I want to share with the forum members the wonderful day I just spent with Stacey Driesbach and Carole Amend who I met through posting on this site ( Stacey and I realized we attended the same training program,but I had not seen her since 2000.). As it happens Stacey and I live about an hours drive from each other and Carole has family in this area and was visiting for a Birthday and Easter.

We met at Stacey's spacious studio and had a great time discussing our teaching styles our movement philosophies and how we developed them as well as sharing ideas about Pilates, movement in general and of course, we shared funny client experiences. We might not agree about everything, but it was great to hear and acknowledge our differences as well as our similarities.

Carole and I then traveled on to visit her friend Tracey, a Pilates teacher, who lives in a small town not too far from Stacey. Tracey has a charming studio( and home) in a historical building that she and her husband rehabbed. Tracey is an instructor's instructor and I will absolutely make the hour trip to work with her.

I want to thank the Ppro forum for presenting the platform for Pilates and movement professionals to make connections like this.
The day was for me was so positive and constructive and it affirmed my love for Pilates and I feel so blessed to make a decent living doing this (and now I know first hand that Carole Amend is the real deal she is an inspiring instructor, a creative thinker and a wonderful person. I am so pleased to have met her..
Lee Artur

Lee,
Thanks so much for sharing this. I'm thrilled to hear that the Pilates-Pro.com community has allowed you to make new connections on and offline!

Best,
Amy

LA! Thank you so much for your post about today. It was great re-meeting you; and THANK YOU for recognizing Carole as "the real deal", she is beyond inspiring, has validated every route I chose to take, even when I decided that college Philosophy courses were the most important continuing ed for my practice; foregoing the fabricated courses the certification houses were offering!

I am taking liberty here with all involved in this forum to let everyone know of her vast expereince and knowledge. She'd have anyone believe she knows no more than they do, which is exactly why she is such a great teacher - no intimidation, only validation.

It's funny when people ask where I trained (as happened today with LA) beacuse it is a moot point, I consider Carole to be my only teacher - and I have a real feeling of being a true apprentice in this trade.

Again, I should maybe not reveal this, but Carole fully and freely trained me and guided me without a penny passed. I am a true apprentice of a great teacher. Eternally in debt - and my debt is clearly ...to my clients.

Thank you, Onebody. Carole.

Uh-Oh - Actually I am Tracey Epting Tancredi, that did not show up correctly.