Romana

Romana who we believe is 88 years old, had just finished demonstrating an advanced exercise. I was rushing from one end of the studio to the other to grab my camera, but I caught her right at the end. Can you even imagine being in this position on purpose at this age?

I love this photo. Erin is the body doing the rock star back stretch on this piece of equipment called the Ladder Barrel. I can't wait til I can do this again.

I am actually bending my knees in this photo. Otherwise I would tower over Romana. She is small, but a force to be reckoned with.

This is Romana Kryzanowska. She is Joseph H. Pilate's protege and mine and many others Master Instructor in the program that I am so thankful to be a part of. This past weekend I went to Illinois to my home studio in Champaign where I went through the program a few years ago. Ren was looking at the pictures of my time there and was asking questions about herself and I told her that everyone called her the "Pilates Baby." She really loved that and asked if she followed me around a lot, which I thought was interesting, because yes, she did. She would crawl all around the studio as I ran back and forth from the business office to the front desk with paper work. Sometimes during a mat class Ren would be sitting in her infant car seat blink, blinking and sucking her pacifier.

During the whole seminar I just observed and took pictures which was kind've nice as opposed to getting my bum kicked, which is what usually happens in a Continuing Education weekend. But, this thing I'm sitting on is called the Baby Chair. It is one of the many pieces of equipment that Joseph Pilates invented and it is very safe for young children and older bodies, and Preggers. So, they decided to put me on it. It is always great and a little scary to have Romana give you individual time, because she's getting a little confused in her 88 or plus years old and you never know what is going to happen, like possibly forgetting you have just had surgery or that say, your pregnant. Fortunately, it went well and it felt great. Check out the belly!



This is our group from the weekend. Romana is right next to me and the woman on the other side of her is Janice Dulak (in the black t-shirt) who owns and runs the studio in Champaign. Janice is the most amazing instructor and I am so proud to have had her and continue to have her as a mentor. She is as dedicated to the original teachings as Romana is.
What a great weekend. Next year I go back to getting my bum kicked!