One of the most encouraging things we see at our workshops is how many
contemporary Pilates teachers show up—curious, open, and genuinely interested in experiencing the classical work as it was designed to be taught.
They come from many different certification programs.
They teach in different environments and on differently branded apparatus.
And they all share one thing in common: they’re invested in studying the work.
Again and again, we see that teachers—no matter their background—who commit to deeper study always find and retain quality clients. When the system is taught clearly, the results speak for themselves.
The Problem Isn’t the Work. It’s the Noise.
Classical Pilates hasn’t been lost because it’s outdated.
It’s been buried because it’s quiet.
The classical system doesn’t chase trends. It doesn’t rely on constant reinvention, flashy naming, or novelty props to stay relevant. Its strength lies in
order, progression, and precision—qualities that are best experienced when the work is taught as a system.
Meanwhile, trendy Pilates thrives on:
- Constant variation
- Entertainment-first programming
- The illusion of novelty
That kind of noise is loud. Classical work is confident enough not to shout.
Classical Pilates Requires Responsibility
Classical Pilates asks more of the teacher.
It requires understanding why something comes next.
It demands restraint instead of constant creativity.
It asks the teacher to trust a system rather than perform personal style.
That responsibility extends beyond choreography. It includes learning how to observe the body clearly and respond intelligently in real time.
Seeing the Body in Front of You
In our workshops, we teach teachers to truly see the body in front of them—to look for clues in alignment, joint rhythm, and how the body responds to movement. We focus on how small, precise adjustments and thoughtful hands-on cueing can dramatically improve both the client’s experience and the teacher’s confidence.
Working within a system allows the teacher to stay present. When the order is clear, teachers aren’t worried about what exercise comes next in a weekly flow—they’re free to observe, respond, and teach the person in front of them.
The Deeper You Study, the Closer You Get
What we see consistently is that the deeper teachers go in their study, the closer they move toward the classical work.
Not because they’re forced to.
But because the system begins answering questions they didn’t yet have language for.
More often than not, that path eventually leads them into a classical studio—one grounded in lineage, order, and traditionally built apparatus that allows the work to reveal itself fully.
That’s not an accident. It’s the natural trajectory of serious study.
Clients Feel It—Even If They Can’t Name It
What we love most is hearing from contemporary teachers after the fact—how incorporating, or gently adjusting toward, a more classical approach through deeper understanding of the work changes their teaching.
Their clients notice. They connect more clearly to the exercises, work harder in their sessions, and progress with greater intention.
Clients may not know the word “classical,” but they know when something works.
Building a Bridge Back to the Work
Bridging the Contemporary–Classical Divide Through Our Monthly Path to Excellence Workshops
We are a
Romana’s Pilates International studio in what we teach, and we’re proud of that lineage. We teach on
Gratz Industries apparatus because the equipment matters when you’re preserving a system built on specificity and intention.
At the same time, we strive to be a place where students and teachers from all areas of Pilates can come to deepen their understanding of the classical work as we understand it.
Our goal isn’t to draw lines—it’s to offer clarity, context, and access to a system that continues to prove its value when studied seriously and applied thoughtfully.
At Breakthrough, our monthly
Path to Excellence workshops are designed to bridge the contemporary–classical divide.
They aren’t about replacing anyone’s style or telling teachers how they should teach. They’re about offering structure, context, and lineage-based understanding—experienced on classical apparatus—so teachers can deepen their work and bring greater clarity back to their own studios and clients.
We see these workshops as a meeting point: a place where contemporary teachers can study the classical system, ask better questions, and reconnect with the source of the work—without pressure and without dogma.
That bridge matters. Because when teachers understand the work more deeply, their clients feel it.
The Work Is Bigger Than Any One Style
Classical Pilates isn’t a competing trend.
It’s the foundation.
Preserving it means respecting both the system and the tools that support it. Teachers who invest in the work—regardless of where they start—inevitably find their way closer to that foundation.
The goal isn’t purity.
It’s preservation through understanding.
And sometimes, that begins by turning down the noise long enough to listen to what’s always worked.
