Celebrating Women in Pilates: Romana Kryzanowska Part II
In part one of our Women in Pilates series we shared a bit about the history of Pilates, and Romana Kryzanowska's influence and contribution to the way we practice Pilates today.
We wanted to dig a little deeper, and luckily our friend and accomplished Pilates Instructor, Heather Holloway McCash, was taught by someone who actually knew Romana personally! Heather had the opportunity to ask her former teacher some questions, and she is graciously sharing her story with us today:
Sylvia Gamonet on her experience with Romana, by Heather Holloway McCash
My first Pilates teacher and teacher trainer learned to teach Pilates from Romana herself. They had a special bond. I believe it’s important to share stories about the women that have an impact on Pilates. I interviewed my teacher trainer Sylvia Gamonet, about her personal experience with Romana.
Sylvia is from Peru and you may not know it, but Romana lived there for about 16 years. Sylvia moved to the US not knowing English. She was intimidated when she first walked into Drago’s Gym where she met Romana and started her training. She found a kind woman who took her into her arms, spoke to her in Spanish and taught her the most important work of her life. She learned how to heal bodies through movement.
Teaching Pilates is more than just exercises. You learn to work with different bodies and personalities. Romana herself was an interesting personality. She had an infectious zest for life. As a person, she was approachable, had kind eyes and an inviting voice. She loved life. She liked to have fun, enjoyed being surrounded by people and was known for her love of champagne.
“Everything I am as a Pilates instructor, I owe to her. She taught me that to be a good teacher, I need Pilates for my body. I have to learn it, absorb it, master it and understand it first. Then I could teach it to somebody else. Yes, you can learn and memorize the entire Pilates repertoire but you have to breathe it and embrace it yourself, to pass it along.”
If you want to teach Pilates, you need to do Pilates first. You learn so much from your own practice.
Beyond the importance of keeping up with your own Pilates practice, the three most important things Sylvia learned from Romana are:
to always be on time
to be good to your body
to work hard–but also play hard
Pilates is an exercise method that gives you gusto so you can make the most of the time you have on earth. You have the energy to work hard but also to enjoy life as well. Romana demonstrated this advice herself, she lived her life to the fullest every single day.
Sylvia’s favorite memory of Romana is when she invited her to her house for champagne. Then they went to Lincoln Center to see the ballet and have dinner afterwards. Her sass for life was inspiring. She knew how to have fun.
Romana’s mission as a teacher was to keep Pilates as pure as she learned it. She loved life and Pilates. Sylvia’s impression of the legacy Romana left on the Pilates industry is to trust the system because it works. Pilates doesn’t need any bells and whistles. The system works, which is why it’s still around today.
If you can lay down on the mat and go through the classical Pilates Mat order without stopping, think about Romana and her contribution. Not only her contribution to Pilates, but fitness as a whole. She taught people to connect the movements and have a solid foundation to work from. This movement heals and we have Romana to thank for keeping the legacy going in a way it was able to spread far and wide. Thank you Romana.
“She was my inspiration. She changed my life. She invited me into her arms when I walked into the Drago’s studio scared to death, she made me feel so welcome. I miss her tremendously and am very grateful I got to meet her.”
Thank you Sylvia for sharing your knowledge with me, as a teacher and a teacher trainer. If you didn’t have the courage to show up and do the work, I may not have had the opportunity to learn this healing method. Sylvia Gamonet teaches Pilates and Gyrotonic in the Nashville area and was the first certified Pilates Instructor in Tennessee.
Written by Heather Holloway McCash
originally published March 27, 2022
Read more from Heather Holloway McCash on her incredible Pilates blog, Words That Move, by clicking the button below!