9 replies to this topic

[reb]

Anyone checked this out?

[Pilates Core]

Sorry, no - I've never heard of Melinda Bryan.

[PilatesHB]

[Siri Galliano


[/quote]


Siri...send me the link to your website again. I am going to order to Romana DVDs this week...I had a good month and I've got some extra money. Send the link to DJPilates@aol.com.

Thanks.

[Salire Fitness]

She also has an Online "Pilates Certification" program (http://www.pilatesce...out.php?id=5356)

Yea, right!!!

[Mchale]

Who is Melinda Bryan?

No disrespect intended, but if you are a Pilates instructor and have never heard of Melinda Bryan, you should sharpen up on your Pilates history. Melinda Bryan is known to be the very first physical therapist on the west coast and one of the very first in the world to introduce Pilates to the medical community. Back in those days, the medical community thought of Pilates only as experimental.

Melinda Bryan is not just a licensed physical therapist that knows some Pilates. She is also the founder and owner of Performing Arts Physical Therapy & The Pilates Studio of Los Angeles since 1992. Sister Pilates center to The Pilates Studio of New Your owned by Sean Gallagher. This is significant because, everybody knows The Pilates Studio and Pilates Inc. was the very first in the world to create and offer professional “Authentic Pilates Certification.” Key words, “Professional” and “Authentic.”

Before 1992 there had been other programs but there was no consistent authentic Pilates program. There were programs that were mostly Pilates mixed with much Pilates based techniques. Ron Fletcher, Kathy Grant, and other first generation Pilates disciples, offered their versions of “Pilates” but there was no Pilates Certification program that was evaluated and or accepted by the medical community.

The Pilate Studio of New York and Los Angeles created and offered the very first professional, authentic, medically, reviewed, accepted, and approved Pilates Certification program in the world. This is fact. Romana primarily designed this program, based on her vast Pilates experience and knowledge, but Romana is not medically licensed or trained. It was Melinda Bryan and Sean Gallagher, who actually, created, organized, designed, and presented the program. And before offering the program to the public, Melinda Bryan, and Seam Gallagher arranged for Romana to meet several doctors at the Pilates Studio in LA and in New York, and the program was reviewed.

Many people do not know this but there were some Joe Pilates exercises that were deemed to be too dangerous based on modern medical advanced knowledge, and those exercises were illuminated and or corrected after review by orthopedic surgeons from medical groups such as Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic, Santa Monica Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Group and others. These reviews were arranged by Melinda Bryan and Sean Gallagher and were conducted in Los Angeles. Only Romana, Melinda Bryan and Sean Gallagher truly know which exercise were illuminated or corrected.

Only experienced medical professionals could have identified the problematic exercise. Joe Pilates or Romana, or other really talented “fitness experts” could not have known, or identified these potentially harmful exercise routines. And is true, before Melinda Bryan and Sean Gallagher the medical community was oblivious to the Pilates Method.

Before The Pilates Studio of New York and before The Pilates Studio of Los Angeles, and Melinda Bryan, earning “Pilates Certification” from Romana was based on her blessings. Romana did not have a structured professional program. There was no other Pilates Certification program that was reviewed, by medical professionals and orthopaedic surgeons. Not in the United States, not anywhere in the world. Even now, most if not all other Pilates Certification programs are created and offered by self-titled “Fitness Experts.” Not by experienced medically trained professionals. And this is why The Pilates Studio Program is superior to most programs available today, internationally.

For the record, Romana did not only team up with Melinda Bryan and Sean Gallagher to create the first official Pilates Teacher Certification program. Romana work for / with / and was directed by Melinda Bryan and Sean Gallagher for years and years. And only offered Pilates Certification for the Pilates Studio and at the Pilates Studio exclusively, for years… The Pilates Studio of Los Angeles was the ONLY place on the west coast one could find Romana offering Pilates, for years. And it was Melinda Bryan who was there from day one.

