Gratz Equipped Studios: Continuing the Classical Pilates Method
Photo via Pilates AuthentiKa.
Every Classical Pilates studio carries a story shaped by lineage, discipline, and dedication to the work. These spaces become anchors for learning, growth, and continuity within the method.
Through our Gratz Equipped Studio Tours that we feature on our Instagram, we're excited to feature 12 studios whose journeys reflect the heart of Classical Pilates, the importance of community, and the power of teaching on Gratz apparatus.
June Hines Pilates: Philadelphia, PA
Why Classical Pilates?
I was fortunate to find Romana and her daughter Sari right away when looking for Pilates, who taught me the work of Joseph Pilates in 1996. Since then, I have experienced other forms of Pilates but always come back to the Classical approach. It works if performed and taught correctly.
Why Gratz?
The Gratz equipment is what I was trained on and all I knew. Over the years I have experienced other apparatus makers, and there is such a great difference. I would never choose anything but Gratz. Gratz apparatus works for the work Joseph Pilates developed, and it was sanctioned by Romana Kryzanowska as the equipment to use.
What’s a piece of advice you always come back to?
Romana always said keep people moving. I take this for myself as well. As a teacher, she encouraged us to do at least five exercises a day if not doing a full workout.
How did you open your studio?
I was certified in New York with Romana and Sari Mejia Santo in October 1996. I moved to Pennsylvania in January 1997 with my 5-week-old son and husband. We looked for a home where I could have a space to teach Pilates. We moved into our home in June 1997, and I began my first studio. I started by buying a Reformer, Cadillac, and High Mat. As I taught, I continued to purchase more apparatus until I had a fully equipped studio.
I opened a second studio in Doylestown in 2006 to replace the void left by a teacher who was moving away. Susan Wilson, one of Romana’s Pilates certified teachers, and I opened the studio and were there for 16 years. Susan now teaches clients from her home studio in Perkasie/Hilltown.
My third studio in Jenkintown, PA opened in 2016 to create a visible space where the teachers I had helped train could teach and share the work of Joseph Pilates that we learned from Romana, Sari, and now Daria Pace.
Favorite Apparatus
That is a hard question to answer as I love all the apparatus for what they offer. If I have to choose, I will pick the Spine Corrector because it opens up my spine and supports my effort to stay flexible and yet strong.
Learn more about June Hines Pilates.
Prima Pilates: Scranton, PA
Why Classical Pilates?
My allegiance to Classical Pilates comes from a profound respect of the original method and continuing the legacy from Joseph Pilates. Classical Pilates is extraordinary! It is not just a workout or a trend. It is a longstanding method, a structured, proven system that creates change in the body.
Why Gratz?
Why would anyone want anything less than the gold standard. It honors the lineage and offers the authentic Classical Pilates experience. My clients notice the difference!
What’s a piece of advice you always come back to?
In the wise words of my mentor, Janice Dulak “When you start teaching the body, you learn how to teach”. I believe this work is it's most powerful when we meet the client where they are. Teach the body, not just exercises.
How did you open your studio?
Opening my studio came from strong sense of responsibility to teach this work the way it was intended to be taught. I had a deep commitment to honoring the classic method and I wanted to provide a private space where I could empower my clients to learn in an authentic environment.
Favorite Apparatus
I love the Spine Corrector because it’s deeply restorative. It supports my center while I find length and strength. A small apparatus with huge results!
Tell us about your clientele:
I have the best clients in the world! They range from ages 14-83. They are from all walks of life and couldn’t be more different. What they do have in common is dedication, respect for their work and a great desire to progress safely and mindfully.
What color upholstery is your studio equipped with?
Dove and Graphite.
Learn more about Prima Pilates.
Pilates Authentika: Saint-Lambert, QC
Why Classical Pilates?
I’ve been teaching movement for over 20 years: fitness, functional training, contemporary Pilates. As much as I loved guiding people, something always felt incomplete. When I discovered Classical Pilates, everything finally made sense. There is clear logic, progression, and a system where every exercise and every piece of equipment works together.
