My mother always said, "Choose a profession that you love, and you'll never have to work." When I graduated high school, my English Honors teacher asked what I wanted to do and I said, "Dance!". She shot back with, "What are you going to do for money?". I graduated Queens College with a B.A. in Dance in 2001. Part of the reason I went to Queens College is because they were supposed to have "Dance Therapy" as a Major. I wanted to major in Dance and minor in Art so I could also do "Art Therapy". Well, Dance Therapy was never available, and I didn't end up minoring in Art. Although, we did learn different body techniques in a class called Dance Analysis. That's where I learned about Pilates, Trager, Cranial-Sacral, Alexander and Feldenkrais. I really enjoyed Pilates and Feldenkrais and decided to go with Pilates, as it was a little more well known and the certification process was not as lengthy. I figured I could make money and support myself so I could do performance dance. I didn't realize that I would fall in love with Pilates.

In the midst of my early teaching, I always said that I was a way better healer than an instructor. I also had an acquaintance once say, "You must be a good teacher if you're a healer". Little did I know? For one, I felt like Pilates' wealth of knowledge was still so far out of reach. And, I always had to deal with clients that were "hard to deal with" or "The Delicate Flowers", as Sari called them. I felt more of a therapist than someone who knew your body and gave you a good workout. Thank God I knew Pilates gave them a workout, regardless of how I felt about my teaching abilities. When I look back, I can clearly remember that those who were in need spiritually, emotionally, mentally and physically were always drawn to me to talk. And funnily enough, in my last session with Romana, we talked about Heaven and crossing over. Very interesting looking back. Romana knew she was intuitive. I was still learning.

It's only in recent years that I realize my life has been a work in progress to excel me into my God given role as a Healer. Like most Gen X-er's, my early life was ridden with trauma. My whole adult life has been the breakdown of trauma so that I may relay my own personal healing to help others. I went through college and my Pilates training reliving these traumas as lessons so that they may be healed, unknowing. I started seeing a Shaman Healer when I was in my early twenties. I would see her when she visited New York. She was a crucial stepping stone on my road to healing. A path that was unraveling as I journeyed forward.

In the midst of taking care of my mother with Dementia, I knew I was on a healing journey. As it unfolded, I learned lessons at a fast rate. At the time, however, it didn't feel fast enough! While teaching at a Pilates studio on Long Island, I met a spiritual friend who mentioned Pat Longo. I had just finished reading "There is a River: The Story of Edgar Cayce", and I knew I was supposed to be a healer. My friend mentioned that Pat was teaching but wasn't sure of the details. Pat holds a Psychic Fair a few times a year, and I decided to go. A month later, I was sitting in Pat's class! And learning to develop my gifts has been my journey ever since.

I have been teaching Pilates for over twenty years now. And without knowing it, I have also been healing. With my knowledge and experience thus far, I bring to you Pilates in a way that stays true to its purest form. While keeping the original method, the intuitive part has been enhanced so that it may have healing capabilities further than we have seen so far. I bring to you, Empathic Healing Pilates. I know my mother is looking down, smiling. She is proud I took her words to heart.

Romana Kryzanowska, Sari Mejia Santo

Pat Longo

• Love
  
  
• Intuition-Healing-Psychic Awareness
  
  
• Each of us is “Unique”
  
  
• Being mindful of using words/phrases
  
  
• Self-Love