Melinda Bryan was not only certified by Romana, she was ordained by her as the only Pilates Master Teacher Trainer on the entire west coast for YEARS. She was the only person Romana trusted to, run, direct, teach, guide, instruct, and test, not one but ALL Pilates Apprentice who studied on the west coast. Literally hundreds of Certified Pilates Instructors did their Pilates apprentice hours with, under, and directed by Melinda Bryan. This is fact.

Romana traveled from New York to her “home away from home” to The Pilates Studio of Los Angeles, but Romana never stayed longer than 8 or 9 days each time. And after Romana left, it was Always Melinda Bryan that was running the entire operation. Romana primarily only taught the initial 18 day course, and in the very end may have signed some of the certificates, but it was Melinda Bryan who actually taught ALL the Pilates Instructors guiding each person through 600 practical hours, each and every time.

Why is this not known to the world? The reason is simple… Pilates politics. There are many who have earned their Pilates Certification at the Pilates Studio of Los Angeles, directed and instructed by Melinda Bryan, and there are those who have taken many Pilates sessions at The Pilates Studio, and from Melinda Bryan and they choose to hide this fact.

I was a client there so I know. I received my Pilates certification there too proudly. I have seen many of today’s “big name” Pilates instructors taking sessions there. Including Winsor. Siri you forgot to mention that you took sessions there too. Maybe only with Romana but you know what I am talking about. Politics… right?

Sadly, even Romana who signed my certificate after I did my 600 hours under the direction of Melinda Bryan, is not above the world of Pilates Politics. Romana does not list Melinda Bryan of her web site, even though Romana lists hundreds of Pilates instructors who were actually trained by Melinda Bryan.

Without naming names… I can tell you, anyone who lived on the west coast or who traveled from near by states or from overseas, and studied at the Pilates Studio of Los Angeles, between 1992 – 1998, was actually most likely trained by Melinda Bryan. Romana only flew in for the actual seminars or to occasionally do a final practical test, and then signed the passing students certificates, but all students were actually taught by Melinda Bryan. Again this is fact.

Why then is this such a huge secret? Think about it. Melinda Bryan is not only medically educated, but also Pilates educated with thousands of actual “Pilates Teacher Training” experience and hours. Anyone who really understands Pilates know there is a huge difference between teaching clients Pilates, from teaching teachers to teach Pilates. To attempt to minimize this ladies Pilates knowledge and experience is totally disgraceful.

She has written 14 books, released over 10 Pilates videos. Owns and directs Performing Arts Physical Therapy & The Pilates Studio of Los Angeles. Has trained, apprenticed and certified hundreds of Pilates Instructors, worldwide. The list goes on. However… it is clear. Promoting Melinda Bryan when you are trying to sell your own Pilates program is kind of hard on business isn’t it? It becomes difficult to retain clients and students, if clients and students, know where to find the teacher of the teachers… Right?

Most “Pilates experts” do not have the credentials to match Melinda Bryans. Even though there are a lot who are very talented at what they do, and may be excellent “Pilates instructors” the simple fact is most “Pilates experts” (most not all) are really only glorified fitness instructors who know some “Pilates.” This is just the truth… Most are not medically licensed or medically educated. And there are not too many who can say that they are not only a licensed medical professional, but have also literally taken hundreds of individuals through 600 hours of practical Pilates instructions, for certification, from start to finish.

In regards to The Pilates Studio of Los Angeles, PilatesCertificationOnline.com . It is not just another online program created by just anybody. This is the original certification program all the way back from 1992, created by the same people who started it all… I have reviewed the full program so I know what I am actually talking about. I have 4 Pilates Apprentice Instructors working for me right now who went through the online program.

Put it this way. They know more Pilates, true Pilates, the same Pilates I learned from Romana and Melinda Bryan years ago. The program is identical, except it is now available online. All 4 of my current apprentices, know more Pilates than most of my employees who learned from other programs. Yes they need to now practice by they get the basics and have a better understanding as to how and why than some of my other teachers. I am actually going to pay for one of my older Pilates employee who was certified by another individual, to retake her Pilates certification via the online program.

