Benjamin Degenhardt's 360° Pilates Education Platform
Pilates Style|July - August 2019

Fascinated by the history of his fellow German, Benjamin Degenhardt took a deep dive into Joseph Pilates’ archive to develop his 360° Pilates education platform and the ever-popular March MATness social media campaign.

Anne Marie O’Connor
Benjamin Degenhardt's 360° Pilates Education Platform

PILATES STYLE Where did you grow up? What was your childhood like?

BENJAMIN DEGENHARDT I grew up in Gelsenkirchen, a city in northwest Germany, the younger of two brothers. I was always a fidgety kid but didn't take to sports. My parents had just about given up finding an athletic activity for me when I discovered a love for dance. I was fascinated watching music videos on MTV and would wait for my favorite ones to air so I could learn the steps. Thankfully my parents supported my hobby and got me into classes and a local dance troupe. Dance gave me an identity and a way to express myself, creatively and beyond.

PS What did you do after high school?

BENJAMIN I spent a year-and-a-half working as a caretaker in a school for disabled children. During that time, I also started dancing professionally in regional musical theatre productions. Though I was considering a career in special education or occupational therapy, I decided to audition for a few dance programs, thinking that if I got accepted I'd try being a dancer first. Fast forward I got accepted to a dance training in the Netherlands in 1998!

PS How did you discover Pilates?

BENJAMIN Pilates was one of many subjects that were part of my dance program. The university had a rotation of three teachers who taught daily mat classes and, over time, opened studios close to campus. I didn't know this then, but all three of them had completed their training with Romana Kryzanowska.

This story is from the July - August 2019 edition of Pilates Style.

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This story is from the July - August 2019 edition of Pilates Style.

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