P10 Profile: Anne Marie Schultz
Talking to Anne Marie is like taking a long, deep breath…
She brings intention to the conversation, and it’s impossible not to follow her lead. As she gently and thoughtfully answers my questions I imagine that this must be the same energy that’s inspired her accomplished career, not only as a teacher of Pilates, but as a teacher of teachers.
Growing up in Corvallis, Oregon Anne Marie was influenced by her family to be active from a young age. She describes photographs of her at 6 months old, slung onto her dad's shoulders while camping, a clear indication of where she got her love of movement, and the outdoors. Hiking, biking, dancing, yoga–you name it, she’s done it.
Pilates came into her life later though, after college at University of Oregon, traveling, and a chance encounter on Orcas Island that would change her life.
This next part plays out in my mind like a scene from a movie– Anne Marie is waiting tables in a small island community, unsure of how long she’ll stay or where life is taking her next when a woman in a wedding dress sits down at one of her tables and offers her an opportunity.
Disclaimer: I can’t say with certainty that she was actually wearing her wedding dress, but this is otherwise a true story! Anne Marie met Kari Boyd-Gardiner (her eventual business partner, mentor, friend) on the night of her wedding, and in the midst of the celebration she told Anne Marie that she wanted to open a Pilates Studio on the island.
Six months later Anne Marie attended her first Pilates class at the same studio she owns today.
She was hooked.
She became an avid student, and it wasn't long before she entered the Power Pilates teacher training program. Anne Marie is a big believer in continued education and looks for every opportunity to learn still today.
“Anne Marie Schultz has been teaching Pilates since 2005, and the Gyrotonic method since 2009, and is the owner/director of Center Works Pilates and Wellness Studio on Orcas Island, WA.
Anne Marie received her Pilates mat certification in 2005 and subsequently completed her Comprehensive Certification in 2007, both through the internationally recognized school of Pilates, Power Pilates of NYC. In 2013 she was honored to become one of Power Pilates’ teacher trainers, and since 2015 has been a member of their Curriculum committee. She is also nationally certified through the Pilates Method Alliance (PMA).”
After a number of years instructing, she took a leap and accepted an offer from Kari to co-own Center Works Pilates and Wellness Studio, and Anne Marie remains the owner and director to this day.
She explained to me that owning a studio was never her plan, however it is clear from the way she speaks about her clients that her sense of fulfillment truly comes from serving them, and despite the challenge of balancing her many responsibilities, I can't imagine she'll be giving that up until she is good and ready.
She couldn't have known this when she first arrived, but Anne Marie had landed right in the middle of a Pilates community that needed her as much as she needed Pilates.
“I took over Centerworks in 2008/2009, and running the studio itself is an interesting juggle. But people needed what we were doing on the island, so it was never a question of not doing it. I couldn’t let my clients down.
Pilates was changing people's lives.”
Anne Marie connected with the owner of Pilates on 10th, Kim Grady, at a workshop in New York City in 2018, and like a match made in Pilates heaven, they joined forces to shine a light on Power Pilates teacher training in Seattle, where there seemed to be a lack of opportunity for aspiring instructors.
“Kim was just READY for it,” she said “she wanted to make training happen, and pretty immediately I was like let’s do it. Her enthusiasm for both learning and teaching is great. We partner together well, we have fun.”
Now, Anne Marie travels to Seattle frequently to provide training at Pilates on 10th in addition to the training and teaching she does on Orcas. She juggles a number of prospective teachers / apprentices at different stages of their teacher training journey, providing a truly amazing opportunity for would-be instructors in the area to complete the entire Power Pilates training certification course.
Find up-to-date information about when Anne Marie will be training at Pilates on 10th by visiting the link below.
Why should someone commit to the Power Pilates teacher training program?
It will change your life. It will change your relationship and knowledge of Pilates and give you a skill you can take everywhere you go– the ability to help people. That’s what it is all about for me.
What makes a good Pilates teacher? Who should think about teacher training?
Having previous Pilates experience is helpful… but honestly–everyone! There are so many different people that come through the program, even those that don’t necessarily want to be a teacher can learn so much. It’s a commitment, and it's work, so for anyone, knowing what you’re getting into is important.
If you were a Pilates exercise which would you be?
The teaser :) cause it has a fun name! And because when you know that you've done it right you’ve really accomplished something.
Written by Lauren Walker | Studio Manager
originally published March 16, 2022