While all my teachers and mentors have worked with, been touched by and trained with Phoebe Higgins, this was my first time with this NY Classical 2nd Generation #MasterTeacher. She was acknowledged by Bob Liekens as his first teacher and therefore she is the mentor and teacher that has deeply influenced the community I have come to respect and love.
While working out with Brett and talking about the plan to build the 2nd Gen Round Robin in 2020, I told him that I was doing a semi with Phoebe. His first question without missing a beat or count on the reformer was, “how did you get on her schedule?”
For that hookup, my #PilatesSisterSquad member, Fran Hoyte, took control and locked down the date. Turns out, as fate would have it, she booked it for 12-12-19 at 1130am, which meant we were deep in the work at 12:12pm on the day of the Last Full Moon of the year at Rolates Pilates.
Rolates Pilates is the historic spot that Joseph and Clara Pilates called home in Hell’s Kitchen.
Rebirth and Birth
Soft curves, circles and rotations are favorites of mine in movement and a full moon still excites me every time. The synchronicity of the date, the numbers, events and connections was not lost on either of us for their meaningfulness as Fran and I met IRL, (in real life) for the first time, to do this particular session with Phoebe. We had been admiring each others “stuff” (pilates,outdoor activities, photography, art, etc) via social media for about a year or so and agreed to a Pilates workout together and a visit to the newly opened MOMA together.
Well, we never really made it to MOMA, but solidified our connection and true #PilatesSisters relationship over sushi and sake, after Pilates. Both of us were trained by Juliet Harvey, as our first teacher, and both of us were certified in the Power Pilates Systems Training in the early 2000s. Phoebe Higgins was Fran’s test-out teacher.
2nd Generation Master Teachers
Last year, a small crew joined me to workout with Brett in a Teacher’s Semi with much joy. The group evolved to something a little bigger and continues with Juan Estrada and Tela Anderson under the banner #PilatesFriendsUnited. Yet, I still wanted a more intimate, smaller group experience and invited a few #PilatesSisters to join me in crafting the #2nd Generation Master Teachers Round Robin for the new year of 2020.
The desire and intent were already in place, and as fate would have it, Fran’s initiative at Rolates Pilates jump-started the effort. Neither Phoebe nor Fran knew about my plan for the 2nd Gen Teacher’s Sessions in 2020 when we met that afternoon, so our locker room talk afterwards was perfect closure.
“Get out of your own studios & get somebody’s else’s eyes on you” — Mary Bowen
Masterful, succinct and humble, Phoebe led us through a little Mat, Tower, inclusive of single leg Pistol Squats, Butterfly, Bat and Fencing and ended using the Wunda Chair and Spine Stretch Forward, Going Up Front and Mountain Climber.
We ended with a delicious Wunda Chair Pigeon Pose and Hamstring Stretch.
Ms. Higgins is PMA Gold Certified, has studied and performed with the School of American Ballet, Simonson technique of Jazz Dance, Kevin Wynn Collection, among others. In the late 60s, Phoebe attended ballet classes taught by Romana Kryzanowska, who also taught at the Pilates Studio. Phoebe was re-introduced to Romana in 1976 at SUNY Purchase and began studying the Pilates Method to help strengthen a spine weakened by scoliosis. In 1980 Phoebe went to work at the Pilates Studio under Romana’s guidance.
Stay tuned for more #PilatesSistersSquad adventures. Clearly we had a bit of fun. Phoebe is on the list of 2nd Gen Teachers for more work in 2020.
Watch the clips below — there are a few — giggles aside, there’s a wonderful memory recanted by Roberta Rose Kirschenbaum about Kathy Grant coming to the opening of the studio space in 2005 and using the staircase rather than the elevator to the 2nd floor.
