By: Kerrie Murphy | 16/09/2015

Blossom Leilani Crawford Pilates workshop

It was wonderful to see Blossom back in Australia. I felt as if we were just picking up where we had left off last time I trained with her in Brooklyn NYC 2013.

Blossom touched down in Sydney and a bunch of teachers from around Australia bunkered down at Pilates International Training Centre in Pymble, NSW, where she took us through a four day workshop exploring the teachings of Kathy Grant.

Kathy Grant was a first generation Master Pilates teacher. We call her one of the Elders. Kathy studied directly under Mr. Joseph Pilates and only one of two people who received certification from him.

Blossom had a long standing relationship with Kathy Grant, training and teaching alongside Kathy over many years until she passed away in 2010 at 89 years.

Blossom continues to teach the work with amazing intuition and knowledge while carrying the torch for Kathy’s style of teaching the Pilates Method.

Over an intensive four days with Blossom we found ourselves diving deeper into the repertoire and discovering ways it can be used as a tool to bring out the full potential of the body that it is taught to, each time drawing more of an appreciation the Pilates Method as a full body integrated system that it really is.

Interwoven throughout the work, Blossom shared with us many images Kathy had used to help find a deeper awareness and connection of the body with ease. It began through maximising the full potential of the breath and the role it has to assist in creating space in the body, relaxation, postural support and movement.

This consciousness of breath provides the mental space to remain focused on the moment and to find further precision of the work for strength, balance and ease of motion.

This workshop with Blossom brought many constant reminders of the true philosophy of the Pilates Method and a quote from Mr Pilates comes to mind.

“Moreover, such a body freed from nervous tension and over-fatigue is the ideal shelter provided by nature for housing a well-balanced mind that is always fully capable of successfully meeting all of the complex problems of the modern living” – Joseph Pilates

It is always inspiring to work with Blossom. Her style of teaching is demonstrated with such enthusiasm and joy that is very contagious!

It was clearly one of my highlights of the year and I have walked back into the Pilates studio with a keener eye, more patience and a greater joy for teaching the work of Joseph Pilates.

I look forward to spending more time with Blossom along my Pilates journey when I next travel to NYC and hopefully see her back on our soils soon.

Kerrie Murphy