About Erika

I don’t remember the name of my first Pilates teacher, nor have I been able to track her down, but now, decades later, I realize that her teachings changed how I live my life.

I had registered for a mat Pilates class at UC San Diego while pursuing a Literature degree. After struggling with a spine injury, I hoped this movement method would support my recovery.

In my first class, our teacher mentioned that she would be speaking continuously, offering cue after cue for where to focus our attention. I understand now that this was my first experience with something like meditation; I became profoundly aware of my body in every little movement.

It turned out that Pilates offered me much more than just physical healing. What I learned was how to be deeply present with myself, my body, and my breath.