The one thing I can tell you is this. The online program is the classroom. Of course it does not replace the practical practice hours needed. All apprentices must still complete the required 450 practical teaching hours. My apprentices are now getting the practical hours and experience here at my center, with me and by working with my clients. I am finally able to hire teachers who I know have learned authentic traditional Pilates… The right way…

The best part is the information is consistent and the same since 1992. This is the huge difference between learning Pilates from a proven institution, instead of from some fitness “Pilates expert” or individual. Just my opinion, but the online program is working for me and supplying me with properly trained Pilates instructors. I can soon take a vacation without having to worry bout what new and improved “Pilates” exercise my instructors will be teaching my clients. I now have a steady flow of teachers that I know I can trust… But hey, to each his own.

In conclusion… Lets just give credit where credit is due Siri… I know you know much better…

Till next Time… Be happy and be well everyone…

[gaile]

Why would people want to hide the fact they trained with Melinda? How can it hurt business,some of those teachers wont be teaching in the same area and Melinda can only do so many hours a day so there would be plenty of work and surely if people know you have certified with some good it makes them more inclined to come to you?

Personally I dont need my Pilates teacher to be the least be medically qualified,I need them to know and understand what they teach and what they are looking for in the body in each exercise and why they are giving me that exercise.Maybe there was some crazy stuff in Joes work that would be out of reach of the general public but we are all doing the matwork quite happily and its the same matwork he outlined.

The rest I will let some of the other people who were around in the lawsuit days answer as I have my own views as to why there was only one certifying studio for a while

[SK3000]

Hey Mchale thank you for that very interesting and informative post. I have long suspected there were many influencial Pilates people who were generally unknown to people like me.

What caught my eye was when you mentioned how some of Joseph Pilates original exercises were deemed too dangerous and how they were corrected after review by orthopedic surgeons from medical groups such as Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic, Santa Monica Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Group and others. This may explain why we do some things differently to how I have seen Joe do them in the archieval footage. When I have asked people about who changed certain things and why no-one ever seems to know. For example in the footage I have Joe does the Saw whilst lifting his hip off the ground. Today we are taught to keep the hip down. Whenever I have asked who changed it Joe or Romana I always get blank looks! I think I heard somewhere as well that apprently rotation and flexion of the spine can be potentially dangerous so perhaps the Saw was one of the original exercises changed after medical review?

Thanks again for a very intrigueing post!

[Pilates Core]

Flexion and rotation of the spine *can* be dangerous to someone who has or has had a disc herniation *if* it's pushing posteriorly. 99% of people can and should do it. So many of our natural, day-to-day movements involve flexion and rotation, and therefore, I think it's important to strengthen our bodies to support that.

[Siri Galliano]

Who is Melinda Bryan?

No disrespect intended, but if you are a Pilates instructor and have never heard of Melinda Bryan, you should sharpen up on your Pilates history. Melinda Bryan is known to be the very first physical therapist on the west coast and one of the very first in the world to introduce Pilates to the medical community. Back in those days, the medical community thought of Pilates only as experimental.

Melinda Bryan is not just a licensed physical therapist that knows some Pilates. She is also the founder and owner of Performing Arts Physical Therapy & The Pilates Studio of Los Angeles since 1992. Sister Pilates center to The Pilates Studio of New Your owned by Sean Gallagher. This is significant because, everybody knows The Pilates Studio and Pilates Inc. was the very first in the world to create and offer professional “Authentic Pilates Certification.” Key words, “Professional” and “Authentic.”

Before 1992 there had been other programs but there was no consistent authentic Pilates program. There were programs that were mostly Pilates mixed with much Pilates based techniques. Ron Fletcher, Kathy Grant, and other first generation Pilates disciples, offered their versions of “Pilates” but there was no Pilates Certification program that was evaluated and or accepted by the medical community.

