving their lifestyles
3. Practicing my passion and constantly learning through my training experiences

Has Pilates taken you abroad? If so, where and how did that happen?

No. Not yet, but I am hopeful.

How else has being a Pilates professional changed your life?

I have been fortunate enough to pursue my passion and enjoy the gratification of making my clients feel better about themselves and improve their lifestyles.

What are you setting your sights on in the upcoming future with regards to your Pilates career?

I hope to continue training privately and growing my business.

Most exciting thing that has happened to you as a Pilates professional?

I have become more confident in myself and my teaching abilities as I help more and more clients reach their goals and feel better about themselves.

Kati Pylkkanen

I learned that Pilates gives lends itself to a deeper understanding of how the human body works and it’s great support for all the other sports as well.

Stats:

Hometown: Rovaniemi, Finland
Current Residence: Rovaniemi, Finland
Career Before Pilates: Sports Instructor
CPNYC Graduate: 2006 Mat Training Course & 2010 Comprehensive

Top 3 things you love about being a Pilates professional?

1) Pilates is challenging to teach. It’s great to see how the client’s skills improve. That’s so rewarding.
2) Learning Pilates is an ongoing process for both the teacher and the client, you can never say, “now I’ve learned everything.”
3) Pilates gives more in depth knowledge of how the human body works and it’s great support for all the other sports as well. Most of all, Pilates is a great way to get keep your body functional.

Where are you now?

I’m teaching Pilates approximately 6-8 hours/week in my home town. I teach both group and private clients part time at the moment.

Do you have a passion you specialize in when teaching Pilates and why?

I’m most passionate about sports, however I love teaching all clients.

Has Pilates taken you abroad?

Yes, I started to train Pilates in Australia in 2004-2005 and after a year of training I applied to Core Pilates NYC in New York City to do The Mat Training Course.

How else has being a Pilates professional changed your life?

Most of the instructing I do, is Pilates. I want to focus on getting more training and education myself. I believe the way to improve my own skills is to teach on a frequent basis. I study Pilates in my free time through training and studying anatomy and reading various books about Pilates.

What are you setting your sights on in the upcoming future with regards to your Pilates career?

I’m planning on opening my own Pilates studio and becoming a full-time Pilates professional.

What’s the most exciting thing that has happened to you as a Pilates professional?

I’ve been able to give new experiences to my clients and I feel that it has been beneficial for them. Also, I found Core Pilates NYC through my love of Pilates and that’s where I’m planning on getting further training in the future as well!

Mark Komlos

Core’s program taught me the foundation of Joe’s original principles which is why I feel confident being creative and spontaneous.

Stats:

Hometown: Lewisburg, PA
Current Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Career Before Pilates: Dancer
CPNYC Graduate: 2006 Comprehensive, Los Angeles

You are known for your innovation – creating new spins to the classical exercises. What gives?

Ever since I was a kid I’ve enjoyed movement. I used to “step touch” in front of the TV from side to side to my favorite videos. I would start with the basic “step touch”, master it, and then add a twist like a clap of the hands or a turn of the head. I think that’s where this organic creativity and spontaneity sprung. The idea of musculature opposition is the guiding principle from which I now create new movements while following the foundation of Joe’s original Method as taught by Core’s program.

What are your favorite classes to teach?

Mat class for sure!

Any teaching blunders to share?

I blunder with beginners sometimes — especially after teaching more advanced clients. I can be a bit tough on the beginners because I forget that they aren’t as clean and flowing as my more advanced clients. So unfair — and I have learned to put myself in check!

LA is filled with celebs. You responsible for any fit abs we might see on TMZ or US Weekly?

I have had a few celebs come in and out of my schedule. LA is filled with the people who also hire and direct the celebrities — and they often have a more consistent schedule so I see those folks more.

Where are you now?

I teach all over – but mostly as a Pilates instructor at Equinox Fitness Centers in Beverly Hills and elsewhere.  I take ballet and jazz class daily and work out quite a bit. With the beach close by it is a very good place to jog and to clear my brain.

What’s next for you in your career?

