Interview Julia Pauer-Magin mit Bob Liekens am 26. Mai 2009, Hamburg/Germany

Susan Moran (links) und Bob Liekens (rechts) 2010 Las Vegas Power Pilates TeacherTrainer Event

Bob, what does Pilates mean for you personally?
Everbody has to move. We live in a physical body and we have to keep that body in shape, healthy and strong. Pilates is a very good basic method which is good for everybody because it is not extremly challenging, not like some of the high impact sports. It is a very good workout-technique.

You are one of the master teachers in the pilates-world today. Does it has any special meaning for you to be tought Romana Kryzanowska who was a direct student of Joeseph and Clara Pilates?
The biggest thing for me, and that’s why I keep teaching is I got a sense of resposibility. Joe Pilates and his wife Clara created this method and when they passed away Romana and other elders continued the method. Romana was my teacher and what she stressed a lot was to really keep the method the way it was created. And if you are a Pilates-teacher, please, you have the responsibility to present the method clearly and correctly.

Does it has a meaning for you of being able to work with direct clients of Joe?
(Loughs) Yes, of course. Because you get the official story from Romana about Joe Pilates and Clara the studio and what he was doing, how he was working and what he wanted. And the there are some unofficial stories from the clients and it is very good to hear about the more human part on Joe Pilates. And also, some things Romana has said, were not exactly like some of th clients remember. But everybody remembers things differently. It definitely is very interessting.

Do you know something special about Joe and Clara as a teacher or in private atmosphere?
Of the private life we don´t know that much. But concerning teaching, Joe Pilates has created this whole thing, he was the driving force behind it. He was the founder. He created the equipment and he was very, very demanding. So it happened that he threw somebody out of the studio because they were not working his way. Then Clara Pilates, the more patient teacher and more willing to teach would run after these people to tell them “I will teach you”.

How did you get to Power Pilates and what motivates you?
I knew Howard Sichel before, because he had his chiropracticer office next door to the studio I tought. Phoebe Higgings was one of my teachers in the old studio of Romana, and when I decided to leave and join Power Pilates one reason was to find Phoebe again. Because of the fact I knew Howard before, it was easy to reestablish contact again.

How do you look at the contemporaray Pilates nowadays?
Well, I regret that it even exists, because there is only classical Pilates. Classical means that was Joe Pilates has created, it is as simple as that. Everything else is a creation of other people. I am amazed sometimes what people can create and it´s great. But when they start calling it Pilates or give other names like for example contemporary Pilates, there is no need for that. You teach Pilates or you teach somethong else.

Do you think Joe Pilates would be happy about the contemporary Pilates?
Absolutely not! Once the niece of Clara Pilates, she is still alive and in her eighties was asked during a big PMA-conference the same question. And she anwsered that Joe would not be happy because some people have changed his method so much.

What do you think a good Pilates-teacher needs?
There are a couple of things a good Pilates-teacher needs. First, a good understanding of the body in motion for working save and efficient. At the same time a good teacher needs a great sense of sharing your own experience of work, what a teacher definitely has to have. And of course a good sense of playfulness and fun. It shouldn´t be so serious.

Do you have wishes or visions for Pilates in future?
Yes, I definatly wish that the court-order could be reversed so the name Pilates would be nongeneric and we could go back and say, look:this is the method Joe Pilates has created. I really hope that the public will get educated better for quality than for that, what just comes by.

Is there a favorite quote of Joe, Clara or Romana you have?
Yes. Romana would have always stamped her foot and sai “put some gut in it”. Meaning to put some power and life to it, people tend to become wishy-washy. That is was Joe Pilates wanted: being able to live your life with zest and pleisure!

Concerning you, what do you think what you are doing right now if you didn´t become a Pilates Teacher?
Well, I started as a dance teacher. Then I was studying as a Yoga-Teacher, so maybe I would be teaching Yoga right now. And of course I like the painting and drawing, so right now I would say I would do painting and drawing.

Last but not least: if somebody wants to start praticing Pilates. What is your recommendation?
First of all, find out where the teacher became educated and especially with whom. The lineage is not that long yet, so we can see how was the connection to Joe Pilates. Like for us, we go through Romana. Other people for example go through Cathy Grant. Second, how many hours did they get trained to get certified and did they get certified at all. And you should observe the studio: take a look if all the equipment is there, not just mat-classes. And on the other hand, if the equpiment is the classic equipment.

Bob, thank you very much!