Let me make something perfectly clear: I am not a joiner. I have never been a Girl Scout. I never really played a team sport, with the exception of boy’s soccer when I was 10 years old. I’ve never been in a book club, or part of a sorority. I’ve not been tempted to join a specific niche “group” per se, unless it was to protect animal rights and preserve the environment.

For years, I felt that egos ruled the Pilates community, speaking in diametric opposition to what the work was meant to inspire: transformation and elevation of the human spirit. In the late 90’s, after creating the first ever Pilates videos under “The Method” series, largely responsible for catalyzing the explosive wave of Pilates and mind-body fitness to the tune of over 15 million units and counting, rather than being congratulated and commended, I was rejected by my own “home” community at Drago’s, where Romana’s training program was held. Add to this, that like so many peers at the time, I had been sufficiently tormented by the trademark lawsuit, and felt that the last thing I needed was yet another group or community that could disappoint, or add more strife and stress to my life, ironically surrounding the very thing that I felt so passionate about and which had changed my life and through me, the lives of so many others.

So Why Did I Join the PMA?
After feeling burned and deeply hurt by the “communities” I had grown up in, I was understandably reticent. For years I watched and studied the PMA from afar, curious, but simultaneously resolved in my disagreement with certain policies, and disapproving of what I considered to be a standardized test that in no way could appropriately assess a Pilates instructor’s true acumen and ability. After speaking with like-minded people over the past several years, and hearing positive commentaries about the conferences and personally watching the PMA evolve, most especially in the domain of inclusion, making people from every lineage feel welcome, I decided that the time was right. Not only did I want to introduce myself to this new community, I felt especially motivated to participate in revising and improving the testing system, but just as importantly, I wanted to be that Classically trained teacher with a rich heritage, and a uniquely broad world view who could bring the energy of love to a group of people that sorely needed it. I joined the PMA because I saw it as a road to harmony, a path I feel will lead to the kind of open hearted spirit that Pilates is meant to communicate to the world. I believe that our generation today has an obligation to rise above the past and together create a peaceful, productive, transformative present and bright future, and I see the PMA as one of the more formidable conduits through which we can all accomplish this mission.

Read the rest of this entry »

Just when you thought you were free …

Repeating behavior from our past that is deeply, and darkly shrouded, conveniently tucked away in the quiet folds of our amygdala is a stealthy, sneaky thing. Like a sleeping dragon, exhaling soft curls of smoke while ensconced in a profoundly unconscious “dreaming” state, he is content to wile away the hours, snoring, waiting.

The moment our past contacts a “representative” perfectly delivered, as if the devil himself could not have done any better– from that painful history, embodied in a love choice, or a relationship of some intimate kind, all bets are off.

Read the rest of this entry »

“In Chinese astrology, Horse year is considered a fortunate year that brings luck and good things. Magical Horse has supernatural powers, is heroic, strong, and can even fly! A white celestial cloud Horse is sacred to the Chinese Goddess Kwan Yin. Her white Horse flies through the heavens, bringing peace and blessings…” from MysticMama.com

From Karen Carrasco of http://westernschooloffengshui.com/2014/01/2014woodhorse/

“After two years of feeling every revelation of corruption in the dark as if it was scouring our subconscious insides and wringing us dry of watery emotion, we are READY for this change!  Light, hope and clarity of vision gallop in. Emerge from your cocoons, everybody, here we goooooo!

There might not be a bigger shift of energies in the entire 60 year wheel of Chinese astrology than this one coming up–the shift from two Water years of deep introspection to the fast-paced spurt of extroverted forward propulsion that the Wood Horse brings.  Hold on to your hats, folks, and realize that you won’t be able to, nor will you want to, slow your horses in the New Year ahead!

Read the rest of this entry »

Yes, that’s me sitting there and smiling proudly on the cover of my 2006 release of Hot Body Cool Mind, feeling great in my then Lulu ensemble, “Deep V” tank and Groove pants, just one of countless similar outfits that graced most of my DVD covers that sit next to your tv’s, ready to go, as we speak.

Sadly today, however, I’m not feeling particularly jolly or joyful– the way I looked on my 2006 cover. I’m feeling angry and disappointed. And like some of my brave peers, I feel compelled to speak out about the truth of what has long been hiding beneath the 4-way stretch and alleged “no-stink” technologies Lululemon espouses. Something does in fact stink at Lululemon. Something is rotten in the state of fancy yoga and Pilates apparel, and he looks like this:

No, today, I am not smiling, but I am feeling damn good about two things:

#1. That unbeknownst to Mr. Chip “No rub” Wilson, the day he had his team name me Ambassador, my well-muscled, dancerly thighs did in fact not only touch, but RUB, and they still do!

