Most Pilates instructors have a story that starts with a sports injury or ballet– not me! Ha! No, no, no! I was simply a wayward young millennial, broke, partying, living the city life, and feeling lost and empty. Basically, I was a mess! My soul was after a remedy. I was praying for a change, a spark, something that would keep me on track– a way of life.

I was 21 years old, living in San Francisco California, working full-time, and in and out of school. As an intelligent gal with different talents and interests to pursue, I felt lost in the options. There were many professions I could see myself being successful and happy in, but which one? I knew whatever it was, it needed to have a few elements for me to go for it:

• it had to keep me active physically
• it needed to be truly beneficial to my customers, if not life-changing
• it needed to keep me intellectually engaged
• it had to be artful and scientific
• it needed to provide me valuable expertise that I could share

What in the world would that be? Enter my then room-mate, Danielle. We were wine-ing one evening, discussing my search for the perfect career. She could see I was lost, depressed, and in need of some guidance. She peered over her glass at me and said, “Why don’t you be a Pilates instructor? They’re active, they help people, and it’s a technical skill. You could at least do that while you’re in school for something else, and make more hourly than you do elsewhere.” I was relieved! Perfect! I’ll do that! And off I went.

Yes it literally went like that. I was so happy just to get an answer to my plaguing question, that I was willing to follow any decent sounding suggestion. Thank God for Danielle G!

I moved to sunny San Diego and pursued a certification through Chakra Pilates, a Pilates Method Alliance approved school. While I was there, I thought, “Well okay, this isn’t it for me, but it’ll do for awhile until I know what I’m really going to do.” Plus, the way the exercises in my program were being taught, I was starting to develop chronic pain in my hips and back.

One day, a Romana’s Pilates instructor, Moses Urbano, came to our school to give a workshop. He got us all in one room and put us on the Reformers. I was familiar with the exercises he was presenting, as they were taught in our school, but they were somehow different. He was different. He had a true knowledge of the exercises from a foundational level, to the the pinnacle of the movement. His understanding and ability to produce results in us was astounding. The work itself felt different- it was hard, Hard, HARD! It was completely mind-blowing. “OHHHHHH! THIS is Pilates! Pilates with a capital P!” My fellow trainees and I looked at each other wondering why it was so different; and wondering how we could get more of it.

I began teaching in 2012, graduating in 2014 from Chakra Pilates, but immediately started studying with Romana’s Pilates instructors once the workshop ended. Romana’s Pilates instructors were the real McCoy, so-to-speak. The positive results I received from working the real System were overwhelming: physically I looked great, felt strong and put together; I felt more calm and happy; the chronic pain had subsided; and I felt proud of what I was able to achieve physically in my sessions– again, this stuff ain’t easy! I wanted to share this wonderful gift with everyone. It did so much for me. It made me overflow with a passion for this work. This was the “it” I was after for so long.

In 2018 I entered the Romana’s Pilates Instructor Training Program in Seattle, Washington under the guidance of Lauren Stephens. Due to unforeseen circumstances, I relocated to Vancouver, Washington and completed the program under Master Trainer Roxane Richards-Huang (She spent 10 years teaching at Romana’s side). I graduated in 2020 with high marks from Grand Master Sari Mejia-Santo (Romana’s daughter, and 1st generation instructor under Joseph Pilates). I was so proud, and am still proud to come from the Harvard of Pilates training lineages– direct from the source.

Pilates ultimately gave me hope for my future- not just my body. Pilates is what keeps me balanced, not just in shape. Pilates restores me, and inspires me. It’s deep work that can be felt on many levels: spiritually, mentally, and physically. Pilates filled the hole in my heart where my life’s work was to be. I’m happy to report it’s been beating happily, and passionately ever since.

– Rachael Shuford, your Pilates Apostle