Why Gratz?
Because I have refined taste but honestly, because the equipment is part of the method. Gratz feels authentic, reliable, and, honestly… like the Rolex of Pilates equipment. It’s a jewel.
What’s a piece of advice you always come back to?
“Stay connected to your center in movement, and in life.”
How did you open your studio?
Opening my studio came from strong sense of responsibility to teach this work the way it was intended to be taught. I had a deep commitment to honoring the classic method and I wanted to provide a private space where I could empower my clients to learn in an authentic environment.
Favorite Apparatus
If I really had to choose just one piece, I would take the Reformer. It offers intensity, precision, and endless ways to work every part of the body but more than that, it gives constant feedback.
Tell us about your clientele:
They’re engaged, curious, and genuinely committed to their progress. They show up with an open mind and a big heart, the kind of people I truly enjoy being surrounded by in my life.
What color upholstery is your studio equipped with?
Sun Yellow & Emerald which represents the balance between grounding and lightness. Vibrant color brings energy and joy into the work.
How did you start your studio?
With more than twenty years of experience, I knew exactly how I wanted to teach, and I needed the freedom to do it in a way that felt true to who I am.
Authenticity has always been important to me, in life and in the method, and I wanted a space where that value could be lived, not just spoken. That’s why the studio is called Pilates AuthentiKa: it reflects depth rather than appearance, and the “Ka” is a small tribute to my own name.
It’s a space that mirrors my journey, my values, and the progression I believe we all need.
Learn more about Pilates AuthentiKa.
Balanced Birth Studio: Amherst, MA
Why Classical Pilates?
Because it is a method rooted in intention, intelligence, and respect for the lineage of Joseph Pilates’ original work. My classical dance background taught me the value of discipline, progression, and mastery, and I see those same qualities reflected in the classical system. The exercises, order, and transitions are deliberately designed so that each movement prepares the body for the next, resulting in a balanced, safe, and deeply effective practice.
Why Gratz?
Gratz offers a level of consistency and precision that helps clients find true alignment, develop authentic powerhouse strength, and experience the work as it was meant to be practiced. The equipment is uncompromising and keeps you honest, qualities that elevate the training and deepen the results.
What’s a piece of advice you always come back to?
Move with your mind first. Joseph Pilates said, “It is the mind itself which builds the body,” and nothing has ever guided me more. When the mind leads, the muscles follow with honesty and purpose.
How did you open your studio?
Opening my studio came from strong sense of responsibility to teach this work the way it was intended to be taught. I had a deep commitment to honoring the classic method and I wanted to provide a private space where I could empower my clients to learn in an authentic environment.
Favorite Apparatus
I love all of the apparatus! I strongly feel that they each are so valuable to the work, but if I had to choose one, I might pick the Spine Corrector.
The Spine Corrector blends strength, stretch, and alignment in a way no other piece does. Its simple shape opens the chest, lengthens the spine, and strengthens the powerhouse, all while revealing imbalances with clarity.
How did you start your studio?
After a career as a professional dancer, I wanted a path that combined creativity and rigor. Teaching in public schools showed me how much I love guiding movement, and Classical Pilates gave me the tools to make that passion a lifelong pursuit.
When the pandemic brought me to Western MA, the opportunity to open Balanced Birch Studio followed and I couldn’t be more excited to share this work with our growing community.
Learn more about Balanced Birth Studio.
Zerçin Sönmez Classical Pilates Studio: Ankara, Türkiye
Why Classical Pilates?
Rooted in Contrology — Joseph H. Pilates’ original vision — the method offers clarity, structure, and depth: a practice that unfolds slowly with patience and honesty. It’s not about trends. It’s about the method, consistency, discipline, and long-term practice.
Why Gratz?
Because it feels honest. Gratz Pilates is among the world’s finest manufacturers of professional Pilates apparatus, produced in faithful adherence to Joseph Pilates’ original designs. What sets Gratz apart is its commitment to using components and production methods rooted in the original designs and technology from over 50 years ago.
