Meet Emily Bench-Lahrssen

We had the good fortune of connecting with Emily Bench-Lahrssen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Emily, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
All of us at Pilathon believe in “continuous improvement”. Today’s session was excellent but tomorrow’s will be even better! Quality-quality-quality… consistency in the quality of our services and our customer service too. My Mom and Dad, both in their 80s, and as fit as fiddles, are outstanding examples of how to stay healthy & happy and most important how to share, share everything one has with others. This philosophy is, I believe, the main reason for Pilathon’s success. Every session is a sharing-learning experience for students and teachers alike. Every class ends on a high with everyone eager for the next session. Group classes are strictly limited to maximum 6 participants so that students can recieve optimum individual attention; a surprising feature of pilates is its variety, and variety is the spice of life! No two classes are the same

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I teach Pilates with a smile! I leave my passion, my voice, my love and heart in every class and people can feel that -I believe that’s why they come back- I belong to my students! Anyone can learn, enroll in advanced education or workshops… but teaching requires PASSION! A vibrant especial energy that I inherited from dad (a loving patient teacher) and mom (passionate extrovert teacher) It wasn’t easy! Pilates is a new language! And making people understand that Pilates is way more than a fitness trend to strengthen the core has been a quest. An education quest! An everyday process., that with love, trust, patience and consistency I have been able to overcome. 8 years ago when someone came to me to practice Pilates to “have a six pack and glutes of steel” I would literally ask them to go somewhere else and to come back when ready to learn Pilates -THE METHOD-… today I smile, and teach them little by little and educate them about Pilates. I gain my clients trust, I demonstrate them what I know and make them feel their body, their emotions and how related they are… how correct movements of TLC improve ones lives. Most of them listen… and learn CONTROLOGY and commit to their health! It’s a wonderful thing to witness.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My best friend would start her day at Pilathon! With a wonderful Pilates session followed by a meditation… then we would go for breakfast either to Nabati at Wynwood for bowls or smoothies or maybe to Suite Havana Cafe also at Wynwood for coffee… I would take her to my favorite shops to see novelties, frangipani, mrs. Mandolin, MiMo district for antiques… I really enjoy walking around the design district late afternoon and enjoy the lighting designs. I believe whoever did it, did a great job! Upper Buena vista is a most – ModernOM bungalow would a stop for sure! – a walk around morning side or belle miede is also mesmerizing… To eat dinner Hiyakawa- for me the sexiest restaurant in Miami. Boutique, detailed oriented where the food is the show (not the people) Mr Mandolin to dream of going to greece! And the Soho Beach house to enjoy the beach, swim and or paddle. Have tea in their outdoor area. If it’s a Friday and the Miami Symphony is playing… of course that’s where we would go- Palm Tree Court DD- I also enjoy taking people for fried fish and plantains at the faro in key biscayne

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Wow! I have been and I am so lucky to have a support system of family and friends. Pilates wise I have to start again with my parents who encouraged me on trying it and who have been my example health wise. Jeannine Bergman, PilatesOne founder-owner and dear friend, back then my Pilates teacher, saw the teacher in me and encouraged me to enroll a teacher training. My husband who saw me flirting with the idea of teaching and leaving my career (dentistry) for good… he supported me and gifted me my first Pilates anatomy book… (and studio) My mentors, Dr. Brent Anderson, Dr.Cynthia McGhee La Portilla Shelly Power, Christy Idovoy and especially Dr. Anna K. Tishenko who literally took me under her wing and allowed me to shadow and observe her sessions with patients and taught me so so so much! I teach and share Pilates the way I do mostly thanks to her guidance… My best friend Alex, constantly cheering for me and encouraging me to share everything I know with the world!

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Image Credits
@Stellar Media Agency @Funguykay @pilathon