MethodMay 2026
Classical vs Contemporary Pilates
Understanding the key differences between the original method and modern interpretations — and which is right for you.
Read → 7 min readEquipment Guide·Gratz Pilates
Gratz Pilates (2026):
The Classical Apparatus Standard, Reviewed
Updated May 2026 · 11 min read
*Gratz apparatus is sold directly through gratzpilates.com and certified dealers — not on Amazon. The apparatus links below go to gratzpilates.com. For accessories, we could not find genuine Gratz leather straps or classical-spec springs on Amazon, so those two items link instead to real, currently-sold (but non-Gratz) Amazon alternatives — clearly labelled as such. We earn a small commission on qualifying Amazon purchases.
Gratz Industries has manufactured Pilates apparatus since the 1920s — building the original equipment for Joseph Pilates' studio at 939 8th Avenue in New York City. Today, trading as Gratz Pilates, they remain the only production manufacturer that holds an unbroken line to those original specifications. Every piece of apparatus they make is handcrafted in New York, using the same spring tensions, dimensions, and material choices that the classical repertoire was built around. This guide is for classical practitioners, studio owners, and serious enthusiasts trying to understand whether the Gratz premium is warranted — and exactly what they are buying.
The manufacturer that built equipment for Joseph Pilates himself
Gratz Industries began building Pilates apparatus in the 1920s when Joseph Pilates operated his studio at 939 8th Avenue, New York. The relationship was direct: Gratz manufactured the equipment to Pilates' own specifications, and those specifications have been maintained without modification through every subsequent decade. When Pilates died in 1967, Gratz continued producing apparatus to the same drawings, spring weights, and dimensions he had specified. There is no other production manufacturer with a comparable provenance. The result is that a Gratz Universal Reformer built today is, functionally and dimensionally, the same apparatus that the first-generation Pilates teachers — Romana Kryzanowska, Kathy Grant, Ron Fletcher, Carola Trier — trained on and taught from.
The classical versus contemporary distinction matters here. Contemporary manufacturers such as Merrithew (STOTT Pilates) and Balanced Body have deliberately modified the original apparatus — adjusting spring tensions, adding padded headrests, widening carriages, and introducing split pedal chairs — to align with modern exercise science and accommodate a broader range of bodies and fitness levels. These are reasonable design decisions for the contemporary market. Gratz has made none of them. The spring tensions remain heavier, the reformer carriage narrower, and the geometry unchanged. Classical practitioners describe this as having more 'pep' and immediacy in the resistance — a quality that requires and rewards precise technique in a way that softer contemporary springs do not. Both approaches are valid. They are, however, incompatible philosophies, and a practitioner trained on Balanced Body equipment will find Gratz apparatus demanding in a different way.
Gratz apparatus is the equipment of choice for classical Pilates studios maintaining first-generation lineages. Teacher training programs in the Romana Kryzanowska tradition — and the studios carrying the Kathy Grant and Ron Fletcher heritage — predominantly train and teach on Gratz. For practitioners working within these lineages, using Gratz is not an aesthetic preference: it is a functional requirement, since the exercises were calibrated to this specific apparatus. For those outside the classical lineage, Gratz represents a studied choice to work with the apparatus as Joseph Pilates intended — a position some practitioners arrive at after years in contemporary studios, and one that carries its own discipline.
5 Gratz Pilates Products · Classical Standard
Gratz equipment is sold directly through gratzpilates.com and certified dealers — items 01–03 link there. Items 04 and 05 are real, currently-sold Amazon accessories from other brands that we could not find a genuine Gratz-branded equivalent for; each description says so plainly.
01Classical Standard
The classical reformer benchmark
Gratz Universal Reformer
Direct from GratzThe Gratz Universal Reformer is the closest production equipment gets to the apparatus Joseph Pilates designed in his 8th Avenue studio. The spring system uses original-specification springs with a characteristic tension profile — what classical teachers describe as having more immediacy and 'life' than modern springs. The wooden frame, canvas straps, and natural rubber components give it an aesthetic and tactile quality that contemporary steel-and-upholstery reformers cannot replicate. This is priced well into four figures and up, and we could not independently verify a current figure — get a quote directly from Gratz rather than relying on a number quoted elsewhere. Gratz is sold direct at gratzpilates.com and through authorised dealers, not on Amazon.
Shop Direct02Advanced Apparatus
Best classical chair for advanced work
Gratz Wunda Chair
Direct from GratzThe Wunda Chair was invented by Joseph Pilates and remains one of the most challenging apparatus in the classical system. The Gratz version is built to original specifications — a solid wood construction with the specific spring tensions and pedal geometry that the classical Chair exercises require. Unlike contemporary chairs with split pedals and multiple spring configurations, the Gratz Wunda Chair maintains the single pedal design with stepped spring heights. For classical studios and advanced practitioners, no contemporary version provides the same exercise quality. Purchase direct from Gratz; expect a real lead time and confirm current pricing with them rather than a figure quoted elsewhere.
