Inspiring Conversations with Saul Choza of Winsor Choza Pilates

Today we’d like to introduce you to Saul Choza.

Saul, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I have been teaching traditional Pilates for over thirty years. My interest in Pilates began in the early 1990s when I decided to pursue a career as a dancer, knowing that Pilates was a complementary fitness method for dancers. Fortunately, Mari Winsor, the owner of one of the few Pilates studios in Los Angeles at the time, took lessons at the Stanley Holden Dance Center, the ballet studio where I was studying. Mari was a well-known Pilates instructor who played a significant role in popularizing Pilates in the early 2000s.

After one of my ballet classes, I mustered the courage to ask Mari for an opportunity to train at her studio in exchange for my services as a desk receptionist. In the early 1990s, Pilates was not widely known; it was often described as an exercise program where participants lay down during workouts and didn’t sweat. After taking lessons for three months, Mari noticed my interactions with her clients and how I performed Pilates. She then offered me a job as a Pilates instructor. A few months later, I had a full roster of clients. I worked in her studio for nineteen years. Mari Winsor’s studio, Winsor Pilates, was the premier studio at that time, and I had the privilege of training many popular celebrities.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I have not had a genuine struggle in my career. I’m a very adaptable person and have come to respect the process of life. For example, I knew that being a dancer required time and dedication. As a mature adult, I didn’t have time to contemplate. My turning point in becoming a full-time Pilates instructor was when I was working as a Pilates instructor and also extensively as a dancer, performing in various shows throughout the Los Angeles area. The income that I received as a Pilates instructor was more profitable than that of a dancer. I made peace with the idea that I would never be a company dancer. I enjoy teaching, so I allowed my next passion to dictate my future: Pilates.
Although Pilates has been my passion for the last thirty years, I felt restless after receiving my certificate of classical Pilates from Romana Kryzanowska in 2001. Romana was one of Joseph Pilates’ protégés. I wanted to know the whys of Pilates. I enrolled in a two-year program at UCLA in physical fitness. That gave me a greater understanding of my craft.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My business, Winsor Choza Pilates, established in 2016, is a traditional Pilates studio, with various Pilates apparatus designed by the original creator, Joseph Pilates. It is primarily a one-on-one training studio, offering group classes to students with experience. The studio focuses on the original concept of movement with a deep understanding of biomechanics. The Pilates taught at Winsor Choza Pilates comes from an influential lineage of mentors, where I, Saul Choza, continue that legacy. The best way to describe Pilates is as a functional resistance program that focuses on strengthening the stabilizing muscles of the trunk and those that connect the limbs to the trunk. The breath leads the movement. The primary goal is to maintain a healthy spine, allowing for the enjoyment and the freedom that movement offers.

How do you think about happiness?
What brings me happiness is knowing that I have made a difference in someone’s life. Pilates is a powerful tool; when students are consistent with their practice, they can correct many imbalances that cause discomfort and pain. Not to mention, it is a well-rounded fitness program and a discipline—a way of life. I feel joy when a student finds a passion for life and embraces the will to live a fulfilling life through healthy eating and exercise. It truly is the fountain of youth.

I also enjoy teaching Pilates instructors. I travel the world, sharing my passion and understanding of Pilates with others.

Pricing:

• $55 for group classes
• $110 for a private lesson with one of trainers
• $180 for a private lesson with Saul

Contact Info:

• Website: https://winsorchozapilates.com
• Instagram: winsorchozapilates
• Facebook: winsorchozapilates