PAA Conference 2015… A Resounding Success!

It’s been 14 days now since we shared a great time together at the PAA Conference 2015. It’s over but certainly not forgotten, as emails continue to come in from presenters and motivated delegates. I’m pleased to say that registrations surpassed any other year to date and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.

It’s been 18 months since the first emails and negotiations began with presenters, the venue, equipment providers and sponsors. There is always so much work involved leading up to any event and this one was no exception. Sharan Simmons worked closely with me on the conference. For many months, sticky notes adorned our computer screens! ‘budgets, presenters, working visas, sponsors, registration, website updates, sales, promotions, media release, volunteers, bags, workbooks, quotes, scanning’, and the list goes on!

We were thrilled that the long flight to OZ didn’t deter the international presenters from taking part in our biennial event. All PAA education bodies were invited to present at the conference and / or teach sessions and we would like to thank those who took time out of their busy schedule to join us. Cynthia Lochard, Deborah Thomas and Dav Cohen for accepting the invitation to present and to faculty members from Polestar, Australian School of Classical Pilates, Pilates Moves, and Authentic Pilates Education Australia.

There was some constructive feedback and comments which will be taken on board for the next conference, including compiling a list of presenters that delegates have put on their wish list for future conferences.

Pilates conferences are there to share information and provide new experiences, with presenters from other parts of the world that many may not otherwise get to work with. Various schools of Pilates such as Polestar, PilatesITC, Basi, Romana’s Pilates, NY Pilates, have all been represented over the years. The 2017 conference will be no exception with more presenters being invited from a cross section of training backgrounds.

Watch this space!

Some great emails coming in from presenters and delegates:

I would have to say that my experience at the PAA Pilates Conference 2015 in Sydney Australia this past October was one of the best presenter experiences I have had. The hotel, the transportation, the dinners and the food at the venue, the AV and the taking care of my equipment needs were all top notch. I can not say enough how helpful and supportive everyone was which shows great leadership from the top. Thanks again Olga you are not only a gem Pilates teacher you  are a shinning example of how things should get done

Sean Gallagher

 

I just wanted to let you all know that this has been the most amazing experience in my Pilates teaching world.

Thank you all for making it so memorable!

Simona Cipriani

I have put on Pilates events and have been involved in many international conferences over the last 2 decades, and the PAA 2015 conference was amongst one of the best organised events I’ve experienced. Everyone seemed happy and inspired. Thank you to all the organisers and volunteers for making the event run so smoothly. Not an easy task.”

Cynthia Lochard 

All I could say to Olga Tamara after presenting at the 2015 PAA Conference was: “What a class act!”

From start to finish the level of professionalism and support was outstanding. Volunteer staff went above and beyond in every way and, though working with 248 attendees plus presenters and sponsors, no one seemed to miss a beat.

The industrial Locomotive depot venue was not only spectacularly cool but also easy to navigate.

And then there were the wonderful, enthusiastic, gracious attendees themselves….what a joy to work with teachers eager and open to the learning process itself. No judgments or bickering between different schools of training, just open-minded Pilates enthusiasts working together in sweaty camaraderie.

It was a great honour to have been invited to present by the PAA and my even greater good fortune to have been a part of such a positive and enriching event. Thank you to all who worked to make this such a special time!

Brooke Siler

Loved being tortured by the fabulous Chris Robinson the PAA Conference 2015 over the weekend Learnt lots and walked away with plenty of sore muscles!

–Danielka Ehrlich

If you want to improve, you’ve got to work at it! Invest in yourself & surround yourself with people that lift you up (or show you how to lift yourself up) & make you better all round! Thanks Chris Robinson & thank you Olga Tamara & e v e r y o n e involved in the PAA conference this weekend.

Melissa Barry

I learnt so…. so much at the PAA Conference 2015!! being relatively new to the Pilates world it was an amazing few days!! The one comment which has stuck though is Brooke saying ‘what is your belly button for? To place your nose! It’s the perfect size!!’love it!

Sarah Stenning

The conference was a fantastic experience. It was wonderful to be in the company of and learn from such knowledgeable and inspiring people and to gain a deeper understanding into the amazing world of Pilates and how important the PAA is in our industry.

I am grateful to have been able to share my passion, enthusiasm and common goals with like-minded others and hope that, even though I live on the other side of the country, we will stay in touch! My favourite conference quotes were, Brooke Siler: ‘Make sure precision isn’t stiff’ and (Brooke said Romana used to say): ‘We work with what we have in front of us. You are not a sum of your injuries but a sum of your successes’. And “connecting the weight of the head to the upper abs is everything!” Thanks again for a truly inspirational few days in Sydney

Teya Duggleby

 

I had such an amazing time at the conference. I love this quote from Chris, “Weakness’ can only be detected though movement” – get them moving!

Jessica Tsui

 

Just loved being a part of the conference! One of the biggest ah ha moment for me was Chris Robinson just getting people to move… “you’re not always going to get perfect Pilates but people need to move and FLOW!”.

Kirsti Vitala

“What a fantastic conference the PAA put on this year.  Well worth flying over from NZ for.  The organisation was incredible and the calibre of the presenters so high.  They were charismatic, passionate about Pilates and very generous with sharing their knowledge.  I learnt a lot and had a fabulous time.  Thanks so much.”

Katie Agnew

 

We had an amazing weekend at the PAA conference in Sydney. We have aching bodies and inspired minds!

The Body Refinery

 

Thank you so much for putting on a magnificent conference, it was such a great experience and all of the PFI team from Perth who were there have been raving about it since we left and the clients are already loving the results from all the new inspiration. All the presenters were incredibly knowledgeable, skilled, passionate, experienced but most importantly they were all generous with their time and with sharing everything they could to help us grow as teachers and representatives of our fantastic industry. We will definitely be back again next time and think that there will be an even bigger crew of us at the next conference!

Frances Cahill

Good morning PAA,

I forgot to turn in my completed feedback form after the conference in Sydney, but really wanted to give some feedback about my experience.

I have been teaching Pilates since 2002, and have been a Physio since the days that the dinosaurs walked the earth (or at least 1980….!) Hence I have attended  many conferences, workshops, etc. I am so pleased to say that I was thoroughly delighted and inspired by my three days in Sydney. It was so well organized, everyone was so helpful, and the facility very user-friendly.

But most importantly, the speakers were just excellent! I learned a lot, and left feeling like I wanted to learn even more.

I could really go on and on, but I won’t. Suffice it to say that, for me, this conference was a complete winner. Many thanks to all that worked so hard to make it happen.

I am soooooo looking forward to 2017!

Ellen Barber

 

Have a wonderful Xmas everyone!

Olga Tamara -Vice President PAA