Best of Pilates 2020

Best Of
Written By Tracy Belcher

About Best of Pilates

Pilatay.com/@pilatay was created to celebrate and explore the Pilates method, in a fun and inclusive environment. In that spirit, Pilatay's "Best of Pilates" is an annual 'look back' at some of the year's uplifting and inspiring moments and the people who made them happen.

It offers a chance for the Pilatay community to give a "virtual high five" to the Pilates people, teachers, studios, programs, and initiatives that brought us together and kept us moving during one of the most divisive and turbulent years we have had.

Thank you to all Pilatay.com/@pilatay community members who took the time to share the moments and memories that marked the year for you and to nominate your peers.

You will find the kind words left by respondents in quotation marks throughout the article.

Priority was given to those who were not previously featured (Check out Best of Pilates 2019 here). Nomination frequency, originality, impact, reach, and just overall goodwill were all taken into consideration.

And, don’t forget to follow Pilatay on Instagram and subscribe to receive the nomination form for next year!

Pilates For Australia

Studios all over the world joined forces to support WWF Australia

2020 did not waste much time in getting in there and ******* things up.

While we are not trying to lead with nepotism (full disclosure: #PilatesforAustralia was organized by Pilatay.com/@pilatay), the superstars here are all the studios and teachers, all over the world, who took time to organize, market, and host these amazing fundraisers, raising more than $10,000 for The World Wildlife Fund Australia (WWF).

When the devastating images of Australia’s bushfires came out in mid-January, the videos and photos of homeless and burned wildlife left us heartbroken.

The Pilates community in Australia is one of the most supportive, engaging, and energizing out there. When we saw what was happening in our friends’ backyards, the international Pilates community needed to help.

A huge thank you to all these studios/teachers for coming together for our friends in the Australia Pilates community.

MVP

The Mat

When we kicked off 2020 March MATness (hosted by 360 Pilates), eager to celebrate the marvels of Joe’s mat series, we had no idea just how well we would come to know those 34 exercises.

When Coronavirus turned our worlds upside down and the planet came to a standstill, our Pilates mats were there to keep us grounded, supported, and moving.

The Pilates mat repertoire, the often neglected “heart of the system,” was suddenly thrust into the forefront of our Pilates practice.

Clients emerged stronger and more capable than ever before, ready to tackle the apparatus exercises with a new understanding and strength.

Mornings with Martin

Martin ReId’s Core Conversations

Martin Reid’s daily Instagram Live TV program/podcast, Core Conversations (which can be found on @personalvictory), was hands down the single most nominated and mentioned program in our 2020 look-back survey. You guys LOVE this program. And it’s easy to see why.

Martin’s calming demeanor helps guests feel completely comfortable as if they are catching up with an old friend over a cup of coffee. “Core Conversations opened the door for me to ‘meet”’so many people in our industry,” said one respondent.

Throughout the interviews, he acknowledges viewers and addresses their comments live, making them feel included in the conversation. He even brings them in live to talk about what they are up to, promote their programs, and just catch up. “Core Conversations are a fun way to get to know instructors better.”

Core Conversations features a cross-section of the Pilates community with no regard for cliques or bias. It’s a great way to get out of your respective Pilates bubble and get to know people you might otherwise never cross paths with. And it is worth noting that a lot of times, divisions and conflict can be stopped by simply getting to know the other person, and having a conversation.

Here’s what survey respondents had to say:

  • “He always asks fair questions to everyone he interviews. His interviews and commentary made me think and changed my outlook on matters.”

  • “He brought the Pilates community together interviewing instructors new and old. He discussed tough issues regarding race and the pandemic. He also reminded everyone of the joys of being a Pilates teacher.”

  • “Consistent and always good, highlighting so many different instructors”

  • “He is so kind and humble. He loves people and it shows. So many great teachers he has interviewed!”

