If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to become a Pilates instructor—not through a weekend workshop or hybrid program, but through a full-bodied, lineage-based training—this is your behind-the-scenes look.

Romana’s Pilates instructors and students from across the globe are coming together to connect, refine their craft, and uphold the legacy of Joseph Pilates and Romana Kryzanowska.

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.

This August, master Pilates instructors from across the globe are gathering in New York City. Not just to teach—but to honor a woman whose name and method changed lives: Romana Kryzanowska.

At Lifespan Pilates, we teach the original method developed by Joseph Pilates, preserved and passed on through Romana Kryzanowska, his protégé. In Romana’s Pilates™, we don’t see shaking as a failure. We see it as a breakthrough.

If you’re new to Pilates—or new to the way we teach it at Lifespan—you might be wondering what to expect from a session. Spoiler: it’s not random, it’s not trendy, and it’s definitely not a playlist-driven flow.

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.

We get a lot of great questions from new clients and future instructors. Here are five of the most common ones—and honest answers from our studio team.

If you are thinking about becoming a Pilates Instructor, there is one question you need to ask first:
Are you learning the actual method – or a version of it?

Romana Kryzanowska didn’t set out to become the heir to a movement method that would span generations. But when she first stepped into Joseph Pilate’s studio as a young ballet dancer recovering from injury, something clicked. Her dedication, intuition, and strength caught Joe’s attention - and she never looked back.

When people ask what kind of Pilates we teach at Lifespan, I often pause before answering. That’s because it’s not really about being “Classical” or Contemporary.” It’s about teaching a refined method called Contrology - the name Joseph Pilates gave to his method. But not many people know the origin story.

Pilates can be a great way to start getting fit. While doing this exercise, studies have shown that out of your first 10 sessions, 9 will bring positive effects on average. However, one of the factors on the success of your pilates sessions is the frequency with which you do it.

Pilates is a popular form of exercise, and if you are among its fans, you might wonder if you can continue it even while you are pregnant. For the average person, pilates is perfect for building strength, mobility, and flexibility.

Romana’s introduction to Pilates came during a critical moment in her life. She was a young ballet dancer with a serious ankle injury that threatened her career.