What’s a piece of advice you always come back to?
Listen to the body. Trust the method. Let time do its part.
How did you open your studio?
After many years as a dancer, Classical Pilates naturally became part of my life. Experiencing its positive impact on my own body inspired me to share it with others. That’s how it all began.
Favorite Apparatus
The Wunda Chair — without hesitation. It offers endless possibilities. Strength, control, mobility, and flow all live there.
Tell us about your clientele:
I work with people who listen to their bodies, stay curious, and care about long-term well-being. They’re more interested in sustainable practice than quick fixes.
What color upholstery is your studio equipped with?
Imperial Blue, Cinnabar, Grotto Blue, Yellow, and Mandarin Oriental.
Learn more about Zercin Sonmez Pilates.
Em Pilates: Gimhae, South Korea
Why Classical Pilates?
Because Classical Pilates is a complete system. It respects the intelligence of the body and preserves the original intention of the method as it was created. The more I study it, the more I realize that everything is already there. What truly matters is how deeply we understand the system and how honestly we pass it on.
Why Gratz?
Gratz equipment preserves the original dimensions, resistance, and intention of Classical Pilates. I believe that teaching on Gratz allows both instructors and students to experience the method exactly as it was intended.
What’s a piece of advice you always come back to?
“Trust the system.” Whenever I feel confused or lose direction, returning to the fundamentals always brings clarity.
How did you open your studio?
Opening my studio came from a strong sense of responsibility to teach this work the way it was intended to be taught. I had a deep commitment to honoring the Classical method, and I wanted to provide a private space where I could empower my clients to learn in an authentic environment.
Favorite Apparatus
The Reformer. It allows endless exploration and teaches precision while continuously challenging both the body and the way we think. I see it as one of the core tools of the Classical Pilates system.
What color upholstery is your studio equipped with?
Peach and Ivory.
Tell us about your clientele?
Our clientele is very diverse, ranging from beginners to experienced practitioners and instructors. Many of our clients value deep understanding and a consistent learning environment over quick results. We also have a relatively large number of members who practice independently outside of their lesson time.
How did you start your studio?
EM Pilates began with the desire to create more than just a place to exercise. I wanted to build a space where people could learn, practice, and grow together through Classical Pilates. I believe that this growth extends beyond the physical body into the way we think, move, and live.
Learn more about Em Pilates.
Pilates Unlimited: Takapuna Beach, Auckland
Why Classical Pilates?
It is how the method was created and intended. When you deviate from the original equipment or change how the exercises are performed, you end up with a routine inspired by Pilates, but not the true method.
Why Gratz?
It feels proper, it feels real, and it allows the work to flow like a dance.
What’s a piece of advice you always come back to?
Trust the method and stay consistent. The real changes happen through patience, precision, and showing up for the work over time.
Favorite Apparatus
The Spine Corrector.
What color upholstery is your studio equipped with?
Black.
Tell us about your clientele?
We are a well-established studio, opened in 2000, and we are proud to still have many of our foundation clients training with us today.
How did you start your studio?
I started working at Pilates Unlimited Studio when I first arrived in New Zealand 20 years ago. The studio was already operating, and I eventually managed it before moving to the South Island. Ten years later, I took over the business, and it has been wonderful to see our community grow and thrive with me on this Pilates journey.
Learn more about Pilates Unlimited.
Muse Pilates: Phoenix, AZ
Why Classical Pilates?
A perpetual gift—intelligent, connected exercise that is safe, effective, empowering, and transformational.
Why Gratz?
The engineering and craftsmanship, simplicity and safety, fit and feel, and the confidence to support everybody—along with direct communication with the Gratz team and connection to the Classical community.
What’s a piece of advice you always come back to?
Never waver in maintaining the highest standards in every aspect of your life—hence, Classical Pilates on Gratz.
Favorite Apparatus
The Cadillac—the expansive work, the feedback to the body, and especially the gymnastic inversions!
What color upholstery is your studio equipped with?
Platinum—it’s ethereal.
Tell us about your clientele?