The Pilate Studio of New York and Los Angeles created and offered the very first professional, authentic, medically, reviewed, accepted, and approved Pilates Certification program in the world. This is fact. Romana primarily designed this program, based on her vast Pilates experience and knowledge, but Romana is not medically licensed or trained. It was Melinda Bryan and Sean Gallagher, who actually, created, organized, designed, and presented the program. And before offering the program to the public, Melinda Bryan, and Seam Gallagher arranged for Romana to meet several doctors at the Pilates Studio in LA and in New York, and the program was reviewed.

Many people do not know this but there were some Joe Pilates exercises that were deemed to be too dangerous based on modern medical advanced knowledge, and those exercises were illuminated and or corrected after review by orthopedic surgeons from medical groups such as Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic, Santa Monica Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Group and others. These reviews were arranged by Melinda Bryan and Sean Gallagher and were conducted in Los Angeles. Only Romana, Melinda Bryan and Sean Gallagher truly know which exercise were illuminated or corrected.

Only experienced medical professionals could have identified the problematic exercise. Joe Pilates or Romana, or other really talented “fitness experts” could not have known, or identified these potentially harmful exercise routines. And is true, before Melinda Bryan and Sean Gallagher the medical community was oblivious to the Pilates Method.

Before The Pilates Studio of New York and before The Pilates Studio of Los Angeles, and Melinda Bryan, earning “Pilates Certification” from Romana was based on her blessings. Romana did not have a structured professional program. There was no other Pilates Certification program that was reviewed, by medical professionals and orthopaedic surgeons. Not in the United States, not anywhere in the world. Even now, most if not all other Pilates Certification programs are created and offered by self-titled “Fitness Experts.” Not by experienced medically trained professionals. And this is why The Pilates Studio Program is superior to most programs available today, internationally.

For the record, Romana did not only team up with Melinda Bryan and Sean Gallagher to create the first official Pilates Teacher Certification program. Romana work for / with / and was directed by Melinda Bryan and Sean Gallagher for years and years. And only offered Pilates Certification for the Pilates Studio and at the Pilates Studio exclusively, for years… The Pilates Studio of Los Angeles was the ONLY place on the west coast one could find Romana offering Pilates, for years. And it was Melinda Bryan who was there from day one.

Melinda Bryan was not only certified by Romana, she was ordained by her as the only Pilates Master Teacher Trainer on the entire west coast for YEARS. She was the only person Romana trusted to, run, direct, teach, guide, instruct, and test, not one but ALL Pilates Apprentice who studied on the west coast. Literally hundreds of Certified Pilates Instructors did their Pilates apprentice hours with, under, and directed by Melinda Bryan. This is fact.

Romana traveled from New York to her “home away from home” to The Pilates Studio of Los Angeles, but Romana never stayed longer than 8 or 9 days each time. And after Romana left, it was Always Melinda Bryan that was running the entire operation. Romana primarily only taught the initial 18 day course, and in the very end may have signed some of the certificates, but it was Melinda Bryan who actually taught ALL the Pilates Instructors guiding each person through 600 practical hours, each and every time.

Why is this not known to the world? The reason is simple… Pilates politics. There are many who have earned their Pilates Certification at the Pilates Studio of Los Angeles, directed and instructed by Melinda Bryan, and there are those who have taken many Pilates sessions at The Pilates Studio, and from Melinda Bryan and they choose to hide this fact.

I was a client there so I know. I received my Pilates certification there too proudly. I have seen many of today’s “big name” Pilates instructors taking sessions there. Including Winsor. Siri you forgot to mention that you took sessions there too. Maybe only with Romana but you know what I am talking about. Politics… right?

Sadly, even Romana who signed my certificate after I did my 600 hours under the direction of Melinda Bryan, is not above the world of Pilates Politics. Romana does not list Melinda Bryan of her web site, even though Romana lists hundreds of Pilates instructors who were actually trained by Melinda Bryan.