I focus on the NOW. So zen and (LA) of me, I know. But it’s true.

Rick Neilsen

Pilates is an ideal exercise and support system for golfers because it improves posture, balance and core strength as well as decreasing the likelihood of injury.

Hometown: Setauket, NY
Current Residence: Port Jefferson Station, NY
Career Before Pilates: Golf Professional
CPNYC Graduate: 2008 Comprehensive, New York

Where are you now?

I am currently teaching in New York City at Randalls Island Golf Center and at US Golf in Midtown Manhattan. I also teach on Long Island at Body in Balance Physical Therapy in Hauppauge.

Do you have a passion you specialize in when teaching Pilates and why?

I teach Pilates to help my golf students become better golfers. Pilates is an ideal exercise and support system for golfers because it improves posture, balance and core strength as well as decreasing the likelihood of injury.

Top 3 things you love about being a Pilates professional?

1. I am able to help golfers more now than before now that I am certified.
2. Having a golf program that has Pilates as its fitness element
3. Much stronge  knowledge about the body and its mechanics

How else has being a Pilates professional changed your life?

I created Power Golf Pilates. It’s a Pilates based golf program addressing the individual needs of the golfer.

What are you setting your sights on in the upcoming future with regards to your Pilates career?

Increase the awareness of the benefit of Pilates for golf.

Most exciting thing that has happened to you as a Pilates professional?

Being contacted by Golf for Women magazine to do an article on Power Golf Pilates.

Akiko Hattori

The simple satisfaction of being able to move your own body when and how you want to is available to us throughout our life through Pilates. I truly believe Pilates changes bodies. And I am happy to be leading clients through my teaching.

Stats:

Hometown: Nagoya, Japan
Current City of Residence: NYC & Japan
Career Before Pilates: Dancer
CPNYC Graduate: 2008 Comprehensive, New York

Where are you now?

I’m providing Pilates instruction in studios, home or other culture centers in New York City. I’m also teaching at the prestigious membership sports club and conducting workshops in Japan.

Do you have a passion you specialize in when teaching Pilates and why?

I have specialized in teaching one-on-one for older adults and seniors. I’ve learned through Core’s program that by doing Pilates we will learn how to incorporate Pilates into daily life such as sitting, walking and standing up. The simple satisfaction of being able to move your own body when and how you want to is available to us throughout our life through Pilates. I truly believe Pilates changes bodies. And I am happy to be leading clients through my teaching.

Top 3 things you love about being a Pilates professional?

It’s my life. It makes me physically and mentally happy and healthy.
How could it not as I receive a pleasant, happy smile and exuberant energy from my clients. It’s the clients that keep me committed as a Pilates professional.

Has Pilates taken you abroad? If so, where and how did that happen?

I moved to New York City in 2004. Looking for a form of movement and physical training while pursuing a career in dance, I walked into Core Pilates NYC as a client for the first time. Working with Sarah, Core’s Director of Teacher Training, and several other teachers at Core Pilates, I found the mind-body connection and the physical challenge I’d been looking for.

What’s next in your Pilates career?

To help spread and develop the Pilates growth in Japan where few people had ever done or heard of Pilates. I want to continue a lifelong pursuit of Pilates because I’ve realized I have only begun to scratch the surface!

Most exciting thing that has happened to you as a Pilates professional?

One of the most exciting things I have witnessed during my teaching experiences has been the increasing number of adults and elderly people who recognize profound changes in the body.

Juan Resto

I was so inspired by the knowledge of the Core trainers that I enrolled in their teacher training program and now incorporate the mat work I learned with all clients.

Stats:

Hometown: New York, NY
Current City of Residence: New York, NY
Career Before Pilates: Fitness Trainer
CPNYC Graduate: 2006 Mat Training Course, New York

How did the Pilates Method inspire you toward a career?

As a body builder, my routine compressed my height. Through the Pilates Method and the expertise I found at Core Pilates NYC, I was able to lengthen and strengthen my spine and develop abs and core strength in a whole new way. I was so inspired by the knowledge of the Core trainers that I enrolled in their teacher training program and now incorporate the mat work I learned with all clients.