  • “… a comfort and resource during this bizarre year. Martin’s conversations include movers and professionals of all body types, Pilates backgrounds and styles, races, and sexual orientations. He promotes quality and community. I’ve made friends through this platform, learned a lot, and became aware of some amazing people.”

  • “Martin Reid...is STILL bringing us together.”

Check out Core Conversations weekdays at 10am on Martin’s Instagram, @personalvictory.

Resources

Here are some of the newer ones that you all found this year. (Check out Best of Pilates 2019 for more!)

Listen

Check out

  • @askew.pilates “Allison Skewes devotes her page to educating instructors on how to teach bigger bodies. A must follow.”

  • @radpilates “Rachel Reis is all about body positivity and self-care plus a side of DGAF and humor. Love her posts and reels!”

  • @Lab_Moves ”Laura Baehr is great for Inclusive, accessible movement for all!”

  • Pilates Profit Lab Lynda Lippin (@lyndaLippin) “Lynda has been so gentle, kind, practical, and consistent about being supportive of Pilates teachers, and I've come to really appreciate her.”

Read

Anti-Racism in Pilates

Sonja Herbert, Chrissy King, Roxy Menzies, Misty-Lynn Cauthen, Nikki Taylor Steward

The horror felt around the world as we watched the murder of George Floyd, permeated through the Pilates community.

When a spotlight was put on widespread systemic racism, it was clear our industry needed to make changes.

Through articles, webinars, Instagram/Facebook Lives, and other resources, these thought-leaders empowered us to do the work of allyship and to not settle for the white privilege in the Pilates industry.

These are some of the leaders whose guidance and resources will forever elevate the Pilates industry:

  • “Sonja Herbert’s (@commandofitnesscollective) Anti-Racism in Pilates workshops are necessary training for any White or non-Black POC Pilates instructor.”

  • “Chrissy King (@iamchrissyking) and Sonja Herbert and their anti-racism seminars were so enlightening. They continually tell it like it is and call out those who need to be called out for not fighting for justice and equality. Their bravery and endless work show us that our voices and communities are never too small to stand up and make a difference.”

  • “Roxy Menzies (@roxyspiral) wrote blogs RACE, PILATES AND CHANGE on June 15 as well as What Is A Pilates Body? Awesome articles! They stood out for two reasons: Pilates Anytime used Roxy's voice; and she was addressing body change which most women struggle with. Well researched and well thought out.”

  • “Misty-Lynn Cauthen (https://www.facebook.com/misty.cauthen) and Nikki Taylor Steward (https://www.facebook.com/nicky.taylorsteward) host a regular FB Live on Thursdays called “Thought Flow.” It started as a conversation on the changing times in business, Pilates, and life, and it was here that I began to understand more of what it means to be an ally. They have not only honest conversations with each other but have had insightful guests.”

Sonja Herbert recently announced a new series of anti-racism webinars later this month. For more information, visit commandofitnesscollective.com or go to her out on Instagram at @commandofitnesscollective.

Pilates Movement for Change

Blossom Leilani Crawford, Brooke Siler Essapen, Larry Gibas, Brett Howard, Chris Robinson, Kathi Ross-Nash, Dana Santi, Moses Urbano

This June 14, 2020 workout marathon raised $72,000 for Campaign Zero, an organization that focuses on ending police violence in the United States. It was organized by Kathi Ross-Nash, her son Zach, and his friend Tom, and donations were matched two to one by JPMorgan Chase.

The fundraiser featured eight, 20-minute workouts conducted by Kathi Ross-Nash (@redthreadranch_krn), Chris Robinson (@pilatesandsports_cr), Brett Howard (@bhpilates), Brooke Siler Essapen (@brookesilerpilates), Dana Santi (@danamsanti), Blossom Leilani Crawford (@bridgepilates), Moses Urbano and Larry Gibas (@pilatescraft), while several teachers around the world taught pre and post-event classes for the cause.

