ABOUT ALYCEA UNGARO
Alycea Ungaro is a leading figure in fitness and wellness, renowned for her pioneering work in Pilates. She introduced early mat Pilates classes in NYC and expanded her influence with best-selling books like Pilates: Body in Motion. Alycea has trained celebrities and created innovative products like Portable Pilates™. As a licensed Physical Therapist with a Master's in Clinical Nutrition, she founded the Real Pilates Teacher Training program, graduating hundreds of instructors globally.
website : Real Pilates NYC
email : info@realpilatesnyc.com
How does your training with Romana and your early experiences influence the way Real Pilates trains teachers through the Real Pilates teacher certification program? Furthermore, how does it impact your mentoring of instructors at your studios who work with clients of all ages, physical conditions, and those with special needs?
We have to go back in our Pilates time machine to fully answer this question. My ten years studying Pilates before I ever met Romana really laid the foundation for the type of instructor I would become. Working with Romana for the next ten years gave me the depth and breadth of this incredible body of work. And because I was able to experience the work as a young dancer, and then up through pregnancy, spanning multiple injuries and multiple decades of life, I had a broad experience to pull from. I felt called to "carry the torch" of Romana's training sharing the teaching techniques and tools that she taught to me but in order to be an impactful mentor I pull a lot from my training as a physical therapist. There is a distinction between a fitness trainer and a caregiver just as there is a distinction between clients and patients. I have found that having both of these skill sets allows me to listen harder, and adapt more fully to the growing and changing needs of our community. At the end of the day, remaining a student so that I can personally keep learning allows me to stay connected to the learning process and continue to develop our education content each and every day.
Our training program is living, breathing, evolving content. We are always trying to improve our materials and our presentations so we can provide learning opportunities to the broadest pool of potential teachers. My approach has been to marry the old school paradigm with a fully academic course load, essentially doubling the learning that is offered within a comprehensive 600 hour program. Creating and improving content is how I like to spend my time as an educator. Ultimately I feel I can be of the greatest service by cultivating new instructors to go out and build the Pilates world they want to live in.
Real Pilates' certification programs have seen remarkable growth globally, offering top-notch teacher development. Can you discuss leadership challenges and strategies for maintaining program excellence across diverse locations?
"There is a distinction between a fitness trainer and a caregiver just as there is a distinction between clients and patients. I have found that having both of these skill sets allows me to listen harder and adapt more fully to the growing and changing needs of our community."
(Naomi Corti, one of Brooke's clients)
Naomi is a young, talented, powerful, professional ballerina. She found me over three years ago, and we've worked together ever since. We connect 1:1 online, always fun because she has access to various apparatus with her company facilities in NY (though they do need a Gratz Wunda Chair up there, I have to say!). She joins live classes often as well, from Mat to Chisel to Wunda Chair class when she has the space between performances and rehearsals.
*Naomi Corti, member of New York City Ballet’s corps de ballet
Her power and range areincredible, as you might expect. I'll always remember that when she cameto me, it was upon the recommendation of an older principal dancer whotold her that if she wanted longevity as a professional ballerina, shemust find a Pilates teacher she trusts! And so here we are. She's acomplete joy to work with and to know. So dedicated to her Pilates andher body care... you know, she pulls out her toe corrector as part ofher warm-up routine daily :) I'm so proud!
Looking ahead, what do you envision as the future of Real Pilates and its impact on the global Pilates community? Additionally, how do you plan to further innovate and evolve the certification programs to meet the changing needs and expectations of aspiring Pilates instructors worldwide?
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