My Pilates History - Autobiography

/ True Pilates Sydney Studio/

It is true many Pilates instructors do come from a dance background as its a logical segue from dance with both disciplines being about body awareness and movement. However there are many of us like myself that don't fall into this stereotype.

I came from a Fine Arts background and while studying I accrued a great deal of professional experience in the hospitality industry. So much so by the time I finished my Post graduate degree in Visual Arts I was a restaurant manager and working on Art commissions on the side.

I came to Pilates as a client — it was borne out of a need to try something  new. I was always slim and active but I was never one for exercise. Yet in some abstract logic, I equated ‘slim and active’ to ‘fit and strong’ — this was until my first Pilates class. At the time I was 30 years old and unawares of how this day was to forever shape and transform me and change my life.

I remember the day like it was yesterday… I was lying on the mat stuck and reaching for my toes - unable to pull myself forward to sit/ roll up  . I was shocked at how I had no strength in my body to execute such a simple task. It was a rude awakening and since this day, I was committed to my Pilates training.

Myself with Master Trainer Cynthia Lochard

Myself with Master Trainer Cynthia Lochard

It wasn’t an easy feat to get my body into shape, I lost count of the number of days of waking up with muscle aches and pains as I ‘broke’ my body into shape during my Pilates apprenticeship. In all modesty, to say “I have come a long way” — is an understatement. As time passed — I felt stronger, I stood taller, I moved better — I felt empowered and was inspired by Pilates.

People often ask “what drew me to Pilates?” and if I were to sum up my elevator speech in three words… it would be the ‘Focus, Strength and Spirit. My Mind was focused, my body was strong and my Spirit was lifted. Joseph Pilates always said, “Pilates is about Mind, Body and Spirit”, and for me it was Pilates was/ is exactly that.

I have had many wonderful Pilates teachers over the years, all of which have inspired me in more ways than one. I’ll never forget one what of my teachers (Master trainer - Cynthia Lochard) said when I first started as an apprentice, “you may not be a dancer, but I’m going to teach you to move like one” and to her credit she followed through on her promise.

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Yung Ok Yoo

I spent most of my academic years studying Fine Art in various disciplines. I completed my Post graduate in Visual Arts majoring in Photography and minored in drawing. I continued this line of study into Visual Comunication and further my art skill base with Jewellery and Object making. During this time, I worked on commissioned paintings for corporate, commercial environments as an Interior consultant and decorator to which I also was commissioned to paint for for Private collections. My historical professional background stemmed in the hospitality industry - where I managed restaurants. It was during this time that I found Pilates having injured my back at work. In 2008, I started my apprenticeship under the tutelage of Master Teacher trainer Cynthia Lochard (2nd Generation teacher). My training was rigorous with culmative observational hours, training and practiced teaching of over 1000 hours before certifying. Since my Pilates certification in 2009, I maintain my weekly session with Cynthia Lochard and travel to New York every two years (most recently October 2014) to partake in intensive training at the Head Quarters for Romana's Pilates at True Pilates New York originally know as Drago's. It is here, I continue my tutelage with Master Teacher Trainers Jerome Weinberg & Cynthia Shipley who worked closely with the late Romana Kryzanowska herself. In NYC - October 2014 - I also had a chance to work with Peter Fiasca Founder of Classical Pilates. As well as NYC, I have travelled to Singapore, Paris, London and trained with international teachers. In 2013, I opened True Pilates Sydney Studio, because I felt there were very few Pilates studios in Sydney that focused on the True Pilates Method - hence I named the studio 'True Pilates Sydney'. Through my own teachings I hope to inspire, train and educate others in the art of Pilates as I have been inspired in my own training and journey.