  • “I loved how they got other studios involved. I loved hearing Brett’s and Chris’s experiences and I loved that the money was matched by Zach’s company.”

  • “Pilates movement for change organized by Kathi Ross Nash and benefitting the campaign to end police violence was something that stood out to me. She got some of the best teachers in the business to volunteer to teach and also gave a platform to teachers of color like Brett Howard and Chris Robinson to share their experiences. I was honored to be a part of it!”

The full program, the heartfelt and emotional intros as well as the full classes, can be found on Pilatesology.com.

The Collective movement evolution

Lesley Logan, Tasha Edwards, Erika Quest, And Mychele Sims

Long-time friend group Lesley Logan (@lesley.logan), Tasha Edwards (@hiphealthychick), Erika Quest (@erikaquest), and Mychele Sims (@get2werk) combined forces to create The Collective Movement Evolution. In 2020, the group hosted two virtual fundraising events.

The initiative was kicked off with a 90-minute round-robin teaching event focused on pivotal physical and social change and benefitting Equal Justice Institute.

“Movement is the great equalizer! There is power in moving together as a unified and collective group, working towards understanding, sharing, growing, and evolving our bodies, minds, spirits, and beliefs. Focusing on joy and love, and pressing forward with growth and community, TCME is bringing together a rich and supportive friendship of four, movement teachers to adapt Deepa Iyer’s vision, A Social Change Ecosystem. Join us to Envision, Disrupt, Experiment, and Heal.” (From the website)

A second virtual event, “What Is A Pilates Body?” featured a Pilates workout and discussion on breaking body barriers, with a portion of proceeds benefitting the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.

Prior to both events, the team participated in a host of Instagram Live interviews to discuss these important topics.

  • “I watched all of the Instagram live interviews and took both of these sessions. They were so different and focused on awakening the Pilates Community to change. I LOVED THEM!”

  • “Lesley Logan, Erika Quest, and Tasha Edwards, Mychele Sims programs were amazing... Collective Movement Evolution project!”

  • “I enjoyed taking the first Collective Movement class. My eyes were opened to changes I need to make in my personal and business life.”

The Collective Movement Evolution 2021 calendar will be announced shortly, so in the meantime, make sure you sign up for the newsletter here and follow: Lesley Logan @lesley.logan, Tasha Edwards @hiphealthychick, Erika Quest @erikaquest, and Mychele Sims @get2werk.

The Greatest comeback story

Magic Circle

For years, the Magic Circle was harassed, scoffed at, even called names. (Circle of death, anyone?)

2020 brought sweet redemption for the Pilates prop we love to hate.

Suddenly, Magic Circles were selling out on Amazon and half the classes in the virtual Pilates calendar featured the small, but mighty prop, whose mere presence once sent groans through the studio.

Magic Circle, we salute you, and we promise not to forget who stepped up to the plate the year our beloved Reformer took the bench.

Cecile Shouts out For Small Businesses

Cecile Elias

If you didn’t take advantage of all the amazing virtual offerings during quarantine, have no fear. Cecile Elias (@cecile_elias_pilates) took enough classes and workshops for all of us. (No, seriously. There’s a pretty good chance that if you took virtual classes during quarantine, Cecile was in one of them.)

But it is not just Cecile’s tireless devotion to her self-practice that made her stand out.

She shared her journey in a very open and authentic way that made you feel like you were right there with her. Photos were not professional and there was no fancy editing. It was just refreshingly real.

And, she always made it a point to recognize the teachers she worked with and promote their programs.

She even dedicated a large portion of her social media to supporting and promoting small businesses with her regular “small business shoutouts” with an emphasis on Black and minority-owned.

  • “Cecile Elias should be recognized for her consistent and unwavering daily support of small businesses. She then dedicated ALL of October to Black Lives Matter. She stood out in her mission to share Pilates, support small businesses with shoutouts, and then put together a program.”

  • “Cecile Elias promotes small businesses in a persistent and loving manner helping those small businesses to reach a broader audience thru her social media platform.”

