PhysicalMind Preparing for Future Growth

PhysicalMind Institute began in Spring 1991 with the formation of the Institute for the Pilates Method. The facts are well known: ninety-nine percent of the public and the fitness industry had never heard of this technique. So PhysicalMind Institute began to build the category with the first newsletter, Pilates Forum; the first membership organization - ten  years before PMA was formed (the first international Pilates certification program). Most crucial was the publication of the first Pilates video, Working Out the Pilates Way, which gave the public a hint of what Pilates was about. Fortunately, the public finally began to read about Pilates. Between 1991 and 2000 more than seven hundred articles were published!! Even Cooking Light wrote about Joe Pilates in 1995.

Beginning in 2000 the Institute, now called PhysicalMind, focused on group apparatus by re-designing the “Wunda” Chair to make it functional and then licensing the patent to Peak Pilates® so that manufacturing and distribution could be facilitated. Expanding the Matwork Certification category meant that more health clubs could offer Pilates classes. Then the PhysicalMind added Standing Pilates® and Circular Pilates™ making the Pilates work more functional.

So what will the next decade require from Pilates now that we are a household name?? Joan Breibart, who began as a Pilates client in the mid sixties, says “truthfully I never anticipated that we would gain such recognition so quickly. The story of my New Mexico license plate is illustrative of this change within the first decade. In 1992, I paid for a vanity plate with PILATES in bright red on the yellow background. Very noticeable. For the first few years, I was often asked, “Why do you have that religious name on your plate?”, a reference to the name of Pontius Pilate, the Judge at Jesus’ trial.   By about 1997  people would ask me if the name was “that strange exercise thing that they had read about.” Finally in 2000, when I was stopped at a red light, I turned to see someone knocking on my car window. This time the question was “Where can I find a Pilates teacher?!””

The people at PhysicalMind believe the next decade will experience continued growth as they work to recognize and fulfill the need for functional applications.  Although they believe that to some extent this is a step down from the original demanding work of Joseph Pilates, no one can dispute the changes in the U.S. population as it ages, becomes more fat, and suffers the effects of sitting in forward flexion with today’s communication and work technology. “And it is worse for the younger generation! A recent report shows that due to multi-tasking, kids from ages thirteen to eighteen years old spent eleven hours daily staring at a screen while texting, emailing, surfing the web, etc.”

We here at PhyscialMind Institute, who deal with bodies, have our work spelled out and that is why the Institute has re-organized. We will be offering new courses and programs to prepare teachers so that we can continue to grow and prosper and contribute.

Marika Molnar - A highly respected physical therapist known around the world for her expertise in the evaluation, treatment, and prevention of dance injuries. She is the director of Westside Dance Physical Therapy a private practice in New York specializing in the rehabilitation of dance injuries. She was the President of the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science; the Director of Physical Therapy Services for the New York City Ballet; and a member of the Editorial Board of the Journal for Dance Medicine and Science for which she has written several articles. She is considered to be a pioneer in the field of Dance Medicine. She has lectured and taught not only in the U.S. and Canada, but also in England, Israel, Japan, and Mexico. She is Clinical Advisor for the Physicalmind Institute®, where she has presented several workshops on osteoporosis and more recently a Gait Analysis Workshop.

Lauren Piskin - has her Masters in Dance Education and Fitness Management. Lauren has been a student of Pilates since 1983 and was certified by PMI in 2001. Lauren has worked for the Institute as a Certification Administrator, Transmittal Teacher and Model. Trained Amy Poehler and Will Arnett for Blades of Glory film (2007). Taught Olympic figure skaters Judy Blumberg, Sarah Huges, Emily Huges. IDEA presenter (1990). TV shows: Monthly appearances on Joe Franklin and CBS in their fitness segments.

Forbes Magazine, Fitness Programming 1982-84
CBS Inc. National Fitness Coordinator 1984-89
U.S. Figure Skating Association Gold Medalist 1974
Choreographer U.S. Olympic Figure Skaters 1990-2009

Maria Leone - Opened Bodyline LA Fitness Studio, located in Beverly Hills, in 1998. She is a certifying teacher for PhysicalMind. With over eighteen years teaching clients and a decade of experience teaching professionals, Maria is known throughout the country as the “teacher’s teacher”. She is PhysicalMind certified and holds additional certifications from PMA and ACE. IDEA has recognized Maria as a Master Trainer. Maria also holds a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and she calls upon that training to inspire her Pilates instruction. She has been featured on Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood and CNN, and featured in Shape, People, Health and PilatesStyle magazines. In addition to running her studio and seeing clients full time, Maria travels for speaking and guest teaching engagements at trade conventions and world-renowned spas, including the Pilates Method Alliance’s and IDEA’s annual conferences, and the Golden Door and Red Mountain spas. Maria also has starred in the DVD series, Pilates On the Go which is geared to clients. As seen in Allure, Elle and Fitness Magazines, Pilates on the Go has garnered accolades as one of the best, most well-rounded programs for a challenging full-body workout. Featured on QVC, the Pilates On the Go DVD series is now available on Target.com and from Balanced Body.

Julia Shanbrom - Has worked in health and wellness since 2002. She has been employed by Montefiore Hospital; the Major’s Office; and the NYC Department of Health in operations and project management in the areas of mental health, substance abuse and domestic violence. In 2008, she and her father, Dal LaMagna, founded Reel U films whose mission is to distribute documentaries to schools, churches and libraries. She is now in charge of operations for the PhysicalMind Institute. Julia has a B.A. from Skidmore College (2002) and a Masters degree from Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health (2007).

Joan Breibart - Founder of the PhysicalMind Institute, started the Pilates boom in 1991 when she organized The Institute for the Pilates Method which introduced the first Pilates certification program; the first Pilates Matwork video, “Working out the Pilates Way”; the first Pilates encyclopedia, Reformer Exercises; the invention of the patented Mini Reformer, a collapsible home use machine and numerous other innovations including a new Chair now marketed as the Mve. The Institute’s courses deliver the most evolved professional training today. Their latest innovations are Standing Pilates, Circular Pilates, and a wearable resistance system called Tye4®. In addition, she is co-founder with Meredith Luce MS, RD, LN of Diet Directives, a weight loss program that is compatible with Pilates principles: less is more. Prior to 1991, Breibart spent ten years in publishing and twenty years in the beauty/hair business.

Tags: Diet Directives, Joan Breibart, Julia Shanbrom, Maria Leone, Marka Molnar, Peak Pilates, PhysicalMind Institute