Description
Product Description
Carola Trier was the very first pupil of Joseph Pilates to open her own Studio in New York City, with his special blessing to carry on his work. Carola taught and trained countless students for over 30 years, and trained many Pilates students. On this DVD, learn how she came to meet Joe, and how her own teaching and special approach to the work evolved. Shot in Tarzana, California in 1989 after her retirement in 1988, this rare footage of Carola in action is all that we have left of her tremendous contribution to Pilates’ legacy. Areas of Focus: – New Introduction by Jillian Hessel, student of Carola Trier – Interview with Carola including background information – Carola’s Posture Analysis, including new footage from Carola’s book – Breathing, including new footage and explanation by Jillian Hessel – Matwork – Spine Corrector – Reformer – Cadillac – Auxiliary Equipment – Final Interview and Farewell
Review
Carola Trier forms an invaluable cornerstone of who I am as both a Pilates teacher and a professional business woman. She taught me so much, and she remains a tremendous and inspiring role model for us all. I am extremely proud to have had the opportunity to rework this archaic footage. I have added background information about Carola and her book, as well as navigational buttons and chapter headings. The sound and picture quality are boosted to the best of modern standards. I believe the quality of instruction and educational information offered in Carola’s own words on this DVD are enough to overcome any of its’ technical shortcomings, and I hope you will agree this is a DVD every Pilates teacher should view! –Jillian Hessel
About the Actor
Carola Trier was born in Frankfurt Main Germany in 1913 and passed away at her home in New York City in 2000. Her teaching lives on through countless Pilates students and teachers who worked with her. Carola was a German-born dancer, acrobat, and roller skating contortionist. She endured hardship as a German Jew, and was lucky to escape from a Nazi-run detention camp in France during World War II. After the war ended, she immigrated to the US, where she settled in New York City, and supported herself as a performer in show business. Carola studied with Joseph Pilates for nearly 10 years. She was the FIRST student to open a gym teaching his exercises, and he personally supervised the construction of all her new equipment. Obviously, Pilates had complete confidence in Carola to carry on his work with integrity, and she did it with his blessing, encouragement and support. Carola remained close friends with both Clara and Joseph Pilates until the end of their lives. She also garnered a lot of press coverage for her fine work in the field of Body Conditioning and Corrective Exercise. In 1981, Carola wrote a children s book called Exercise, What it Is, What it Does, published by Greenwillow Press. Carola finally retired from teaching in 1988, at the age of 75. She traveled to Los Angeles, California in 1989 to present a teacher s workshop at the Kinetic Fitness Studio. This DVD is from the live footage that was taped over that two day Workshop Please keep in mind as you view this archival film that in 1989, video was in its infancy. The film quality and sound are not perfect, but since this is the only footage we have showing Carola in action, you will find it is an invaluable treasure handed down to us from a truly remarkable teacher.
About the Director
Jillian Hessel, a former ballet dancer, has been teaching Pilates for over 25 years. Her mentors include Pilates Elders Kathy Grant, Carola Trier and Ron Fletcher. Among Pilates aficionados, she is nicknamed the teachers teacher, and is known for her concise verbal instruction and clear imagery. She is the author of Pilates Basics, and is featured in several other Pilates exercise videos produced by Gaiam, International. Jillian has also produced her own line of instructional DVD’s for teachers, including Learning From Two Masters, based on the teachings of Carola Trier and Kathy Grant.