But wait. There’s more. She is also a gifted teacher. Her virtual “Potluck Pilates” classes, which allow attendees to use whatever apparatus they happen to have on hand, was just the “come as you are” vibe we needed this year.

  • “Cecile Elias’ amazing eyes for the details, her wealth of knowledge, and her positive attitude make her virtual classes amazing,” noted one attendee. “It’s as if you are right there with her.”

  • Another noted, “A fun class every time, a great way to end the day.”

  • “Cecile Elias is that brilliant, understated, generous, and kind Pilates instructor that I wish there were more of.”

Cecile, you are a treasure! Thank you so much for showing us that wherever we are, and whatever we have, it is enough. Check out Cecile at @cecile_elias_pilates.

Best Supporting

All the good Doggos and Cattos

Moving to a virtual studio was a steep learning curve for a lot of us. It could be incredibly frustrating and a little scary.

Both teachers and clients were thrust into completely foreign territory, trying to figure out everything from zoom settings to insurance considerations. Teaching to the “body in front of you” proved a little bit harder when you could only actually see someone’s right pinky toe.

But, lucky for us, our pets seem to have a sixth sense that tells them when a little comedic intervention is needed.

This one goes out to all the dogs, cats, and other interrupters who reminded us that as much as we try to control our bodies, we can’t control the world around us, so we might as well give ourselves a break and go with the flow.

ZE Moves Isn’t afraid to “Get Political”

Emma Fitzsimmons and Mariusz Kujawski

If you are the kind of person who thinks we should keep politics out of Pilates, ZE MOVES (@ze_moves) might not be the right studio for you...

ZE MOVES was originally based in New York City, but due to Covid, online studio owners Emma Fitzsimmons and Mariusz Kujawski had to make the difficult decision to move back Minneapolis. Many clients also moved out of the City and were dispersed around the country. They quickly transitioned to online classes to keep their community connected.

7pm classes kicked off with the New York City’s nightly cheer for healthcare workers. “The early days of online classes featured the banging of pots and pans for healthcare workers in New York, which reminded us that we were all, originally at least, united by New York.”

After the murder of George Floyd, they started donating proceeds of classes to different BIPOC groups, and as election day grew closer, they helped clients “focus on their duty to be active citizens with constant reminders of the importance of the electoral process and of engaging in social change.”

They donated part of their income to social justice and voting projects, like Georgia 55 Project in advance of Georgia runoff elections and supported many voter registration and outreach initiatives. Themed classes and challenges like "Build Back Better" helped inspire clients to take part in their civic duty while fundraising to get out the vote. They even had Zoom letter-writing parties following classes. “They were so active, and they made me proud to be part of their clientele.”

And, go check out their Instagram. Their marketing is “funny and topical and unapologetic in its celebration of progressive ideals.” (This claim HAS been verified.)

Here are some more of the lovely things people had to say about them:

  • “Their community commitment is as strong as their commitment to health and strength.”

  • “Not only do I find Emma and Mariusz so refreshing, a wonderful sense of play and humor, but deeply committed to really teaching in a way that feels organic.”

  • “Their classes are a wonderful combination of challenging and very chill. I've found that's exactly what I'm looking for in online programming during quarantine.”

  • Their energy around the current political climate combined with a kind of “and here’s how you find peace in this” vibe was the perfect balance between activism and being present and still.”

  • “ZE MOVES really balanced the idea of having a physical and mental workout. Emma emphasizes the importance of how you think about your body and why we've learned to move it in certain patterns and how we can change it.”

Nice work, guys!

Go check out ZE MOVES here.

Pilates Friends United

Juan Estrada, Tela Anderson, Nicole Smith Alvarez, Juliet Harvey, Brett Howard, Gina Jackson

Pilates Friends United is a collaboration founded by Juan Estrada (@juanitonyc), Tela Anderson (@telaanderson), Nicole Smith Alvarez (@coreloveculture), Juliet Harvey (@beaconpilates), Brett Howard (@bhpilates).

