Unlocking New Levels of Stability and Balance with the Pilates Guillotine Tower
The Guillotine Tower is a distinctive piece of Pilates apparatus originally designed by Joseph Pilates.
The Gratz Guillotine Tower is a modern embodiment of this original design. Despite its compact size, it offers a comprehensive full-body workout. The upright structure encourages precise alignment, aiding users in fine-tuning their technique. It's specifically engineered to strengthen the hips, lower back, and spine, while enhancing flexibility in these critical areas.
While the Guillotine Tower may not be found in every Classical Pilates studio, it remains a hallmark of the most serious and elite studios. Its distinctive design offers real-time feedback, guiding clients to square their hips, elongate the spine, and deeply engage the core.
An Essential Apparatus for Pilates Studios
The Guillotine Tower isn’t just any piece of Pilates equipment—it’s a powerful and versatile apparatus that offers powerful vertical support and deep resistance work, making it a standout in any studio. LifeSpan Pilates, Urban Pilates, and Axis Pilates share their stories about how the Guillotine has become a game-changer in their practice.
Cynthia Shipley | LifeSpan Pilates
For Cynthia Shipley of LifeSpan Studio, the Guillotine Tower is an essential piece that truly “completes a Pilates studio.” They emphasize its precision in working on symmetry and control, noting how the springs’ perpendicular position to the floor creates a stronger resistance that sets it apart.
Inspired by this unique experience, they made the decision to install two Guillotines in their studio.
The apparatus is especially valuable for larger, stronger, and tighter bodies—often men—who find it more accessible than the tower on the Cadillac. According to Cynthia, “The Guillotine is much more accessible to the larger, stronger, tighter body—especially men—and gives many more options.”
Their tall clients with greater body mass benefit greatly from the Guillotine’s design, which offers a more challenging way to articulate classical Pilates exercises. Beyond clients, the Guillotine serves as an important tool for the studio’s apprentices and teachers, providing a broader vocabulary of exercises and deeper work on control and precision.
In their words, the Guillotine’s role is vital: it’s not just equipment, it’s a key element of their teaching and client work.
Kimberly Kay | Urban Pilates
For Kimberly Kay, the Guillotine Tower wasn’t a new addition—it was a legacy. When she purchased Urban Pilates from her mentor April Tillman, the apparatus was already part of the studio’s DNA. “My story is a little unique in that I inherited the Guillotine when I purchased Urban Pilates from my mentor,” Kim explains. “She had already fully outfitted the studio, and the Guillotine was always part of that original vision. In many ways, the studio would be incomplete without it.”
Over time, Kim has developed a deep appreciation for the Guillotine’s versatility and its ability to connect clients to their powerhouse in a profound way. Among her favorite exercises are the various Teasers, especially when using two top springs or two bottom springs, which she notes offer “incredible proprioceptive feedback.” She also loves using the semi-circle on the Guillotine, describing it as offering “deep, satisfying articulation through the spine.”
In her teaching, the Guillotine has become a key tool, particularly in one-on-one sessions. “It’s especially effective with very tall clients,” she shares. “It’s not just a rare piece of equipment—it’s an essential tool for teaching precision, control, and full-body integration.”
At Urban Pilates, the Guillotine Tower isn’t just a piece of apparatus—it’s part of the studio’s identity, continuing to offer transformative results session after session.
Karen Washburn Ness | Axis Pilates
Karen Washburn Ness first discovered the power of the Guillotine Tower while studying in The Work at Vintage Pilates in 2017. Her teacher, Sandy Shimoda, frequently used the Guillotine during their lessons to help correct the rotation in Karen’s hips—and it made a lasting impression. “I felt so squared off and aligned in my pelvis after working on the Guillotine,” Karen says. “I was hooked.”
When Axis Pilates relocated to a larger, open studio space, Karen and Chris Clausen immediately knew something was missing: the Guillotine. The studio’s tall ceilings made it the perfect environment to house the towering apparatus. As Karen recalls, “We knew we wanted the Guillotine to make our studio complete.”
Serendipitously, their friend and colleague Jordan Beinhorn reached out. She was moving out of her loft studio and offered to sell them her Guillotine—an original piece she had purchased from Mari Winsor. Karen and Chris jumped at the opportunity, driving downtown to bring the apparatus to its new home.
Installing it, however, wasn’t simple. Their building was old, with uneven floors that made leveling the apparatus a challenge. “Chris and Bryce worked very hard to make sure our ‘gym in a doorway’ was level,” Karen explains.
Today, the Guillotine is not just a showpiece—it’s in daily use. Karen incorporates it into sessions regularly, and clients are always eager to work on it. “There is nothing like it, and the benefits of working on it are amazing.”
Functional Benefits of the Guillotine
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Superior Proprioceptive Feedback: The unique spring setup gives users exceptional sensory input, helping refine body awareness and movement precision.
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Ideal for Tall or Stronger Clients: Its scale and design accommodate larger bodies comfortably, making it easier for tall or muscular clients to work effectively.
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Exceptional for Teaching Symmetry and Control: The vertical spring resistance challenges balance and alignment, enhancing symmetrical movement patterns.
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Challenging and Precise—Perfect for Advanced Work: Its design allows for complex, controlled movements that deepen Pilates practice for advanced clients and teachers.
Guillotine Installation Tips
Thinking of installing a Gratz Guillotine Tower in your studio? Here's what you need to know.
Before You Begin
- Leave a 3/16" gap between the top of the frame and the ceiling.
- Use two people minimum for safe handling and setup.
- Consult a contractor about your studio’s wall and floor structure before installation to confirm Gratz hardware suits your Pilates studio space.
Tools You’ll Need
- Drill
- Ladder
- Allen Keys (included)
- Pencil
Assembly Tips
- Lift the unit upright from the floor with two people.
- Mark screw locations before drilling.
- Secure the floor plate first, then install ceiling brackets.
- Only attach the mat after the tower is fully secured.
- Clip springs and accessories after confirming everything is stable.
Gratz recommends hiring a professional for this installation. For support, contact customercare@gratzpilates.com.
A Rare Pilates Apparatus with Lasting Impact
The Guillotine Tower may be one of the rarest pieces in the Pilates studio, but its impact is anything but niche. From refining alignment and correcting imbalances to offering a dynamic, full-body challenge, the Guillotine stands alone in its ability to elevate both practice and teaching. As Karen, Kim, and so many others have experienced, it’s not just about having the apparatus—it’s about unlocking deeper access to the method.
Gratz is proud to carry on the legacy of this powerful apparatus, crafting Guillotine Towers to the exact specifications of Joseph Pilates' original design. Whether you're looking to complete your classical studio, offer more options for tall or strong-bodied clients, or deepen your teaching toolbox, the Guillotine Tower is a transformative investment.