Welcoming the World: Why We’re Pausing Client Sessions August 26–29
Gratz Reformer (I’m 7yrs old)
✨ A Rare Opportunity, A Historic Week
From August 26–29, 2025, we’ll be pausing client sessions at Lifespan Pilates NYC—not to slow down, but to do something truly extraordinary.
We’re honored to serve as the official host studio for the Romana’s Pilates International™ Conference 2025, and during these four days, we’re welcoming master instructors and teacher trainers from around the world for a week of private training, study, and celebration.
🌎 A Global Gathering in the City Where It All Began
Romana’s Pilates instructors and students from across the globe are coming together to connect, refine their craft, and uphold the legacy of Joseph Pilates and Romana Kryzanowska.
This year, that gathering takes place in New York City. And before the conference opens at the Westin Times Square, the world’s top instructors are coming to Lifespan Pilates—to teach, study, and pass on the method at the highest level.
🧠 Why This Matters—To Us, and To You
Romana Kryzanowska lived and taught in New York City for decades. Her training shaped generations of instructors.
As the only Romana’s Pilates International™ Certification Center in NYC, we are deeply committed to continuing that legacy with care and intention.
This week of advanced teacher training allows our community to:
Honor Romana's original vision
Deepen teaching standards for our students and instructors
Strengthen the global connection of Romana’s Pilates
Ensure the method lives on—with clarity and integrity—for future generations
🪄 Lifespan’s Story: Rooted in the Legacy
Lifespan Pilates was born from Romana’s world. Lifespans owners, Cynthia Shipley, a dancer, and Tasha Norman, a dancer and gymnast, both trained under Romana and her daughter Sari Mejia Santo at Drago’s Gymnasium, a renowned Pilates and gymnastics studio in NYC.
When Drago’s was sold and eventually became True Pilates, Cynthia and Tasha remained committed to the high standards they had inherited. After True Pilates West closed, they opened Lifespan Pilates on 46th Street with a singular mission:
To uphold the spirit and standards of the Pilates legacy that Romana and Sari built—and keep NYC a true home for this method.
Their decision to maintain a Romana’s Pilates International™ Certification Center in NYC is rooted in that promise. And this gathering is a powerful reflection of it.
🔁 What This Means for You
🗓️ Client sessions will be paused Tuesday, August 26 through Friday, August 29
📍 All client sessions will resume Tuesday, September 2nd
📸 Follow along on Instagram and by email for behind-the-scenes content and photos from this remarkable event
❤️ Thank You for Supporting the Legacy
We appreciate your understanding and support as we take this week to deepen our commitment to excellence and preserve the method we love.
This isn’t a break. It’s a bold step forward. A recommitment to quality, lineage, and legacy.
Thank you for being part of it.
Book your post-conference session and come experience the work that moves the world.