About Lydia Bach…

Lydia Bach's name is synonymous with an outstanding exercise method, like no other. She saw the potential in a primitive exercise protocol, purchased the worldwide rights, and kept improving the secret formula to where it is today - the most effective exercise routine to totally transform women's bodies.

Usually creative people are multi-dimensional, and Ms. Bach is no exception.

She spent her childhood in the Midwest and the South. Majoring in literature and French, she graduated from the University of Illinois and then worked as a tax lobbyist at the non-partisan Illinois Taxpayer's Federation.

After traveling for a few months in Europe, E. Europe, Greece, and Turkey, she lived and worked for several years in Asia, Africa, and Central and South America. She learned languages, Oriental dance, yoga in India and studied Eastern philosophy. Lydia Bach worked in Hong Kong and Bombay before spending five months traveling by land from Calcutta to Beirut, Lebanon, eventually on to Ethiopia where she taught science and history in Addis Ababa.


Next, more land travel through Sudan, Egypt, and across North Africa to Morocco. An ensuing year was spent traveling by land through Central and South America.

In addition to her experiences gained by living and working in so many diverse cultures, Ms. Bach also managed an art gallery in Spain, and cooked professionally in London.

Lotte Berk Method Studios

After decades of success in running Lotte Berk Method studios in Manhattan, the Hamptons, and Beverly Hills, Ms. Bach decided to get out of the operations business of running studios and, instead, avail the Method to other owner operators around the world.

New Studios Coming Soon

There are currently no Lotte Berk Method licensed studios opened at this time.

However, there are many very interested parties wishing to open studios all over the country. Keep checking back for postings of new opening.

History of the Lotte Berk Method

In 1969 Lydia Bach had an idea to create an exercise business. It all started while she was taking classes in a dank London studio called Rehabilitative Exercises, which Ms. Lotte Berk, a famous German dancer, was teaching. In 1970 Ms. Bach bought the world-wide rights to Lotte Berk's name and technique and opened the "Lotte Berk Method, Ltd." in New York City in 1971.

Being a graduate of the University of Illinois and teaching several academic subjects: literature, French and while living in Ethiopia, science and history, it interested Ms. Bach to create a serious business where she would always be learning and developing an exercise system that could not only heal injuries, but even prevent them. Because she had practiced many sports (ranging from field hockey, fencing, to golf and tennis) she wanted her business to give her that same physical challenge.

Soon after opening the Lotte Berk Method in New York's Upper East Side, Lydia Bach was a huge, word-of-mouth success due to her innovative techniques which inspires people to work hard, transforming their bodies rapidly.

She used her energy, love of movement, and her growing knowledge of sports science to make her classes challenging, yet safe. In her childhood, she had loved the moves to the music of her mother's Deep South. As she traveled the world in her twenties living in Asia, Africa, and South America, her love of sensual movement expanded greatly, especially with the Latin dance in South America and belly dance in Egypt.

Lydia believes it helps the enjoyment of "working out tough" if there is some playfulness, some fun in class, and great rhythms that just want to make you move from rap / hip-hop to bhangra of Punjab to hot, Latin beats. Ms. Bach recently designed exercise equipment for home use, and is working on original music for the studio.

More than 30 years ago Lydia Bach's Lotte Berk Method studio was one of the first exercise businesses to open in New York City and was the first in Bridgehampton, Long Island. Classes are still held at both locations and some are even being taught by the master teacher herself.

Development of the Brand Name

Since beginning in 1970, Ms. Bach has carefully chosen the locations of her studios and designed them with impeccable style and function. For instance, the Bridgehampton studio was a converted 150-year-old potato barn where she modernized it as a contemporary studio complete with sound-proofed walls, all while preserving the integrity and character of the original post and beams.

Harmonizing with nature, she let in fresh air and light using sliding glass doors that extend out to wooden decks.A large canopy shading rustic chairs and picnic tables overlooked the surrounding meadow.



Creations in Fabric

Ms. Bach's creativity extends beyond exercise and studio design; she has also created a reverse denim exercise mat that has proven to be incredibly durable. A renowned manufacturer quipped, "The mats are a problem, Lydia, they last forever!"

Since the 90's, she has created coveted exercise gifts for her employees: her "take" on the traditional carpet bag, but using velvet or leathers, even some Kashmiri wool paisleys. For summer, she does a sack of reversible, vibrant raw silk, sometimes including her version of aprés exercise wear- wraps of sari fabrics, or glittering, transparent fabrics, also paisley silks.

An Innovative Exercise Bar

Ms. Bach's latest work is ground-breaking for not only the Lotte Berk Method, but for the fitness community in general. It is a free-standing exercise bar, requiring no extra support, that can be used virtually anywhere. In health clubs, it can be an exciting extension to traditional exercise equipment and add a whole new exercise dimension.

The bar is crafted of wood or metal, making it sturdy and self-sufficient. She makes at least 10 construction workers sit on to test its safety. Because it is free-standing and requires no wall, it can be used in the middle of a room, out on a deck, or even on the beach. It folds up to less then 6 inches in height for convenient storage under a bed or other furniture.

The bar is especially useful to the Lotte Berk Method aficionados when performing the highly unusual exercises called round back and flat back. It is patent pending and will be available to the public in the future.

Rhythmic Instrumental Exercise Music

Ms. Bach's latest work-in-progress is a Lotte Berk Method music label with mixes created by her and her teachers. Since she prefers music without vocals for most exercise routines, she is arranging them using original rhythmic instrumentals.