Muse Pilates is Arizona’s premier studio for professional athletes (NFL, MLB, LPGA/PGA and others), dancers, and Pilates practitioners. Our clientele also includes doctors, celebrities, equestrians, golfers, those recovering from injuries, and cancer warriors.
How did you start your studio?
I am a duly licensed Attorney in California and Arizona and a Power Pilates comprehensively certified instructor. I established my Pilates business from the moment I was certified, and it grew from word of mouth. I built Muse Pilates with a desire to inspire others.
The studio is Arizona’s Power Pilates certification studio, hosts headlining workshops and philanthropic events, has partnerships with athletic training facilities and medical practices, is a resource for instructors seeking additional training, is the trusted studio for professional athletes, and has an incredible client community. I honor Joseph Pilates’ authentic method and am proud to represent Gratz!
Learn more about Muse Pilates.
RM Pilates: Murcia, Spain
Why Classical Pilates?
Classical Pilates offers a complete, intelligent system that builds strength, control, and balance in the body. I love how the method connects movement with precision and purpose, helping clients feel stronger, more aligned, and more aware of their bodies.
Why Gratz?
Gratz equipment stays true to the original designs of Joseph Pilates. The craftsmanship, spring tension, and proportions create the authentic feedback that makes the work so effective.
What’s a piece of advice you always come back to?
“Quality over quantity.” Slowing down and focusing on precision makes every movement more effective.
Favorite Apparatus
The Reformer. It’s incredibly versatile and allows you to experience the full range of the Pilates method, from foundational work to more advanced exercises. And as the name suggests, it reforms bodies.
What color upholstery is your studio equipped with?
Dusty Jade, Sangria, and Grey Stone.
How did you start your studio?
I started my studio just after the pandemic, when life was slowly beginning again after quarantine. It felt like the right moment to stop working for others and focus on private, one-on-one sessions, which people were really valuing at the time. I began with just a Reformer and a Cadillac, and today I continue with that same personalized approach in a fully equipped studio, except for the Guillotine.
Learn more about RM Pilates.
Hilary Opheim Pilates: Los Angeles, CA
Why Traditional Pilates?
My foundation in Traditional Pilates allows me to guide clients to explore movement, understand the why and how of each exercise, and challenge themselves safely. The work fits the individual, not the other way around, building confidence, awareness, and a deeper connection to the body over time.
Why Gratz?
Gratz apparatus communicates directly with the body, offering support, guidance, and feedback in every movement. It keeps both my clients and me connected, challenged, and growing in our practice.
What’s a piece of advice you always come back to?
My mentor and teacher, John Gosset, once asked our class who had never been injured before. One person proudly raised her hand, and he looked at her and said, “That’s a shame.” He explained how our injuries and struggles with our own bodies are not faults, but experiences that give us empathy and understanding for what clients with injuries may be going through.
Favorite Apparatus
The Wunda Chair is my favorite for the challenge and precise feedback it provides. It has inspired me, strengthened my understanding of movement, and helped me regain confidence after injuries.
How did you start your studio?
After teaching in different studios and running a Pilates program at a private fitness club, I opened a small studio for my clients. It grew into a supportive environment for teachers and students, and today, with my partner Davita Paul, I continue that mission through our LA-based teacher training and continuing education programs.
Learn more about Opheim Pilates.
RM58 Pilates: Bangkok, Thailand
Why Classical Pilates?
Because it works. I’ve experienced the transformation myself and witnessed it in countless others. The Classical system delivers lasting results that elevate quality of life across body, mind, and spirit.
Why Gratz?
Gratz apparatus doesn’t disguise the work. Neither does the method. Together, they reveal exactly where you are—and what’s possible with precision and consistency.
What’s a piece of advice you always come back to?
A system without challenge doesn’t hold in practice. Challenge without a system breaks people. The Classical method demands both—and provides both.
Favorite Apparatus
The Wunda Chair. You can rest anywhere—but a good chair is essential.
What color upholstery is your studio equipped with?
