"Not a day goes by without Kathy's voice reminding me how to guide my clients, expand my practice, and joyously live my life"

About

The Work

I truly believe that the practice of Pilates will enhance and improve the lives of all those who seriously embrace it. But I also know that the practice must be crafted to fit each individual we are teaching, and address the whole of who they are and what they strive to be. Pilates is for everybody, as long as we understand the goals of our clients, the potential of their bodies, and the full range of options available in the system of Pilates. The end goal of the practice is to improve the lives of the people who seek out the work and embrace the journey.

For the past 28 years I have worked to deepen my understanding of movement science, functional anatomy, pain science and post rehabilitation, using the system created by Joseph Pilates and his students.

I continue to be inspired by the work of my first teacher Kathleen Stanford Grant, a student of Mr Pilates, who had both a practiced and intuitive mastery of crafting the Pilates work so it fit the needs of every student she taught. It is through her example that I continue to hone my skills and deepen my understanding of the human body, its resilience, adaptability and promise.

Pilates is much more than exercise. Its value is not in the results of a fit-looking body, but rather it produces a strong and lasting mind/body connection that allows for deeper self- knowledge. Through carefully designed protocols, Pilates will connect its students with their potential, as movers, thinkers and creative beings.

I have dedicated my career to using the Pilates system in this way to help my clients cope, thrive and achieve their goals. I continue to be fascinated by the human body and I continue to cultivate my work by being an active student. This has allowed me to develop continuing education programing that works to advance the knowledge and skills of Pilates teachers who I believe will carry the torch forward for many years to come.

Me

Movement has always been at the center of my life.

At the age of 5 I began my journey as a dancer. First tap then jazz, and then ballet, eventually falling in love with Post Modern dance forms. I graduated with a BA in Dance Theater from Sarah Lawrence College in 1988. Later I went on to earn my Masters of Fine Arts Degree in Dance, at New York University, Tisch School of the Arts. It was there that I was first introduced to The Pilates Method from the woman who would profoundly influence my life and my work, First Generation Master Teacher Kathleen Stanford Grant.

In 1993, I relocated from New York City to Boulder Colorado where I participated in the Classical Pilates Teacher Training program at the Pilates Center in Boulder, CO. It was there that I began my Pilates Teaching career. At the same time, I continued dancing in the local community, and eventually started my own dance company Still Moving Dances.

Along with teaching Pilates, dancing and choreographing, I was honored to become a member of the faculty at Naropa University, teaching in its BFA program for 15 years. It was there where my studies in mediation, dance improvisation, Buddhism and yoga became integral to my point of view as a movement educator.

In 1999 I opened my own Pilates studio in Denver, CO, which I called Pilates Aligned where my focus was to create creative and appropriate exercise protocols for all bodies no matter how limited, injured or deconditioned. Aligned proudly served clients and Pilates professional until the fall of 2020 when I closed the studio and relocated back to New York City.

As a long time and devoted student of Kathy Grant and the work that she developed, I am honored to be one of the students that carries her lineage forward. In 2012 I created and began offering The Heritage Training Program to Pilates professionals who wanted to deepen their understanding of the Grant lineage and best practices in the subtle movement training. It is in this program I pass on the work through my personal experience, exploring the techniques and skills I gained in working with Kath for many years.

I am also the Co-owner and Co-educator for Movement Science Made Simple, along with Jeremy Laverdure, NCPT, DPT. In this post graduate education platform, we are dedicated to continuing to advance the knowledge of biomechanics, motor learning and pain science for Pilates professionals and movement teachers of all kinds.

As an educator in the Pilates community, I draw inspiration from the many extraordinary teachers I have, and continue to study with. I believe in advancing this work through honoring the tradition while incorporating the current advancements in the movement and pain sciences fields. This allow me to effectively serve all the clients who enter into practice with me, be it in a studio or on the screen.

TIMELINE

2000 – present
Master Teacher, Second Generation Pilates Educator, Mentor
carareeserpilates.com

2016 – present
Movement Science Made Simple
Co Founder and Master Teacher
movementsciencemadesimple.com

2012 – present
THE HERITAGE TRAINING
Master Teacher
carareeserpilates.com/heritage-training

2000 – 2020
Pilates Aligned
Founder and Master Teacher

2013
The Pilates Legacy Project
Collaborator

Ongoing Professional Commitments

  • Teacher and lecturer at national and international Pilates conferences
  • Instructor at Pilates Anytime. the industry’s premier on-line at-home training resource for both students and Pilates professionals
  • Host to renowned professionals in all fields of movement and mind-body education
  • Virtual and on-site mentor of national and international Pilates instructors who wish to enhance their skills
  • Producer of a documentary film on Kathy Grant’s life and legacy
  • Loyal student of the top movement educators, kinesiologists and anatomists in the country

Cara Reeser Pilates Continuing Education Workshops (Legacy)

  • Pilates Protocols for Stronger Neck and Freer Shoulders
  • The Pelvis Spine Connection
  • Kathy Grant Retrospective
  • The Inner Gym: Breathing Exercises for Core Control
  • The Advanced Reformer

Read more about the workshops