Top 10 BASI Moments of 2020

In a year where our industry was reshaped overnight and struggles for studio owners mounted, any speck of positivity seemed to hide in the shadows. We decided to dig deep and end 2020 on a high note, looking back at some of our best moments of the year. 

Beyond these positive memories, we want you to know that we are eternally grateful for you, our strong BASI Pilates community, for your unwavering support. It has been because of you that we’ve been able to stay hopeful and optimistic about our future as a company during the most trying of times. Read on to revisit our Top 10 BASI Moments of 2020.

10) BASI Faculty Featured in Pilates Style Magazine

Congratulations to BASI Faculty, Meredith Rogers and Laura Winters Meitzen for their features in Pilates Style Magazine! They represented BASI Pilates well and we are so proud of them! We’d also like to congratulate Rael Isacowitz on his cover feature in the July/August 2020 issue of Pilates Style. 

9) BASI Charity Fundraisers and Scholarships

This year BASI furthered its commitment to social change by raising awareness of social injustice and inequality while also collecting thousands of dollars for those in need. During the wildfires in Australia, Rael Isacowitz held a charity Mat class to raise money for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Later in the year Rael taught another charity Mat class to benefit Lesedi la Batho, a nonprofit in South Africa dedicated to empowering women in their community through education and training. Lastly, we opened up applications for the Kathy Grant Scholarship, which awards financial assistance to aspiring BASI Pilates teachers of color.

8) Stella Hull-Lampkin Joins the PMA Board of Directors and DECC

Our very own Stella Hull-Lampkin, whom you may know as BASI HQ’s Operations Manager and newly-appointed BASI Faculty member, was invited to become a member of the Pilates Method Alliance (PMA) Board of Directors. In addition, Stella also became a founding board member of the PMA’s brand new Diversity, Equity, and Community Committee (DECC). This milestone in the PMA’s history signals a willingness to move toward growth and inclusivity in the Pilates industry.

7) BASI Launches Brand New Website 

After spending hundreds upon hundreds of hours planning and implementing changes to our website, we finally unveiled the latest and most up-to-date website earlier this year! One change that we are extremely excited about is the integration of BASI Interactiveand its 400 videos. Everyone on our team was involved in making the website as perfect as we could possibly make it and we are beyond excited to have it live and ready for you!

6) New Digital Movement Analysis Workbooks Released

If hundreds of hours went into the website, it’s safe to say that it took a few thousand hours to bring our new movement analysis workbooks to life! These living documents are the essence of BASI: structured, up-to-date, yet always evolving. And now they are available for the first time digitally! Get your copy here. 

5) Unveiling of the BASI Expansion Project

After several requests, we have finally created a way for our BASI Pilates community to open their own BASI Pilates Academy or BASI Pilates Studio anywhere in the world! Learn more about the BASI Expansion Project.

4) BASI Goes Online with BASI Live! Virtual Studio

In response to the COVID-19 social distancing protocols and studio closures, BASI Live! launched in May 2020 and has been a positive way for us to stay connected through distance. BASI Live! Virtual Studio has had upwards of 1,000 attendees for BASI Pilates education courses, Mat classes, and interactive conversations over just a few short months. This was our way of ensuring our continued commitment to keeping the body, mind, and spirit of our community healthy and active. Check out BASI Live! Virtual Studio.

3) Rael Taught the Mentor Program Online for the First Time

Knowing how special an experience the Mentor Program is for Pilates teachers around the world, Rael and the BASI HQ team were determined to find a way to keep it running this year. Their solution was to try offering it as an interactive online program, which would allow any eligible teacher in the world the opportunity to participate without the expense of travel and lodging costs. We appreciate the great lengths the Mentor Program students went through to participate, especially our students in Asia who were logging on at midnight and studying through the night until 7am in the morning!

2) BASI Expands to Egypt, Ukraine, and Ghana

We are proud to announce that studios in Egypt, Ukraine, and Ghana joined the family expanding the BASI approach to these regions for the first time.

1) BASI is Still Here, and Here to Stay!

The pandemic has certainly kept us on our toes, and like others in the Pilates community, we’ve had to make major adjustments in how we operate as a company. This has required us to be even more creative and flexible with our educational offerings, adapting to the widespread changes in the industry. But we are still here, still standing, and we aren’t going anywhere. We are more committed than ever before to continue providing you with the best Pilates education experience available! Together we are #basistrong!

Take the BASI Top 10 Moments Challenge!

We encourage you to make your own list of Top 10 Moments that happened for you this year. Post your list on social media with the hashtag #BASItop10moments, and be sure to tag @basipilates so we can read your best moments of the year!