Your Teacher

Meet Mary Liz

Mary Liz has been involved in the world of movement education for over 29 years. With her affinity towards “Contrology” (the study of control) — the original philosophy and movement method created by physical culture pioneer Joseph Pilates —she teaches bio-mechanically efficient skills for physical fitness, movement, functional motor skills development, and injury prevention, drawing constant inspiration from her ongoing studies and work with varied experts in the field of Pilates.  She is a Certified Pilates Practitioner through Polestar Pilates, a Master Pilates Instructor, and serves as a mentor for new and established teachers. Her studio apparatus work includes and encompasses repertoire designed for the Studio Reformer, the Trapeze Table (Cadillac), the Combo Chair, the Reformer/Half Trapeze Table, Tower, and the Ladder Barrel. Joseph Pilates' original mat work is essential to her studio program.

Mary Liz is deeply passionate about her work as a Pilates Practitioner and the history of Joseph Pilates.  Her knowledge and interpretation of the material is superb and her work as a teacher is highly recommended.  With the objective to teach a broader context to exercise and action, her attention to detail is paramount.  She educates her clients of the certain criteria found in creating functional and strong movement. Strength verses control, classifying movement, and learning the unique and ingenious use of both gravity and springs for resistance. A constant throughout her brand’s history has been Mary Liz’s desire to stay true to her brand and studio concept by remaining the single full-time practitioner in the studio.  With emphasis on identifying client need,  Mary Liz is fully immersed in the philosophy and technique of this system. Her signature teaching style offers her clientele her complete attention, and she adapts the method to fit all of those whose lives she is so privileged to touch.

Let Mary Liz reshape your body and empower your mind.  Through this effective mind-body practice, she’ll inspire you to live a better, healthier lifestyle. Your success lies in the connection you share with Mary Liz and the day to day consistency in training she shares with you.

One of the most respected educators in her field, Mary Liz is committed to introduce to her clientele the most creative approaches to teaching, learning and performing the Pilates repertoire. Drawing clientele from Denver, Castle Rock, Cherry Hills Village, Golden, Greenwood Village, Highlands Ranch, Littleton, Lone Tree, the Lowry and Stapleton Denver neighborhoods, Monument, and Parker, Colorado - Mary Liz's engaging teaching style, and pure delight for teaching, significantly contributes to teaching others how to create and maintain healthy, balanced bodies.

Mary Liz's Journey

Mary Liz' journey with Pilates began in 1997.  She discovered Joseph Pilates' original mat work and was hooked and inspired to learn more.  She earned her Pilates certification status with Polestar Pilates in 2002. This internationally recognized and rigorous Pilates training program included a written and practical exam, required lectures, and observation and practice hours. Her apparatus work includes and encompasses repertoire designed for the Studio Reformer, the Trapeze Table, the Combo Chair, the Reformer/Half Trapeze Table, Tower, and the Ladder Barrel.

In the fall of 2000, Mary Liz established "A Pilates Practice," teaching private and group apparatus sessions in Pilates studios located in Littleton and Highlands Ranch, Colorado. She settled into her new business location in Highlands Ranch, Colorado in August of 2003. Her business quickly grew, and she opened a full apparatus Pilates studio in Centennial, Colorado in December of 2004.

She augments her Pilates expertise by integrating philosophies shared in her practice with Pilates, and Iyengar Yoga, while upholding dynamics and preserving old-world Pilates philosophies as taught by Joseph and Clara Pilates. With this collective movement approach, Mary Liz has an engaging teaching style. Her goal is to teach the Pilates repertoire with precision and clarity, and create a program that maximizes challenge and offers versatility to advance her clients through each level of their Pilates practice with seamless transition. Her cueing strategies are designed to ultimately encourage sustainable results that suit each of her clients' Pilates-based movement needs.

Mary Liz attends quality continuing education courses, conferences and weekend workshops in various cities taught by the top educators in the field of Pilates. She takes these unique opportunities to expand her knowledge, network with other Pilates professionals, and learn from the best of the best in this field. With an attendance that spans several years at conferences presented by such leaders in the field as Rael Isacowitz, Moira Merrithew, Elizabeth Larkam, Marie-Jose' Blom-Lawrence, Julian Littleford, and respected First Generation Teachers of the Pilates Method Alliance (PMA), Mary Liz' attention to detail is outstanding. Greatly influenced by Julian Littleford's work, Mary Liz has attended several workshops taught by Julian and has been to Del Mar, California to visit with Julian in his Southern California studio, taking private sessions with this premier educator and internationally known instructor.  She is always grateful for the time she was able to spend with Julian.

For that New York point of view, Mary Liz joined Siri Dharma Galliano, one of the leading Pilates trainers in North America and Europe, via her Live Arts Pilates Studio in West Los Angeles, for a Classical Pilates intensive training weekend in Big Bear Lake, California, in September of 2007. Siri is a renowned "New York Pilates" instructor who specializes in working on location in featured films such as "The Matrix" and the "Kill Bill" films, and has sculpted bodies of celebrity clients such as Sting, Jessica Lange, and Madonna. Mary Liz was also among veteran instructors, all certified by Joseph Pilates' protege and Master Pilates teacher Romana Kryzanowska. Mary Liz also joined continuing education courses in Classical Pilates with Jay Grimes, Kathryn Ross-Nash, MeJo Wiggin and Dorothee Vandewalle. Connecting with some of the leading teacher trainers, Mary Liz was selected to partake in a grueling private session with Jay Grimes, who studied with Joseph Pilates for 2 years and then with Clara Pilates for another 10 years. She experienced Joseph Pilates' work as he meant it.