Why I Practice (and Teach) Classical Pilates

You’ve heard of Pilates. But have you heard of Classical Pilates? It’s the real deal, the gold standard of Pilates, the method that started it all, and I want you to know about it.

I discovered Pilates while living in Prague, at The Pilates Room Prague, a classical studio in the heart of the hip Vinohrady neighborhood. I’m so grateful that, by chance, the studio I stumbled into happened to be a classical one.

I’ve always loved movement, so over the years I had tried countless modern fitness trends and Pilates-inspired workouts and classes. And honestly, all movement is great. If you love what you’re doing, carry on! But when I experienced classical Pilates, something clicked. It wasn’t random movement or movement for the sake of movement. It was about building a stronger, healthier body through precision—stretching, strengthening, and moving with control, all at once.

Just a few weeks into my sessions with Jana at The Pilates Room, I knew this form of exercising—the classical method of Pilates—was something I wanted to keep practicing for the rest of my life. I looked better. I felt better. I was sitting taller, walking taller. I was healthier. It felt like I stumbled upon the cheat sheet for life. I was hooked.

And I remember thinking: Why isn’t everybody doing this?

Classical Pilates: A Return to the Source

Classical Pilates brings us back to the original system created by Joseph Pilates. He originally called his method Contrology, and began developing it in the 1920s while interned in a prisoner-of-war camp on the Isle of Man. A boxer, gymnast, martial artist, and anatomist, he drew on a lifetime of training across disciplines to create a system of total body conditioning—with a clear order of exercises, foundational principles, and a focus on developing the body as an integrated whole.

Over the years, fitness professionals have developed a wide variety of Pilates-inspired workouts, many of which blend Pilates with other disciplines like barre, yoga, or high-intensity training. These hybrid classes can be fun and challenging, but they often stray far from the original method. Contemporary Pilates, for example, takes a more modern approach. It doesn’t typically follow the classical order of exercises and often incorporates a broader range of movements, as well as non-traditional equipment like the Megaformer or Pilates ball. These approaches have their place, but they’re fundamentally different from the classical method—which is a precise, system-based practice designed to build deep, lasting strength, alignment, and control.

Precision, Flow & Control

In classical Pilates, each exercise builds on the last, creating a rhythmic flow that challenges strength, coordination, stamina, and breath. You’re not just working your abdominals (which you are!), you’re training your nervous system, realigning your posture, creating space in your spine, and deepening your connection to your body.

Classical Pilates has lasted nearly a century for one reason: it works. It doesn’t chase trends. It doesn’t need reinvention. It’s a thoughtful, intelligent method designed to support your body for life.

A Personal Note

When I teach classical mat Pilates, I’m not trying to reinvent the wheel. Joe’s method is genius, and that’s what I want you to discover and feel in your own body.

Curious how it feels? Book a session at The Classical Method and experience it firsthand. You don’t need equipment. Just a mat, your breath, and a willingness to move with purpose.