BIOGRAPHY
JOE TEAGUE, Houston's leading Pilates instructor, is an actor, dancer, and martial artist who has been teaching the Pilates method exclusively for more than 27 years. He holds advanced certifications in both the rehabilitation and physical conditioning techniques of the Pilates method, and continues to expand his knowledge under the tutelage of the Master Teachers and their protegés.
Joe is a native
of Texas and has spent most of his life engaged in Mind/Body training.
As a teenager, he excelled in school sports, particularly gymnastics,
wrestling, and track. At 14, he also developed an interest in Zen meditation
and has used the discipline of Zanshen (unbroken concentration) in his
own training and that of his clients. In high school, he began theatrical
training, which he continued in college on a full scholarship and a grant
he received from the Old Globe Theater.
Mr. Teague's performance career included acting, classical ballet, jazz, contemporary, musical theater, and a very "interesting" tenure as men's dance captain of Sigfried and Roy's show, Beyond Belief. During and after his performance career, Joe pursued his interest in the martial arts, earning advanced belts in Kung Fu, Aikido, and Karate.
After retiring
from the theater, Joe put his life long interest in art and carpentry
to use, building custom homes. It was during this time that he learned
of the Pilates Method, and began his training with Patrice Whiteside and
Elizabeth Larkam in the Pilates-based conditioning and rehabilitation
techniques at the Center for Sports Medicine at St. Francis Memorial Hospital
in San Francisco, California. Upon completing the certification program,
Joe used his carpentry skills to design and build his own Pilates machines.
The Center for Sports Medicine recommended Mr. Teague, who had worked privately with doctor's referrals for several years, for the managing position at the Houston Ballet Body Conditioning Studio.
There, he combined his knowledge of athletics, martial arts, and dance with his intuition, compassion, and enthusiasm to become a recognized authority on the Pilates method. Joe received further training and inspiration from Pilates Elders Romana Kryzanowska, Eve Gentry, Ron Fletcher, Carola Triers, Kathy Grant, Alan Herdman, and Lolita San Miguel.
In the ensuing years, Joe has garnered an international reputation for his bio-mechanically based approach to the Pilates Method, and has trained teachers from all over the world. He has opened Pilates studios in Santa Cruz, CA; San Diego, CA; Portland, OR; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; and Houston, TX.
Joe is a member of the PhysicalMind Institute (formerly the Institute for the Pilates Method) and was awarded their advanced certification. He has been teaching since 1978, incorporating elements of both eastern and western philosophy in his pursuit of the Mind/Body connection in exercise.