The Pilates teacher friends would get together every month for a group workout. While catching up post-workout over dinner and drinks, the team decided to expand their Pilates friend circle and invite other instructors to join the fun.

They started bringing together Pilates enthusiasts, studio owners, and instructors for monthly events at studios in different cities around the northeast.

This year, they went virtual and now offer a combination of virtual and live classes, workshops, and donation-based fundraising events with proceeds benefitting a variety of designated charities. In 2020, Pilates Friends United hosted:

  • #emilystrikesback, a fundraiser to help a fellow Pilates teacher recovering from a stroke;

  • #Teasersfortatas, their annual October fundraiser for Breast Cancer Awareness Month (more at teasersfortatas.org);

  • and a class benefitting front-line workers taught by Alycea Ungaro and Nicole Smith Alvarez.

“I recently discovered Pilates Friends United! They do a monthly event as a fundraiser. ALL are welcome to participate or teach! This month, I was super inspired by their 2-hour round-robin workout with four teachers I had only recently heard of and had never worked with! I can’t wait for their next event!”

“I love that it’s such a grassroots community. When they added classes to their schedule to support specific causes as well as a Pilates Instructor in need after a stroke, it was just lovely to see their community efforts. I also always love #teasersfortatas! It’s a wonderful annual event to support women’s health run by some amazing people.”

As soon as travel is again “a thing” again, they will be hosting #pilatesfriendsunited events at different studios around the world.

For more information, email pilatesfriendsunited@gmail.com to get on the mailing and receive invitations to upcoming events.

Virtual Pilates Mania

In 2020, we owned Instagram Live and Zoom! Classes, conversations, workouts, readings, programs… we EMBRACED our social medias’ video features this year.

“I really found IG (Instagram) to be a true community this year. I now follow and know of so many instructors I didn’t know and actually communicate with them via IG. I also should thank Momentum Fest for that reason, for that connection and introduction. The pandemic really brought everyone to the same level and broke a lot of exclusive ‘club’ feels.”

“I have really enjoyed being able to take with teachers around the world. I have been able to take classes with teachers I would otherwise not be able to.”

Here are some of the pages you recommended this year. (Remember these are all Best of Pilates first-timers. Check out Best of Pilates 2019 for more!)

Keep An Eye On… (They’re Going Places!)

  • @wellness_by_norah Norah Myers (“Norah is a new teacher in Canada, posting daily her honest thoughts and questions. She comes to Pilates through her cerebral palsy. She shares her triumphs and struggles and is on a mission to help others in pain and to educate the medical community on how Pilates can aid treatment.”

  • @loveworkpilates Nicole B. (She just has the best vibes, and her photo and videos are so authentic and fun. It makes me want to stop what I am doing and go do some Pilates!”)

  • @blackcatpilates Caroline Dias Pereira (“…in the trenches, driven by passion and someone to watch!!)

  • @quiet_bodies Kala Fletcher (“lovely vibes, lovely Pilates!” / “Kala Fletcher was so calm, consistent, and community-oriented while putting out excellent content. I always looked forward to her weekly lives.”)

  • @jessdontstop Jessica, Janae Luxe Pilates (“She is an amazing teacher, and she has a great perspective on the Pilates industry. She is exactly the kind of leader this industry needs.”)

  • @nikitapilates Nikita Jew (“Great program! So consistent with her classes and very knowledgable.)

  • @PilatesDwell Kevin Lartigue (“What a great man! I love the work he is teaching kids and teens. Such a light of positivity!”)

  • @fatbodypilates Linds (“For keeping things real and making me laugh!”)

  • @pilateswithsarahpowell Sarah Powell (“When I hosted MATraiser for Core Compassion Project, our project quietly received a check in the mail from a class she taught to raise money for the Project. I began to follow her account and I have seen her raise money for other organizations as well.”)

