A Pilates Journey Through Movement, Loss, and Resilience
By Tracey Katona
I know my body.
Movement has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. At five years old, I asked to be put in dance school because I was going to be a professional dancer—that was never a question in my mind. I went on to become a professional ballet dancer, teacher, and choreographer. I practiced Pilates throughout my career to cross-train, prevent injury, and stay strong.
How I Fell in Love with Pilates
I fell in love with the work after studying with Anthony Rabara, Master Romana’s Pilates Teacher Trainer, and eventually became a certified Romana’s Pilates teacher myself. Understanding movement has always been my life’s work.
How Katona Pilates Began
Katona Pilates began at Nike’s world headquarters, where I launched my brand while working with professional athletes and Nike employees. As I continued to grow, I knew I wanted to offer the full breadth of Romana’s Pilates on Gratz apparatus in a space of my own.
I started small, with just a few loyal clients and a deep belief in the method. Little by little, Katona Pilates grew—through word of mouth, hard work, and a clear mission: to offer authentic Romana’s Pilates in a fully Gratz equipped, welcoming studio. It’s become a place where people heal, grow, and return to themselves—and I’m incredibly proud of that.
Why I Started Naming My Reformers
I started naming my Reformers about ten years ago when I first opened Katona Pilates. Back then, I had three reformers and people often didn’t know which one to get on — so the first one got a name: Zsa Zsa Gabor. I always loved the Gabor sisters’ glamour and drama, so it just fit.
When I bought two black Reformers after that, they naturally became Man in Black, Johnny Cash. Then I added a shorter 80-inch reformer with a rubber bumper — so of course, that pair became Johnny and June Carter Cash.
Right around the time I lost my dad, I bought another black reformer and named it Larry, after him. A bit later, I bought a brown Reformer from a colleague in Seattle and named it James Brown. By then, it had really become a “thing” in the studio — and clients loved it.
I’ve kept it going ever since. There’s a purple one named Prince (for “Purple Rain,” naturally), another black one called Elvis because I just love Elvis, and an 80-inch gray reformer we call Dolly because she’s a little shorter — and just as fabulous.
One of my favorite moments was when I made a joke in the studio about Zsa Zsa. A client climbed on and groaned, and I teased, “Oh, Zsa Zsa is just being extra today — she’s feeling precious.” And that’s really the spirit of it — each reformer has its own vibe, its own story, and its own little piece of the studio’s heart.
Recognizing the Change in My Body
When something felt “off” in my body a few years ago, I knew it. I couldn’t explain it, but I wasn’t myself—emotionally or physically. I chalked it up to grief and pandemic stress. But it didn’t pass. My body began to betray me—first, I couldn’t run anymore. I couldn’t dance anymore. Then walking became painful. My Pilates practice, which had always been my anchor, started to shift. Exercises I once did with ease became too painful. My Romana’s Pilates teacher at the time noticed it too. I was heartbroken.
After a year of misdiagnoses, a new doctor ordered an MRI. That scan changed everything: a tumor over 9 cm long on my spinal cord, plus a second one—a rare condition called Myxopapillary Ependymoma with drop metastasis.
Things moved fast. I had a 12-hour spinal surgery where the surgeon removed about 70% of the tumor before I lost feeling in my left leg. I was under anesthesia and they could see my leg went dead as they were doing nerve testing throughout. He had to stop. When I awoke, I was in shock, in pain, and entering the most difficult chapter of my life.
Surgery, Setbacks, and Recovery
Within weeks, I had two more surgeries: one to remove a serious staph infection, another to take out the hardware that had become compromised. Three major back surgeries in under a month. Then came inpatient rehab, home health care, a PICC line, and 30 rounds of radiation.
As some may know, after you complete radiation to celebrate you ring a bell. I decided after 6 weeks of radiation, to choreograph a dance to “Ring My Bell” that my care team performed!
My mom came to stay with me “for a few weeks.” It turned into eleven months.
The Romana Pilates Community That Carried Me
What also carried me through was the Romana’s Pilates community. They saved my studio. Teachers from around the country and the world showed up for me—literally. They flew in and taught my clients so the studio could stay open while I was out.
Rebuilding With the Pilates Method and the Equipment
One of the first was my dear friend Rodrigo Mayer from Brazil. He believed in me before I believed in myself. When I couldn’t lift my leg, he placed me on the Gratz Reformer and helped stimulate movement. He gave me small, focused exercises—including ones to help strengthen my arm, which had been weakened by months of having a PICC line. We used the Gratz Cadillac to gently rebuild range of motion and control. The equipment gave me both structure and freedom—two things I desperately needed in those early days of recovery.
Now, I work weekly with Roxane Richards Huang (Rocky), Master Teacher Trainer in Romana’s Pilates. She rebuilds my posture which suffered due to the removal of my lumbar spinal processes, retrains my alignment, and wakes up my still-numb leg. She uses every bit of her knowledge—and the precision and integrity of Gratz equipment—to help me feel strong and whole again.
My Favorite Piece of Gratz Apparatus
The Cadillac. It’s so versatile—you can stretch, strengthen, hang, stabilize, and support nearly every part of the body. During my recovery, the Cadillac became my lifeline. It allowed me to reconnect to my body gently but powerfully while supporting me and I continue to discover something new about myself on it every day.
What Pilates Gave Back to Me
Image drawn by the daughter of one of Tracey's clients who was often in the studio while her mom practiced with Tracey.
Pilates has been a lifeline. My Romana Pilates colleagues, Gratz apparatus, and this brilliant method have sustained me—physically, emotionally, spiritually.
I don’t know what my physical future holds—no one does. But I do know this: they told me I’d be in a wheelchair for the rest of my life. I’m not. I’m walking—imperfectly, but proudly—and I’m teaching. I’ve relied on every part of what we teach in Romana’s Pilates: intelligence, will, imagination, memory, and intuition. These five parts of the mind have guided me in unison with the physical exercise.
I’ve always found myself through movement, and I am again. This body may be unfamiliar in many ways, but I’m learning to meet it with curiosity, respect, and care.
So I say,
“Hello new body. Nice to meet you. Let’s get to know each other better—because we have work to do.”
About Tracey
Tracey Katona is a certified Romana’s Pilates instructor, former professional ballerina, and owner of Katona Pilates. Known for her sharp eye and deep understanding of movement, she has worked with elite athletes, celebrities, and organizations like Oregon Ballet Theatre and Canyon Ranch Spas. Her passion lies in helping people move with control, strength, and grace through classical Pilates. Tracey proudly exclaims that Romana Pilates saved her body and her studio which she is grateful for each day.
15 Responses
Elise Legere
July 14, 2025
I am so incredibly proud of you and inspired. Your will, determination and focus is an example for all.