Espresso as the foundation, accented with Black, Capri Blue, Sun Yellow, Rosalee, and Mandarin Orange. Intentional color, used with restraint, shapes the energy of the space.
How did you start your studio?
It was less a business decision and more a sense of purpose—to create a space for Classical Pilates teacher training. With the support of our friend Jason Kim of Leaf Studio in South Korea, we were able to pursue certification under Brett Howard and bring that vision to life.
Learn more about RM58 Pilates.
Axis Classical Pilates: Long Beach, CA
Why Classical Pilates?
I believe in staying true to the source of Contrology. Joseph Pilates created an incredibly brilliant body of work, and the most powerful results of the practice come by going deeper into the original teachings.
One of my teachers and mentors, the late Bob Liekens, would often talk about the importance of honoring the integrity of Classical Pilates. He learned this from Romana, John Winter, and other teachers who were direct students of Joseph Pilates. We strive to continue the legacy of Joe’s work at Axis.
Why Gratz?
Like the Gratz tagline says, “Joe invented it, Gratz makes it.” Gratz equipment is simply the best in terms of quality and craftsmanship. Gratz Pilates honors the integrity of Classical Pilates in all its apparatus, and this is aligned with our philosophy at Axis.
What’s a piece of advice you always come back to?
When I went through “The Work” with Jay Grimes, he would say, “Talk less to the body, let the body talk to you.” I think there is so much value in the unspoken moments in the Pilates studio when you allow the body to speak through the work.
The equipment helps the body speak, as it reveals the most important information to us as practitioners and teachers.
Favorite Apparatus
Every piece of equipment has a purpose, and the more I explore the method, the more I recognize that Joe wanted us to use all the equipment all the time. Shari Berkowitz, my first Classical Pilates teacher and mentor, said that Romana would tell apprentices to get clients on at least five apparatus in every session.
I could not survive now without our fully equipped Gratz studio. I need it all!
What are the featured colors of Gratz upholstery?
The Gratz apparatus at Axis is primarily black, with accent pieces in mocha, greystone, forest, and fjord blue. We have concrete floors and wood beam ceilings, and have chosen an earthy palate which highlights the beauty of the stone, wood, and metal materials of the studio.
How did you start your studio?
I started my Classical Pilates journey in Los Angeles, California in 2001. I was dancing at the time, teaching Pilates in Beverly Hills, and working with Shari Berkowitz at The Vertical Workshop. This was a studio fully equipped with Gratz, and I learned there that Gratz is the greatest tool for the Pilates teacher and student.
My fiancé at the time lived in Long Beach, which is a city about an hour south of Beverly Hills. Long Beach was a bastion of contemporary Pilates. We were deciding where to make our home once we married, and I was highly motivated to bring Classical Pilates to Long Beach and create a Gratz studio where nothing like it existed. I moved to the area and founded Axis in 2002. My first small Gratz order was for two reformers, a Cadillac, a Wunda chair, and a spine corrector. Every year, I would save money and purchase another piece of Gratz equipment. Now we have all of Joe’s creations at Axis.
Twenty-four years later, we are going strong. We are the only fully equipped Gratz Classical studio in Long Beach and the surrounding areas! We have a dedicated, devoted staff and clientele of amazing people who share our vision of and passion for Classical Pilates.
Learn more about Axis Classical Pilates.
A Shared Commitment to Classical Pilates
Each studio featured in this series brings its own perspective to the Classical Pilates method, shaped by years of dedication, teaching, and connection to the work. From longtime community spaces to newer generations carrying the method forward, these studios reflect the depth, discipline, and continuity that define Classical Pilates.
What connects them is a shared commitment to preserving the integrity of the method and creating environments where meaningful learning and growth can take place. Through intentional teaching, respect for lineage, and work on Gratz apparatus, these studios continue to honor Joseph Pilates’ original vision while inspiring future generations of teachers and practitioners.
We’re grateful to celebrate the communities helping keep the Classical tradition strong and evolving around the world.
If you are interested in participating in a Gratz Equipped Studio Tour, please email marketing@gratzpilates.com.
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