What first drew you to Pilates and movement, and how has your relationship with the practice evolved over time?
In short, I grew up being taught that movement is medicine, I watched my grandmother practicing all kinds of sports especially Pilates and learned the importance of movement on my own body from an early age. For me the beauty of the Pilates is that it's a timeless practice, many types of movement are limited to a certain group, age, economy, ability etc. but Pilates is a rehabilitative movement practice, it's made for the whole body and can be practiced by anybody. I have a clientele ranging from 17 to 90 and that's the beauty of Pilates, the practice grows with you. In the last few years Pilates has become very hyped and I think this has given the practice certain limitations, I don't like the new terms of “Pilates body, Pilates Girlie etc.” it limits the beauty of the practice, it does not matter how you look in practice it matters how you feel.
You teach and lead retreats at Lanserhof, where movement, wellbeing, and restoration come together. What does creating a sense of wellbeing mean to you beyond the physical practice?
For me, Lanserhof is not just a job, it's a way of life. The practice goes beyond what physically happens in class, I practice nourishment, I practice slowing down, I practice listening to my gut-feeling. All aspects that lay the groundwork for the PilatesI perform on the mat with my clients, it sets the tone for my practice.
You recently created your own online Pilates studio. What inspired you to create this space, and what did you want it to offer that felt uniquely yours?
Tone Pilates was made as an extension of my physical practice, it's not simply an online studio but a bespoke project, made for my clients, the project grew from the fact that I travel so much and have a very international clientele, I wanted to make sure my clients always have the tools at hand to practice, whether that is live with me in my virtual community classes or with my on-demand videos, the practice is not about me its about providing agency for my clients so they always have access to the practice and to me, and it goes both ways, I have learned as much from my clients if not more than I could ever teach them, and it is an honor that they continue to let me guide them through their bespoke practices. Working at the Lanserhof has given me the privilege to test all aspects of my own body and thereby given me a much deeper understanding of how movement interacts with the rest of the body, how you do not only train your muscles, but your organs, lymphatic system, joints, fascia etc... and thereby my Pilates has become much more holistic and that is the signature of my practice. Movement truly is a medicinal practice and living a life where I traveI a lot, I wanted to find a platform where my clients could experience the practice no matter where in the world they are and thereby being able to stay consistent with their practice nourishing their body with movement without the limitation of a physical studio. The online studio is truly my online hands on guidance to my clients.
What do you hope someone feels when they step into your studio or join one of your classes, whether virtually or in person?
Safety, in their own body, in my hands whether that is hands on physically or virtually. Practice is deeply personal, our bodies are our own and laying them in other people's hands requires trust that can only grow from safety.I hold space not only for their physical bodies but for whatever they bring to practice and my practice is always a safe space. I think that is truly where the medicinal element of practice comes from, it's not only the physical health of the body but much more holistic, when you feel safe in practice you're also able to train your muscles better, you will have lower cortisol even after a strong practice, better digestion, deeper sleep and thereby the practice goes beyond what happens physically on the mat. The truth is we have to move through life no matter what, so the more we can make sure that the way we practice movement truly supports our body the better, that's why movement is medicine and we can do it accordingly.
What is it about being somewhere far from home that can bring you closer to yourself?
For me, having a work life where I spend more time travelling than at home, it really nurtures and teaches me appreciation for the time I actually get to spend at home. I appreciate the small things in my home so much more because the time I get to have is short. Living on the countryside living on Sylt in Germany I truly appreciate the quiet, that I can simply walk down to the ocean in the morning and enjoy the solitude of being the only person on the beach. I chose the countryside for that exact reason. I love the impressions of travel where I get to practice with so many different bodies all over the world but especially because I travel so much, I need my home to be limited for impressions, just simple and quiet and I truly found that on Sylt, it's such a gem.
Are there particular places, landscapes, or memories from your travels that continue to influence the way you move, teach, or live today?
For me it's always about the movement, whenever I travel it's always to teach Pilates and being able to experience hands on how different bodies move and how many aspects of movement there are, are truly inspiring. I always make sure to find the time to practice with other practitioners when I travel. It deeply influences me to feel the practice of others on my own body and it is very nurturing for my own practice.
Travel can shift our perspective and take us out of our usual routines. What rituals help you feel grounded and connected to yourself wherever you are?
I make sure to keep my routine consistent, I always travel with my supplements to support my body and thereby my foundation for practice. I will always be able to find my morning bone broth somewhere and even on very busy trips I always make sure to find just a few moments for self-practice, my body goes with me wherever I go and practicing movement keeps me grounded no matter where I am in the world and no matter how much work I need to get done.
Are there certain scents, textures, sounds, landscapes, or everyday moments that instantly transport you somewhere else?
The ocean, it always has been and that is also why I choose to move to an Island, for me being close to any ocean just grounds me deeply, even on busy days just a short ocean dip will completely ground me.
How do sensory experiences influence your relationship with movement and wellbeing?
I'm very sensitive to sensory experiences so for me it's very important to keep my place of practice simple, so I can direct all my attention to how my body feels in the movement. For me, how the body feels is the most important and truly the core of my practice. I need to feel my whole body from organs to the smallest muscles and a practice should always be a whole body experience. I prioritize body treatments a lot in my routine to support my body. Being a movement practitioner requires a certain amount of physical performance and it can be difficult to find time for recovery, so I have a lot of recovery support in my weekly routine such as sauna, massages, lymphatic drainage etc. it is truly nourishing and my body needs it to keep performing in practice.
What makes a place feel like home to you? Is it a physical place, a feeling, a ritual, or something else?
I feel at home in my body, when I nurture it I feel at home no matter where I physically am in the world, a simple practice goes a long way. That's why I always prioritize self-practice which is not always easy when you hold space for so many other bodies in movement, but I try to never deprioritize my own health, because that is what will give me strength to hold space for others. I never lose sight of the fact that my own health is my greatest strength as a practitioner.
What does beauty mean to you today, and how has your understanding of beauty and wellbeing changed over time?
For me my understanding of beauty has completely shifted from something external that could be observed to something internal that can be felt. In my younger years the way I looked on the mat and the way my body looked in movement was important but now it's simply about how my body feels in movement and I never give it any thought how it looks. I know my body, I listen to my gut feeling, I know how it feels to move correctly and being able to share this practice with others and seeing them grow and take agency over their own bodies not only in practice but in life, being able to learn from them is truly beautiful and that's why I keep practicing. The older I get the slower my practice has gotten, not only when I teach but in general I have learned to slow down and that is truly medicinal.
TONE'S EDIT
It's the most nourishing nut butter I have ever tried and I eat a spoonful every morning before I go to the gym, I even take it with me when I fly, I always find my way to a Gym and need to make sure I have clean nutrient dense support for my body no matter where in the world I go.
After a long day of practice The Cacao helps lower my cortisol and grounds me.
I love the taste that truly only comes when its raw grounded, I use it every morning for oil pulling to support my oral microbiome but also love to simply eat it with a spoon after practice