World Class Athlete
Mary Bange has a lifelong commitment to sports and fitness beginning with her becoming a world class distance runner. Her accomplishments include:
- Former world record holder in 50 kilometer run
- Olympic trials qualifier in the marathon
- 8-time winner Paavo Nurmi Marathon (Mile 18 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 decided to pursue 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.
Certified Pilates and Personal Trainer
Mary has earned the Peak Pilates Comprehensive Certification. She 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. Mary is also a certified personal trainer through the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
Cancer Recovery
Mary lost her mother to breast cancer and witnessed first hand the struggles of a cancer patient in treatment and recovering 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 both breast Cancer Recovery and other Cancer Recovery to aid them in their physical and mental recovery.
Mary's Life in Houston
Mary was born in Saulte 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 three-year resident of Houston she is well established professionally and personally living with her husband Jim and their dogs Ronyn and Dinah in the Rice Military neighborhood.