Methodical, intuitive, hard-working and above all faithful to her teachers and contrology, Romana Kryzanowska is an iconic figure in the world of Pilates. With a career marked by discipline and deep respect for the philosophy and teachings of Joseph Pilates, Romana not only became the undisputed heir to this revolutionary method, but also played a crucial role in the preservation and dissemination of the original Pilates technique. Pilates worldwide. His legacy lies not only in his technical mastery, but in his ability to transmit the essence of this methodology, keeping alive the purity of a system that continues to transform lives.
Who is Romana Kryzanowska?
Romana Kryzanowska, born in Michigan in 1923, was a woman whose destiny seemed intertwined with art and bodily expression from her earliest years. The only child of the married couple Roman Kryzanowsky and Sari Pickett, both renowned painters, Romana grew up in an environment where creativity and artistic dedication were fundamental pillars.
From an early age, she showed a natural inclination towards dance, a discipline that would later take her to New York, where chance led her to meet Joseph Pilates. This encounter not only transformed her career, but also marked her as Pilates' main disciple and successor, establishing her as one of the most influential figures in the development and teaching of this method.
How is Romana Kryzanowska introduced to the Pilates Method?
At the age of 19, when she was a student at the School of American Ballet founded by the well-known dancer and choreographer George Balanchine, she suffered an ankle injury that prevented her from continuing to dance. That is why Balanchine himself, who had been going to Joe Pilates' Studio since he practically arrived in the United States, directed her there, convinced that his system of exercises would be the alternative to her recovery, thus trying to avoid surgery, which in those days could not be very successful. And that is how Romana met Joseph Pilates and contrology, out of necessity.
Initially, Romana did not have much faith in her recovery through the method. Even more so when that man Joe made him do exercises that were not specific to his ankle. He thought he was crazy, but after a few sessions he noticed that the swelling had gone down and the pain had subsided. In addition, he began to notice a different sensation when dancing, with more balance, strength and control.
Romana Kryzanowska and the Pilates Method
From that moment on she became aware of the greatness of contrology having experienced it in her own body and became a faithful devotee of Joseph and his method.
In 1943, after attending the studio daily and disciplined, she began to work as a teacher with Joe and Clara. Although she soon married and emigrated to Peru for a period of 14 years, she continued to keep in touch with Pilates.
In 1958 she returned to New York and with it to Joe and Clara's studio, where she resumed her work as a teacher and remained with them until their deaths.
Joseph Pilates chose Romana Kryzanowska during his lifetime as his successor and heir to his methodology and after his death, Romana received the legal inheritance of the legacy from Clara Pilates and the Pilates Foundation For Physical Fitness in 1970.
For decades she worked tirelessly to keep that legacy alive, teaching both clients and teachers the method as Joe created it. And in 2013, having retired some time ago, she passed away at the age of 90, we believe she was proud to have been able to perpetuate the legacy we know today because of her.
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