During the last week of April, the work and connections with Pilates #2ndGenMaster teachers simply fell into place.  I didn’t actually plan it this way, and I only realized it once the week began to unfold in the days leading up to International Pilates Day 2020. This is the third time I have uttered these words, “the only benefit of the #Covid19 lockdown is the opportunity to be led by masterful teachers… virtually.”

Inelia Garcia

Translated from Portuguese into English with 90+ teachers globally connected, this virtual session was a tremendous opportunity to learn the standing Pilates work from one of Romana’s hand picked #TeacherOfTeachers.

Inelia’s energy, precision and unflappable, crisp, staccato delivery style has always drawn  me to her.  I have had a “Teacher’s Crush” on her from the first time I witnessed her lead her students in Brazil.

I have watched and followed along in Portuguese (as a result learning to say “inhale” and “exhale” in Portuguese) with her on Pilatesology for a few years.  I jumped immediately at the opportunity to join a class – with an English translation – as a result.  Standing Pilates is something I previously ignored, yet presented in this manner, by Inelia in particular, I have new eyes opened.

This was so well received, that I do expect that Inelia and her US-based team, will continue to offer more virtual sessions and workshops.  She is a phenomenal master.

 

Mari Winsor

Inelia’s class took place on Sunday and it was the same day that the Pilates world honored the life and work of Mari Winsor, #2ndGenMaster who is widely credited with popularizing Pilates and making this once obscure workout accessible to the public at large. Throughout her career, Mari has created numerous workout programs and has been considered the world’s #1 expert in modern Pilates. At 67, Mari was diagnosed with  ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease. She gave up teaching in 2015, as the disease began to take its toll. In 2016, her senior instructor, Saul Choza took  over the business with the launch of Winsor Choza, in Hollywood, CA.

As fate would have it, Mari transitioned Tuesday, and the Pilates world flooded the internet with memories and wishes of love for her work and her influence on the community. While I never crossed paths with her, I can see from the testimonies of hundreds that her spirit, influence and mentorship is apparent and highly regarded by every admirable teacher of quality that I know and have grown to watch, love, follow.

Saul Choza is one of them.  Chris Robinson is another.

Chris Robinson

Under normal circumstances, lining up a session with Chris Robinson, #2ndGenMaster, would have necessitated travel to CA. Not an easy task for NJ gal with a tight budget. Chris was inspired and Certified by Pilates legend Romana Kryzanowska, whom he directly apprenticed with more than 15 years ago.  

He continues his Pilates education with Master Instructor Jay Grimes, who was also a student of Joseph Pilates and humbly opened this Wunda Chair virtual class by paying respect to Mari Winsor who was one of his teachers and mentors.

The COVID-19 crisis opened an array #VirtualWorkout sessions and there was no way I would pass up the opportunity to jump into a #WundaChairWednesday session with Chris for under $50!  My absolute favorite piece of equipment and one of the teachers I have had my eye on for a few years.  He doesn’t post often.  Is conscientious, deliberate and the ultimate professional in his work; the characteristics of true clarity and quality in a teacher.

The work with Chris was familiar, as the Classical repertoire is consistent across every teacher and student that has embraced it.  As a functional training specialist, however, I could feel that he would take the variations and reps up a notch higher if he were in the room with the students and had assured confidence that safety in the execution would always prevail.

Reducing the resistance of the springs, which we did on several movements, was an excellent way of increasing the work of the powerhouse and providing the needed challenge for the 45 minute session.

There is no question that I and the 30+ other teachers around the world will return to Chris’ virtual sessions – no matter what day, time or hour they are offered.

 

Brett Howard

Mr. Howard, is my local #2ndGenMaster and my #PilatesSensei.  He has refined and changed my movements, my body and my teaching in a way that allowed me to be myself – which is sometimes outside of the box – which at the same time under his crisp, clean and clear direction.  He gives space and permission to have joy and fun while exacting the highest quality in execution.

Jeanette Patriarco and I have been enjoying semi-private sessions with Brett since the Fall of 2019 and have embraced regular, virtual semi-sessions when his studio necessarily closed down.  In fact, we kinda begged for it.

Brett loves and prefers “hands-on” with his students and is welcomed globally with his Teacher Training programs.  I sense a bit of reluctance to embrace the virtual teaching process, yet it appears that he will also enter this new world  on a broader scale – for those that want to jump into a private, semi or group class with him.  Slow, steady and precise rules with Brett.

The work is always the same for each of us.  The classical system and these Master teachers make absolutely sure of that.  No matter who teaches, when it is delivered or where its done, the work is always an exhilarating, phenomenal experience.  Particularly so under the direction of a #2ndGenMaster.

I have even considered re-working the #2ndGenMasters series, that began in January through these Zoom sessions, except for the fact that all the logistics and the absence of IRL hugs, kisses and champagne would not make it the same.

Again, “the only benefit of the #Covid19 lockdown is the opportunity to be led by masterful teachers… virtually.”