Marking a Milestone - 25 Years of Peak Pilates Education
Twenty-five years ago, a vision took root, one built on the conviction that Pilates education could be something truly exceptional. What began with Julie Lobdell’s passion for high-quality apparatus in the 1990s quickly grew into something far greater: a commitment to building an educational program worthy of the equipment bearing the Peak Pilates® name.
Julie brought together three remarkable women, Colleen Glenn, Clare Dunphy, and Zoey Trap, each bringing complementary expertise in movement, Pilates, science, and education. Their mandate was clear: create a classical education that was affordable, modular, and unparalleled in quality. What followed was years of tireless work; creating, writing, revising, editing, and filming until the program finally launched in 2001 as PPS, Peak Pilates® Systems.
A Program That Never Stops Growing
From the beginning, “good enough” was never part of the vocabulary. The educational team continued to refine and strengthen the program, developing a system for training Master Instructors that remains unique within the industry. A global team of trainers soon spread the curriculum to studios around the world.
In 2008, the program was reimagined as PPC (Peak Pilates® Comprehensive) integrating all apparatus within a unified curriculum. Then in 2020, a major revision brought the program fully into the digital age, incorporating audio and video tutorials alongside live learning modules supported by home resources that never expire. The result is an education that meets students where they are, while maintaining the rigor and integrity the program has always stood for.
Photography Peak Pilates®
Teaching Teachers How to Teach
What has always set Peak Pilates® apart is its foundational philosophy: we teach people how to teach, not just what to teach. Students learn to see each client as a whole person - unique in their body, their history, and their potential. Our curriculum guides teachers to progress their students intelligently over time, adhering to classical orders, session formats, and the technique and rhythm that make Pilates so powerful.
Master Instructors receive ongoing coaching and mentorship training, equipping them not just to demonstrate exercises, but to guide the next generation of teachers with confidence and depth. It’s an approach that honors the tradition of the method while preparing instructors for the full scope of what today’s studio demands.
“The best education out there.”— Pamela Garcia, Senior Master Instructor and Mentor
Celebrating — and Looking Forward
Today, Peak Pilates® continues to grow - improving, revising, and reaching studios and students across the globe. This anniversary is a moment to celebrate the hundreds of instructors, Master Instructors, and students who have been part of this journey, and to honor the founders whose dedication made it all possible.
But if the past 25 years have taught us anything, it’s that the best work is always the work ahead. We’re not resting on our laurels. We’re just getting started.
Happy Birthday, Peak Pilates®!
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