Pilates success story with Beatrice Eggimann

As a full-service provider for therapy, health and exercise, we accompany our customers on their path to success. Sometimes very special success stories are written in the process - such as that of Beatrice Eggimann. Her journey illustrates all too well what passion, curiosity and teamwork can achieve. Find out more about Beatrice Eggimann's extraordinary story and the partnership with Medidor here.

Who is Beatrice Eggimann?

Beatrice Eggimann is the owner, trainer and therapist at Pilates Bern and Pilates Zurich - but that's not all: she is also an ambassador and lecturer at "art of motion", master teacher at Balanced Body and a lecturer at the Movement Academy. Her fascination with the human body and her insatiable curiosity have led her on an unforgettable journey. What began with a simple vacation in Australia set her on a path of self-realization that intersected with those of numerous exciting personalities in the history of Pilates and ultimately led to her success in Switzerland. As a retailer and sponsor, we too can be part of her success story. In the following lines, Ms Eggimann talks about her collaboration with us, presents her personal favorites from our range and tells us about her unique past and the experiences associated with it.

About the collaboration with Medidor

"An important building block in our success story in Switzerland is our partnership with Medidor, the exclusive distribution partner of Balanced Body. The close collaboration with Peter and Bettina Ambühl, the former owner and former proprietor of Medidor, has taken our projects to a new level. The annual Pilates Days, which I organized, are a prime example of this successful partnership, with Medidor always acting as a reliable partner and sponsor. Today, we continue to benefit from the enriching collaboration with Anouk Schraner and the Medidor team. Thanks to the support of Medidor and the inspiring collaboration with Balanced Body, we have realized our Pilates visions. Both partners support our success story and make our shared history unique."

Allegro-Pilates-Reformer + Konnector

"Since 2005, I can no longer imagine my work without the Reformer. I appreciate its versatility - especially in combination with the Konnector for comprehensive, functional training. Whether Allegro Reformer 1 or Allegro Reformer 2; both models offer an excellent basis for holistic training. The resistance of the springs strengthens the muscles, while the tension of the springs actively stretches the fasciae and thus promotes their resilience and elasticity. I particularly appreciate the eccentric training, which allows me to feel more strength, create space in the joints and experience improved freedom of movement. The promotion of balance through the instability of the sled is another aspect that I particularly appreciate about the Reformer. The body not only has to control its own movements, but also compensate for the instability of the device. This challenges the deep muscles in a special way and leads to a deep, comprehensive activation that holistically improves the quality of movement."

Pilates Reformer Allegro

Pilates Reformer Allegro 2 Reformer

Pilates Konnector Kit for Allegro 1a with Riser

Pilates Chair Exo with Split Pedal

"Small but mighty - the Pilates Chair challenges in a very special way. With less support surface than other equipment, it is compact and space-saving, but incredibly versatile. The chair improves functional mobility by challenging the body in different positions and thus optimizing movement sequences in everyday life. The flexible, spring-loaded pedal in particular plays a key role here - ideal for strength building, balance and fascia training. The chair also encourages me to move, as I can get further away from the floor or practice upside-down poses, which improves my balance and body awareness."

Pilates Chair Exo with split pedal

SISSEL Spinefitter

"I use the Slings tools all the time, but the Spinefitter from SISSEL is also indispensable. Whether in reformer, personal or mat training - the Spinefitter with its 28 balls arranged in two rows along the spine exerts deep pressure that specifically relieves tension and improves the mobility of the small vertebral joints. It promotes fluidity and improves tissue nourishment, which strengthens the adaptability and resilience of the fascia. Due to its unique shape, the Spinefitter not only helps to release blockages in the spine, but also to loosen the shoulder/neck area and stimulate many other areas of the body. Challenging balance positions provide new stimuli that take training to a new level. Its intuitive handling makes the Spinefitter an ideal tool for everyone. It also activates the body's energy points and promotes energetic balance."

Spinefitter

Beatrice Eggimann's story

"The human body has always fascinated me. Since studying was out of the question for me financially, I decided to do an apprenticeship as a medical laboratory technician. I taught aerobics on the side - even at the tender age of 17. I was 23 when I first came into contact with Pilates on a trip to Australia. Until then, I had never heard of this method of conscious movement, as it was almost completely unknown in this country. Back in Switzerland in 2004, I enthusiastically completed my first Pilates course with Karin Gurtner from 'art of motion'. Karin not only inspired and encouraged me professionally, but also personally - so I founded Pilates Bern that same year.

In 2006/2007 I spent a lot of time training with the Balanced Body Allegro Reformer and the studio equipment at Pilates Bodymotion in Germany. Inspired by the concept of the two founders - Britta Brechtefeld and Ute Weiler - I was eager to bring this training format to Switzerland. No sooner said than done: the first Pilates Bodymotion training course took place in our studio in Bern at the end of 2007.

