I first met Rachel in let’s say 1997. She was teaching at a Pilates studio in the Main Line. I sensed that there was a seriousness and attention to detail in her approach to the work more so than with most if not all the other teachers. My senses were spot on.
As a performing musician, Id exposed myself to a myriad of disciplines: yoga, weight lifting, running, swimming, qui gong, aikido, alexander, feldenkrais, jazz dance, rolfing, heller work, cranio sacral, massage, chiropractic.
Part of the reason was personal growth and part was injury. I’ve been missing an ACL since 1986 and I’ve also had foot and back issues.
I must say that Pilates, and indeed the Fletcher work, has stood the test of time as a reliable discipline that gets results. I am more “in my body” than ever at age 50 and this is largely due to Rachel’s teaching, intuition, and ability to pour this material into my head as well as my body.
Just as in my work in music, you definitely get out what you put in and there’s certainly a lifetime’s worth of strength, health and flexibility right here for my continuing physical, intellectual and spiritual education.
Thanx ITM,
Thanx Rachel and all the teachers

In 1999 my podiatrist said to throw away my high heals due to pain from arthritis and foot deformities. So I tossed out my favorite leather boots and resorted to wearing orthotics in comfortable oxfords and suede sneaks. My wardrobe was a challenge whenever we had to dress up. It was so discouraging. I had one pair of patent leather mary janes and my husband always had to leave me off at the door.
Then in 2004 my brother introduced me to ITM. Rachel knew the perfect exercises and put me to work. I never really tested my fee out though, until our son got married in June 2006. My goal was to walk down the aisle and stand in the receiving line with dressy little heels. I packed comfortable clogs for the reception. The biggest surprise came when I never needed to change out of the heels into the clogs! Not only was I comfortable and able to dance the night away – BUT I was able to talk the next day and had no pain!
I credit ITM for my new found movement and new wardrobe of shoes for all of our special occasions!
Thank you ITM!

There is certain pleasure in throwing one’s body into an activity – getting the body to respond to rhythm, to race down a ski slope, to edge out an opponent at the finish line, to stretch for the return shot in tennis. So I was taken with hurdles and pole vault in school, lettering each year, even the first year in college. In college I took up downhill skiing and tennis and loved both activities through graduate school, well into my adult life, where I added long distance running 10K races. I eventually ran up against the reality of time – osteoarthritis. I first had to forego running, then tennis, then the slopes with the bumps. Supplements began to heal my knees, so somewhere in there I took up aerobics – I could still throw my body into that. Eventually hellish leg cramps brought an end to aerobics. I seemed destined to the treadmill and mild weightlifting – barely enough to keep the waistline in check.
Then my wife got interested in Pilates, through a friend, and suggested one day that I check out the open house. One of Rachel’s clients was doing astounding things with her well-tuned middle-aged body, claiming only a few years investment in the activity. It seemed worth a try. I’ve been doing Fletcher Work with Rachel now for nearly three years, and I’ve got to admit – I’m a stronger guy now at age 59 than I was at 49 and perhaps 39, and considerably more flexible. Daytime chain sawing, weed whacking, leaf raking, home repair (things needed regularly on my property) used to need a couple of Advil in the evening – not any longer. Leveraging the core in these activities really makes the difference! I’m also very much more aware of how my body works – it’s not all abs, biceps, and thighs which most guys believe is all they need. It’s all the other muscles as well, breathing correctly, and the positioning of the body relative to the situation. Along the way my trick shoulder, which could only move in a half circle, got healed – I can now move it around a full circle! This work may be important to dancers, but this is really for anybody who wants to keep their body moving or wants to know more about how to use it properly. I keep thinking – if only I knew this stuff at age 20!

I first tried Pilates because my aging body was making it more and more difficult to dance. I tried several different teachers but didn’t embrace it wholeheartedly until I met Rachel and she suggested that “Ron Fletcher Work” would be good for me. I had no idea what that was, but I tried it and discovered my Fountain of Youth, as I will be able to do the Fletcher Work and progress in it, for the remainder of my life. Not only do I feel better than I did fifteen years ago, but I’m now actually getting the upper hand on middle-age “dumpiness.”
In Rachel I also discovered an extraordinary teacher with an amazing depth and breadth of experience and knowledge. Her dedication to excellence is evident in every aspect of her studio, Inspiration to Movement, and she inspires me at every private lesson and group class. I feel very fortunate to have found Rachel, the Ron Fletcher Work and Inspiration to Movement. And having to shop for slimmer jeans is no great burden!