We began working in the Pilates field in 1991. At this time, Pilates was not widely recognized as discipline. There was no certification programs or need for them due to very little understanding of what Pilates was in the public eye. If an individual was interested in the Pilates work for study or a career, they would locate a studio and become a student of the work and progress into an apprentice type position and possibly begin working while at the same time they are learning about the work. If they were fortunate, the studio they were studying at may have had an on going relationship with someone they considered a master teacher of the work. This person, as a master, would have actually studied with Joseph and Clara Pilates. So was the path that Sabra Blacklock and Timothy Zimmer embarked upon in 1991.
We were fortunate to work under a teacher of the Pilates work when we began. She owned and operated one of only three studios for the Pilates work in Denver, and the only Pilates business owner that enjoyed an on going relationship with Ron Fletcher, a long time student of Joseph and Clara Pilates from the1940s until Joe and Clara’s passing. So it was, when we became her students we also enjoyed the opportunity to be a student of master teacher Ron Fletcher.
Being a student of Ron Fletcher allowed us the opportunity to attend workshops given by Ron both in house and away from the business 3 to 4 times a year. Ron emphasized
learning the Pilates work by experience and therefore required each of us to diligently work on ourselves to find the answers to the questions our clients would ask. He strongly believed that one could not teach the transformation process of Joe and Clara’s work until the student had been themselves transformed by the work. Ron always considered himself a long time, ever growing student of the Pilates’ work, and therefore always taught from the understanding of passing on the knowledge of Joseph and Clara Pilates, masters of the work they created. We have always taught from the understanding that we are passing on the work of Joe and Clara Pilates, as well as Master Teacher Ron Fletcher, a man who has mastered the work given to him and in mastering it, made it his own.
We worked as students of the work, teaching other students how to experience what we had experienced, and surprisingly learning a great deal more from our own students. We new the form and/or the shape of the work we were teaching. Through time spent applying the work on others while listening to their feed back and observing their reactions to various movements, we found that our experience with each and every student was the most valuable part of our education. It taught us the practical reality that no two bodies respond exactly the same to each movement. They will be similar but each one will be unique according to genetic shape, athleticism, gender, possible current or past injuries, learning styles and many more factors observed and yet to be observed.
Today, with a combined 50,000 hours of application of the work on others, observation and listening we have developed the tools to help our students meet their physical goals through the Pilates work quickly, efficiently, economically and safely.
We were fortunate to work under a teacher of the Pilates work when we began. She owned and operated one of only three studios for the Pilates work in Denver, and the only Pilates business owner that enjoyed an on going relationship with Ron Fletcher, a long time student of Joseph and Clara Pilates from the1940s until Joe and Clara’s passing. So it was, when we became her students we also enjoyed the opportunity to be a student of master teacher Ron Fletcher.
Being a student of Ron Fletcher allowed us the opportunity to attend workshops given by Ron both in house and away from the business 3 to 4 times a year. Ron emphasized
learning the Pilates work by experience and therefore required each of us to diligently work on ourselves to find the answers to the questions our clients would ask. He strongly believed that one could not teach the transformation process of Joe and Clara’s work until the student had been themselves transformed by the work. Ron always considered himself a long time, ever growing student of the Pilates’ work, and therefore always taught from the understanding of passing on the knowledge of Joseph and Clara Pilates, masters of the work they created. We have always taught from the understanding that we are passing on the work of Joe and Clara Pilates, as well as Master Teacher Ron Fletcher, a man who has mastered the work given to him and in mastering it, made it his own.
We worked as students of the work, teaching other students how to experience what we had experienced, and surprisingly learning a great deal more from our own students. We new the form and/or the shape of the work we were teaching. Through time spent applying the work on others while listening to their feed back and observing their reactions to various movements, we found that our experience with each and every student was the most valuable part of our education. It taught us the practical reality that no two bodies respond exactly the same to each movement. They will be similar but each one will be unique according to genetic shape, athleticism, gender, possible current or past injuries, learning styles and many more factors observed and yet to be observed.
Today, with a combined 50,000 hours of application of the work on others, observation and listening we have developed the tools to help our students meet their physical goals through the Pilates work quickly, efficiently, economically and safely.