#2. I am downright proud that I have thighs that touch AND rub, and I love my beautiful, curvaceous, womanly body and celebrate it!

Today, I tendered my resignation and sent an official letter to the original “Lululemon Community Team” in Philadelphia, terminating my Ambassadorship and my affiliation with the company.

Read the rest of this entry »

On Friday, October 11th, we honored our teacher, Romana Kryzanowska at the 13th Annual PMA Meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Myself, Rachel Segal Taylor, Amy Alpers, Alisa Wyatt, Alycea Ungaro, and Brett Howard each shared some of our fondest memories of a woman who not only changed all of our lives in the most profound ways, but someone who helped to realize Joseph Pilates’ original vision by moving the world with her power, prowess, wit, charm and tireless dedication.

Archival films provided by Brett Howard played silently behind us, a poignant and powerful, heart-stirring feast for the eyes, as we paid homage to our magnificent mentor performing her workouts with Mr. Pilates and alone. From her famous “Star” to the original thigh stretch, melting her spine backwards, deep into the well, rising like the sun, levitating on the chair, floating on the cadillac, Romana, in her typical fashion, flowed like liquid through the movements, making the audience quietly gasp and making us all glow with pride and reverence that will live with us in our souls forever.

I know that everyone of the 1,000-plus people in the room that day were deeply moved as we shared our love, our respect and our admiration for Romana, for when the tribute concluded and until this morning, waves of people approached, thanking us for sharing what for many, was the closest encounter with Romana they would ever know. As we toasted her at the end of the service,  it was clear that she was with us in spirit, her bright eyes twinkling, delighted to know that she could inspire new people, move them to learn the original work, and attend another wonderful party thrown in her honor with some of her greatest devotees and friends.

Following is the tribute I wrote for the occasion to bring my own memories alive, providing a special portal, a window in for those who had never had the good fortune to work with her and experience her magic firsthand.

The Keeper of the Flame

Powerhouse.  Force of nature.  Magician.  Mischievous Flirt.  Star.  Healer.  The Keeper of the Flame.

Romana was all of these things, and more.
Romana was bigger than any space she occupied.
Her being could not be contained by any four walls –she radiated beyond them.

If I could say just one thing about her it would be this: that just by virtue of her energy, her presence, who she was, she made you want to be more, she made you believe that you could be more, that you could literally accomplish anything you set your mind to, and do it with real fire, laughter, passion and joy. And believe me, it wasn’t always pretty, but it was honest, and it had velocity, dynamism, punch and power. And eventually, if you kept at it long enough, if you worked hard enough, it became second nature, it became a part of you, it became a thing of beauty.

Read the rest of this entry »

For me, the Fall has always been a time of sacred renewal, a time to take stock of the seeds we have sown and to harvest with gratitude what has grown … It is also a window of opportunity, a moment when we can embrace ourselves anew, loving ourselves for all that we are, forgiving ourselves for our mistakes, with the conscious promise to evolve going forward. But perhaps the most beautiful part of this time, when things prepare to go inside, when the leaves fall from the trees, we can emulate nature- we can be the leaves, and surrender to the inevitable cycle of life. We can stop fighting and struggling against it– go with it, the way the wind blows, and like the leaves falling to the ground, we can fall into the NOW. So when you float through the air, what color will you be? Brilliant scarlet? Bright yellow, soft russet, velvet brown? How will you fall into the now? Whatever color you decide to be, will you let yourself be all you can be in this one wild and precious life?

Love After Love

The time will come
when, with elation
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror
and each will smile at the other’s welcome,

and say, sit here. Eat.
You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you

all your life, whom you ignored
for another, who knows you by heart.
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,

the photographs, the desperate notes,
peel your own image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.
~Derek Walcott

Labor Day not only marked the end of summer, but the end of an era and was transformed into poignant tribute to the passing of two great flames in the Pilates community, my formative mentor, 1st Generation luminary, Romana Kryzanowska and the extraordinarily bright and uniquely talented, Julian Littleford.

