Lanette’s Big Apple Blog – Part 1

I’m in New York – Big Apple – and what a trip so far. I’ve come to town to work with some wonderful Pilates inspirations: Blossom Leilani Crawford and Deborah Lesson.  Around workshops and sessions with those two, we are meeting with friends like Rebekah Rotstein, Brett Howard and Kathy Ross Nash, and hopefully Brett Howard and Mejo Wiggin, trying some recommended food haunts, seeing shows and fitting in a spot of shopping.

Tuesday was a workshop with the gorgeous Deb Lesson on the feet “Foundation Footwork”. This was very appropriate as that morning I’d jumped out of bed early for a run in Central Park. Awesome, until about ¾ the way round I started to feel my left calf pulling. So I thought I’d take a shortcut through the park; 2hrs and 20mins after beginning my nice run through Central Park I arrived back in the hotel. Yup! Note to self – no more thinking on this trip.

Deb’s studio is in her apartment in Greene St Soho. The studio has no signage; her front door is covered in graffiti and is amongst some amazing Soho-ish stores. Deborah Lesson is in my mind the Carola Trier protégé of this age who teaches the work with cues that make you find the right place and authenticity without being a ballet mistress about it.

We then met Rebekah Rotstein at Peasant in Soho for Dinner. Wednesday saw us travel to Brooklyn a Blossom workshop Kathy Grant’s work using small apparatus (props) that included: towels, Swiss balls, a tray, Ron Fletchers red Towel, and a gondola pole.  Kathy came back to life through cueing and stories and the work – wonderful!

Since then, we have eaten at Balthazar – (see photo); done lessons at Deb’s and Blossom’s, walked the Brooklyn Bridge again, matwork sessions and gym cardio, and finally did something besides Pilates and eat – had a massage. AAaahhhh….I slept like an angel last night; to enable me for more matwork, a little cardio in the gym and a session with Deb today.

Tonight we are off for the Devine Miss M’s (Bette Midler) one woman show about the Hollywood agent Sue Mengers on Broadway.  I’ll let you know how it is…..

xLan