Another year has come to a close at the studio, and as I pause to reflect, I’m filled with immense gratitude—for the work, for my students, and for the legacy of Joseph Pilates that continues to guide everything we do here.
Goodbyes and New Beginnings
This year, we were sad to say goodbye to Mia, whose warmth, dedication, and thoughtful teaching made a lasting impact on our community. As one chapter closes, another opens – and we were thrilled to welcome Emily to the team. Emily is a homegrown instructor, trained in the classical method and deeply rooted in the values and integrity of the Pilates system. If you’ve been at the studio for the last few years, you would have probably met her in a class. I’m excited to watch her grow as an instructor and see her going from strength to strength.
Teaching as a Two-Way Street
One of the most beautiful truths about teaching Pilates is that it’s never a one-way street. As instructors, we’re constantly learning from our students—every body, every condition, every challenge teaches us something new. No two people move the same way, and that’s what makes this work so rich and dynamic. A hypermobile spine, a fused ankle, a postnatal core—all of it invites us to look closer, think deeper, and refine how we teach. Our students expand our understanding of the method every day, and we’re endlessly grateful for the trust they place in us as we grow together through the work.
Group Reformer Classes
It’s now been two years since we introduced our four Reformers for group classes, and what a difference it has made. Our reformer clientele are more focused, more connected. The group dynamics have grown stronger, and I see the Pilates Method working more deeply in each body.
Honoring the Lineage: Learning from the Source
Over this past year, I’ve deepened my commitment to staying rooted in the lineage of the work while continuing to learn from those closest to the source. I had the privilege of attending workshops with MeJo Wiggins, where we focused on movements on the Wunda Chair and how to honor the original work while meeting the needs of the individual in front of us. MeJo’s dedication to preserving Romana Kryzanowska’s teaching is inspiring.
Another highlight was studying with Brooke Siler and working with the Tensionator. An exciting piece of equipment which was created by Brooke Siler, heavily inspired by Joseph Pilates’ original resistance device which improves stability and increased powerhouse connectivity. The workshop reminded me how much of the Pilates method is about dynamic oppositions, control, and intention.
As part of my own continuing journey, I also committed to the Pilates Master Qualification weekends. We dove deep into Joe’s original super advanced reformer order and I gained new appreciation for the brilliance of the system he created. Everything builds, everything prepares you for the next challenge. There is nothing random in his work.
Equally profound was revisiting the original mat work from Return to Life Through Contrology, the book Joe published in 1945. Working from the source, without modern edits or reinterpretations, was a powerful reminder of how complete his method already was. The mat work is a system of its own, one that demands and builds strength, control, breath, and clarity.
Watching Students Thrive
Perhaps the most rewarding part of the year, though, has been watching my students transform. I’ve seen people grow taller yes, literally. I’ve seen pain disappear. People who once struggled with chronic back issues now walk into the studio standing proud, feeling strong. There is nothing more fulfilling than hearing someone say, “I feel like I have my body back,” or “I look and feel stronger than I ever have.” That’s the method at work. That’s Joe’s legacy, alive and well in our little corner of the Pilates world.
Looking Ahead with Gratitude
This year has been a beautiful blend of tradition, evolution, and personal growth. I remain deeply grateful for the work of Joseph Pilates, for the teachers who have preserved his vision, and for the students who trust me to guide them through it.
Thank you for sharing this journey with me. Here’s to continuing to move, to learn, and to return—to strength, to control, to life.
Ready to experience the difference?
Book a class with us and discover how classical Pilates—taught the way Joseph intended—can transform your body and mind.