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BOB LIEKENS
Conference
Athens 2026
Bob Liekens — a legacy we share, a joy we spread.
Founded in 2019 to honor Bob Liekens, our conference welcomes every Pilates tradition to share knowledge, preserve the legacy, and keep the method alive.
BL Conference 2026 – Athens, Greece
May 9–10, 2026
Join us for the Bob Liekens Conference 2026, set in sunny Athens, Greece, on May 9–10, 2026.
Experience two days of learning, inspiration, and connection in one of Europe’s most historic and vibrant cities.
The conference will be held at a beautiful hotel located in the heart of Athens’ old town, just a 15-minute walk from the Acropolis.
Immerse yourself in world-class presentations and Pilates heritage, surrounded by ancient culture and modern energy.
➡️ More details about accommodation and travel can be found under “Hotel & travel info”
Tecnopilates – Technical Sponsor of the Event
We are proud to announce that Tecnopilates will be present as a technical sponsor during the event.
Under the direction of Paolo Piccolo, Tecnopilates will provide and showcase a full range of professional Pilates apparatus for participants to experience throughout the conference.
All equipment presented during the event will be available for purchase at an exclusive 20% discount.
If you are interested in Tecnopilates equipment or would like more information,
👉 visit Tecnopilates or meet Paolo and the team during the event. 
Price for both days 595€ – 10% Early bird before 31 Dec.
Total 12 TPS CEC
Possibility to book single workshops, choose at checkout. For a fullday package price click 2WS per day including morning classes.
All workshops marked with ONLINE in the schedule below is available online through Zoom. After sign up you will receive all information to connect to Zoom in the order email sent directly from the system.
Zoom link and handout is sent upon registration so you can sign up just a couple of min before the event start.
✔️ Zoom link sent upon registration
🎥 Full HD recording available for 10 days after the event
Package price 399€ for all Online workshops.
Total 9 TPS CEC
Single workshops needs to be booked separately for every workshop – Register in the schedule below.
You will have access to the online videos 10 days after the event.
Schedule for the conference 2026
Sat 9 May
09:00-09:45
Room: Athena
Masterclass: Matwork
Presenter: Evgenia Papadopoulou
Live+Online
Sat 9 May
09:45-10:00
Room: Athena
Welcome
Presenter: Petra Karlsson
Sat 9 May
10:00-12:30
Room: Athena
Workshop: Mat Transitions
Presenter: Alexandra Edwards
Live+Online
Room: Karyatides
Workshop: Arm Chair
Presenter: Nora Machione-Weiss
Live
Sat 9 May
12:30-14:00
Lunch
Sat 9 May
14:00-17:00
Room: Athena
Workshop: Cadillac progression
Presenter: Bonnie Grove
Live+Online
Room: Karyatides
Workshop: Special cases – Upper Body
Presenter: Malene Pedersen
Live
Sat 9 May
17:00-18:00
Toast & social hour
Sun 10 May
09:00-09:45
Room: Athena
Masterclass: Matwork
Presenter: Evgenia Papadopoulou
Live+Online
Sun 10 May
10:00-12:00
Room: Athena
Workshop: Smart modifications
Presenter: Sandra Käfer
Live+Online
Room: Karyatides
Workshop: Inside out – The person behind the movement
Presenter: Bernd Wohlfarth
Live
Sun 10 May
12:00-13:00
Lunch
Sun 10 May
13:00-16:00
Room: Athena
Workshop: Archival Reformer
Presenter: Bonnie Grove
Live
Room: Karyatides
Workshop: Reformer on the Spine corrector
Presenter: Gina Papalia
Live
Workshop descriptions
Matwork1 - Evgenia Papadopoulou
A great, energizing start to your day!
Awaken your body and mind and prepare yourself for everything the day will bring. ✨💪.
Mat Transitions - Alexandra Edwards
Transitions are more than just moments between exercises — Joe believed they are part of the workout itself.
In this workshop, we focus on the matwork and its transitions, learning how to move with purpose and control.
