During a visit to my homeland I enrolled in a Studio with a Romana certified instructor since to my knowledge there is no other classical Pilates studio. I am puzzled by sevral things: she insists on an imprinted back (i do have lower back issues), on toes for footwork she has me open my toes very wide ( 2 and 1/2 fists width), she asks for this same wide spread of toes for running which I find odd and uncomfortable. She has also asked me to take my chin to my knee while doing the tree. I usually have tried to take my forehead towards my knee as I deepen my abs. and curve my spine. Are these instructions I am getting standard in Romana's Pilates? I am puzzled as I have previously trained with Power Pilates.

Maybe she is modifying some of the exercises to accomodate your whats going on in your body. Or not,..maybe she's a certified instructor that hasn't kept up to speed with her continuing ed. This link may be helpful //theverticalworkshop.wordpress.com /2010/08/02/classical-confusion-cla rifying-the-definition-of-classical -pilates/
It's a very informative article from Shari Berkowitzs' blog (she's Romana trained and also extremely responsible and knowledgeable about current concepts of anatomy). Her blog is absolutely awesome, full of all kinds of everything you'd ever want to know about pilates and the pilates world.

Wow! A. Salomon, thank you so much for the link to the Vertical Workshop. I just read Classical Confusion: Clarifying the Difference of Clasical Pilates. All my questions have been answered. Very enlightning article. I was so confused,after reading the post I am relieved to know that my Pilates training is on the right track and that I am not alone in the doubts I had regarding the Ramona instructor style of teaching. Thank you so much!

Lali, glad you found the article helpful, 'Clarifying the Definition of Classical Pilates'. I absolutely love Romana's Pilates, because it covers only Mr. Pilates actual exercises, order and intention. That is where most of my training stems from. Shari's blog article was helpful to me as well because it reminded me that being an instructor is a responsible thing, aquiring a Pilates teacher certification is only the beginning. To become a good teacher we need to ask questions and continue to learn.

Arlene, I just read about you in your website. You are inspiring! Indeed a responsible Pilates teacher must always continue to learn.

Hello! I agree with Arlene. when she say 'maybe the teacher is modifying an exercise', and it is quite reductive to talk in 'standards' on Romana'sPilates, where instead a wide perspective is due to obtain a good teacher, that means we always have a different body to work on, still keeping the method clean and as it was designed by a genius as Mr.Pilates. Maybe that teacher meant to lenghten the back of your neck first, and then pull a little up and forward so your chin ideally goes to your knee ... we are trained very carefully and even more we are tought to be safe, stay 'in the joint' and never go out of the method! by the way: Romana wanted me to open a very wide pilates stance on my toe footwork, she said it was for me! again: depends on the body!