Pilates Day, an annual, international, community event celebrated on the first Saturday of May every year is celebrated around the world. But this year the PMA apparently decided that the event can only be produced and hosted by PMA members. Leaders in the Pilates Industry who fought a long drawn out legal battle to make the Pilates Method accessible for all are taking issue with this new move to exclusivity.
Lolita San Miguel, Pilates PMA Elder and one of two persons officially certified by Joseph and Clara Pilates to teach The Method, today expressed her disappointment
Lolita San Miguel, Pilates PMA Elder and one of two persons officially certified by Joseph and Clara Pilates to teach The Method, today expressed her disappointment with the position taken by the Pilates Method Alliance (PMA) to make “Pilates Day,” which is to be held on May 2, an exclusive PMA celebration.
“Joe does not belong to the PMA alone, he belongs to the world,” Ms San Miguel said, “I fought alongside many others to take Pilates out of the hands of a few people who said they owned the Pilates name and everything connected with Pilates and we were successful. I will continue to oppose any attempt to make Pilates the exclusive property of anybody or any organization.
“The PMA should be praised for its continued efforts to establish high standards of quality in the teaching of Pilates and in the certification of Pilates instructors. Obviously its success depends on its openness and willingness to attract as many Pilates professionals as possible and convince them that the PMA’s mission is absolutely necessary for the good of the Pilates industry and that its collateral operational efforts carry great merit.
Nevertheless, trumpeting ‘Pilates Day’ as the exclusive trademarked property of the PMA is the wrong way of going about it and furthermore impossible to enforce.”
“I dream of a ‘Pilates Day,’ she continued, “where millions around the world will perform The Hundred in stadiums, studios, gyms, plazas, etc., resulting in many new converts.
“I hope my respected friends and colleagues of the PMA Board of Directors will reconsider this alienating decision and make it an open invitation instead,” Ms San Miguel, who was one of the first PMA members and continues to be a member, concluded.
I look forward to the day when all the major certifying bodies in the
Pilates community stop their bickering and get together
to for fill the challenge put forth
by the legendary
Joseph H. Pilates.
“I appeal to those interested in the future welfare of our race, to aid in putting my practical physical education method before the public where it will do the most benefit, and to have them see and test my health producing inventions to the end that mankind can enjoy God’s blessings – health and happiness.”
Joseph Pilates,
Return to Life Through Contrology
written by PalmBeach \\ tags: Add new tag, Pilates Day
May 22nd, 2009 at 10:27 pm
Agreed. No one owns Joe nor his work. He wanted people to do Pilates. This bickering is ridiculous. We see miraculous results every week in our studio from clients that are grateful to Joe and his life’s work. I was deposed for 3 hours in the legal battle to win the right for all Pilates instructors to teach PILATES. Thank you for having the fortitude to express your views. It is much appreciated. Stand Tall, Breathe Deep and Have A Great Day!!TM.