Ana Cabán is a certified Pilates instructor who studied at The Pilates Studio of New York City under the tutelage of Master Teacher Romana Kryzanowska. Ana is known for her successful Gaiam Pilates videos in which she leads a series of exercises that reawaken the mind and condition the body to create a lithe, fit figure. She and her videos have been featured in many media outlets, including CBS News, Weight Watchers Magazine, Los Angeles Daily News and Miami Herald.
Originally a ballet dancer until a back injury shortened her career, Ana's chiropractor recommended Pilates. After practicing only a short time, Ana believed that Pilates strengthened her abdominal muscles and protected her back from further injury. Virtually pain-free, Ana has not seen a chiropractor in nine years.
Ana believes that your body is your most prized possession and it must last your lifetime. “Your body is a very scientific machine,” Ana says. “It sends you signals through pain. People often ignore the signs their bodies send them until they have a major problem. Pilates teaches you to listen to your body.
“It's very mind-body connected,” she adds. “You have to 'be there.' Your concentration is important. Your memory is engaged. This is a great escape because people must be so present mentally that they must let go of what their minds are holding onto.”
In addition to creating award-winning Pilates DVDs for Gaiam, Ana teaches Pilates at several studios in Los Angeles where she currently lives. She volunteers with Covenant House, an organization that helps runaway teens, and she volunteers at the Los Angeles Public Library, doing puppet shows and acting out children's stories. Ana is also exploring ways to motivate the Latino community and to help others understand that they can achieve whatever they set their minds to.
