Issue #437
Wednesday, August 28, 2024
In Memory of Romana Kryzanowska
“You should be able to teach in an evening gown”
by Jennifer DeLuca
In a protective boot and crutches (not nearly as sexy as an evening gown and only slightly less efficient), I am in Vestby, Norway visiting a Pilates “sister.” I have not seen Hanne Koren Bignell since my days at Drago’s Gym 21 years ago. Hanne has invited me to teach a few of her students in her Summer Teacher Training Program. Three days before I left the states, I had an odd landing in a ballet class and fractured a bone in my right foot, leaving me unable to stand or walk without crutches.
Since I had to teach without my legs supporting me, I sat on the spine corrector in the center of Hanne’s lovely studio. This apparatus made it easy for me to swivel around to see everyone. Armed with experience and enthusiasm, I felt ready for anything. I began with everyone standing. Traditionally, we begin the Pilates Mat by lowering down to the floor without the use of our hands. As the students all crisscrossed their arms and legs in preparation, I said, “Wait. Stand parallel.”
Romana would frequently recommend that teachers-in-training sit in a cafe and “people watch.” As each person walked by, she would advise us to think of how we would apply the work to that person. If they had rounded shoulders, which apparatus would we include? Or if they are leaning to one side, how could we address that in their sessions?
In other words: See the body in front of you and decide how to apply the work.
Romana had a way of inviting people along with her when she taught.
A triathlete who competed at national and international levels, Catherine began her classical Pilates journey after a running accident resulted in a total hip replacement. During her rehabilitation, she discovered the power of Pilates in helping her get back on her feet. In fact, in many ways, she was stronger than she was before her injury. She realized, “I would have been a much better athlete had I known about Pilates 20 years ago!” It was then that she decided to pursue teacher training so that she could work with others to help them achieve optimum strength, awareness of movement, and flexibility. She is passionate about spreading the word on how developing a regular practice in classical Pilates is a life-changing and life-long pursuit — and it can be embraced by everyone.
Catherine recently retired as a professor of Asian art history and associate dean of the Graduate School at The University of Alabama and now teaches part-time for the university’s department of kinesiology, where she offers classes in indoor cycling and Pilates for university credit. She is a graduate of Streamline Pilates’ 450-hour intermediate-level teacher training program. She has been a certified Spinning® instructor for 24 years and a certified Personal Trainer for the past 20 years. In addition, she holds a Ph.D. in East Asian Studies from the University of Toronto.