My Top 5 Reasons to LOVE the Annual PMA Meeting!!

It’s less than a month away from the 15th Annual Meeting of the Pilates Method Alliance and I am already so excited!!  The annual meeting is something I try to attend most years and the longer I teach Pilates the more and more I look forward to it!  There are many reasons I look forward to this fabulous yearly event.  Here’s my top 5:

1. Learning    I love to learn new things, get new ideas and just be challenged to think differently about movement and the body.  The conference is an outstanding event when it comes to taking continuing education courses with some of the best instructors and movement professionals in the world.  My clients who have been with me for awhile know I always come back from the meeting with lots of “fun” new ways to move and think about Pilates!!

Body Precision founder Beth Downey and fellow Body Precision graduates (2012 Meeting)

2. Friends   The social aspect of the conference becomes more and more important to me the longer I teach.  I started teaching Pilates in the Philadelphia area and many of my original Pilates friends and colleagues still live out East or in other parts of the country.  I love being able to reconnect with everyone!  Over the years through online Pilates business groups and social media I have also been able to connect with lots of other amazing instructors and the conference is a chance for me to connect with these friends face to face!

3. Shopping    I’m not going to lie, this is one of my favorite parts of the conference!  Usually I’m not much of a shopper but I LOVE the expo shopping at the conference!  It’s so fun to check out the latest and greatest Pilates equipment, Pilates clothing, Pilates socks, books, posters, hats, etc.   My biggest problem is having enough room in my suitcases to take everything home!

4. Pilates Classes    I love the daily Pilates class that we get to take!  Every day participants get to take a class with one of the conference presenters and they are always amazing!  As an instructor it’s always great to get to be the student and take a class!  And let me tell you there is nothing more motivating than working out next to and with 50 or more fellow Pilates instructors. (Usually by day 3 of the conference my abdominal muscles are very aware…ie they hurt when I laugh!)

5. Inspiration (my favorite reason)    There is something simply amazing about being with a thousand other people who share your love and passion for movement and Pilates!!  The energy at this yearly conference is hard to describe in words.  The incredible environment of learning, sharing, and talking Pilates truly re-lights my “fire”.  It reminds me of how amazing the Pilates work is, its reminds me how much I love being part of it and it inspires me to go home with a even bigger passion for teaching.

Cassie & I during the 2013 PMA Meeting

I’m super excited to be attending this year’s conference in Denver with fellow Pilates instructor Cassie Cumings-Peterson from Northwoods Pilates and Wellness in Ankeny, Iowa!  Here’s a picture of us from the 2013 Annual Meeting!  Be sure to follow us on social media as we share our adventures in Denver this year!!  #PMA2105 #PMADenver