There is an unintended, yet priceless gift that those who move on leave to us — an immediate and intimate dance with a new “presence,” the sight, the smell, the taste of what is most precious and ephemeral … here are my heartfelt letters, my tribute to two great flames who graced us with their beings, touching thousands, and changing lives, leaving the world a brighter and richer place,  for their having lived.

Romana Kryzanowska, June 30, 1923-August 30, 2013
Beloved mentor and peerless legend whose bright, indomitable spirit lives on in each of us and our teaching~thank you, Romana!

I took an entire week away from Facebook, and all social media, and I have to say it has been the best time away, maybe ever … the only thing that could have pulled me back in was this news about Romana, and in tribute to her, I have to announce to the world that I can’t stop crying this morning from the incredible memories, that special time in my young life when I first received the immeasurable gifts she gave and the vast meaning and impact that continues to unfold through her spirit, her teacher, Pilates himself, and through us, those who are dedicated to passing the torch of their remarkable legacy …

Dearest Romana~ We owe you so much, beautiful, dedicated, amazing Powerhouse! From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for changing my life and the lives of countless others~your spirit will live on in every “dance” we do on the apparatus, and through every heart we touch and every body we change through the original brilliance of Joe himself, a legacy you carried with such grace, power and passion. You were truly the first to introduce me to the idea that I was capable of more than I ever could have imagined … you have influenced the way I look at life so profoundly, and for this and so much more, I will be forever grateful. The only way to repay your immeasurable gift is to pass it on with as much passion and generosity as you brought every day, in every session, every smile, every moment. With deepest gratitude, admiration and love always~

Julian Littleford, August 14, 1960-August 31, 2013

Graceful, and giving, unique maverick spirit whose love of life inspires from beyond~thank you for your joyous dedication!

Julian Littleford was the first colleague to welcome me to San Diego a little over a year ago, and I’ll never forget his warmth, generosity and kindness, nor his great wit and devilish grin when he knew that he was making you feel muscles you maybe hadn’t EVER felt in exactly that way— I’d like to say in the “Julian Way.” And furthermore, I’d like to officially, affectionately dub him “King of the Spring!” Because no one, and I mean no one knew how to make you work a spring the way he did.

Dear Julian, you were taken far too soon, such a bright and beautiful spirit! May you shine in heaven just as brightly, and enjoy the immense freedom that awaits you no more, but receives you in boundless love. Rest peacefully, good soul. I thank you with a full heart, regrettably, not as many memories as I would have liked, and eyes brimming with tears …

May we all embrace our lives with greater appreciation and zest to honor the passing of two great flames this weekend! Romana Kryzanowska and Julian Littleford.

The soul, like the moon
is new and always new again
and I have seen the ocean
continuously creating.
Since I washed my mind
and my body, I too,
am new, each moment new.
My teacher told me one thing:
Live in the soul.
When that was so,
I began to go naked and dance. ~Lalla

Letting go. Not so easy. I don’t think any one of us ever bargains for just how hard it will be.

At some point in our lives, each one of us guards an unresolved “secret,” an issue that we delude ourselves into believing is entirely unique to us, and rather than seek counsel, share or speak aloud even in the privacy of our own consciousness, we bury it, and as a result, it perpetuates, it morphs like a chia pet on miracle grow, it mutates … The “secret,” which more often than not, is really just a construct of the doubting mind, an outward projection of what we ourselves need to “see,” acknowledge and integrate, literally becomes the monster that ate Tokyo. Now as cool as Godzilla is to watch on the big screen, tell me the truth … you really want that dude knocking around in your head?

We wonder to ourselves, how could THIS ever change? In spite of the many wonderful things that outwardly appear to be happening our lives, and in fact, often ARE happening, this thing … it keeps gnawing away at our good spirits, sapping our reserves and sucking us into the unproductive vortex of endless obsessing.

Until you suddenly discover that you do have the power to completely alter your reality– for the better.

Read the rest of this entry »

It seems a perfect night with the full moon and the first mercury retrograde of 2013 to finally pay tribute to what has already been a truly brilliant start to this new year. Why perfect on the second day of mercury retrograde? Because when mercury goes in reverse, so can we. We have another opportunity to return to what has come before, to revisit and review, and on this full moon eve, the seeds we have planted on the new moon allegedly wax full, like the moon itself, coming closer to fruition tonight. It’s also a perfect night to let fly your deepest desires and truths. Tonight is that night for me. Time has accelerated and is going faster than I ever thought possible. And I’m not sure I like it so much. Every day, I am more and more aware of my mortality. It seems that just as we become mature enough to start to enjoy life, we become acutely conscious of how very ephemeral it is. Hopefully, we learn to appreciate each moment and make the most of all we experience to honor this brief stay on earth before we depart, to live in gratitude as often as we can.

