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Rye resident Patti Whalen is successful in many ways: She’s raised two kids, works at a job she loves, is active in the community, and has a happy marriage. But until recently, she’d forgotten one thing: Fitness. “I had not done any exercise since the birth of my daughter, who is now 19,” Patti says.

Patti had made some attempts to deal with the 30 pounds she’d put on over 20 years. “I tried Jenny Craig and lost weight but gained it all back,” she says. She went on Weight Watchers, joined the Y and started walking. “Nothing worked,” she says. Weight became more of a struggle when Patti was diagnosed with and treated for breast cancer 10 years ago: She retained a lot of fluid due to the chemo.

Then in late 2009, Patti’s cousin, Dr. Howard Sichel, made a comment. “He told me, ‘Movement heals,’” she says, “and that rang the bell.” The statement made sense for Patti: It was motivating without being punitive, and it was about the process, not a pie-in-the-sky end result. Howard told her about APOGEE and suggested she start private Pilates sessions with Dorothy Polanowska.

In January, Patti walked into her first class. “I told myself, ‘I don’t know where I’ve been for 20 years, but now it’s time to take care of me,’” she recalls. She began Intro to Mat classes with Dorothy, then added Intro to Tower with Lisa Klasner and Beginner Mat with Deborah Slade. When Patti balked at trying a cardio class, Dorothy walked her to the Cardio Circuit class and rode on the bike next to her. Patti tried her first Pilates group class during the Open House in March. “It was helpful because I broke out of my safety zone and did a group class on the Tower and the Reformer. I had only done those privately. I now know that I am capable,” she says. “It was a whole new level for me!” Now Patti is taking three or four Pilates classes a week and fitting in at least one cardio session.

Pilates makes Patti feel “taller, stronger, thinner and more toned,” she says. “I’m more grounded on my feet; I feel more symmetrical.” In March, Patti slipped on some ice but didn’t fall—with her strong core, she was able to regain her balance quickly. “When I walk outside I feel lighter, I don’t have that exhausting feeling,” she says. Emotionally, she’s healthier, too. “I feel more relaxed,” she says. “Maybe it’s because I’m doing something for myself.”

By early May, Patti had lost 11 pounds—“without dieting!” she says. “I’m just making better choices.” Upon joining APOGEE, Patti met with APOGEE nutritionist Jennifer Vagios, who gave her a handout detailing high-energy snacks such as nuts and yogurt. Patti has also learned a lot from the APOGEE Café: she now drinks lemon water and green tea at home. “I take my cues from APOGEE,” she says. “It’s such a peaceful place, it even smells good. It’s like a spa!”

Patti feels as if she’s reclaimed her body and her life. She’s introduced her daughter to Pilates and they’re both “addicted,” she says. She hopes to be a model for others who have gotten in a rut. “I felt sad,” she says. “I hope I can inspire someone who felt sad like I did.” Her own inspirational phrase might just work: “No matter what you do, keep moving!”

By Deborah Slade, APOGEE Pilates Instructor

You may have heard that there are “different kinds” of Pilates out there. It’s true that you will experience various approaches from studio to studio. As Pilates has moved into the fitness mainstream, Joe Pilates’ original vision has been infused with different styles and philosophies. While there is value in other interpretations of the method, few would argue the importance of continuing to teach and promote the “classical” Pilates tradition, which advocates performing the exercises in the exact manner and sequence prescribed by the master himself, which is how we teach at APOGEE.

What are the fundamental principles of Pilates that define the classical approach?  Pilates is, above all else, a vigorous workout. The main focus is always movement, although it can be modified to complement physical therapy or address chronic illness. It is also holistic. The exercises were designed to be part of a larger system—performed in a progressive sequence without any extraneous motions and with very few repetitions. Each exercise has its own rhythm, details and dynamic and requires tremendous concentration to execute, which is why you’ll rarely hear music in a classical Pilates studio.

Flow is a central element of the original method. The transitions within and between exercises should be seamless and, when done properly, have an artistic, almost choreographic quality. Also, since Joe Pilates designed and redesigned the various apparatus to suit his exercises, teachers of classical Pilates believe it should only be practiced on equipment that honors his original blueprints.

To those who might be concerned that the spirit and vocabulary of Joe Pilates will be forgotten, Dr. Howard Sichel, founder Power Pilates, a classical Pilates training company, and executive vice president of APOGEE Life Style, offers reassurance: “Classical Pilates is so rich in layers and so successful in changing people’s lives that, just like Shakespeare, it will continue to be discovered and embraced by each new generation.”

Dr. Howard Sichel

As you may have heard, APOGEE has a brand-new wellness partner in Power Pilates, a company that has established an international reputation for quality Pilates teacher training and education. At its helm is Dr. Howard Sichel, whom we are delighted to welcome to the APOGEE family.

In the 20 years since its founding, 7,000 teachers in 10 countries have earned their Power Pilates certification. But the numbers don’t tell the whole story. Dr. Sichel has been one of the driving forces behind bringing Pilates into the health and fitness mainstream. What was once the province of professional dancers is now generally recognized as one of the most effective methods of whole-body conditioning. He is also responsible for the renewed appreciation for the “classical method,” which honors the original philosophies and teachings Joseph Pilates himself.

How did this all come about? “Truthfully, it was out of frustration that I discovered Pilates,” Dr. Sichel admits. An avid sports enthusiast and athlete, he became a chiropractor on the advice of his father and the experience of a mother who “had practically been saved by one.”  But, the more he practiced, the more he recognized his professional limitations. “I could make temporary changes in people’s lives in terms of pain. But, there were no long-term corrections. There needed to be an exercise protocol where people could participate in their own healing.” Master dance instructor Marjorie Perces introduced him to one of Joe Pilates’ earliest protégés, Romana Kryzanowska, and he started referring his patients to her.

The healing powers of movement proved so extraordinary that in 1989, Dr. Sichel integrated a Pilates training studio into his practice. As his clientele grew, so did the need for qualified teachers. So, in 1997, he worked in concert with seasoned instructors Susan Moran-Perich and Bob Liekens to develop a comprehensive classical Pilates teacher certification program that has earned a reputation for producing some of the world’s best-trained instructors.

Dr. Sichel’s adherence to Joe Pilates’ precise method remains steadfast and passionate: “Everything Joe Pilates prescribed is bio-mechanically sound…It never needs to be changed; it just needs to be explained.” As APOGEE’s new Executive Vice President his mission is clear: “My goal is to ensure that every member feels better physically, emotionally and spiritually. If a person really invests in what APOGEE has to offer, I can promise complete success in reversing many of the damaging effects of aging.”

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Hear more from Howard in the APOGEE Podcasts