Discover how to level up your teaching through each stage and challenge your clients to their fullest potential. 💪✨
Arm chair Workshop - Nora Machione-Weiss
Also known as the Baby Chair, this brilliant piece of Joe’s equipment isn’t just for the weak or injured — it’s a powerful tool to build strength, flexibility, and posture. Discover how to use this unique apparatus effectively with almost all your clients! ✨💪
Cadillac progression - Bonnie Grove
Explore the exercise progressions on the Cadillac from fundamentals to advanced and beyond. Understand how the basic exercises are built upon, why, and who they are best suited for. Great for challenging your strong ideal-level clients
Upper Body Focus - Malene Pedersen
Join this 3-hour practical workshop to explore how Pilates can help clients with neck, shoulder, elbow, and hand issues.
Learn smart modifications and variations using different Pilates apparatus and small props — all focused on functional movement, posture, and safe progression. Help your clients build strength, mobility, and body awareness both in and out of the studio. ✨
Matwork2 - Evgenia Papadopoulou
A great, energizing start to your day!
Awaken your body and mind and prepare yourself for everything the day will bring. ✨💪
Smart modifications - Sandra Käfer
On this workshop, we’ll look at the ideal exercise and consider together how we can modify it. Many conditions require different levers or adjustments on the Mat or on the Reformer. What’s possible?
Inside Out - The Person behind the movement - Bernd Wohlfarth
A unique workshop for Pilates instructors who want to explore the powerful link between personality, presence, and movement. Explore how personality shapes movement and how you can adapt your teaching so every client feels seen and supported.
Based on the Big Five personality model, this workshop gives you practical tools to teach with more empathy, clarity, and connection. 🌿
Archival Reformer - Bonnie Grove
In the layers of the reformer work are the lesser-known exercises we refer to as “archival”. Not always included in our basic education courses, this is a great way to experience some work not always covered, understand the precautions and safety points, and expand your knowledge.
Reformer on the Spine corrector - Gina Papalia
Once you know the Reformer exercises, you can take them to new heights — and new equipment!
In this workshop, we’ll explore Reformer movements on the Spine Corrector to discover new dimensions of strength, balance, and mind-body connection. Ignite joy, refine your practice, and elevate your teaching. ✨💪
Presenters 2026
Alexandra Edwards
California, USA
Certified in 1996 under Romana Kryzanowska, she has taught in New York, Los Angeles, and now Carmel, California, where she runs her own studio, Monterey Bay Contrology.
Bernd Wohlfarth
Hamburg, Germany
He discovered the Pilates method during an extended stay in Australia and has been active as a presenter and educator since 2001 — first for The Pilates Coach, then Power Pilates, and now The Pilates Standard.
Bonnie Grove
Virginia, USA
Bonnie Grove is an NCPT® Certified Pilates Teacher and a Teacher Trainer for The Pilates Standard (TPS).Formerly a Senior Teacher certified by Power Pilates, Bonnie has over a decade of experience teaching and mentoring instructors across the East Coast and internationally, including in Seoul, South Korea.
Evgenia Papadopoulou
Athen, Greece
With a background in classical ballet and modern dance, she discovered Pilates in 1990 and later trained under Romana Kryzanowska and Bob Liekens at the original Pilates Studio in New York, completing her certification in 1993.
Gina Papalia
New York, USA
Gina Papalia is a Second Generation Pilates Teacher, owner of Grasshopper Pilates in New York City (est. 2000), and a Teacher Trainer for The Pilates Standard (TPS). After earning a BFA in Fine Arts & Dance, she began her Pilates training in 1995 at SUNY Purchase, studying with Romana Kryzanowska and Bob Liekens.
Malene Pedersen
Helsingör, Denmark
Malene became a Classical Comprehensive Pilates Teacher in 2009 and a Physical Therapist in 2014. She combines her two professions to teach Pilates to a wide range of clients — from rehabilitation patients to professional athletes.
Nora Machione-Weiss
Rifton, USA
Nora Machione Weiss is the owner of Pilates of Kingston in New York and a dedicated advocate of the classical Pilates method. A former corporate segment producer in New York City, Nora discovered Pilates in 1990 as part of her knee injury rehabilitation.
Sandra Käfer
Mattersburg, Austria
With a background in ballet and fitness, she has been teaching classical Pilates since 2000 and educating instructors across Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. Sandra continues to inspire the Pilates community while running her studio in Mattersburg and balancing her passion for teaching with family life.
Pictures from last conference in Helsingborg Sweden
instalove
A full weekend dedicated to Pilates, learning, and community.
Join the Pilates Event Austria by The Pilates Standard for two immersive days of workshops, training sessions, and shared practice with experienced teacher trainers.
