Life & Work with Erin Motion

Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Motion.

Hi Erin, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve always been a kinesthetic learner. Throughout my dance training years, keeping my instrument finely tuned was crucial. I realized very early on that attaining body knowledge was a big key to living well. My journey into Pilates began toward the end of my professional dance career. I was drawn in when I read Joseph Pilates’s thoughts on how “civilization impairs physical fitness” in his book ‘Return To Life Through Contrology’.  Rather than retire from dance and go into another dance-related profession, I chose Pilates because I felt it was a way to help not only dancers but all people.  For the past 11 years, I’ve taught Pilates throughout L.A. In 2018, I opened a private studio in Highland Park called “Erin Motion Pilates.” During the pandemic, I moved to the mountains and my business became virtual. Since 2021, I resumed live client sessions and currently teach private clients in studio locations in Montrose, Eagle Rock, and Toluca Lake. I also now have a video editing business, called “Erin Motion Video”.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Staying true is never going to be a path without some road bumps. I’m grateful for my heavy Ballet background because nothing could ever feel as challenging as that. It takes a strong and disciplined mental state to dance gracefully on stage with bleeding toes while keeping a smile on your face. So, when faced with a struggle, nothing seems impossible. Something my father would say is, “If it was easy, anybody could do it.”

Having the ritual of practicing Pilates every day helps me interiorize discipline. Without a daily practice, we just act. In our daily lives, we balance the positive and negative forces inside of ourselves. Sometimes it’s a battle like there’s an enemy and a friend both wanting to overtake our mental kingdom and rule. Practicing Pilates enables me to have impersonal analysis; I’m able to pause and have calm discernment in the moment.

“Patience and persistence are vital qualities in the ultimate successful accomplishment of any worthwhile endeavor.” — Joseph Pilates

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As a teacher, I specialize in classical Pilates. I’m a Pilates purist, delivering  the original method as it was intended by Joseph Pilates. I believe that the true benefits of this method are realized by going deeper into the work, not by changing it. Decades of art and dance training heavily influence my teaching approach. I’m known for being a passionate instructor. My clients are among my greatest inspiration. Whenever my clients “go deeper” into their practice sessions and make new discoveries, witnessing their small victories really lights up my world.

Pilates is a lifetime career that requires continuous study. Because the work is all-encompassing, there will never be a moment when I can say, “I have arrived”. The more I trust the work and continue to develop my practice, the more I’m able to bring to each of my students. I truly believe Pilates is just as much an art as it is a science; Pilates is just as much a mental practice as it is a physical one. There’s no formula for teaching the work. With the exception of a few favorite one-liners, such as “Quality versus Quantity, my teaching approach is entirely unique for each individual. There is no cookie-cutter way to communicate best how something should feel internally that will make every person feel like they “get-it”. I aim to address the unique gifts that each of my clients has and give them exactly what their body needs to bring it into balance. My clients should always leave feeling better than when they walked in.

“Change happens through movement and movement heals” — Joseph Pilates

Another way I’m able to bring together my skills and attention to movement is through video editing. My specialty is bodies in motion. If you run a Pilates, dance or athletic business, working with me is a game-changer. I take ordinary video recordings and transform them into high quality, elevating content that helps develop a brand. What sets me apart as a video editor is my eye for movement and proper form, combined with an intuitive sense for rhythm and musicality.

What were you like growing up?
I grew up in a family of architects & musicians. I began studying ballet & music at a very young age. My family went to Cathedrals, and I remember experiencing the ethereal music while gazing up at the stained glass and architecture. As an “alter girl”, I was fascinated by the choreography & spatial patterns. I also remember playing with my father’s VHS camcorder as a child and would create commercial skits, puppet shows & dance videos for fun. I left home when I was 15 to attend Ballet boarding school.

Pricing:

• Studio Private $85 (55 minutes)
• Virtual Private $75 (45 minutes)
• Virtual Mat Class $25 (45 minutes)
• Video Editing: by single project, OR on-going
• New Client Intro Special: 3 Studio Privates $195

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/Erinmotion
• Other: https://linktr.ee/erinmotionVIDEO