The History of Joe & Romana

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Joe Pilates was a boxer turned gymnast and developed methods of exercise for men in the early 1900s. He moved from Germany to America with his wife Clara, and continued his methodology, believing all people could benefit from his exercises. Joseph Pilates opened his fitness studio in 1920’s in New York in the same building as the New York City Ballet and dancers soon fell in love with his style of conditioning which could strengthen, lengthen, and rehabilitate the injuries dancers incurred throughout their rigorous training and performing.  

Today, Pilates is known around the world by countless millions of people as a sought-after form of exercise due to its abundant benefits of strengthening and change it gives to the body, while producing a well-rounded workout. Joe was quoted saying, “Pilates is not a fatiguing system of dull, boring, abhorred exercises repeated daily ‘ad-nauseam’....Physical fitness can neither be achieved by wishful thinking, nor outright purchase.” 

If you give yourself the chance to see the change, through multiple sessions, and not give up, your body, like the muscle memory dancers and athletes discipline themselves to love and understand, you will begin to learn the movements, and will gain independence in your overall health and well-being. 

 Romana Krzyanowska found Joseph Pilates after an ankle injury while studying ballet at the School of American Ballet in NYC at age 14. Romana went on to become Joe's protégé and dedicated her life to teaching Pilates. Romana's Pilates International is a specific style of Pilates created by Romana and maintained by those closest to her so the truest form of classical Pilates that Joseph Pilates created may continue forward. Today, Romana's Pilates International has been stewarded by Romana's daughter Sari & her granddaughter Daria in Fort Lauderdale, FL. 

Romana's son is Paul Mejia, whom Grace and Kathryn danced for in Arlington, TX. Romana's children and grandchildren have trained at SAB and danced at New City Ballet, including her grandson Roman who is a current Principal at New York City Ballet. 

Like some of the greatest ballet instructors, Romana was known for her intense dedication to her students, her eye to really see the body and give proper cueing, and teach students to go beyond what they thought was possible. From Grace and Kathryn's years of ballet training, they relate to this style of Pilates in its truest sense, as Joe Pilates and Romana intended, and look forward to passing it on to their clients and dancer community. 

Grace and Kathryn were certified as Romana's Pilates Instructors by Sari, Romana's daughter, and have trained with Daria, Romana's granddaughter, out of Fort Lauderdale, FL. Grace and Kathryn's mentor is Amanda Owens, Park Cities Pilates Center owner and Senior Instructor in Dallas, TX, who continues to facilitate the Pilates Twins thirst for educational excellence and growth. 

Romana's Pilates vs. Modern Pilates Differences:

]Romana's Pilates International puts instructors through intensive training for upwards of 12 to 14 months before reaching certification. On average, modern Pilates instructors train on for about 5 months or less and focus on large, group and mat classes. Romana's Pilates offers private, personalized instruction, focusing on the client, their injuries, goals, potential, and reaching beyond what they thought possible, with safety & education in mind. 

Annual Continued Pilates Education (CPEs) must be maintained by certified instructors to satisfy and maintain Romana's Pilates International standards of credentials.  

FYI: Are you traveling out-of-country or in the United States, let us help you find a Romana's Pilates International studio while traveling.