Sylvia Catzen - Yoga and Pilates Instructor

Mission Statement

My mission is to help people find ease and comfort in their bodies. I help individuals realize their own capacity for movement and potential for greatness. I facilitiate and teach people about the body's ability to heal naturally. I raise Awareness about Body Mind Spirit Connection and better the world through movement.

What do I stand for?

Love * Movement

How well do I communicate this?

I live it, being a living example through embodiment of wholistic self care.

Recent Accomplishments: Developed Mens Yoga/Pilates program and injury recovery/prevention program with overall fitness blend of the 2 styles, combining elements for strength, flexibility, intensity, endurance, stress reduction and pain management.

Hi, I'm Sylvia Catzen, owner of Pilates on Broadway...

I have been practicing yoga since I was 17 and Pilates for 11 years. I have used both these methods for healing my own body — I healed 4 bulging discs (L3,4,5 & S1) & sciatic nerve pain from an auto accident in December 2007.

I am living proof that these methods work when we surrender to the process. I am grateful to be able to help others do the same.

• • •

I like to say that I came to Portland for love, work and to get rid of my car, in that order. Working in a Pilates studio, enrolled in another full comprehensive Pilates training program and commuting by bike nearly everywhere, it felt like a tragedy when I was rear-ended while driving a rental car in August 2006. The collision caused two bulging discs. This is really the time when I learned the awesome healing powers of Pilates.Working with a chiropractor and using decompression therapy along with Pilates, I healed my injuries. During this process, I designed my own unique program to help others recover from disc injuries.

I opened Pilates on Broadway so that I could share my love of Pilates, movement and healing with others. As a Pilates instructor, I give my clients the service and focus they need to improve their health and fitness. I hope you join me and see what Pilates lessons can add to your life. When I’m not at my studio, you’ll find me spending time with my family and making art.

Sylvia's Training

Sylvia studied and certified with Gail Anderson of Redmond, Washington, at Balance Within.  She completed another full compressive training with Momentum Studios in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  The Pilates Method Alliance (PMA), an organization of which Sylvia is a member, recognizes both training programs.  The PMA is a non-profit organization dedicated to certification and continuing education standards for Pilates professionals.  She is also a member of IDEA Health & Fitness Association.  She has attended Mind Body Centering workshops, Kline technique, Eve Gentry technique as presented by Michele Larsson and Kathy Grant's work presented by Dixie. Sylvia holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science from the Evergreen State College.

Sylvia has completed YogaFit training levels 1-3 with certification. She will attend YogaFit training for level 4 in autumn 2009 as well as YogaKids training. Sylvia is also certified in YogaCycle and she is trained to teach Ron Fletcher's Level One Fletcher Towelwork.