What does it take to be an excellent Pilates instructor?
Is Pilates flexion safe?
Can you really correct posture doing only Pilates?
If these questioned have ever entered your mind then you are in the right place. Today I would like to introduce Rebecca Leone – the famous Pilates Nun – whose commitment to high Pilates standards, authentic teaching and, above all, SAFETY is her trademark and life-long passion.
I met Rebecca a couple of years ago when she was giving a series of developmental private sessions at the studio where I was working at the time. I signed up for one of her sessions hoping to get something out of it but not sure what was in store for me. Just talking to Rebecca (as you will see in the video) is a blast but her teaching was nothing I have ever experienced in the past. Rebecca has created her own protocol for posture correction (and you can see a lot of examples of her work on her video channel.) As a person who’s been diagnosed with scoliosis at the age of 10 or so I was wondering what her technique could do for me.
The results were amazing. After just an hour of working with Rebecca I was able to refire muscles that were sleeping for many-many years and find my almost-perfect alignment. Of course one session was not enough to correct my scoliosis once and for all but I was able to use body awareness that Rebecca helped me discover on a daily basis to make lasting changes to my body.
The opportunity to interview Rebecca and to pick her brain on different things Pilates was nothing short of pure excitement and joy for me. Her enthusiasm and passion for Pilates are the driving forces that will inspire and motivate anyone. But let me give Rebecca a formal introduction first.
Rebecca Leone
Rebecca is a Pilates pioneer; the first to teach business development at PMA, the first to launch an after-market “post graduate” program Pilates Excel, the first to provide customized curriculum and exclusive access to cadaver anatomy, the first and only to develop and freely share protocols to achieve idealized alignment and address common performance problems, the first and only to pursue the establishment of an independent safety standard credential. Rebecca completed her classical Pilates training in 2001 from Romana Kryzanowska, a protégé of Joe Pilates’, she is certified by the University of Washington in Sports Medicine and Human Performance, she is Pilates Method Alliance Gold Certified and has served on the PMA Board of Directors.
- Pilates Bridge: How often do you personally practice Pilates?
Rebecca Leone: Every day but not in the way that you think. - PB: 3 of your favorite Pilates mat exercises.
RL: Roll Up, Spine Stretch Forward, Teaser - PB: 3 of your favorite Reformer exercises.
RL: Knees Off, Long Stretch, Push Up Back - PB: Your favorite piece of Pilates apparatus.
RL: Cadillac - PB: What’s your favorite equipment manufacturer?
RL: Basil - PB: The worst Pilates cue you’ve ever heard.
RL: “Put your po po in the ho ho” (on Semi Circle) - PB: The main thing Pilates taught you over the years.
RL: Humility - PB: Links to your current projects.
RL: Rebecca Leone, Rebecca Leone Video Channel
Rebecca’s Recommended resources: