Beyond the Exercises: Lori Coleman Brown's London Immersion

This September, teachers and dedicated practitioners from across the UK, Europe, and beyond will gather at the Royal Academy of Dance in London for an immersive three-day learning experience led by Lori Coleman Brown.

Hosted by Jayne O'Brien of Simply Pilates, the Classical Pilates Immersion offers something increasingly rare: the opportunity to spend three uninterrupted days exploring the Classical Pilates system through one continuous conversation.

Rather than moving between multiple presenters or isolated workshop topics, participants will build their understanding step by step, deepening not only what they know, but why the method works.

Why This Classical Pilates Event Matters

For Jayne, bringing Lori to London began with her own experience as a student.

After traveling to Seattle over several years to study with Lori, Jayne returned home with more than new exercises or teaching techniques. Each visit reshaped the way she understood the Pilates method itself.

"Lori has transformed both the way I practice Pilates and the way I teach," Jayne explains. "She has an exceptional ability to bridge the precision of the Classical method with a profound understanding of the individual body in front of her."

Rather than teaching a sequence of exercises, Lori teaches the Pilates system as an interconnected whole, one that remains faithful to its Classical foundations while helping teachers confidently serve the individual body before them.

As Lori said: "When we understand the concepts and allow ourselves to explore them, Pilates becomes more than a workout—it becomes a living practice for health and life."

That philosophy became the inspiration behind bringing Lori's teaching to London, allowing teachers throughout Europe to experience this depth of learning without traveling halfway around the world.

Why is the Workshop Gratz Equipped?

Throughout the weekend, participants will work on a full range of Gratz apparatus, including the Reformer, Wunda Chair, Ladder Barrel, Spine Corrector, Cadillac Combo, and more.

For Lori, the equipment isn't simply where the work happens—it's part of the teaching itself. 

"It's not always easy to describe how Gratz supports me," she says. "Gratz is such a familiar dance partner. It helps me do my work without thinking about the tools, and I'm very grateful."

Gratz apparatus provides the precision, feedback, and consistency that allow teachers to better understand the purpose behind each exercise while remaining rooted in the Classical Pilates system. Rather than reinventing the method, participants will discover how the apparatus itself often provides the answers.

As Lori explains, the goal is to use each piece of equipment to help develop the person in front of you while staying true to the system Joseph Pilates created.

What Attendees Will Gain at the Classical Pilates Workshop

Participants will leave with far more than additional exercises or programming ideas.

Across the three days, they'll deepen their understanding of the Pilates system as an interconnected whole while developing greater confidence in how and why they make teaching decisions.

They'll refine their observation skills, strengthen their eye as teachers, and gain practical strategies for working with different bodies using the full Classical Pilates system. They'll also discover how each piece of apparatus provides valuable feedback, guiding movement and opening new possibilities within familiar exercises.

Whether attending as an instructor or an experienced practitioner, participants will leave with a richer understanding of the principles that make the Pilates method both enduring and adaptable. 

A Preview of the Pilates Experience

Unlike conference presentations or standalone workshops, the London Immersion is intentionally designed as one connected learning experience.

Together, the group will begin with the curriculum standards, traditional exercises, and what Lori describes as the "six key shapes" that form the foundation of the Classical Pilates system. From there, participants will use the Reformer as their common language before expanding into the full Pilates system.

Each day includes movement sessions, practical application, discussion, observation, and opportunities to ask questions. Optional midday sessions and Mat classes led by Lori's team provide additional opportunities to move, reflect, and continue learning throughout the weekend.

Hosted at the Royal Academy of Dance, the event's intentionally limited size creates an intimate learning environment where participants have the time and space to engage deeply with both the material and one another.

A Lasting Impact on Your Pilates Journey

The goal of the London Immersion isn't simply to expand participants' exercise repertoire.

Instead, it's to help teachers return to their studios with a deeper understanding of the concepts that underpin the Classical Pilates method—greater confidence using the apparatus, stronger decision-making as instructors, and a renewed appreciation for Pilates as a living system.

As Lori hopes, participants will leave "thinking, seeing, and moving in new ways."

For Jayne, that transformation is exactly why this event exists.

When teachers understand not only what to teach, but why the method works, they gain the confidence to help every client more effectively while preserving the integrity of Classical Pilates for generations to come.