Without naming names… I can tell you, anyone who lived on the west coast or who traveled from near by states or from overseas, and studied at the Pilates Studio of Los Angeles, between 1992 – 1998, was actually most likely trained by Melinda Bryan. Romana only flew in for the actual seminars or to occasionally do a final practical test, and then signed the passing students certificates, but all students were actually taught by Melinda Bryan. Again this is fact.

Why then is this such a huge secret? Think about it. Melinda Bryan is not only medically educated, but also Pilates educated with thousands of actual “Pilates Teacher Training” experience and hours. Anyone who really understands Pilates know there is a huge difference between teaching clients Pilates, from teaching teachers to teach Pilates. To attempt to minimize this ladies Pilates knowledge and experience is totally disgraceful.

She has written 14 books, released over 10 Pilates videos. Owns and directs Performing Arts Physical Therapy & The Pilates Studio of Los Angeles. Has trained, apprenticed and certified hundreds of Pilates Instructors, worldwide. The list goes on. However… it is clear. Promoting Melinda Bryan when you are trying to sell your own Pilates program is kind of hard on business isn’t it? It becomes difficult to retain clients and students, if clients and students, know where to find the teacher of the teachers… Right?

Most “Pilates experts” do not have the credentials to match Melinda Bryans. Even though there are a lot who are very talented at what they do, and may be excellent “Pilates instructors” the simple fact is most “Pilates experts” (most not all) are really only glorified fitness instructors who know some “Pilates.” This is just the truth… Most are not medically licensed or medically educated. And there are not too many who can say that they are not only a licensed medical professional, but have also literally taken hundreds of individuals through 600 hours of practical Pilates instructions, for certification, from start to finish.

In regards to The Pilates Studio of Los Angeles, PilatesCertificationOnline.com . It is not just another online program created by just anybody. This is the original certification program all the way back from 1992, created by the same people who started it all… I have reviewed the full program so I know what I am actually talking about. I have 4 Pilates Apprentice Instructors working for me right now who went through the online program.

Put it this way. They know more Pilates, true Pilates, the same Pilates I learned from Romana and Melinda Bryan years ago. The program is identical, except it is now available online. All 4 of my current apprentices, know more Pilates than most of my employees who learned from other programs. Yes they need to now practice by they get the basics and have a better understanding as to how and why than some of my other teachers. I am actually going to pay for one of my older Pilates employee who was certified by another individual, to retake her Pilates certification via the online program.

The one thing I can tell you is this. The online program is the classroom. Of course it does not replace the practical practice hours needed. All apprentices must still complete the required 450 practical teaching hours. My apprentices are now getting the practical hours and experience here at my center, with me and by working with my clients. I am finally able to hire teachers who I know have learned authentic traditional Pilates… The right way…

The best part is the information is consistent and the same since 1992. This is the huge difference between learning Pilates from a proven institution, instead of from some fitness “Pilates expert” or individual. Just my opinion, but the online program is working for me and supplying me with properly trained Pilates instructors. I can soon take a vacation without having to worry bout what new and improved “Pilates” exercise my instructors will be teaching my clients. I now have a steady flow of teachers that I know I can trust… But hey, to each his own.

In conclusion… Lets just give credit where credit is due Siri… I know you know much better…

Till next Time… Be happy and be well everyone…

OMG. This is too long and boring and poorly written to respond.
is this her drugged out husband? I dont want to take my lifeforce to reply to all the mistakes here.

Romana came to my studio several times.
Dont put her down. she seems to have given you life.
and it's an attitude like this that polarized the entire Pilates world against Sean.
All I remember about Melinda's studio was teachers getting reamed for leaving a banana peel in the garbage,
and the lawsuits. not much else remains in the L.a. experience of her.

[taowave]

Hi McHale,
Interesting perspective..For the record I have very little interest in the political world of Pilates and its history.I train at TPNY and that is my only exposure to the Pilates world,other than this board.

