Team Member Spotlight: Meet Donna Rosen, Founder and Instructor of Bolder Pilates
In this month’s team member spotlight, we shine a light on our fearless leader, Donna Rosen. With over 24 years of teaching experience, Donna has built Bolder Pilates from the ground up. In this interview, she shares her personal journey to Pilates, what keeps her passionate about teaching every day, and a fun look into her life outside of the studio. We hope you enjoy getting to know more about our boss babe, our big kahuna, our top dog—well, you get the idea!
What got you into Pilates?
I had debilitating back pain that started when I was only 12 years old. By the time I was in my twenties, it was so bad that I couldn’t do everyday activities, like driving or sitting in a chair, without excruciating pain. Yoga helped me a little bit, so I moved to San Francisco for an Iyengar yoga teacher-training program. Before the program started, I was urged to try Pilates by an absurd number of people. So I did, and my life was forever changed. Here I am today with 24 years of teaching already behind me and many more ahead.How do you keep your joy of movement alive?
I draw so much inspiration from other movement teachers. I try, as often as I can, to take new classes and explore new ways to move in my body. I like to feel like a beginner even though I still get a little nervous when I take a new class. I always leave feeling inspired and excited about having experienced a new sensation or a different way to feel freedom in movement. Mixing it up keeps me energized, joyful, and grateful for what my body can do.What is your favorite way to move outside of the studio?
I’ve always been a mover. I danced and did gymnastics as a kid, and played sports all through high school. After being limited by pain for so many years, I love getting back to all those things I couldn’t do for so long. I love playing tennis, nordic skiing, pickleball, and hiking in the mountains with my pup. However, the place I feel the absolute most joy in movement is dancing to music, whether it’s in my living room or a concert venue…especially to the Grateful Dead and live Dead and Company shows. I’m a hippie at heart, and proud of it.What is a fun fact about you that folks may not know?
Only my closest friends know that I spent many years of my young life performing in a marionette puppeteering group with my siblings. Along with being the narrator for our shows (dressed as a baby clown, no less), I assisted my brother with magic tricks, and we had a duet juggling act. We were hired for birthday parties and shopping mall shows. I’m fairly certain that my entrepreneurial spirit was born from this experience. And, I can still juggle—kinda.
— The Team at Bolder Pilates
Want to experience Donna’s passion for Pilates firsthand? Join us at Bolder Pilates and discover how movement can change your life, just as it did for Donna.