Roberta Kirschenbaum ~ Owner, Rolates Pilates studio - 939 8th Avenue, NYC

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You know, maybe there is something to this idea of six degrees of
separation. My guest today, Roberta Kirschenbaum and I and Joe
Pilates walked the same streets in New York City and actually,
climbed the same stairs in the now famed building, 939 8th
Avenue. Without being aware of each other, Roberta and I both
took dance classes on the second floor at Clark Center not
knowing that on the same floor Joe Pilates once had his first and
only Contrology gym.

It was during a ballet class in 1984, when Roberta first heard
about Carola Trier, one of Joe Pilates disciples. Roberta had
injured her back and the studio manager suggested she go see
Carola. At that time, Roberta couldn’t afford Pilates classes and
was able to heal herself, but the buzz around the Pilates method
intrigued her and eventually she began studying with Carola.
Roberta’s story gets much more interesting! In 2005 she returned
to 939 8th Avenue not as a dancer but as a Pilates studio owner,
and incredibly for the last sixteen years has taught the
Contrology system in Joe’s original space. I’m very excited to
have Roberta here to put a cap on Season Three and to hear how
she’s helping to keep Joe’s method alive. 


For more information about Roberta Kirschenbaum:
https://rolates.com/studio

Music credit: Hot Coffee by Ghostrifter 




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