Pilates Round Table

Their “oh my!” moment occurred after returning to the US to attend graduate school at Columbia University.  Intoxicated by the energy of the NYC dance and theater scene, the two re-embraced their love for dancing and began attending classes again.  The girls’ first day in front of the mirror in leotards and tights was shocking!  More than the five to ten pounds they had added to their small frames, Kimberly and Katherine were baffled by the changes the years had brought about in posture, muscle balance and proportions.  And that was BEFORE they started moving!  Their brains remembered ballet technique, proper lines, head placement, etc., but their bodies seemed to have been re-wired somehow and would not (could not!) execute moves properly!

But these tenacious twins have always been fighters, they have always been driven and they have always loved a challenge.  They knew that with the right knowledge of anatomy and biomechanics, the right amount of patience and the right amount of perseverance, they could dance again.  During their internships at the Central Intelligence Agency, the two exercised their brains during work and their bodies after work!  They created a system for stretching and strengthening muscles, and most importantly, rested when necessary.  Like anyone who has ever set and met a goal, they made a plan and followed it diligently. 

Fast forward two years and Katherine and Kimberly effortlessly performed eye-high kicks on the magnificent Radio City Music Hall stage as Radio City Rockettes!  Thus, they firmly believe if they can return to a once lost level of fitness and poise, then so can you!

Their eagerness to help others drove them to open Pilates on Fifth in Manhattan and realize their dream of creating a beautiful, inspiring facility where every one feels welcome and every one feels he/she can reach his/her personal goals.  Kimberly and Katherine had discovered Pilates while dancing in the international tour of a Broadway show and found this exercise system to be the most effective for improving posture, balancing muscle groups and strengthening the core.  With certifications in Pilates, CARDIOLATES®, ActivCore®, GYROTONIC® and personal training through ACE and NASM, they are confident guiding others to greater fitness.  After nearly ten years in business, the pair is delighted to say their clients represent all walks of life and have achieved goals ranging from running marathons to touching their toes, to picking up grandkids!

For the last few years, the tireless twosome has been committed to helping the world outside New York!  Their certification program, the Pilates Academy International, has satellite centers throughout the world, all of which are dedicated to continuing their spirit of “every body can be a ‘Pilates body!’”  The ladies launched the Pilates on Fifth video podcast in June 2007 and a Pilates video website, UltimatePilatesWorkouts.com, in October of 2008.  To bring the Pilates community together for a day of fun and games, Katherine and Kimberly successfully created and hosted the first “Pilates Olympics” in May 2010, which seems to have started a trend in the Pilates community!  Committed to keeping things fresh and new for themselves and their clients, these international business women turned dancers turned entrepreneurs continue to keep their eyes open for exciting prospects in the future.