From Tech to Pilates Instructor: Meet Sarah Cohen

Part of our Meet the Movers series. 

Pilates trainer, Sarah Cohen started her career in Silicon Valley but eventually found herself becoming a Pilates instructor, and she never looked back. In her interview, you can witness Sarah’s characteristic determination that MOVE clients love about her. Learn about her Pilates career journey below!

Sarah, it has been awesome seeing you progress in your Pilates career. How did it all start?

When my youngest child started high school, it was time for me to start looking around for what I was going to do with the rest of my life.  I was terrified that if I didn’t start trying to figure out the next steps in my life before he left for college, I might not ever figure out what I was supposed to be doing.  So I went back to work for a small software company here in Ann Arbor…But now sitting all day looking at a screen made me really unhappy. I knew it had to be something else.

Then came her first Reformer Class at MOVE

Then I came to MOVE and when I stood up at the end of class, I couldn’t believe how great I felt…When I got up from the reformer, my body didn’t feel beat up like in so many other activities, I felt ready to conquer the rest of my day. I took another class a few days later and it was light bulb moment for me… this is what I would really like to do.  It turned out MOVE President Elaine Economou was about to start her Instructor Training Program.  How lucky am I?!?!?  The rest is history.

What about Pilates motivates you to keep consuming more and more?

I had some very specific goals of where I wanted to be in my Pilates career before I turned 50.  As a Pilates instructor, I was able to accomplish those goals and then some. The method of Pilates is so deep and rich and so many of the Leaders in the field have their own take on things. There is so much to learn within Pilates that I feel I might not ever ‘master’ all the movements.  The imposter syndrome is real.

With a Pilates Career also comes a Community

I am loving where I am right now for sure.  I appreciate the path that I am on. Being a new empty nester means it is awfully quiet around the house.  I love coming to the studio and seeing everyone there. MOVE is such wonderfully supportive place to work and I get to share the transformative method of Pilates.  Who could ask for more??

For aspiring instructors, Sarah offers this as advice:

Just know that we are all doing good work here.  That is what I keep telling myself and what I do believe deep down. The biggest lesson that I am learning over and over again is that we all need to be kind and patient with ourselves.  Breathe in and breathe out.

Book an appointment with her now!