Shop Direct03Classical Barrel
Best classical barrel accessory
Gratz Spine Corrector
Direct from GratzThe Spine Corrector is one of the most functional Pilates accessories available and the Gratz version is built to original specifications. The curved barrel shape, when used correctly, provides thoracic extension, hip flexor lengthening, and abdominal strengthening that mat work alone cannot achieve. It is meaningfully more expensive than contemporary alternatives — Balanced Body's Pilates Arc, a real listing sold on Amazon, serves a similar function at $189.99. The honest distinction: the Gratz Spine Corrector is the correct tool for the classical repertoire as Pilates designed it. For practitioners training in the classical lineage, it's worth the price. For home practitioners without a classical teacher, the Arc is a sensible, genuinely purchasable alternative.
Shop Direct04Replacement Straps
A real, currently-sold rope alternative — not Gratz leather straps
Balanced Body Replacement Reformer Ropes with Clips
$35Gratz reformers use leather foot straps in the classical tradition — a feel distinct from the nylon and canvas straps of contemporary reformers. We could not find a genuine leather, classical-specification strap as a live Amazon listing; Gratz sells its original straps directly. This Balanced Body replacement rope-and-clip set is a real, currently-sold Amazon item, but it is a synthetic rope for contemporary-style reformers, not a leather strap, and it is not built specifically for a Gratz machine — confirm compatibility before ordering, or buy leather straps direct from Gratz if precision to the classical spec matters to you.
Shop on Amazon05Maintenance
A real aftermarket spring set — not Gratz's original classical springs
Colaxi 5-Piece Reformer Spring Set (Aftermarket)
$65.54Classical Pilates apparatus springs are heavier and have a different tension profile than contemporary springs, and Gratz sells its own original replacement springs directly to match. We could not find that original spring for sale on Amazon. This Colaxi 5-piece set is a real, currently-sold aftermarket reformer spring set, but it is built for contemporary coil-spring reformers rather than to Gratz's classical specification — verify spring weight and fit before ordering, and if you own genuine Gratz apparatus, buying the matched replacement direct from Gratz is the safer choice for exercise feel and safety.
Shop on AmazonIs Gratz worth the price premium?
The quality argument: Every piece of Gratz apparatus is handcrafted in New York by skilled craftspeople working to original specifications. The materials — solid wood, leather, natural rubber — are chosen for their functional properties, not their cost. A Gratz Universal Reformer built today will outlast multiple generations of commercially manufactured alternatives. Classical practitioners who inherit studio equipment from their teachers are frequently working on Gratz apparatus built decades ago. That longevity is built into the price.
The accessibility argument: A Gratz reformer or Cadillac is priced well into four figures and up — we could not independently verify exact current figures, so get a direct quote from Gratz rather than relying on a number quoted elsewhere. Expect a real lead time and direct-only purchasing. Gratz does not sell on Amazon and does not compete for the home fitness market. That is a deliberate choice, not an oversight.
The verdict: Yes, if you are training in a classical lineage and your instructor works on Gratz — the apparatus is a functional requirement, not a luxury. Yes, if you are opening a classical studio and building equipment that will serve decades of teaching. No, if you are a home practitioner who attends studio classes occasionally — the Balanced Body Metro IQ Reformer, a real machine sold on Amazon at $2,330, serves the same home practice purpose without the classical specification premium. The price difference is real, the distinction is real, and the honest answer depends entirely on which lineage you are working in.
Frequently asked questions
Is Gratz better than Balanced Body?
Different, not better. Gratz is built to classical specifications; Balanced Body reflects contemporary exercise science modifications. Classical practitioners prefer Gratz; contemporary practitioners often prefer the Balanced Body carriage feel and adjustability. Neither is objectively superior — they serve different training philosophies, and the right answer depends on which system you are training in.
Why does Gratz cost so much more than other reformers?
Handcrafted in New York to original specifications, using natural materials including leather and wood, made in very small quantities compared to commercially manufactured alternatives. The price reflects genuine craft production — not a marketing premium. A Gratz reformer built to the same process as one made 50 years ago will carry the same cost structure. You are buying a piece of equipment intended to last a lifetime.
Can I buy Gratz on Amazon?
Typically not. Gratz sells directly at gratzpilates.com and through a small network of authorised dealers. If you see a Gratz listing on Amazon, verify the seller carefully — it may be a third-party reseller or a misrepresented item. The apparatus links in this guide go directly to gratzpilates.com; the two accessory items linked to Amazon are real listings from other brands, not Gratz products, and are labelled as such.
What's the difference between Gratz and a classical Pilates reformer from another brand?
Most brands calling their equipment 'classical' use modified dimensions. Only Gratz consistently maintains the original Joseph Pilates specifications across their full range. Equipment from Pilates Design Gruppe (PDG) in Germany is another authentic classical maker with a long-standing reputation among European classical studios. BASI Systems offers a hybrid approach — quality contemporary manufacture with some classical influences. If the classical lineage and original specifications matter to your practice, Gratz and PDG are the two names that classical teachers reference consistently.
Find a classical Pilates studio near you
Our city guides identify the best Pilates studios — including those using Gratz apparatus.
Explore City Guides →