Vintage 1976 Kim Lee Photos

Kim Lee and Wanda Bouvier began their pilates teaching career with Ron Fletcher in the early 1970s. At the time, Ron’s studio was beginning to attract famous clientele. In 1973, Ron took an extended leave from the studio to attend a job in New York, leaving the studio to be run by Kim and Wanda. After Ron returned in 1975, Kim and Wanda opened a pilates studio and gym, called The Anatomy Asylum. The studio had a salad bar in the front run by Richard Simmons. Richard Simmons called the salad bar “Ruffage.”

Soon Kim and Wanda decided to relocate their pilates studio, while Richard Simmons continued with Ruffage and the gym in the same location. Kim and Wanda called their new studio ‘Kinetic Integral Movement K.I.M.’. This was in early 1976- and where these amazing vintage photos were taken.

Over their many years together in the pilates business they taught a fascinating array of clientele including Jane Seymour, Priscilla Presley, Cher, Joan Collins, Natalie Wood, and many more.

Additionally, in the early 1980’s Wanda opened her own studio, Body Balance by Bouvier. By coincidence, she happened to open close to the original space, which was still being run by Richard Simmons on Civic Center Drive.

These fantastic images of Kim Lee teaching Priscilla Presley, Jane Seymour, Joan Collins, and Kathrine Baumann on the reformer were taken in 1976.

Photos by: Eddie Sanderson

All photos in this series are ©Elaine Ewing and may not be used or reproduced in any form without written permission.

Photos are also available for licensing, please contact elaine@rhinebeckpilates.com to request licensing and for more information.