I really do not agree that "only experienced medical professionals" could have identified the problems with some of the original exercises. Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya of yoga fame was the primay teacher for B.K.S. Iyengar, the late K. Pattabhi Jois, the late Indra Devi, Srivatsa Ramaswami, and A.G. Mohan.He had no medical training and Iyengar and Ashtanga seem to be doing quite well without PT's and orthos guidance.I am not diminishing the contribution of the medical research and movement,but lets not give credit where it may not be due.

As for promoting Melinda,I think you are waaayyy off base.What Pilates teacher in their right mind is going to promote an individual who is ofering on-line courses and certifiations???I applaud Melindas busines acumen and savvy,but lets face it,she is further diluting the quality of Pilates as well as making it EASY(quote from her heading)to become certified.

So I ask you.It appears all one needs to do is BUY Melindas videos and put in the time with a "certified" Pilates teacher.How do you define certified?

I did see that one is required to pass written exam,but I did not see anything regarding a physical exam.Can one be cerified without ever taking the physical exam?

Also,how does one put in the certifying hours at a studio with no training program,while taking Melindas certification training? It make no sense for the certifying teacher,it makes little sense for the trainee.Ill elabort should you respond..

As I said,I believe in free and fair markets and see no wrong in making a buck.But that is what Melindas program appears to be about..

T

Only experienced medical professionals could have identified the problematic exercise. Joe Pilates or Romana, or other really talented “fitness experts” could not have known, or identified these potentially harmful exercise routines. And is true, before Melinda Bryan and Sean Gallagher the medical community was oblivious to the Pilates Method.

Even now, most if not all other Pilates Certification programs are created and offered by self-titled “Fitness Experts.” Not by experienced medically trained professionals. And this is why The Pilates Studio Program is superior to most programs available today, internationally.



Why then is this such a huge secret? Think about it. Melinda Bryan is not only medically educated, but also Pilates educated with thousands of actual “Pilates Teacher Training” experience and hours. Anyone who really understands Pilates know there is a huge difference between teaching clients Pilates, from teaching teachers to teach Pilates. To attempt to minimize this ladies Pilates knowledge and experience is totally disgraceful.

She has written 14 books, released over 10 Pilates videos. Owns and directs Performing Arts Physical Therapy & The Pilates Studio of Los Angeles. Has trained, apprenticed and certified hundreds of Pilates Instructors, worldwide. The list goes on. However… it is clear. Promoting Melinda Bryan when you are trying to sell your own Pilates program is kind of hard on business isn’t it? It becomes difficult to retain clients and students, if clients and students, know where to find the teacher of the teachers… Right?

Most “Pilates experts” do not have the credentials to match Melinda Bryans. Even though there are a lot who are very talented at what they do, and may be excellent “Pilates instructors” the simple fact is most “Pilates experts” (most not all) are really only glorified fitness instructors who know some “Pilates.” This is just the truth… Most are not medically licensed or medically educated. And there are not too many who can say that they are not only a licensed medical professional, but have also literally taken hundreds of individuals through 600 hours of practical Pilates instructions, for certification, from start to finish.

In regards to The Pilates Studio of Los Angeles, PilatesCertificationOnline.com . It is not just another online program created by just anybody. This is the original certification program all the way back from 1992, created by the same people who started it all… I have reviewed the full program so I know what I am actually talking about. I have 4 Pilates Apprentice Instructors working for me right now who went through the online program.

Put it this way. They know more Pilates, true Pilates, the same Pilates I learned from Romana and Melinda Bryan years ago. The program is identical, except it is now available online. All 4 of my current apprentices, know more Pilates than most of my employees who learned from other programs. Yes they need to now practice by they get the basics and have a better understanding as to how and why than some of my other teachers. I am actually going to pay for one of my older Pilates employee who was certified by another individual, to retake her Pilates certification via the online program.

The one thing I can tell you is this. The online program is the classroom. Of course it does not replace the practical practice hours needed. All apprentices must still complete the required 450 practical teaching hours. My apprentices are now getting the practical hours and experience here at my center, with me and by working with my clients. I am finally able to hire teachers who I know have learned authentic traditional Pilates… The right way…