The Seer
Pilates Style|July - August 2020
As Balanced Body’s first and only Education Program Director, Nora St. John, a self-professed lover of movement, has a true Pilates superpower: the ability to see through all of the traditions of Pilates, understanding their strengths and weaknesses, helping to create a brand that appeals to the masses.
- By Amanda Altman
The Seer

PILATES STYLE Tell us about your upbringing. Was movement a part of it?

NORA ST. JOHN I grew up in Pasadena, CA. I’m one of seven kids—in the middle, which explains my ability to tolerate chaos and need to be a part of large groups. Movement was definitely a big part of my childhood. My mom taught modern dance, and we all grew up dancing, swimming and pursuing movement in many forms. I was always drawn to more complex activities like ice skating, gymnastics, tap dance and ballet. I went to a science-oriented prep school, so science was also part of my background. I ended up studying biology and dance at UC Santa Cruz.

PS How did you discover Pilates?

NORA One of my teachers was a woman named Ruth Solomon, who was the head of the dance department at UC Santa Cruz. She taught a complete Pilates mat warm-up before each class, but never called it Pilates. So technically I’ve been doing Pilates since 1979.

After I graduated, I was performing as a modern dancer and broke my foot. It was 1988, and Ruth told me to go to the Center for Sports Medicine at St. Francis Memorial Hospital in San Francisco. St. Francis had a Pilates-based dance medicine division. I was there three or four days a week for six months. I would show up at 8 a.m. and wouldn’t leave till 10:30 a.m [laughs]. I was really depressed—I was a dancer who couldn’t dance. But I had this really flexible job (working for a theater production company) and was able to go often.

この蚘事は Pilates Style の July - August 2020 版に掲茉されおいたす。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トラむアルを開始しお、䜕千もの厳遞されたプレミアム ストヌリヌ、9,000 以䞊の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしおください。

この蚘事は Pilates Style の July - August 2020 版に掲茉されおいたす。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トラむアルを開始しお、䜕千もの厳遞されたプレミアム ストヌリヌ、9,000 以䞊の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしおください。

PILATES STYLEのその他の蚘事すべお衚瀺
Pilates Style

Finding New Momentum

Overcoming obstacles caused by the pandemic, the virtual version of this popular festival still achieved its goals.

time-read
3 分  |
September - October 2020
Carola Trier's Extraordinary Journey
Pilates Style

Carola Trier's Extraordinary Journey

In his authoritative biography of the first woman to open a studio, Reiner Grootenhuis delved into her personal papers to tell the harrowing story of her time in a prison camp during World War II.

time-read
10+ 分  |
September - October 2020
Racism in the Pilates Industry
Pilates Style

Racism in the Pilates Industry

Incidents of police brutality and the ensuing Black Lives Matter protests have shed a bright light on systemic racism in the U.S., including in the Pilates industry. Here, Black instructors share their experiences.

time-read
10 分  |
September - October 2020
For Self-defense
Pilates Style

For Self-defense

Moves of the Month

time-read
8 分  |
September - October 2020
Comfort Food Made Healthy
Pilates Style

Comfort Food Made Healthy

This fall, cozy up to tantalizing comfort food that’s also healthy. A new cookbook from Kristin Cavallari shows you how.

time-read
9 分  |
September - October 2020
Pilates Postcard
Pilates Style

Pilates Postcard

A Pilates teacher shares how the method is making waves abroad.

time-read
2 分  |
September - October 2020
The Ultimate Gift
Pilates Style

The Ultimate Gift

One year ago, Kahley Schiller’s life was completely upended by an extreme health crisis. But thanks to her 20-year Pilates practice, the 40-year-old was able to recover quickly.

time-read
9 分  |
September - October 2020
Revelations
Pilates Style

Revelations

For Sarita Allen, a star of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and a protégée of Kathleen Stanford Grant, Pilates was key to her decades-long career.

time-read
10+ 分  |
September - October 2020
Pilates Style

Meaning WITHIN THE Movement

The Five Elements of Chinese Medicine help you go deeper into your practice, promising plenty of play along the way.

time-read
10+ 分  |
September - October 2020
PILATES IN THE HOOD
Pilates Style

PILATES IN THE HOOD

Though she’s trained many top stars, Kim Carruthers says she’s most proud of her work as the founder and director of a nonprofit bringing the method to underserved communities.

time-read
3 分  |
September - October 2020