Meet Mary Bange

" My professional philosophy is to share my passion for fitness with my clients by making a workout challenging, effective and fun."
- Mary Bange, Ph. D.

World Class Athlete

Mary Bange has had a lifelong commitment to sports and fitness, beginning with her career as a world-class distance runner. Her accomplishments include:

• Former world record holder in 50 kilometer run
• Olympic Trials qualifier in the marathon
• Eight-time winner, Paavo Nurmi Marathon (Mile 18 is now dedicated in Mary’s name)

Mary uses her personal athletic experience to specialize in creating Pilates programs to enhance athletic performance, prevent injuries and speed injury recovery. Her primary areas of Sports Performance are Golf Conditioning, Cycling, Running, Swimming, Soccer and Tennis.

Professor and Educator

After Mary’s successful running career, she pursued her dream of graduate school. Mary expanded on her Bachelor of Science degree in Math, summa cum laude, from the University of Wisconsin at La Crosse by earning a Ph.D. in Finance from the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

She then utilized her talents to become an educator at leading universities, including Michigan State University, University of Oregon and the University of South Carolina.

Having accomplished her goals as an educator, Mary decided to put her athletic and educator experiences to work in her lifelong love – the sports and fitness world – by becoming a certified Pilates Instructor and Personal Trainer.

Mary Bange on Pilates in SHAPE Magazine
The fast track to flatter abs: Pilates is the way to shrink your midsection, but it can also help you avoid breast cancer. Top instructors show you why prevention never looked so good (PDF).

Certified Pilates and Personal Trainer

Mary has earned the Peak Pilates Comprehensive Certification and has enhanced her Pilates certification by becoming a Breast Cancer Exercise Specialist (BCES) and Master Trainer through the Pink Ribbon Program. As a BCES she is qualified to provide Pilates-based exercise programs to breast cancer survivors. She was featured in Shape Magazine’s October 2008 Breast Health Handbook. In addition, Mary is a certified Pilates for Golf Conditioning Specialist and a Certified Personal Trainer through the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

Cancer Recovery

Mary lost her mother to breast cancer and witnessed firsthand the struggles of a cancer patient in treatment and recovery from surgery and toxic anti-cancer drugs. She wrote about this experience and its impact on her for Peak Pilates. As a result, while obtaining her Pilates certifications, she also became certified by the Pink Ribbon Program. Mary has employed this training in working with patients who have been treated for breast cancer and other cancers to aid them in their physical and mental recovery.

Mary Bange As Seen In Houston Culture Map
A BANGE-UP GOOD JOB
Pink Ribbon Program uses pilates to speed recovery from breast cancer surgery (PDF).

Mary's Life in Houston

Mary was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, spent time in Montana and settled in Wisconsin. As a professor of finance, she taught and lived in Michigan, Oregon and South Carolina. When Mary’s husband accepted a position in Houston she relocated with him and formally launched her Pilates career. Now a five-year resident of Houston, she is well established professionally and personally, living with her husband Jim and their Welsh Terrier Dinah in the Rice Military neighborhood.