Why We Say Romana’s Pilates—Not Classical or Contemporary
Cynthia Shipley, Sari Mejia Santo, Daria Pace
🔍 Introduction
If you've been researching Pilates studios, you’ve probably seen a lot of labels—"classical," "contemporary," "fusion," and more. It’s easy to feel confused or even misled.
At Lifespan Pilates NYC, we don’t use those labels.
We say it plainly and proudly:
We teach Romana’s Pilates.
Here’s why we use that name—and why we avoid the terms “classical” and “contemporary” altogether.
🧠 First, Some History
Joseph Pilates developed his original method of movement and conditioning over many decades. He called it Contrology™—a system designed to achieve the complete coordination of body, mind, and spirit.
Romana Kryzanowska was not just a student of Joe and Clara Pilates. She was his chosen successor—tasked with preserving, protecting, and teaching the method without diluting its principles.
Romana passed this work on with incredible clarity, structure, and integrity. What we teach today at Lifespan Pilates is not a style. It’s the system as Romana refined it—rooted in the original Contrology™ method.
🚫 Why We Don’t Say “Classical”
The term "classical Pilates" is vague. It often refers to a general attempt to follow Joe's original order or exercise shapes, but there’s no single agreed-upon definition.
Many programs claim to be classical, yet teach vastly different content, offer inconsistent progressions, or reinterpret the method through a modern lens.
Romana’s Pilates is not an approximation of the original—it is a direct continuation. Her knowledge came from time spent in Joe’s studio, training under him, and decades of mentorship and teaching.
“Classical” isn’t wrong—it’s just not specific.
We say Romana’s Pilates™ because lineage matters.
🚫 Why We Don’t Say “Contemporary”
Contemporary Pilates often means freestyle adaptations of the original work. It might include props, choreography, modifications, or other modalities layered in. These studios often offer creative and enjoyable classes—but they don’t follow a cohesive, systematic method.
Romana didn’t blend or mix. She preserved.
She knew the original Contrology™ system worked—and worked for everyone.
What she refined was the art of teaching it, with progressions, corrections, and purposeful transitions that made sense for every level of practitioner.
✅ Why We Say Romana’s Pilates
Romana’s Pilates is not a trend or interpretation. It is a globally recognized training and certification program taught by instructors who studied under Romana or under those she certified.
At Lifespan Pilates NYC, this is the method we teach. Every session—whether private, group, or teacher training—is built upon:
A full-body, progression-based system on Gratz apparatus designed to Joe’s specifications
Teaching that honors the original work, the original teachers, and the lineage we’ve been trusted to preserve and carry on
When you walk into our studio, you’re not stepping into a branded version of Pilates. You’re stepping into the legacy itself.
📍 Located in NYC—but Connected to the World
As the only Romana’s Pilates International™ Certification Center in NYC, Lifespan Pilates is proud to continue the tradition—training apprentices, supporting professional instructors, and welcoming clients who want the real work.
We don’t teach classical or contemporary Pilates.
We teach Romana’s Pilates—the closest living expression of Contrology™ as it was passed down from Joseph Pilates himself.
Curious what makes it different?
📍 Visit us at Lifespan Pilates NYC. Take a session. Feel the clarity. Let the work speak for itself.
📍 Lifespan Pilates NYC | The Only Romana’s Pilates International™ Training Center in NYC