Romana Kryzanowska, a.k.a. “The Grand Dame” of Pilates, was and still is the world’s most prolific Pilates instructor to have ever lived. She was born in Farmington, Michigan on June 30, 1923, to an aristocratic and artistic family lineage. She was an enthusiastic, talented ballerina, both as a child and young woman, who at 16 years old found herself studying with the great George Balanchine at George Balanchine’s School of American Ballet.

Just like many ballerinas before and after her time, she acquired a ballet-related injury to her ankle while working with Mr. Balanchine. Surgery was the course of action offered by her physician, but her teacher and mentor, George, had another idea. George had seen great success with Joseph Pilates’ system of exercise, Contrology, with other ballerinas at his school, and personally delivered Romana to Joe’s studio. Joseph believed he could help Romana, and so she agreed, and history was made.

Romana began her studies with Joseph and his wife Clara, in 1941. She not only improved her ankle, but she realized that her proficiency in ballet was greatly improved also. She was a dedicated student, and quickly became an assistant in his New York studio. In 1944 she was married, and moved to Peru where she bore children, and taught them the Contrology System of Exercise. Her daughter Sari had developmental issues in her legs, and Joseph even invented an exercise “The Sari” to help her rehabilitate the disfunction. This rehab was successful. Romana kept in touch with “Uncle Joe and Aunt Clara”, and traveled to New York from Peru to visit them regularly. He referred to her children as his “Pilates babies”.

Romana returned to the States in 1958, and worked at Joseph’s side until his passing in 1967. She continued studying and working with Clara Pilates for 11 years after that. Upon Clara’s passing, and according to Joseph’s Last Living Will and Testament, Romana inherited his studio and his life’s work, as he felt, “she [understood] it best”. His dying wish was, in fact, that Romana would continue his legacy and proliferate his brilliant systematic work world-wide. That was a wish Romana dutifully fulfilled as his “unquestionable protegé”, and so the legacy continued. For 60 years Romana traveled the world educating devotees, teachers, and novices alike about the amazing benefits of Joseph’s work. She honored his dream and spread his vision far and wide.

Romana left this world on August 30, 2013. Today, Romana’s Pilates is the world’s oldest, most authentic, and most esteemed Pilates educational center in existence, thanks to her hard work and dedication to the true practice of Pilates. The legacy continues on the shoulders of Romana’s daughter and granddaughter, Sari Mejia-Santo and Daria Pace, respectively; as well as the hand-selected Master and Grand-Master instructors that diligently and masterfully train those with the calling to teach. Romana’s Pilates is renowned for producing the world’s finest and most sought after Pilates instructors, trained in the authentic Original Method developed by Joseph Pilates. We proudly uphold the lineage and standards of excellence delivered by the brilliant creator, because his unedited and unadulterated Method works perfectly for any body. It is this Original Method that produces the results that Pilates is known for, and it is Romana and her family the world has to thank for tirelessly spreading and maintaining this truly miraculous System of Exercise.