I think it’s the authenticity in her persona that is so welcoming,  powerful and beautiful.  She doesn’t speak quickly, there is no rush in her pace whatsoever.  She does like the metronome count/hold for three, tho.  She is organized, structured and in control of everyone and every aspect.  All of us were completely mesmerized by the subtle nuances she asked of our bodies and our awareness to the traditional movements we know, use and teach on the Wunda Chair.

That’s what a MasterClass Workout with a #2ndGenMaster should deliver; subtle nuances of one’s lifelong experience in the practice of Pilates; and Christina brought that and more.

I invited her last year, at the start of this project, to specifically lead a class on the Wunda Chair when her workbook was released.  The grace and elegance in her form spoke to me through the images and there were several exercises she grouped as “challenging” and “less common” that I wanted to experience and ultimately “own” in my body.

For the MasterClass, she organized the visuals of the virtual room so that all the equipment and movement was in synch; masterfully led 12 of us, from all parts of the globe, through a grouped sequence of moves she called “clusters.”  Fish and Star were two of the “challenging exercises” on my list; I think we all nailed Fish; Star (ugh!), however, will continue to be an ongoing practice.

I had to pause and wipe the sweat from my brow and eyes more than once, yet I am proud to have accomplished #SideBending #Fish and her challenge to the group with #Pullup on one Leg (Coupe Back) — keeping the spring closed and pedal up — to transition into #GoingUpFront.

The latter just simply needs to be seen, felt and experienced.  Period.  When she cued the setup of the Hundred on the short side of the chair, I knew she was bringing all the fire…..and that was after she told the group, this was her first teaching session with the Wunda Chair in a virtual setting.

The Wunda Chair is “a true barometer of our strength.”

The post-session feedback refers to the “review notes” many want to make and keep with the recorded download, as there were tons of nuanced tips and cues throughout the hour.  The Wunda Chair is “a true barometer of our strength,” she said; “inflate the space between your shoulder blades” to keep the thoracic curve and the four P(s) that she uses to teach students on the Tower/Cadillac with the rollback bar, although applicable everywhere in the system:

• Plug  Shoulders (in their sockets)
• Press  Spring  (Open it to keep it alive)
• Push  Heels (connect seat)
• Pull Powerhouse (in and up)

Alycea Ungaro said, “she is an extraordinary teacher…..and human” and I am grateful to call her one of my #PilatesSisters and Squad members.  As such,  she has already signed up to participate in both the Cynthia Shipley and Cary Regan MasterClass sessions in the Fall, “I look forward to being the student …. in the fall because we can always learn from each other.”