Crossing The Rubicon

Nothing divides the Pilates world more than the endless classical versus contemporary debate. So why do some teachers switch sides?

- Anne Marie O'Connor

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MY INTRO TO PILATE S: I actually started teaching in the late ’90s, but my first legit teacher training was with Cathleen Murakami of Synergy Systems in 2006. I became a PMA-CPT in 2008 and taught contemporary up until 2010.

WHY I MADE THE TRANSITION: In 2011, a new teacher trainee suggested I attend a Live Art event by Siri Dharma Galliano. I knew once I laid down on the Gratz Reformer that my life would be forever changed. It hugged me into it. But I didn’t know the order or the exercises, and was completely lost after the Footwork. I tried to follow along as the others flowed through the workout. They deftly picked up the Box and pole, the extension straps went on for Circles and Frogs, it worked exactly the same and yet completely differently at the same time. I felt as if I knew nothing and yet I had been teaching for years. I wanted more!

Because I was a single parent at the time, I couldn’t afford the time or money for another teacher-training program, so I read everything I could get my hands on: Brooke Siler and Ellie Herman’s books, the manual from Siri’s event. I went to every classical workshop or event that I could get to. I watched Pilatesology, Pilates Anytime, searched the internet and started hosting workshops featuring classical teachers to fill in my blanks.

As I was learning the classical work, I started introducing it to my clients. I also started selling off my contemporary apparatus and replacing it with classical pieces; I now have a fully classical studio.