PMA, short for Pilates Method Alliance, should bill itself as Pretty Much Awesome after this last conference in Monterey, CA.

There were many highlights this year, and the location was one of them. Not only did Monterrey live up to its hype as it was beautiful and scenic with entirely cooperative weather, but so did PMA – the conference was well organized and attended by a diverse group of instructors.

I had many conversations with first time participants who were thrilled with course offerings and opportunities to interact with presenters in intimate settings, and those who were returning showed the enthusiasm of a newbie. While the visible highlights, including a full-on beach party, were great, it was the little things that I enjoyed the most.

Having an opportunity to be the mistress of ceremonies for the group circuit workouts, I had a unique perch in which to watch some of the most skilled practitioners weave their magic. I remembered a lesson that always spurs my creativity: It does not matter your ‘tradition’ or your style. What matters most is that we are all connected by this understanding that the work we do, in our studios and facilities, every single day matters deeply to the people we touch. We make people feel better, move better, and be healthier within their skin. We all have different ways in which we accomplish this goal, yet we all achieve similar success. These conferences are as much time for affirmation as they are for learning.

Kathryn Ross-Nash at PMA 2019

What this conference affirmed for me was that as our Pilates world continues to evolve, we practitioners need to remember that curiosity, compassion, and cooperation are the very things that help us all as we reach for this primary goal.

Thank you, PMA, for providing the platform which supports the evolution, celebrates the foundation and sets an industry standard that ensures we all have the opportunity to thrive.