Gratz_Pilates

☀️ June Apparatus of the Month: Neck Stretcher ☀️
 
The Neck Stretcher offers a unique opportunity to explore the relationship between the head, neck, spine, shoulders, and powerhouse. Through focused feedback and intentional movement, practitioners can develop greater awareness of the muscles that help support the body against gravity.
 
Its purpose extends far beyond a single exercise. The lessons learned through Neck Stretcher work can be felt throughout the entire system, informing how we move, stand, and connect to the work as a whole.
 
Throughout June, we’ll be exploring the history, purpose, and role of the Neck Stretcher.
 

🤸‍♀️May Apparatus Of The Month Wrap-up🤸‍♀️
The Gratz community explored the Ladder Barrel through movement that challenged, supported, and expanded the work in new ways.

From supported backbends and spinal articulation to dynamic stretching and strengthening sequences, teachers and studios demonstrated the incredible range and versatility of this .

We loved seeing the many ways practitioners approached the Ladder Barrel with precision, creativity, control, and flow.

Thank you to everyone who shared their practice, reflections, and insights throughout the month. 👏

Click the link in our bio to explore this month’s community highlights!
 
apparatusofthemonth

Step inside Pilates Atelier, the studio of , a true pioneer shaped by movement, discipline, and the original teachings of Joseph Pilates. Sonjé’s journey began with ballet at just four years old and led her from Cape Town to London and New York, where Martha Graham herself encouraged her to study “Contrology” with Joseph Pilates. Inspired by Joe’s guidance between 1965–1967, Sonjé carries her teachings forward with a lifelong dedication to authentic Classical Pilates.
 
Why Classical Pilates?
It is what Joseph established. It is safe, well balanced and has appropriate levels.
 
What’s your favorite piece of equipment?
Wunda Chair
 
What’s a piece of advice you always come back to?
“It is not about range…. It is always about form.”
 
What color upholstery is your studio equipped with? 
Black
 
Tell us about your clientele.
My clients are mainly over 40 but I have some younger ones too. I have quite a few men. It is important for me to always teach complete beginners because training someone from scratch is a challenge.
 
Why Gratz?
It is the original and the best.
 
We appreciate Sonje’s support of Gratz and dedication to the Pilates Method ❤️
 

💙 Gratz Equipped Studio Tour | JPilates 💙
 
Founded by Joanne Cobb, is rooted in a deep respect for the Classical Pilates method and a commitment to continued learning. With studios across Ireland and the UK, Joanne’s teaching journey has evolved alongside her dedication to teacher education, helping both new and experienced instructors deepen their understanding of the work.
 
Why Classical Pilates?
Joseph Pilates was an absolute genius and visionary! His philosophy for living, his inventions, the exercises and order are as relevant, beneficial and powerful in today’s world as they were then. Added to this, we have the fabulous additions from the Elders. Understanding, practising and constantly delving deeper in the Method, brings the best results not just to our clients but ourselves. 

What’s your favorite piece of equipment (if you were stuck on a deserted island)?
Definitely the Wall Unit (although I would need to find a palm tree to attach it to!) It ticks all the boxes for every ability and it is my go-to for my own practice.

What’s a piece of advice you always come back to?
It has to be a quote from Eve Gentry
“Don’t just be a conveyor belt. You will not grow....you will get stuck and the mechanism won’t work”

What color upholstery is your studio equipped with?
Royal blue!
 
Tell us about your clientele.
I own and run a PIlates teacher training company so most of my clientele are teachers either beginning their teacher journey or deepening and enhancing their understanding and knowledge. 
 
Why Gratz?
There is nothing like Gratz-it is the gold standard. I always feel the apparatus is my workout partner-you don’t fight it, it gives you support when you need it and challenge when you want it. You don’t ride it, you work with it.

How did you start your studio
I first qualified in the early 2000s and have had studios in Ireland & the UK. I tried my first Gratz reformer in 2017 and had to change everything to Gratz after- there was no going back!
 
