From our Family To Yours
2026 marks 20 years after I incorporated my studio name in anticipation of a lifelong dream of opening a Pilates Studio. As I enter my 20th year in business, coming up in March (Brooklyn) and May (UES) 2026, I realize I can’t even scroll back in my Phone to see construction pictures because we didn’t even have iPhones back then in 2026. Social media was just a whisper back then, which is probably why I got so much accomplished, to be honest. No minutes spent on any given day deciding what to post or share, no outside validation needed. I feel grateful that this way of life is ingrained in me because it allows me to be present. I mostly still pretend there is no SM, but recognize it is something I greatly need to get with the times on, so maybe this will be the year:) Nothing could have prepared me for entrepreneurship like my journey as a professional dancer has. Owning a business is like training to be an athlete. It is most certainly NOT linear. There is success and failure, but it is most important to stay consistent and honest. Reflecting as we do when a new year begins, I am truly filled with humble gratitude. I will remain humble, especially in this day and age, recognizing that nothing is permanent except the spirit and the spirit in which we live. And I am so grateful for YOU. You, my colleagues, our Pilates students, our massage clients, our BASI Pilates teachers in training, our Physio Logic colleagues and patients, our extended BASI Pilates global family, and the city of NY. May God continue to bless us!
In no particular order:
(Please note I refer to both Pilates “clients” of the studio, and students of the BASI Teach Training Program as “students.”)
1. The Privilege of Working Alongside the Talented Practitioners at Our Partnering Medical & Wellness Facility, Physio Logic
As a Pilates teacher, the benefit of this is 2 fold. First, we interact with patients who may not have thought they could do Pilates or that Pilates was for them until they see us working in our open layout. They realize that our approach is with BASI’s core values of passion, compassion, and excellence. Pilates is for anyone who wants to live more freely and strongly in their own body. As a result of our non-intimidating approach, we get to work with a wide spectrum of goal-oriented students.
Second, we get to work as a team to best support the patient or student. If a student has an injury that I am accommodating in our Pilates sessions, I can also refer them or suggest appropriate outside support when needed. Sharing notes and observations gives each other insight we would never have if working alone. I have so much respect for our doctors and practitioners, their expertise and passion inspire me every day to be better. I also feel so much respect for the work we do at BPA – NYC by our team. Often the observations we see in a 55 min session can give insight to our doctors that they may not otherwise have.
2. Our Eclectic Group of Pilates Teachers
My husband and I each come from families and circles of friends made up of very unique personalities, where everyone is truly themselves. One of the common bonds we share is that we love bringing people together who thrive off the energy of each other. In business, we have seen that freedom of individuality and experience breeds inspiration and joy in watching each other thrive. You will quickly see the warmth, humor, and individuality reflected all around in the practitioners and administration at both the clinic and studio.
3. Our Hard-working BASI Students/ Teachers in Training
Teaching the BASI Pilates Teacher Training Course is one of my favorite parts of my job. I get to be a Pilates nerd—revisiting the philosophy and principles of Pilates, diving into the fine details of the repertoire, and tackling the most challenging work of all: the fundamentals. I love hearing what brought each person to deep dive into the Pilates course and what their intention is after they receive their certificate. Seeing the students evolve as they complete their practical hours after each module is truly magical. They discover internal strength and capabilities they didn’t know they had. Many go through the usual ebbs and flows of life while they are training, and it is proof every time that Pilates can support you through most anything.
4. The LMTs That Work With Us in the Studio & in the Clinic at PL
I personally see our massage therapists as a first line of defense for my own wellness, rehabilitation, or recovery. Often, they help me reach a baseline that is far better than I thought. They have taught me that bodywork is essential to wellness and that exercise alone is just one part of the puzzle. Unlocking fascia, breaking up scar tissue, and rebalancing the nervous system help our bodies to accept all forms of movement optimally, especially Pilates.
5. The Feeling I Get When I Walk in the Door
17-foot ceilings with 360 windows of light pouring in are like a secret gem in the middle of the city. When we were pushed out of our original location on Remsen Street, it took almost three years to find and build out a new space. In the midst of much anxiety about solving the issue of relocating, one of my colleagues and dear friends, Amy M, LMT, who I have worked with for well over a decade, told me of a dream she had, describing what would be the space we are in now. I laughed and said, “Where does that exist in NYC. No less in this neighborhood.”
The aesthetic is matched by my favorite people, colleagues, and community around us.
6. Our Operations Manager
I met Anastasia around the time of COVID through her close friend and fellow dance company member, with whom I also took ballet with. Anastasia cares deeply about the studio, the instructors, me, and my family. She pushes me to be better in business and to stay on top of my task lists. She wears many hats at the studio, and we can’t imagine it without her leading the way. Her warmth, pride, and hard work are beyond appreciated.
7. The Gratification We Get From Empowering Others in Their Body
This is what keeps us going. Watching our students unlock their power and strength grants them the ability to live in their bodies and take command. Hearing about positive changes and greater efficiency in people’s daily activities and sports is what truly fills my soul. It isn’t just about what happens in the studio, but how you apply it to life outside, along with the ripple effect of positivity in other areas of life. After a long day teaching, I might be tired, but I am so full from a positive exchange.
8. Watching so many individuals and entire families grow over 3 decades
I have trained pregnant women and then watched that baby go to college! I have seen people go from their 40s to their 60s and from 60s to their 80s! We get to meet and work with entire families and their friends. It’s truly inspiring to hear not only about fitness and wellness, but also about different career paths, travel journeys, family dynamics, and to support one another through life’s achievements, as well as through loss and grief.
9. Having the Privilege of Working Alongside My Husband, Dr Rudy Gehrman.
Rudy started his practice 4 years before me. When we met, he asked me what my 5-year plan was. When I told him that I just wanted to keep doing what I was doing, dancing and teaching Pilates, for the rest of my life, with the addition of someday opening a Pilates studio. The next dayhe had me talking to realtors, looking for spaces, and figuring out loans. He truly believed in what I did and pushed me forward to pursue my dream. All these years later, we have worked out a rhythm to collaborate while staying separate as businesses (probably the secret to why we are also still happily married 🙂
It hasn’t been easy going through the ups and downs of owning businesses over the years, but we can relate to each other in ways that we otherwise couldn’t.
10. Getting to Move For a Living
To many people’s surprise, when teaching, we don’t usually do a lot of movement beyond demonstrating, so we have to schedule it just like you. We have far less excuse not to get it in!
I feel I am not the best in business, but what we have built works. I am happy when I walk in the door at both of our locations, my colleagues are happy, our students are happy, and I know that we have been blessed. Being interconnected with our teachers in our Upper East Side studio, and with our partnering facility under one roof in our Brooklyn location, Physio Logic, and with our international BASI Pilates family across the entire globe…. I am honored that so many of you have trusted us with your well-being over the years and do not take that responsibility for granted.
Thank you!
FOLLOW US
For full length videos that benefit our scholarship program visit Virtualogic.earth