📍 Marz, Austria📅 19–20 September 2026
This is your opportunity to deepen your understanding, explore new perspectives, and connect with other passionate teachers—all in one place.
👉 Save your spot: https://thepilatesstandard.com/events/327-pilates-event-austria
#PilatesEducation #ClassicalPilates #PilatesCommunity #ThePilatesStandard
The best Pilates instructors aren’t the ones who know the most—
they’re the ones who keep learning.
Continued education refines your eye, challenges your habits, and keeps your teaching relevant.
Because your clients deserve more than routines—
they deserve a teacher who evolves.
Stay curious. Stay sharp. Stay inspired.
#pilatesinstructor #pilateseducation #continuingeducation #movementeducation #pilatesteacher #lifelonglearning #pilatescommunity #teachbetter #mindfulmovement
Matwork is often underestimated—but it’s where real teaching begins.
Without the support of equipment, you’re challenged to truly understand movement, control, and progression.
The Mat Education by The Pilates Standard is designed to give you exactly that:
clarity, depth, and confidence in your teaching.
Because when you understand the foundation—everything else becomes stronger.
#pilateseducation #matwork #pilatesinstructor #classicalpilates #movementeducation #pilatesteachertraining #pilatescommunity #teachbetter #pilatesstandard
Teaching Pilates isn’t about reaching a final level of mastery.
It’s about staying in the process.
The moment you stop exploring, questioning, and learning—
your teaching starts to lose its depth.
Stay a student.
Stay inspired.
That’s what your clients feel.
#pilatesinstructor #pilateseducation #movementpractice #lifelonglearning #pilatesteacher #mindfulmovement #teachwhatyoulive #pilatescommunity #inspiredteaching
What if your Pilates education went beyond exercises—and taught you the method?
The Comprehensive Teacher Training Program by The Pilates Standard is a deep, structured journey into classical Pilates. You’ll learn the full system, gain real teaching experience, and develop the confidence to work with every body.
This is more than a certification. It’s a complete education rooted in the original method.
👉 Ready to become a truly skilled Pilates teacher? Apply now.
#PilatesEducation #ClassicalPilates #PilatesTeacherTraining #ThePilatesStandard
You’ve done your certification. Now it’s time to go deeper.
LEAP (Learning Education Advancement Program) by The Pilates Standard is designed for experienced teachers ready to refine their eye, expand their knowledge, and reconnect with the method.
Over two immersive modules, you’ll explore the full Pilates syllabus, dive into archival exercises rarely taught elsewhere, and elevate the way you see and teach movement.
📅 Starts 20 May 2026
This is where good teachers become exceptional.
👉 Join the program: https://thepilatesstandard.com/leap/region-EU/
#PilatesEducation #ClassicalPilates #PilatesTeacher #ThePilatesStandard
This is what Pilates is really about.
Not just exercises. Not just teaching.
But coming together, from different countries, different studios, different journeys, to learn, question, and grow as one community.
At the Bob Liekens Conference with The Pilates Standard, the energy in the room goes beyond education. It’s shared knowledge, real conversations, and a deep respect for the method we carry forward.
For two days, we took workshops, but more importantly we exchanged perspectives, refined our eyes, and challenged our teaching. This is how the method stays alive: through people who are willing to keep learning.
A community built on curiosity, precision, and legacy.
This is how we move Pilates forward.
It was a pleasure having you all here, sharing the passion for continued learning, community and Pilates.
#ThePilatesStandard #PilatesCommunity #PilatesTeacher #PilatesTeacherTraining #PilatesInstructor #thepilatesstandard #bobliekens #bobliekensconference #bobliekensconference2026
Ready to take your Reformer skills to the next level?
Join us for “Fast on Wheels – How to Rock the Reformer (Part 1)” and discover how to move with speed, precision, and confidence on the Reformer.
📍 Gehrden-Lemmie, Germany
📅 16 May 2026
This dynamic workshop is designed for Pilates instructors who want to sharpen their eye, refine their teaching, and bring more flow and energy into their sessions. Expect hands-on learning, powerful progressions, and a fresh perspective on Reformer work.
Spots are limited – don’t miss your chance to level up your teaching!
Secure your place now and roll into your next teaching breakthrough: https://thepilatesstandard.com/events/265-fast-on-wheels-how-to-rock-the-reformer-part1
#PilatesTraining #ReformerPilates #PilatesInstructor #ThePilatesStandard #ContinueLearning
