The Studio Wall Unit in Practice

Written by: Alia Staples

The Studio Wall Unit is a versatile piece of Gratz apparatus that has been an integral part of my studio operations for the past twelve years. Whether you are looking for a space saving apparatus for your basement gym, or a piece of equipment to offer a higher volume group class service in your studio, this is a piece you need in your cart.

This compact apparatus offers all the function of a Cadillac, at a much smaller footprint. The tower itself extends just a few feet off of the wall and includes a Push Through Bar, Roll Back Bar, Arm and Leg Springs, with Eye Hooks at a variety of heights. As a boutique studio owner, the Studio Wall Unit allows me to offer group classes with the complete suite of Cadillac tools to clients in spaces where square footage is limited.

More Than Just a Mat Class

With the efficiency of the tower/high mat combination, more students can experience the broader Pilates system. Rather than offering a mat class on a thin floor mat, my studios offer mat/tower classes that combine the traditional mat work with Cadillac/tower exercises appropriate for the class being taught.

Formats and programming styles for these classes can vary greatly, which is part of what keeps the mat/tower classes interesting. Instructors can teach a complete, comprehensive series of Mat exercises back-to-back, followed by teaching series of Cadillac exercises one after another rooted in specific movement goals. Or other instructors may opt to teach a portion of the Mat work, teach a series of tower exercises to support the workout, then resume the Mat order.

Mat Exercise Variations

A useful approach to using the Studio Wall Unit is viewing it as a tool to support the Mat system. Traditional Mat exercises can be taught with springs integrated into the movements to support the exercise or provide additional challenge for the student. For example, teaching the Single Leg Circles with the Leg Spring on one foot at a time helps to guide the leg through space and hold it in the air.

Another example that comes to mind is holding the Push Through Bar during the series of five to help students find and/or intensify the lift of the upper back off the Mat. A third example is integrating the Leg Springs into the Side Kick series to better find the resistance of the kick in all directions.

More Options for More Bodies

One of the most beautiful things about the Studio Wall Unit is the fact that it allows for more types of bodies to approach the Cadillac exercises with a variety of set up options. The Eye Hooks are installed along the vertical poles frequently, allowing students and instructors to finesse the amount of resistance offered during specific exercises. The varying hook heights also allow for kneeling and standing exercises to be taught at a better, personalized spring attachment point for more petite or very tall students. These options are more limited on the Cadillac itself.

The elevation of the High Mat off the floor also offers those with tight hamstrings a few inches of relief to drape their legs during exercises that can be problematic on a traditional floor mat, like spine stretch forward and saw. Each High Mat also comes installed with a Foot Strap to help support beginner-intermediate students with Roll Up exercises.

A Versatile Tool for the Pilates Studio

The Studio Wall Unit is an indispensable tool for all Classical Pilates practitioners and studio owners. I hope this piece has inspired you to think about ways you can use this efficient piece of Gratz apparatus or given you additional appreciation for its versatility. What are some of your favorite ways to use the Studio Wall Unit? Share your thoughts and tag us at @thepilatesloftvirginia and @gratz_pilates.