Violinist Sues Famed Pilates Instructor for Potentially Career-Ending Injury

The Israeli violinist Maya Meron, who has played with the Berlin Philharmonic, the London Symphony and Barenboim’s West-Divan Symphony, is experiencing long-term nerve damage.

The Story

Maya Meron has filed a claim against Heartcore Fitness Limited, a personal training studio in Hampstead, London founded by Jess Schuring. Schuring, also known as Jesse Blum, has trained celebrity clients including Victoria Beckham and Robbie Williams and was reportedly one of Meghan Markle’s favourite teachers.

Meron visited London’s popular Heartcore pilates studio to regain fitness after giving birth to twins. Schuring instructed Meron into a downward-facing dog position on a pilates Reformer machine before the machine collapsed. Meron fractured her left elbow and experienced abdominal injuries following the collapse.

The Case

Rob Aylott, a personal injury lawyer in London who is representing Ms. Meron, described the ill-maintained nature of the Reformer machines at Heartcore. The studio has denied responsibility for the accident.

Meron has turned down considerable work while undergoing elbow surgery, abdominal reconstructive procedures to her abdomen, and still experiences wrist pain and a loss in finger strength. Aylott described the catastrophic nature of the injury, stating, “My client was enjoying a glittering career which was unceremoniously halted by a trip to Heartcore.” Meron is no longer able to play complete orchestra programs, although she has expressed that some of the orchestras she works with have offered to have her play partial programmes with them.

Zoom Out

Many musicians visit pilates and yoga studios to promote injury prevention and wellness. Before Maya Meron’s injury, she was an advocate for musicians’ injury prevention who could be found on Youtube promoting stabilizing technology for violists and violinists.

We know the whole musical community hopes to have Meron sharing her gift on stages again soon.

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Sara Schabas

Sara Schabas is a soprano and writer born and bred in the heart of Toronto’s musical community. When she’s not singing opera, you can find her covering Carole King on the ukulele, biking through the Annex and advocating the merits of Puccini.