PATIENCE OWEN
Classic Pilates Instructor, 18 years
Patience Owen is returning full circle to Columbus to be closer to her family again.
She received her BFA in Dance in 1997 from OSU. In 2002 while living in New Orleans, a car accident is what brought her to Pilates. “My left knee and ankle were 2-3 times their normal size, I couldn’t turn my head to the right, and the compression from the seatbelt made it hard to breathe. I felt trapped in my body.”
Patience was an apprentice for two years in the Romana’s (Joseph’s protege) program. She studied closely under Romana’s niece Monica Wilson along with the other amazing Romana’s instructors over at Uncle Joe’s Pilates Studio in New Orleans. She also trained with Daria Pace (Romana’s granddaughter), Sari Mejia Santo (Romana’s daughter) and was fortunate to work with the forever shining bright light Romana herself.
In October 2004 soon after her move to Philadelphia, she became a certified Romana’s instructor. She taught at Equilibrium beside Philadelphia’s teacher trainer, mentor, and director of studio Brie Neff for 15 years. “Being certified gave me the license to learn more. It has been my clients who have helped me learn even more. Young, young at heart, professionals, doctors, nurses, writers, artists, stay at home parents, athletes including dancers all on a spectrum of health conditions and capabilities. We find the work. Because it is through the work that we make changes. It is through feeling the work that we free ourselves from feeling trapped in our bodies.”
CLIENT TESTIMONIES
“I have been a client of Patience Owen at Equilibrium Pilates in Philadelphia for nearly 15 years. I walked in a 5’ 2” swaybacked, middle-aged woman whose orthopedist had recommended knee replacement. Within months it no longer hurt to walk. Within a year my doctor asked me what I had been doing because I was over 5’3!”
- Carrie
“Patience Owen has been my Pilates instructor for over three years. Previously, I tried various types of exercise and worked with personal trainers but never managed to keep it going. I enjoyed working out with Patience due to her encouragement and infectious enthusiasm. Under her guidance my back pain disappeared, I improved my strength and overall health. She was able to quickly refocus lessons if there was something specific I wanted to address. Her positive attitude and motivation techniques resulted in me working hard and looking forward to my next session. Patience has the background and the commitment to help anyone she works with succeed.”
- Jennifer
“Not only is Patience extremely knowledgeable about Pilates, but she is also a skilled teacher. She knows how to challenge her students without pushing them beyond their limits. She is able to adjust the sequence of exercises to accommodate injuries and understands her individual students’ strengths and weaknesses. Patience’s interpersonal skills are excellent. Her demeanor is always calm and her instructions and explanations are clear and to the point. She cares about her students’ well-being and takes a personal interest in them; at the same time, her interactions are highly professional.”
- Judith