What’s Next After the Reformer Boom?
The Pilates Journal sat down with Catherine, owner of Align Pilates Studio in Victoria, Australia, to explore how she’s evolving her studio’s classes to meet the future of Pilates.
What inspired you to develop your Tower and Chair classes? Was there a specific gap you saw in the local Pilates landscape that you wanted to fill?
I was inspired to create Tower and Chair classes to give our long-term clients an opportunity to deepen their Pilates practice and explore more of what the traditional Pilates method has to offer. After years of Reformer and Mat work, we saw a desire among our community to challenge themselves in new ways and gain a more complete understanding of Pilates as a whole system.
How would you describe the philosophy behind these classes? What makes them different from more traditional Reformer or Mat sessions?
Our Tower and Chair classes are rooted in the same foundational values we bring to all our offerings: precision, consistency, and quality. The feedback the equipment provides helps clients make clearer connections between movement and muscle activation, which can also unlock “aha” moments that transform their Reformer work as well.
Can you walk us through the typical structure of your Tower and Chair class? How do you sequence exercises to create a balanced experience?
I personally write the Tower and Chair class programs for the team each week, always ensuring that they include elements of strength, mobility, and balance. We often work around a specific theme or movement intention, whether that’s spinal articulation, shoulder mobility, or core endurance. This keeps things creative and challenging for both clients and instructors while ensuring a well-rounded experience every time.
What are some of the key benefits clients can expect from working with the Tower and Chair?
Clients often notice improved strength and control, especially through the shoulders, hips, and deep core. Because the spring tension moves differently than on the Reformer, Tower and Chair work helps clients fine tune their coordination and become more intentional with their movement. There's also a big focus on balance, mobility, and spinal articulation, which makes the work feel both challenging and therapeutic.
What do you think instructors find most rewarding—and most challenging—about teaching Tower and Chair classes compared to Reformer or Mat?
The most rewarding part is watching clients make those deeper connections in their bodies and seeing how work on the Tower and Chair directly enhances their technique and understanding in Reformer and Mat classes.
It’s a beautiful thing when someone suddenly “gets” an exercise they’ve been struggling with because they felt it differently on the Chair.
The biggest challenge is guiding clients who are brand new to the equipment. It can look a little intimidating at first, so creating a supportive and confidence building environment is our goal. Once they’re moving and feeling the benefits, they’re usually hooked.
What has been the response from clients so far?
The response has been incredible. Many of our regulars say these classes have strengthened their Pilates practice and helped them discover muscles they didn’t even know they had! We’ve had clients who struggled with spinal mobility or shoulder strength in Reformer classes tell us that Tower work finally helped them unlock those areas. It’s been especially rewarding to see long term clients feel inspired again by learning something new.
For instructors who might be interested in offering similar classes, what training or preparation would you recommend?
Teaching Tower and Chair requires a comprehensive Pilates certification. We recommend instructors be fully certified and have significant experience teaching in a studio environment first. Working with a range of bodies is essential for knowing how to adjust spring settings, set up equipment properly, and offer hands on guidance
to keep the class flowing safely and effectively. Once you're confident teaching in private and semi-private formats, transitioning into a class setting becomes much more intuitive.
How do these classes fit into Align Pilates’ overall vision for movement education and community-building?
Our mission at Align has always been to offer inclusive, high quality Pilates that’s grounded in technique and tailored to the individual. Tower and Chair classes are a natural extension of that, they allow us to educate our community further, offer more variety, and challenge our clients in new, engaging ways.
Are there any plans to further expand or evolve your offerings in the future?
Absolutely, but always with intention. Any future expansion needs to uphold our studio values of precision, consistency, and quality. We’re not interested in adding more for the sake of it, we want every offering to serve a purpose and elevate the client experience. That said, we’re always listening to our community and evolving when the time is right.
For someone curious but hesitant, what would you say to encourage them to step into a Tower and Chair class for the first time?
I’d say be open, be curious, and trust your instructor. You don’t need to be experienced or advanced, just willing to try something new. We keep our class sizes small, so you’ll receive personal attention and support throughout. Most importantly, these classes are designed to meet you where you are and help you build strength, control, and confidence. Once you’ve felt what the Tower and Chair can do for your body, you’ll be amazed at how it transforms the rest of your Pilates practice.
Catherine Donato discovered Pilates while recovering from knee surgery and was inspired by its power to connect mind and body. Drawing on her dance background, she’s been teaching since 2012 and brings energy, creativity, and precision to every class. In 2016, she founded Align Pilates Studio in East Ivanhoe—an inclusive, boutique space where everyBODY can build strength, improve posture, and explore the full Pilates method through Clinical, Reformer, and signature Tower & Chair classes.