Jason's Story

I came to Pilates from a career in dance. I had spent my twenties touring with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Dance Kaleidoscope and working with several smaller companies as both dancer and choreographer. When it came time to retire from performing I had decided that Pilates would be a natural transition. I decided to move to Seattle. I had been there on tour and had fallen in love with the Pacific Northwest. There was a Pilates program there. It all seemed perfect.

When I first arrived in Seattle I began taking sessions and flirting with the idea of going through the certification program, but something was missing for me. It didn't quite fit. The studio was very dynamic and filled with great instructors, but it didn't seem to be where I belonged. I began to reconsider my decision about Pilates. That's when one of the teachers approached me and gave me the number of Dorothee VandeWalle. I was told she was a master teacher and that I should go see her.

When I first came to Dorothee's studio I was amazed by how comfortable I felt. She had a way of making me feel inspired about the work by just being in her presence. For the first time Pilates wasn't about a series of rigid rules and procedures, but it was about exercise. Challenging physical exercise. Dorothee made the system make sense to me. She made me feel as though I could do everything and do it well. I left that first session feeling excited and filled with adrenaline. I went back the next week a devoted student and I've never turned back.

Going through the certification with Dorothee at Metropolitan Pilates was wonderful. I was aware every day of how much I had to learn from her and how lucky I was to be there. The studio is so full of life with multiple sessions to observe, assist and learn from. There's almost an overwhelming amount of energy in the room. The studio employs only the best teachers who are committed to being available and helping apprentices in any way they can. This is a rewarding program that will change your life.

I currently enjoy a very fulfilling career teaching at Metropolitan Pilates. Pilates has provided me with a way to make a comfortable living doing something I'm very passionate about. I'm continually reminded how incredible Dorothee is and how very lucky I am to have studied with her. There is no master teacher better. There is no program out there that will better prepare you to be the best teacher you can become. For me, being able to teach and work in the same studio with her is a gift. It's a gift that never stops giving and I'm so very grateful for it!

Jason Ohlberg
Certified Pilates Instructor
Metropolitan Pilates

Kazuko's Story

My name is Kazuko Ikeda and I took my first Pilates lesson in 2005. I have been an athlete all my life, and represented my home country Japan in Alpine skiing events at the Nagano Olympics in 1998. I started Pilates because I was intrigued about how Pilates could change the way I use my body. After taking a few sessions, I knew I wanted to commit to a lifetime of learning Pilates.

During my ski career, I had always trained with the best—the best coaches, the best gear, the best nutrition. I had solid endorsement deals with Rossignol and I enlisted the help of top trainers from all over the world. So it was just in my nature to go seek out the best in Pilates training. I was willing to go anywhere in the world to get the best training. I was sent to Dorothee VandeWalle at Metropolitan Pilates in Seattle, Washington.

For me, the best training meant not only learning the right Pilates technique, but also to be inspired by a great teacher. Dorothee was this great teacher, and soon after I talked to her over the phone I moved to Seattle and started my apprenticeship. I loved Metropolitan Pilates from the moment I arrived. It was the best place to pursue my certification.

My apprenticeship ended up being a life changing experience. I now have a new understanding of the Pilates method and the interconnectedness of mind, body, spirit, and the world in which we live. I wish to pass this knowledge to my own students.

Kazuko Ikeda, Olympic Skier
Certified Pilates Instructor

Edward's Story

I have been intrigued by the physical and psychological potential of the human animal since I was very young. This interest led me to compete in soccer and martial arts. During my teenage years I started practicing yoga, and after training in a yoga ashram I set out to teach what I had learned. I taught yoga for ten years and injured myself repeatedly. This led me to seek other ways of achieving overall fitness. I wanted to train with intensity but wished to remain free of injury. 

On my quest for the perfect fitness regimen, I discovered the traditional Pilates method. I practiced under the guidance of classically trained teachers in San Francisco, CA, and after a while decided to pursue a teaching credential. I began asking about the best person to go to for teacher training.  The name that kept surfacing was Dorothee VandeWalle. I scheduled an appointment with Dorothee for an evaluation, flew to Seattle, and minutes into my session I knew I had found my mentor.

After graduating from the Metropolitan Pilates Teacher Certification Program, I opened my own studio, Classical Pilates Workout, in Stockton, California. I teach my clients the traditional Pilates method as I learned from Dorothee. Running my own studio is not an easy task, but it was my dream. Dorothee and Metropolitan Pilates made my dream of teaching the classical Pilates system a reality.

Edward P. Correa
Certified Pilates Instructor, Owner
Classical Pilates Workout
www.worldclassworkout.com

Scott's Story

As a dancer in the early ‘80s I was well aware of the existence of Pilates, but it was eight years ago that I truly discovered the method. I started taking Pilates four times a week and soon noticed the difference in my body. Pilates “enhanced” all the other physical activities I was pursuing. My rowing was better, my skating was more controlled, and skiing was a piece of cake. I also noticed that I had a lot more endurance. I was truly hooked on Pilates and decided that I wanted to become an instructor.

I started by pursuing a Pilates mat certification but soon realized that I wanted a full certification. The name Dorothee VandeWalle was mentioned to me many times by my clients and by my Pilates instructor. They all said that she was the best and that I would really get a great education from her. I then decided to pursue my full certification at Metropolitan Pilates with Dorothee.

Dorothee is a world-class teacher trainer who helped me refine and strengthen my skills as an instructor as well as challenge my abilities as a practitioner. By the time I completed my apprenticeship my body was well tuned. Even my colleagues at Highline Athletic Club could see the difference. Since completing my training, I have taught at Metropolitan Pilates, Momentum Dance Academy, Burien Parks and Recreation, and with Sonia Dawkins Segue Dance Company. I am now the Pilates director and lead instructor at Highline Athletic Club in Burien, Washington.

Scott Miller
Pilates Director and Lead Instructor
Highline Athletic Club
www.pilatesburien.com 
www.highlineathleticclub.com 

Adrianna's Story

I unknowingly began my Metropolitan Pilates apprenticeship with my first session with Dorothee. I arrived at Studio Dorothee in a sorry state of mind, body and spirit.  Undaunted, Dorothee introduced me to the principles of Pilates with the pre-Pilates and basic system. 

Over time, I progressed through the intermediate system and eventually began to perform more advanced exercises. After five years of study, I had made a personal transformation that included letting go of over 100 lbs. of excess body weight. When I decided to share my knowledge and experience with others, the Metropolitan Pilates Teacher Certification Program was a natural choice for me.  The program provided me with a logical and practical system to make the transition from practitioner to teacher. Especially helpful was the emphasis placed on sparing my own body undue stress and strain as I was injured in an auto accident just a few months before beginning my apprenticeship. 

I am now a certified teacher and enjoy a full client base at Metropolitan Pilates. I continue to develop and refine my skills through the excellent continuing education and teacher training seminars that Metropolitan Pilates offers.

Adrianna van Elswijk
Certified Pilates Instructor
Metropolitan Pilates