Why We Use Gratz at Lifespan Pilates: The Role of Authentic Apparatus
Because the Method Was Designed With the Apparatus in Mind
We don’t use Gratz apparatus for aesthetic or nostalgia.
We use it because it was made with the method, for the method – and that matters.
The Details Matter
Joseph Pilates didn’t just invent a movement system – he built the apparatus to teach it. The dimensions, spring tension, and construction were part of the method itself. The Reformer wasn’t just a prop. The Wunda Chair, Reformer, Cadillac, Foot Corrector – each one was a precision tool for changing the body.
Gratz is the original manufacturer of this apparatus, built according to Joe’s specs and preserved through decades of collaboration with Romana Kryzanowska and her teachers.
Why Authentic Equipment Makes a Difference
You wouldn’t learn piano on a toy keyboard and expect the same result. The same is true in Contrology™
When you train on Gratz, your body:
Works with true spring resistance, developing control from the center outward
Engages the correct muscle chains because the apparatus supports ideal alignment
Learns with precision and feedback that modern hybrids can’t always offer
Apparatus and Method Are one.
Romana taught us that the apparatus and the method are inseparable. At Lifespan Pilates, we continue that tradition – not out of loyalty to the past, but because it gets results that last.
‘You don’t need bells and whistles. You need springs, control and consistency.’ Cynthia Shipley, Senior Master Instructor Romana’s Pilates International, Co-Owner, Lifespan Pilates.
Interested in Gratz Equipment for your home or studio?
"Every piece of Gratz equipment is custom-crafted with intention, designed to meet the exact standards of Classical Pilates and the unique needs of your studio.
Gratz current lead times are a direct reflection of the continued demand and deep enthusiasm for Gratz equipment. While demand remains strong, so does their commitment: delivering the highest quality equipment on time remains their top priority.
Their team is actively expanding production capacity to further reduce lead times without compromising the materials or attention to detail that define Gratz.