    Movement Porn

Here are some of the newer ones that you all found this year. (Check out Best of Pilates 2019 for more!)

All the people

Here are some of the kind things teachers had to say about their online experience this year:

  • “I'm such a fan of Lucia from @tattoos_and_pilates. I encountered her online and was really inspired and touched by her kindness toward contemporary teachers trying to navigate the classical/contemporary divide, and I knew right away I wanted to learn from her. Even though I live in northern Canada and she lives in Australia, we connected for Zoom privates. I'm not exaggerating when I say she has changed my Pilates practice on such a deep and meaningful level and her work through our virtual sessions has actually made me an even better teacher for my own clients. She is such a gifted, perceptive, and nurturing teacher and mentor. As much as this pandemic has sucked, it has created opportunities for inspiration, growth, and connection and it has had tangible, real-world positive effects across borders, oceans, and the contemporary/classical divide. How awesome is that?”

  • “MeJo Wiggin (@mejowiggin) hosted several free sessions on Zoom to answer any Pilates question anyone wanted to ask. She started early on in the spring when teachers were feeling lost and disconnected and created a way for teachers to engage with each other, learn how to teach online, improve their teaching skills and improve their own practices. Absolutely anyone could sign up and ask anything. MeJo demonstrated things on her equipment, gave suggestions and ideas, and welcomed everyone who wanted to participate. She reminded us that we had a community and support, and she did it without charging anyone. She wanted to help Pilates teachers who were faced with closed studios, lost income, and lost connection. She showed us that we still had each other.”

  • “Shari Berkowitz (@theverticalworkshop) offered “Pay-What-You-Can” classes. Some of our more well-known teachers (like her) also offered amazing classes but charged us Pilates teachers a lot. I love that Shari REALLY MEANS IT. She came out in the beginning with free workshops on how to teach virtually, the best masks, and it goes on and on. She is a true community leader and has a heart of gold.”

  • “I loved Blossom Leilani Crawford’s (@bridgepilates) Wunda Chair intensive, Kathi Ross-Nash’s 10-Week Challenge, Pilates Sisters Squad master classes.”

  • “The Studio Marin (@thestudiomarin), San Rafael, California. This studio is owned by my teacher Sarah Hester and her business partner, Carolyn Coombs. Sarah was in New York with family the March weekend when California shut down. On the plane trip home, she developed the bones of a quarantine plan. The studio was offering virtual privates the next day and Zoom group classes by the end of the week. As the quarantines have extended, Sarah and Carolyn have expanded their offerings to include on-demand video workouts, subscription options, and workout challenges. They know how to address challenges: the Studio opened in October 2019 amid the California wildfires; early morning classes the first week were held by flashlight due to PG&E blackouts!”

  • “Tara-Lyn Pilates (@taralynpilates) had been running a special program in conjunction with The Summit Medical Group in New Jersey. Thanks to a generous grant Tara-Lyn began offering classes to cancer survivors currently in treatment along with their care-givers. These in-person Strength & Recovery Classes were designed to help survivors gain strength and mobility while going through treatment. Care-givers and family members were also encouraged to join the class. During its first year it gained a lot of momentum and success but once the pandemic hit both the funding and the in-person classes were sadly gone. Tara-Lyn and her Studio Manager decided to continue, free of charge, the weekly classes via Zoom so that the incredible cancer warriors could continue getting stronger, feeling better, and simply connecting with others during these unimaginable times of isolation and worry. The classes have not only thrived virtually but have grown with more people attending each week.”

  • “Brink created by Jenna Zaffino (@jennazaffino). She did a great job of pivoting and connecting the community… That speed networking was genius!” / “Jenna Zaffino’s conference Brink was lit!”

  • “Heather Erdmann (@heathererdmann) helped business owners pivot to online and secure PPP loans.” / “(She) created immediate resources and learning platforms available to us and our inclusive community came together to learn more.”

