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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