Mehg Hoffman was suffering severely with chronic neck, shoulder and back injuries from a life of athletic and sporting pursuits, and then later the rigorous demands of a career in modern dance. Mehg looked to Pilates to sustain the dance career she loved so much, but found the years of sports and dance training had damaged her body to such a degree that even standing or carrying on was not sustainable, let alone walking or dancing. She was devastated, at 28 feeling like an 80 year old.
In 1990 Mehg started working out at the Body Control studios in Sydney then run by Alan Menenzes. The recovery was not quick enough, so she trained harder, eventually teaching for the studios in order to afford the studio sessions. From 1991-94 Mehg helped manage 2 of the 3 Body Control studios and assisted Alan in training other budding teachers. Still not satisfied with her own development and with retirement from the dance world pending, she decided to go closer to the source and travelled to the States.
For 4 months trying to dance in USA summer workshops, teaching for and visiting as many Pilates studios as was physically possible, Mehg refined her personal technique and her dancing and her physical prowess was returning. Having been offered jobs with dance companies and Pilates studios, she applied for a USA working visa to stay but it wasn’t to be, so she then travelled to the UK to visit family for her first white Christmas.
Without the funds to stay in the UK, Mehg visited every Pilates studio and Modern Dance programme in London, seeking employment and again was offered several opportunities, she decided to go with the Pilates as she could feel the tremendous physical benefits and was slightly frightened of further dance injuries. Fortunately the Trevor Blount studio in the old Pineapple building in South Kensington, offered Mehg a good wage and many shifts. It was a lovely studio of a high standard with many international teachers, all of whom now run their own private studios all over the world.
Enjoying the work so much and meeting top teachers, Mehg stayed at the Trevor Blount studio for 6 years, becoming manager and again assisting in training new teachers, she was held in high regard by staff and clients. Mehg ran the studio for Trevor while he and his contempories set up the Pilates Foundation, of which Mehg was a founding member and eventually a master trainer for, up until 2007.
In 1999 Mehg started her own small studio for private tuition of only 6 or so clients. Finding this financially and workwise more satisfying she branched out on her own, and by mid 2000 the Pilates Place SW had 50-60 private clients and 2 trainees with her in Southfields London. Since then she has trained 15 teachers, 8 of whom opened studios in the UK and worldwide, employs 4 studio teachers and rents her beautiful exercise room to mat teachers and yoga teachers. Currently, 2009, sees just on 120 clients coming dedicatedly through the doors. Though Mehg and other senior TPPI members have taught in studios who work 50-60 people a day, it has been decided that quality not quantity, less clients with more attention given is a priority.
Having been a member of the Pilates Foundation for over 11 years, a master trainer with 17 years of Pilates experience, working to such a high standard, 2006 saw the start of her democratic directorship over her close associates, to form The Pilates Professionals International. By mid 2008 it had 12 members (some provisional) 3 training studios, 4 examiners, the first graduates, 3 in Finland, 2 in London and 7 trainees, and 4 associate members.
The dedication shown by Mehg and senior members has inspired and encouraged those who’ve work with them, for them or tutored by them, to also master their Pilates, not only physically and mentally but also theoretically and practically. Mehg has a way of teaching that inspires one to want to understand more, if she doesn’t know she soon will and there isn’t a great deal she doesn’t know about how to improve people’s physical potential or ability.
The Pilates Professionals International wishes to thank Sasha McLennan , Adriana Markowska and Viviane Hardy, for their constant hard work and support. These are three of the many that make the Pilates profession a worthy vocation. We also congratulate all teachers, studio owners, trainers and students, in their choice of organisation. It’s an honour to work with and for such a dedicated exemplary group of talented practitioners in the Pilates Professionals.
See members apply or location to find your nearest studio or teacher.
|
