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Ellie Herman, published authority on the pilates method. She is an innovator in the field of contemporary pilates and the inventor of the Pilates Springboard. Ellie has taught Pilates since 1991 and has published ten books, including professional Pilates training manuals that are used in teacher training programs all over the world. Ellie leads her own comprehensive teacher training program annually in her studio in Narberth, Pa. She travels to teach at conferences and private studios worldwide.

Formerly based in the San Francisco Bay Area for over 20 years, and then Brooklyn for another 15, Ellie now resides in Narberth, a suburb in mainline Philadelphia where she owns a Pilates studio.

Early Life:
Ellie was born and raised on the Main Line in Pennsylvania.

Journey Into Pilates:
Residing in San Francisco, Ellie had a career as a dancer & choreographer with The Flying Buttresses but unfortunately unable to maintain her lifestyle, Ellie decided to also take up professional wrestling. Full of hubris and a well known adrenaline junkie, Ellie soon became “Ruth Less”. Her career was cut short in the midst of a tag team match she completely tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). She began treatment at St. Francis Hospital in a Dance Medicine department dedicated to Pilates-based rehabilitation. Under the care of Elizabeth Larkham, Ellie was able to resume dancing with a sense of even more improvement to her technique. She continued her Pilates journey at NYU as a dance major. Being taught by Kathy Grant, and after pain she experienced in her hip, Ellie decided to quit dance and continue her training in Pilates.

In 1992, Ellie moved back to San Francisco, and opened up her first studio and after much success she opened a second studio in 2001 located in Oakland.

Even More Pilates:
Wanting to learn more, Ellie went on to receive her masters in Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine at the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine. In

2005 Ellie opened up her third studio and moved back to the east coast to be closer to family and with much interest in Pilates innovation she then designed a new piece of Pilates equipment. This equipment is known as the Pilates Springboard, an inexpensive space saving variation of the Wall Unit/Cadillac, manufactured by Balanced Body. Then with the help of former Ellie Herman Pilates VP, Nancy Myers, developed a system geared towards gait abnormalities called Walk-ilates.

Books

 * Pilates for Dummies by Ellie Herman (May 06, 2002)
 * Ellie Herman Pilates Workbook on the Ball: Illustrated Step-by-Step Guide, Dirty Everyday Slang (December 19, 2003)
 * Ellie Herman Props Workbook: Illustrated Step-by-Step Guide, Dirty Everyday Slang (August 23, 2004)
 * Ellie Herman's Pilates Springboard (June 1, 2007)
 * Ellie Herman's Pilates Reformer (June 1, 2007)
 * Ellie Herman's Pilates Cadillac (June 1, 2007)
 * Ellie Herman's Pilates Mat (July 1, 2007)
 * Ellie Herman's Pilates Wunda Chair (June 24, 2008)
 * Ellie Herman's Pilates Arc & Barrels (January 1, 2010)