Why Classical Pilates? Reflections After a Year of Listening
Photo Credit: Colleen Ferguson, Andy Maser, & Jan Schmitdtchen
About a year ago, we shared a blog titled “Why Classical Pilates?” We wrote it to explain what this practice means to us and why, at Gratz, we believe it matters so deeply. We were genuinely moved by the responses. Many of you teachers, long-time practitioners, and members of the Classical Pilates community shared thoughtful feedback, encouragement, and insight. Some of you had taught us. Many of you had been practicing far longer than we had. We learned a great deal from what you shared.
This second blog is written in that spirit. It is informed by a year of listening, by conversations with teachers, by observing studios, and by reflecting on our own practice. It is not a correction of what we wrote before, but an extension of it.
Returning to the Question: Why Classical Pilates?
There are many reasons to return to the same question. At Gratz, we believe Classical Pilates is vitally important in today’s world. For many of us, it provides self-awareness and a sense of who we are in our bodies. It is exercise, yes, but it is also much more than that. It is a practice that encourages understanding: how we move, how we breathe, how we hold ourselves, and how all of that connects.
Over time, practitioners begin to recognize the depth of what Classical Pilates offers. Knowledge, movement, sequencing, flow, and breath come together in a way that reveals things we would otherwise miss. The mind-body connection becomes lived experience rather than an abstract idea.
A Personal Note (John)
For me, this is deeply personal.
Classical Pilates has been part of my life for decades now. My practice feels like a safe home, a place I return to where I can concentrate fully on movement, breath, and the guidance of a great Classical teacher. It is grounding. It is centering. It is something I can practice regularly and, I believe, forever.
That foundation gives me confidence elsewhere in my life. It is why I believe I can continue with other passions such as tennis, skiing, being physically engaged in the world—not just today, but well into the future. I hope to do so into my 90s. Classical Pilates is not a supplement to my life; it is part of what makes the rest of it possible.
Independence: A Less Discussed Gift of Classical Pilates
This past year, one theme kept resurfacing in conversations with teachers and advanced students alike: independence.
This may seem counterintuitive in a discipline that places such importance on the teacher–student relationship. But in Classical Pilates, independence does not replace that relationship; it grows out of it.
We see this independence expressed in two important ways:
1. The Ability to Practice on One’s Own
As students reach a certain level, Classical Pilates becomes something they can carry with them beyond the studio. Between sessions with their teacher, they are able to train on their own. All they need is a Mat and the time.
This is not casual or unstructured exercise. It is informed practice. It is built on accumulated knowledge, on repetition, on correction, and on the guidance they have received over time. In this way, independent practice is not a departure from Classical Pilates, it is one expression of pursuing mastery.
There is something powerful about this. The work no longer depends on novelty or constant external instruction. The student knows the order. They understand the transitions. They recognize when something feels right and when it does not. This level of independence is earned, and it is deeply connected to the lineage of teaching that made it possible.
2. Carrying the Work Into Everyday Life
The second aspect of independence may be even more important.
Classical Pilates trains awareness. Students become conscious of their core, their posture, their alignment. They begin to notice how they sit, how they stand, how they walk, and how they respond to physical demands throughout the day.
This is the quiet counterforce to one of the most fundamental realities of life: gravity.
Gravity is always working on us. Over time, it pulls us forward, compresses us, and if we are not attentive, contributes to decline. The aware Classical Pilates student learns to resist this not through strain, but through understanding. Through how they carry themselves. Through how they organize their bodies in space.
In this way, strength is built not only during sessions with a teacher, but in the hours and days in between. Awareness becomes practice. Practice becomes posture. Posture becomes longevity.
Why We Keep Coming Back to This
Classical Pilates offers many things, but taken together, a few qualities continue to stand out to us:
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A lifelong pursuit of mastery within a structured, coherent system
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A deep and evolving mind-body connection
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A rare and meaningful teacher–student relationship
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And, over time, a form of independence rooted in knowledge and awareness
There are many excellent ways to move and strengthen the body. We respect them. But Classical Pilates occupies a unique place among them. It asks more—but it also gives more.
To the teachers who carry this work forward: you are essential. You are the stewards of something that cannot be rushed, simplified, or automated. Through your hands, your eyes, and your judgment, students gain not only strength, but understanding—and eventually, independence.
We are grateful for the dialogue, the feedback, and the shared commitment to this work. As always, we welcome your thoughts. There are always better ways to say these things, and always more to learn.
In case you missed the first blog: Why Classical Pilates? The Unique Benefits That Set It Apart
Thank you for being part of this community.
John & Elizabeth
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John Riccitiello
February 04, 2026
Thanks for your comments, Reiner and Robin. Reiner — so true that today’s masters continue to expand on the original work. Robin — thanks for your comment. We are inspired too.