The Romana–Gratz Legacy: Pilates apparatus matters, Then and Now

In the late 1960s, Donald Gratz—an MIT-trained engineer and son of Gratz co-founder Frank Gratz—partnered with Romana Kryzanowska, Joseph Pilates’ protégé and chosen successor. Their shared goal? Preserve the design integrity of Joe Pilates' original apparatus. The result: a lineage of craftsmanship that continues today.

Romana insisted that her Pilates teacher training programs use Gratz apparatus. For her, authenticity wasn’t aesthetic—it was functional. The dimensions, resistance, angles, and materials of Gratz apparatus weren’t just similar to Joe’s designs—they were his designs.

That commitment to preserving Contrology™ through the tools of the method lives on at Lifespan Pilates NYC. We don’t just teach exercises. We teach them with the same precision and resistance Romana insisted on. Because the apparatus is not a backdrop. It is part of the method itself.

Image from Gratzpilates.com

Gratz Pilates continues this legacy today under new leadership. In June 2024, John Riccitiello and Elizabeth Osterman became the new owners of Gratz Pilates, carrying forward the company’s dedication to heritage, integrity, and innovation. With this new chapter comes faster global access, smarter logistics, and the same commitment to building what Joe built.

At Lifespan Pilates, we proudly use Gratz apparatus because it honors what matters most: the method, the lineage, and the legacy.

Learn more about Gratz apparatus.

Graphic courtesy of Romana’s Pilates International™ 2025 NYC Conference