For two days in October, Pilates professionals from around the world gathered to demonstrate their commitment to the teachings of Joseph and Clara Pilates. The conference and gala marked the 25th Anniversary of the Pilates Method Alliance (PMA).
The success of the event has led the PMA to schedule its next conference in the same venue, West Palm Beach Atlantic University, for October 23-24, 2027. As a board, this year’s conference left us with a feeling of gratitude.
Gratitude for everyone who travelled to be there. For every presenter who shared their knowledge with generosity. For the people who helped build the PMA from day one, and those discovering their place within it today. And for the opportunity to celebrate this milestone in the United States, where our association began.
Twenty-five years ago, the PMA brought people together around a shared purpose: to support the Pilates profession, strengthen educational standards, and preserve the depth and integrity of the method as it reached more people. That commitment continues today, across different schools, lineages, and approaches to teaching.
In West Palm Beach, we had the privilege of reconnecting with those who remember the PMA’s earliest days, who contributed to its development, and who have spent decades teaching, questioning, and caring for this work. Their presence illustrated how much of our profession rests on people choosing to contribute something beyond their own studios.
The international character of the gathering made that feeling even stronger. Participants travelled from Europe, Canada, the Middle East, and many other parts of the world to learn alongside colleagues in the United States. Every journey represented an investment of time, energy, and trust. To everyone who made that commitment: thank you.
The educational programme gave the participants plenty to explore. Classical repertoire, biomechanics, clinical applications, teaching methodology, research, and the realities of running a sustainable Pilates business all had a place in the conversation. The breadth of expertise was remarkable, as was the willingness of experienced educators to share the thinking behind their work.
Our presenters invited participants to look more closely, ask purposeful questions, and reconsider familiar movements. Teachers became students again. Professionals with decades of experience continued learning alongside those earlier in their careers. For many of us, sharing a room with people whose work we have admired for years was a highlight. Having the chance to move with them, ask questions, exchange ideas, and continue a conversation beyond the workshop made the experience deeply memorable.
Together, we questioned the direction our industry is taking and explored how we can preserve the integrity of the method while welcoming thoughtful progress.
Science also had a meaningful place throughout the weekend. We explored how research can inform teaching, how to engage critically with evidence, and how practitioners can contribute to a stronger understanding of Pilates. We are grateful to the educators and researchers who continue asking difficult questions and connecting movement practice with scientific inquiry. Their work helps our profession develop with curiosity, care, and accountability. We also thank the National Pilates Certification Program (NPCP) for its participation and its contribution demonstrating the accord between the PMA and the NPCP.
Saturday evening’s Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony at The Ben gave us time to celebrate the people behind that work. Our anniversary honorees were Mary Bowen, recognised for Legacy and Lifetime Achievement; Brent Anderson and Ken Endelman, for Innovation and Advancement; Sarita Allen, Kyria Sabin, and Daria Pace, for Lineage and Continuation; and Shelly Power, for Leadership and Professional Excellence.
Honoring them gave us a moment to reflect on how knowledge travels: through preserving the original teachings of Joseph Pilates through mentorship, relationships, and the patient work of passing something valuable to the next generation. Their contributions connect our community to its history and continue to influence the future of our profession.
Our thanks also go to the sponsors and exhibitors who supported the weekend: Active Pilates, Anita Horry Academy, Balanced Body, bsport, CoreSpring, Elina Pilates, Insure Fitness Group, Morpho Water, MoveActive, Natural Pilates, OsteoStrong / Health Meets Wealth, and Polestar Pilates. Their participation helped bring this gathering to life and gave attendees opportunities to connect with the organisations serving our profession.
To our volunteers, organizers, staff, fellow board members, and everyone working behind the scenes: thank you for the care that made the experience possible.
And to every participant: thank you for what you brought into the room. Your questions, enthusiasm, openness, and commitment were as much a part of this convention as anything on the programme. The days spent together are difficult to capture in a photograph or a recap. They are also exactly why we gather and plan for next year’s return to West Palm Beach.
We are already looking forward to being in the room together again, and to moving forward together through the next 25 years celebrating and upholding the work of Joe and Clara Pilates.
The Pilates Method Alliance Board of Directors
