Uncover the story behind The Pilates Center and the women who helped shape the future of Classical Pilates
If you teach Pilates—or dream of becoming a Pilates teacher—you need to watch Taylor Made.
Now streaming on Pilates Anytime, this powerful new documentary tells the remarkable story of Amy Taylor Alpers and Rachel Taylor Segel, sisters, educators, and the co-founders of The Pilates Center in Boulder, Colorado. Their journey helped lay the foundation for the growth of Classical Pilates education and the development of comprehensive Pilates teacher training programs around the world.
Through rare archival footage and candid interviews, Taylor Made takes viewers behind the scenes of one of the most influential studios in the industry—revealing the heart, history, and hard-won wisdom that made it all possible.
Why Watch Taylor Made?
Because it’s one of the many stories of Pilates—stories that trace the lineage, evolution, and preservation of the method since Joseph Pilates first introduced it to the world.
Taylor Made tells the story of how Amy Taylor Alpers and Rachel Taylor Segel became stewards of that legacy. After studying under Romana Kryzanowska, one of Joe Pilates’ protégés, they returned to Boulder and began teaching what they had learned—not knowing that their work would soon become a cornerstone of Classical Pilates education.
What makes Taylor Made essential viewing is not that it tells the only story—but that it reveals, with honesty and depth, how Pilates continued through these two sisters: how their choices, challenges, and unwavering commitment to the method helped shape the path for thousands of teachers and students today.
It’s a film about dedication, about the complexity of lineage, and about what it means to carry forward the spirit of the work—while still making it your own.
From Studio to School: The Early Days of Teacher Training
When Amy and Rachel opened The Pilates Center in 1990, they were ready to teach. Their time with Romana Kryzanowska had given them a deep understanding of Classical Pilates, and they opened their doors with the goal of sharing that work with their Boulder community.
But almost immediately, something became clear: people didn’t just want sessions—they wanted to learn how to teach.
Within the first year, Amy and Rachel began to shape what would become one of the first structured, comprehensive Pilates teacher training programs in the world. They worked closely with Steve Giordano and Romana in those early days to formalize the process, and what began as mentorship quickly became a full curriculum.
From the beginning, their approach focused not just on the exercises but on the art of teaching itself. They trained students to think critically, communicate clearly, and understand Pilates as an integrated system. That foundation continues to define the program today.
Now with programs ranging from 450 to 950 hours, and host studios across the globe, The Pilates Center has become a worldwide leader in Classical Pilates Teacher Training.
A Legacy Strengthened by Challenge
Taylor Made also gives voice to a more complicated chapter in Amy and Rachel’s journey. As they began to share Pilates more widely—supporting diverse learners and welcoming students from all backgrounds—they found themselves at odds with (someone in the) classical community that favored exclusivity.
Their commitment to accessibility became even more critical during the Pilates trademark lawsuit. At that time, Amy and Rachel—like many others—were told they could no longer use the word Pilates unless they agreed to new certifications, purchased specific equipment, or joined a licensing system. They weren’t alone. Studios and teachers across the country were facing similar threats.
Amy and Rachel didn’t want the word Pilates to become generic. What they wanted was to protect the integrity of the method while ensuring it remained available to those who truly valued and respected it. When they took the stand, it wasn’t to dilute the work—it was to ensure it couldn’t be locked away behind legal contracts or commercial control.
The court’s ruling ultimately declared Pilates a generic term. It wasn’t the outcome they had hoped for, but it was one they helped shape with courage and conviction. Their decision safeguarded the future for every teacher, studio, and training program that calls this work their own.
A Global Influence on Pilates Education
The impact of Amy and Rachel’s work lives on through The Pilates Center’s teacher training programs, host studios, and alumni around the world. Their model of teacher education—classical, rigorous, and deeply human—continues to guide new generations of instructors in embodying the method and sharing it with clarity and care.
But more than that, Taylor Made reminds us that Pilates is a living system. Its survival depends not just on remembering its past, but on honoring the people who have carried it forward—through challenge, through change, and always through movement.
Watch Taylor Made on Pilates Anytime
Experience the story of Amy Taylor Alpers and Rachel Taylor Segel—their influence, their integrity, and the creation of one of the most respected Classical Pilates teacher training programs in the world.
Whether you’re a Pilates teacher, a dedicated student, or someone just beginning your journey, Taylor Made offers a moving, must-see window into one of the method’s most enduring lineages.
Watch HERE