The more I learned about Pilates, the more I wanted to immerse myself in this method. I was particularly inspired by the Pilates Elders - those who were trained directly by Joseph Pilates. Their unique experiences and individual styles have had a lasting impact on the method. My path finally led me to Lolita San Miguel, a first-generation Pilates trainer with over 50 years of experience. From 2008 to 2010, I completed her two-year Pilates Master Mentor program and successfully graduated. Motivated to learn even more, I undertook countless other training courses and trips. A significant milestone was the Kathy Grant Heritage Training with Cara Reeser.

I learned a lot about the fascinating fascia tissue from Thomas Myers and Dr. Robert Schleip. Pilates Bodymotion took the principles of these two golfers and researchers and integrated them into their own training concept 'Fascia Pilates' - a concept that I was able to teach myself. My fascination with this topic then led me to Karin Locher, with whom I completed the 'Bridging Program' in 2013/2014. In doing so, I deepened my knowledge of fascia in connection with the traditional Pilates repertoire. Karin's inspiration finally led me to sign up for my first dissection course in Phoenix, USA, in 2015.

A trip to America had been on the cards for some time and so the dissection with Thomas Myers and Todd Garcia was combined with other highlights: The first encounter with Fascial Stretch Therapy and a visit to Balanced Body in Sacramento. There has been a long-standing partnership and friendship with Dave Littmann, Balanced Body International Sales, in particular. He organized a tour with Ken Endelman; founder of Balanced Body and an important figure in Pilates history (e.g. the story of the court case that allowed us all to use the term Pilates today).

The idea of understanding anatomy, tissue and the body and its movements even better inspired me to take further courses in dissection, embryology, fascial stretch therapy and anatomy. In dissection, you work from the outside in and in 'Anatomy In Three DimensionsTM' from Balanced Body, you build the body from the inside out. Fascinated by this, I trained as a Master Teacher with Nora St. John in 2017 and have been enthusiastically teaching this concept of anatomy and movement ever since.

In America it is Balanced Body, in Switzerland Medidor. Every year we get together and think about how we can make a difference together. Be it with the annual Pilates Days, which I have organized and for which Medidor has always been a partner and sponsor, or many other projects.

Pregnancy, birth and postnatal recovery have fascinated me since my time as a medical laboratory technician at the women's hospital. Since the beginning of my Pilates career, I have had the privilege of accompanying women during this special phase of their lives. With my own pre- and postnatal trainer training, I have developed a method that provides women with the best possible support during and after pregnancy. It is a pleasure for me to provide them with tools to better understand and strengthen their bodies during this time.

What began in 2004 with Pilates Bern and one client has now grown into three studios in two cities, a further education institution and a competent and motivated team of 40. In our network of therapists, midwives and doctors, we pursue the goal of providing our clients with holistic support. I and my team of trainers always work with great pleasure, commitment and passion to help our clients achieve an empowering body image and a better quality of movement and life.

From 2009 to 2020, I accompanied aspiring and experienced Pilates trainers on their training and further education path, including as a licensee of Pilates Bodymotion and owner of Pilates Bodymotion Schweiz GmbH. In 2020, I realized that three studios, a family and training and further training every weekend could not be reconciled. I decided to give up my mat, reformer and equipment training and thus my license for these basic trainings so that I could focus on my studios and my own training as a Pilates-based and fascia-focused pre- and postnatal trainer.

And then came Corona - from the first day of lockdown it was clear: we were opening an ONLINE studio that would last even after the pandemic.

What began with Fascial Stretch Therapy has been further deepened by Medical Stretching. Today, there is hardly a personal training session at my studio that does not incorporate this profound method - an approach developed and continuously refined by Kerstin and Jenni (the Movement Academy).

During a hiking weekend together in 2021, Karin Gurtner asked me if I would like to become an ambassador for 'art of motion' and 'Slings Myofascial Training'. Of course I said yes straight away! I had been fascinated by Slings for a long time, and the opportunity to live and pass on this method even more intensively is a privilege. Since then, I have been passionately immersing myself even deeper in this masterpiece, which enriches me on all levels - physically, mentally and emotionally.

For me, Pilates and Slings is more than just a sport, a workout or a method. On my journey to Joseph Pilates, Slings Myofascial Training and Medical Stretching, my path has led me to many people who have fascinated, touched, moved and inspired me. I was and am allowed to learn so much every day and I want to pass this on to my clients, the participants in my classes, my students, my friends, family and - last but not least - my great team. Pilates, Slings and Medical Stretching is both my profession and my calling, and I am grateful every day anew for being able to follow this path."

Pilates, slings, medical stretching and more with Bea Eggimann

Pilates, slings, medical stretching and more with Bea and her team. Whether you want to harmonize body, mind and soul with Pilates and slings or are looking for targeted therapy through medical stretching - Bea and her team are the right people for you. Passionate, holistic and dedicated, they will accompany you on your journey. Everyone is welcome in the studios; drop in and experience the connection between body and mind in a warm, inviting atmosphere.