Piri has been trained and certified by Kelly McKinnon`s Corpus Pilates full comprehensive education. She is specialised in pelvic floor training and actively follows continuing education programmes. She teaches in English, French and Hungarian.
How did you get to Luxembourg?
By accident, actually. He does not like when I am saying this but it was the “fault” of my husband who made a mistake at his job interview, not really knowing where the headquarters of his future employer were located at that time.
When did you start practicing Pilates?
Back in 2006. At that time Pilates was a real new-kid-on-the-block, not very known yet in Europe.
How did you become a Pilates teacher?
Again, by accident. I finished an international project in the Balkan and was kind of desperate what to do with a profession that I could not really pursue in Luxembourg, especially not with two very small kids at home. So, my husband encouraged me to enroll in teacher training, saying “this is what you always wanted to try, so why not now? You have time now” This is how the journey started.
A funny Pilates story from you as a teacher?
Many years ago, well before even the slightest idea of me becoming a Pilates instructor arose, I was in search of some new leggings in Budapest. In a small sport shop the shopkeeper engaged in a chat with me, asking what I was looking for and for whatever reason we quickly ended up discussing what kind of sport she was doing and how difficult she felt to progress in some yoga poses and fitness exercises. I, surprisingly quite confidently, gave her some tips and showed her what she would need to correct. Then, when she asked how come I knew so much, I simply told her, without any hesitation, that I was a Pilates instructor. No idea why I lied, I even left with feeling super ashamed. But now, if I think back to this little story, I wonder if it was not my soul speaking from the deep at that very moment.
What is Pilates for you?
A way to feel.. and connect to myself..
If you had to describe Pilates in one word, what would that be?
This is a difficult question as immediately three words pop into my mind: connection, presence and transformation
What is your favourite Pilates quote?
Change happens through movement and movement heals. From Joseph Pilates himself.
If you could do one Pilates move for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
Teaser on the Reformer. Because it empowers you enormously when you connect to your inner strengths and master that beast under you.
Which Pilates exercise challenges you the most?
The Tree on the short box because of my pelvic imbalance; I have to be very careful with this exercise, forget my perfectionism and listen to my body and its limits.
What do you find the most challenging in teaching Pilates?
To allow clients to hear what they want to hear in class. To let them be where they are and take what they need at that moment out of the practice.
Also, that we live in an “instant” world where people want everything immediately. Just think about google giving you its search result in a fraction of a second; this is what we`ve got used to the last decades. So, I often find super difficult to meet the expectations of clients when it comes to visible changes in their bodies, which often take lots of time of persistent practice.
Pilates with music or no music? Why?
One of the basic principles of practicing Pilates is concentration and music is considered – by the real classical teachers – as something distracting away from the practice. So, for me it is mostly without music. I must admit, however, that sometimes I switch on some tunes for myself when I practice, but I also answer why I need music at that moment.
The best Pilates class you took?
A very classical private class taught by Jean Claude Nelson, owner of Blue Bird Pilates in Munich.
What makes your soul truly happy?
A sunny day out in the snowy mountains on my skis. A walk in the forest with my dog. Mixing paint and getting amazing colours onto the canvas. Cuddling in bed with my kids. Reading a book about witches and wizards.
Your wildest experience in life?
Walking on fire
Looking straight into a crater of an active volcano during its eruption, in Vanuatu.
What art do you enjoy doing?
Painting.
Favourite holidays?
Skiing in the Alps.
And I loved our trip to the Canadian Rockies some years ago. I would love to repeat that one day.
What`s one thing most people don`t know about you?
I left the fire fighting administrative services with a rank of a major officer.
Favourite music track?
I always have several, never easy to choose one.
I often listen these days to High hopes from Pink Floyd and Lex van Sommeren`s Buddha these days.
What would you say to your younger self in 10 words or less?
You are a perfect imperfection. Learn to love yourself to find peace.
If you could live somewhere else now where would that be any why?
At Lago di Como.. close to the water and close to the Alps, in my favourite European country.
Fun fact?
My first name translates Little Red Riding Hood.
What do you fear most?
Violence
Your insecurities?
Making mistakes