Thank you Joanne and the Jpilates community for carrying the method forward! 💕
 

Every studio carries a unique story shaped by lineage, discipline, and a deep dedication to the work. These spaces become anchors for learning, growth, and continuity within the method.
 
Through our Gratz Equipped Studio Tours featured on Instagram, we are honored to highlight 12 studios whose journeys reflect the heart of Classical Pilates, the strength of community, and the enduring tradition of teaching on Gratz apparatus.
 
From longtime teaching spaces to growing studios carrying the work forward for a new generation, each studio represents a meaningful part of the Classical Pilates legacy.
 
Explore the studios, hear their stories, and step inside the spaces where the work continues to thrive. Check the link in our bio to read more. 🔗
 

Most of us got into this industry because we love the work — the methodology, the movement, the transformation we watch happen on the mat.

Spreadsheets were not part of the dream.
But here’s the thing: you can’t grow what you don’t measure. And the good news is you don’t need to track everything — just the right things.

Swipe through for the only 7 numbers that actually matter for your studio’s health and growth. I’ve kept it simple on purpose. Because this shouldn’t feel overwhelming — it should feel like clarity.

Save this carousel and pick just two numbers to find this week. That’s your starting point.
The full breakdown is in my latest article on the Gratz site… go take a read!

Most of us got into this industry because we love the work — the methodology, the movement, the transformation we watch happen on the mat.

Spreadsheets were not part of the dream.
But here’s the thing: you can’t grow what you don’t measure. And the good news is you don’t need to track everything — just the right things.

Swipe through for the only 7 numbers that actually matter for your studio’s health and growth. I’ve kept it simple on purpose. Because this shouldn’t feel overwhelming — it should feel like clarity.

Save this carousel and pick just two numbers to find this week. That’s your starting point.

The full breakdown is in my latest article on the Gratz site… go take a read!

🧡 Gratz Equipped Studio Tour | Axis Classical Pilates 🧡

, located in Long Beach, California, was founded by Karen Washburn in 2003 as the city’s first fully Gratz-equipped studio. Karen, a teacher trainer for Power Pilates has dedicated her career to preserving the integrity of the original work.

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 talk often about the importance of honoring the integrity of Classical Pilates. He was taught this by Romana, John Winter, and his other teachers who were 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, we make it.” Gratz equipment is simply the best in terms of quality and craftsmanship. honors the integrity of Classical Pilates in all its apparatus, and this is aligned with our philosophy at Axis.

What is my favorite piece of equipment?
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 the 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 piece of advice do I 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 that 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 to speak, as it reveals the most important information to us as practitioners and teachers.

How did I begin my studio?
I started my journey in Los Angeles, CA, in 2001. I was dancing and teaching Pilates under Shari Berkowitz.

We enjoy seeing the Axis team carry the method forward!

Pia Pichl of reflects on the enduring intelligence of May’s : the Ladder Barrel.
 
An essential piece of the Classical Pilates system, it quietly develops strength, mobility, and control across the method.
 
Drawing from her teaching across Europe and Asia, Pia shares how this deceptively simple apparatus reveals deeper connections, from refining the Swan to guiding the body toward greater organization and length.
 
Elegant in design and precise in purpose, the Ladder Barrel reflects the essence of Classical Pilates: clarity over complexity, depth over display.
 
At Gratz Pilates, every piece of apparatus is built to uphold that standard.
 
Read more at the link in our bio. 🔗
 

⚡April Apparatus of the Month ⚡️
 
In April, the Gratz community refined their work on the Electric High Chair, developing strength, balance, and control through precise, vertical movement.
 
From foundational exercises to advanced progressions, the Chair challenged stability through the center, encouraging deeper organization, coordinated movement, and intentional control over momentum.
 
As the work evolved, so did efficiency, supporting a more aligned, responsive body that carries beyond the Chair.
 
Thank you to our community for your thoughtful exploration and disciplined practice. 👏
 
Click the link in our bio to read more and explore this month’s highlights.