September 2026
Welcome Back to Sweetgrass!
As summer winds down and Lowcountry routines begin again, we are so happy to welcome everyone back to the studio.
September is the perfect time to return to a consistent practice, reconnect with your Pilates community and recommit to feeling stronger, more balanced and more confident in your movement. Whether you are returning after summer travel or continuing the work you have built all year, we are grateful to have you as part of Sweetgrass Pilates.
Classical vs. Contemporary Pilates: What’s the Difference?
You may have noticed that our schedule now offers two distinct Pilates paths: Classical and Contemporary. Both are rooted in Joseph Pilates’ original principles, and both can help you improve strength, alignment, mobility, coordination and body awareness. The difference is primarily in how the work is organized and taught.
The Classical Path
Classical Pilates follows the original system, exercise order and progressions developed by Joseph Pilates. You learn a foundational sequence and build upon it as your strength, control and understanding improve. Exercises on the Mat, Reformer, Cadillac, Chairs, Barrels and other apparatus are designed to support one another as part of a complete, interconnected method.
Repetition is intentional. As the order becomes familiar, you rely less on instruction, move with greater flow and begin to take ownership of your practice.
Our classical path includes classes such as Sweetgrass Classical Foundations, Tidal Mornings Classical, Coastal Core Classical, Men’s Pilates, and Sweetgrass Classical, along with Open Studio opportunities for independent practice.
The Contemporary Path
Contemporary Pilates is based on the same fundamental principles but allows more freedom in sequencing, exercise selection and the use of modern props and movement concepts. These classes may include creative flows, weights, balance challenges, stretching and exercises adapted to a particular group’s needs.
Our contemporary offerings include Sweetgrass Essentials 65+, Sweetgrass Strong, Almond Joy, Seaside Stretch and Sweet Magnolias 65+.
Neither path is “better” than the other. They simply offer different experiences. At Sweetgrass, we want you to understand which path you are taking and why—while still enjoying the welcoming, attentive instruction that defines our studio.
Men’s Pilates Is Taking Off!
Our Men’s Pilates classes at 8:00 a.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays are gaining momentum!
This class introduces men to the classical Pilates system in a supportive environment, with an emphasis on core strength, flexibility, posture, balance and efficient movement. It is especially valuable for men who want to improve their golf or athletic performance, address stiffness or simply build a more balanced fitness routine.
No previous Pilates experience is required. If you know someone who has been curious about Pilates, this is a wonderful place to begin.
Space is limited to six participants, so advance registration is encouraged.
What Rose and Stephanie Learned in Miami
Rose and Stephanie recently attended the Pilates Journal Expo in Miami, where they had the opportunity to learn from respected Pilates professionals including Teri Seier Moore, Maria Leone, Tracey Mallett, Michelle Leach and Samantha Wood, and others.
The Expo brought together educators, instructors, studio owners and equipment innovators from across the Pilates community. We explored different teaching approaches, movement strategies, rehabilitation concepts and perspectives on where the Pilates industry is headed.
Our biggest takeaway was clear: we are glad Sweetgrass is deepening its commitment to the classical Pilates system.
The experience reinforced the value of learning Pilates as a complete method—not simply as a collection of exercises. Classical Pilates provides a thoughtful structure, clear progressions and a shared language that can help clients develop greater independence and a deeper understanding of their own bodies.
We also returned with new ideas from the contemporary and rehabilitation worlds that will help us continue serving clients with different needs, histories and goals. We believe the best instructors remain curious, keep learning and know how to honor the method while teaching the person in front of them.
Classical Pilates Is Growing at Sweetgrass
Sweetgrass is making a significant investment in classical Pilates education and authentic apparatus.
Stephanie has begun Karen Frischmann’s 15-month Classical Progressions program, an in-depth immersion in the classical Pilates system. This training explores the complete repertoire, exercise progressions, transitions and relationships among the different pieces of apparatus.
Rather than simply learning more exercises, the goal is to understand why an exercise is introduced, what prepares the body for it and how the full Pilates system helps each client progress safely and confidently.
What Stephanie learns throughout the program will be brought back to Sweetgrass through staff education, thoughtful programming and an increasingly connected experience across our classes and apparatus.
Our Growing Contrology Collection
We are also adding Contrology® apparatus created to reproduce the dimensions, resistance and feel of the traditional equipment. Each piece has a distinct purpose within the Pilates system:
Contrology Reformer - coming soon: The foundation of the apparatus work, developing whole-body strength, alignment, coordination and controlled movement through traditional spring resistance. Exact measurements lead to focused muscle engagement as intended with more feedback loops.
Contrology Cadillac — coming soon: Offers an extensive repertoire using springs, bars and the stable mat surface. It supports everything from foundational movement and individual needs to challenging advanced work.
Contrology Wunda Chair: A compact but powerful apparatus that challenges strength, balance, control and the connection between the upper and lower body. Fantastic for helping with balance and building core stability. This one does hit your body a little different than the EXO chair.
Contrology Baby Chair: Uses arm springs and a moving backrest to improve posture, upper-body strength and the connection of the arms into the back and core. Great for building your rowing series.
Contrology Ped-O-Pul: Develops upright posture, balance, breath, spinal length and shoulder organization while standing on a deliberately responsive base. This helps with curvature in the posture and learning how to organize the spine.
Contrology Spine Corrector: Supports spinal mobility, extension, abdominal strength and better alignment while helping prepare the body for more advanced exercises. Exercising on this device assists with developing C Curves and articulation of the spine in a supportive way.
Contrology Small Barrel: Provides gentle support for opening the chest, mobilizing the spine and performing classical arm and leg series. This is great for thoracic opening and spinal extension.
Contrology Foot Corrector: Strengthens the feet and helps improve alignment and the connection from the feet through the legs and hips. This helps create stronger feet and toes especially ones that have been in high heels too much in their lifetime.
Contrology Neck Stretcher: A specialized tool used with careful individual instruction to develop controlled neck strength and length. Cervical strength and movement is important to build as we age.
Contrology Ladder Barrel: Combines a curved barrel with a ladder to support spinal extension, side bending, stretching and challenging core work. It helps improve posture, flexibility and whole-body strength while providing support for safely progressing exercises such as Swan, Short Box and advanced stretches.
Contrology Mat: Provides the firm surface, handles and foot strap used in the traditional Mat repertoire, allowing clients to experience the complete classical sequence with greater support and feedback. This is a masterfully designed piece that assist you grow your practice to Joe's 34 exercises. The ultimate advanced pilates practitioner device.
Together, these pieces allow us to teach Pilates as Joseph Pilates intended: as a complete system in which every apparatus helps prepare, support or challenge the body in a different way.
You will begin seeing more of this equipment incorporated into private sessions, duets, classical classes and Open Studio practice as Stephanie and the Sweetgrass team continue their training.
Come Grow With Us
This is an exciting new chapter for Sweetgrass Pilates. We are honoring the welcoming community and individualized care that brought us this far while deepening the quality, consistency and authenticity of the Pilates experience we offer.
Whether you choose the classical path, contemporary classes or a combination of both, our purpose remains the same: to help you move with greater strength, confidence and understanding.
We cannot wait to share what is ahead!
With gratitude,
Stephanie and the Sweetgrass Pilates Team