  • “Trailblazer? Without a doubt Teri Steele (@steelepilatesnyc). She also went live on FB and IG Live MANY times CONSISTENTLY every week - with her incredible Steele Pilates classes. Her trailblazing initiated her full-out virtual training program, and amidst the shutdown in NYC, on the side, cleverly opened (announced recently) their whole new in-home studio where she is still going live. I appreciate her free offerings and wish I could hop on more. She's incredibly strong and knowledgeable. I love her vision and she is now available virtually - she definitely stands out. She can tell you her stories about rolling with the punches with all of this! She made it look seamless!”

  • “Sarita Allen (@sarita_allen_movement) studied under Kathy Grant for decades during and after her career as a principal dancer for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. As a Pilates teacher, Sarita has done her thing quietly in New York City. In this most trying of years, Sarita started to share her knowledge of Kathy's work and vocabulary widely. She does a weekly Zoom class through Ailey Extension (and is adding another in January), has done several Instagram interviews, has been a regular on Pilatesology's Interactive platform and did her first Zoom workshop with Blossom Leilani Crawford. I look forward to seeing a LOT more of Sarita in 2021.”

  • In Poland, Iga Majewska (@warsawpilates) created #dziewczynynama, which means "Girls, go on mats!" It’s a group of 30 Pilates teachers who get together for weekly fundraising workouts. Each week, a different Pilates instructor teaches an online, donation-based class for the group. So far, classes have benefited the elderly, animals in need, human rights, women's rights organizations, and more. “I would love to give a shout to all the Polish Pilates teachers who so willingly joined my little project and made it not so little,” said Majewska. “There are more than 30 teachers who are in this initiative with me, and none of us get paid for this. It’s just for pure joy of helping while working out!”

  • “Patricia Ruiz and Desira Barnes from Moving Strength Pilates (@movingstrength). During those 55 minutes, she made us feel part of a community and not so alone as we were quarantined in our homes. Before our classes began, there were always 5 minutes that everyone could connect and support one another Besides loving the classes and feeling that I was getting stronger with each class. I definitely loved the way I felt like a part of this community. Pilates w/ Patrica and moving strength continue to help me feel so not alone during this time when I cannot be w/ friends and loved ones.”

A closing message for all

Considering everything, we had a hell of a 2020. The conversations were hard. The uncertainty was terrifying. But we leaned on each other in a way we never really have before. It is so easy to get caught up in your own little worlds. The events of this year gave us a chance to stop and look around a little. We found new friends. Dove deep into seld-practice. We also saw some things we don’t like, and we are changing them.

Michael Brown

We will close with this message from Michael Brown (@mbsrqsfo), one of the most dedicated Pilates students there is.

If you haven’t had a chance to listen to these heartfelt words, click on the image below. This is a message Michael sent into PIlatesology.com after a tech snafu (we can all relate to that) prevented his interview from posting.

Editor’s Note

As I was going through all the Best of Pilates 2020 nominations, I was struck by a theme I didn’t see coming: So many of these moments are made up of people coming together and combining efforts to help and support one another and the community. It wasn’t about self-promotion or trying to make a buck; it was about connecting and finding consistency and togetherness in the midst of all the chaos around us. I think that collaborative spirit is something we should take away from 2020. Isn’t it interesting that during a year marked by seclusion, we really did ban together to make great things happen? I have never felt more connected to the international Pilates community, and I know a lot of you feel the same. I hope that once things are '“back to normal,” we continue this collaborative spirit.

Each and every one of you is an important part of this community, and I am so grateful for your support. I hope some of the silly memes that @pilatay has become know for helped to lighten the load of an otherwise incredibly heavy year.

With Zest + Pleasure,

Tracy

Tracy Belcher
Previous

Liability Insurance for Pilates Teachers
Next

Core Connections With Martin Reid: Guest Tracy Belcher of Pilatay