And in that spirit, I was very grateful to be asked to grace the cover of American Fitness in January and share the feature “Jennifer Helps You to Tap Into Your Waking Energy.” Immediately after, the LA Times featured my Yin Yoga clip from Waking Energy, and then to top it all off, my Waking Energy practice clip premiered on Pilates Anytime.

All told, so far, it’s been an amazing year, and it’s only just begun. Each day a new opportunity to awaken new vistas both inside and out in the world. In closing, the title of my blog tonight is “It’s About Time,” and I’m sure by now, you’ve figured out that it’s a double-entendre. It’s about time that we all wake up, and it’s about time that the year of the Divine Feminine has finally arrived– lucky “13″ when everyone on the planet is given the chance to embrace yourself, to know yourself, to move into a higher consciousness, to appreciate the life we have and make the most of it, in service to ourselves and others.

“It is the Moon who does the incarnating, just as the mother gives birth to the child.  This Virgo Full Moon helps us become aware of what our soul is here on Earth to incarnate. We’ve been at this for a while now.  Do you recognize what it is you’re called to do?  The first step is to become conscious, to Know Yourself!  Just that is a big step…” Cathy Pagano

What better way to say YES to this opening than with Waking Energy … what better way to return to yourself, to truly get to know yourself perhaps for the very first time than by waking up the energy and beauty that lives inside you?

I think it’s about time you do …

Happy Full Moon and Happy, Lucky 2013!

Jennifer

“According to Vedanta, there are only two signs of enlightenment, just two indications that a transformation is taking place within you toward a higher consciousness. The first sign is that you stop worrying. Things don’t bother you anymore. You become light-hearted and full of joy. The second sign is that you encounter more and more meaningful coincidences in your life, more and more synchronicities. And this accelerates to the point where you actually experience the miraculous”
~Deepak Chopra, Synchrodestiny

This Winter Solstice, 2012 is unlike any other before or after it in our lifetime.

12.12.12 marks the opening of the portal through which destiny beckons us to spring forth. We are being asked to cross the bridge from darkness— from old-outmoded, inhibiting, unconscious behaviors, from FEAR to light- to the creation of a new path, a new reality, a new world where LOVE reigns supreme and each one of us embraces the universal truth that we are ONE.

From 12.12.12 until 12.21.12, you are being offered perhaps the greatest gift you will ever know- the chance to manifest miracles. The stars are aligned and at the ready, waiting for you to say “YES!” Now is the time to ask yourself the question: Do you want to reach higher heights in your life, live more fully, find the courage to open your heart and vibrate at a higher level of consciousness? This portal of 12.12.12 is a gift that is based on individual participation. It is an experience that each individual must now ask and intend for. And each and every one of us must now make the effort to learn how to live in the new paradigm. If we want to go where only Love can exist, we must learn how to become Love.
The universe is conspiring to support you on this magic carpet ride into a bright and blessed future, where you will come to know your power, your light, your divinity. Will you spread your wings and take the ride? Will you embody your soul’s purpose and become a manifestor of the miracles you deeply and instinctively know await you? Will you let yourself believe that your intention and action are one and the same and that anything you truly wish for is possible?

Here in San Diego, my childhood love of owls was rekindled by a sacred visit from a native barn owl this Fall. I was deep inside a meditation and I felt a strong pull to my left. I opened my eyes to see this magnificent and awe-inspiring beauty on the top of the morning glory wall behind my house fully illuminated by the full moon, looking directly at me it seemed. I sat there for what felt like an eternity, locked in his Strigine (that means all-things OWL) embrace.

Since his sighting, I have been utterly and completely enthralled once again by my totem animal, and can’t get enough of their grace, wisdom and power. They embody so many of the qualities I prize so highly: kindness, generosity, compassion, authenticity, loyalty, creativity, independence, beauty, spontaneity, and passion. Each time I see an image of one, or am lucky enough to experience a real-life “visit,” my heart sings. This Winter Solstice is our opportunity to BE the owl, to embrace our highest selves. Join me in spirit on this magic flight and soar into the heavens while keeping your feet firmly rooted to the earth to become the very vessel for change and new growth in your life and in the lives of each person you meet.