Classical Pilates follows the method exactly as Joseph Pilates designed it, passed down through Romana Kryzanowska to teachers like Cynthia. There’s a deliberate order and progression to the work — each exercise prepares your body for the next — and the original apparatus is used the way it was intended. The result is a system, not a collection of exercises, and that’s where the deeper changes come from.
How often should I come to see real results?
Joseph Pilates said you’d feel the difference in ten sessions, see it in twenty, and have a whole new body in thirty — and there’s real truth in that. Most of my clients come twice a week, which is the sweet spot for building strength and retaining what you learn. Once a week still works well if you’re consistent; it just takes a little longer.
What kind of clients do you most enjoy working with?
I genuinely enjoy the variety — that’s one of the best things about teaching privately. What I love most is working with people who are curious about how their body works, whether they’re building strength for the first time or refining technique they’ve had for years. Seeing someone discover what their body is actually capable of never gets old.
Do I need any Pilates experience before starting?
Not at all. Because every session is one-on-one, I teach to exactly where you are — there’s no class to keep up with. Some of my clients have never exercised regularly before; others come from years of training in other styles. Either way, we start with the fundamentals and build from there.
What can I expect in my first session with you?
Your first session is really about getting to know you and your body. We’ll talk through any injuries, goals, or concerns, then move through the foundational exercises so I can see how you move. By the end you’ll understand what we’re working towards and why — and you’ll have already started building the habits that make everything else possible.
What’s your background?
I danced with the New York City Ballet and studied The Pilates Method from 1976 under Romana Kryzanowska, the protégé of Joseph Pilates. I brought Romana’s Pilates method to Sydney, and founded Australia’s first Romana’s Pilates teacher-training program here in 1998, and in 2009 was named one of only three Grand Master Teacher Trainers for Romana’s Pilates worldwide.
Who do you work best with?
Anyone who wants to learn the method properly — from complete beginners building a genuine foundation, to experienced practitioners and instructors refining their technique. I’ve spent my life preserving this work, and I love sharing it.
What does a first session with you look like?
We start by understanding your body and what you want from the work. I’ll watch how you move and guide you through the fundamentals, so you finish the first session feeling supported and clear on what we’re building toward.
Why is your studio different from other Pilates training?
My teaching is rooted in the True Pilates method, passed down directly from Romana Kryzanowska. This is not a modern interpretation or a generic workout — it’s the original system, taught with the precision, order, and intention that Joseph Pilates designed. This approach ensures a deeper, more effective experience that builds lasting strength, alignment, and control.
How honest will you be about whether this is helping?
With my background in dance and movement education, I read bodies closely and tailor every session to the person in front of me. True Pilates isn’t a generic workout — it’s precise, progressive work that meets you exactly where you are and builds from there.
hat’s your background?
I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Education and trained as a massage therapist before finding Pilates through my own dance practice. I trained at Cynthia Lochard’s studio, completed the teacher-training program, and am now a Level IV Instructor Trainer.
Who do you work best with?
People who want to move with more ease, strength, and body awareness — whether they’re coming from dance or fitness, returning after time away, or simply wanting to feel better in their body. As an instructor trainer, I also love working with detail and technique.
What does a first session with you look like?
We begin by understanding your history and watching how you move. From there I introduce the fundamentals at a pace that suits you, so you leave the first session feeling capable and clear on what we’re working toward.
How is what you do different from other training?
My background in dance and bodywork means I notice how your whole body moves and where it’s holding tension, not just the area that hurts. Classical Pilates is precise, individual work — every session is built around your body rather than a set routine.
How honest will you be about whether this is helping?
Yes — honesty is part of doing this work properly. I’ll give you clear feedback on what’s improving and what still needs attention, so you always know where you stand.
What’s your background?
I trained as a dancer and choreographer in Korea, then completed degrees in Dance Education and in Personal Development, Health and Physical Education in Australia. I completed my Romana’s Pilates training at Cynthia Lochard’s Pilates Method studio in 2022.
Who do you work best with?
Anyone who wants to feel stronger, more balanced, and more at home in their body — including busy people juggling a lot, and those returning to movement after time away. I love helping people rediscover confidence in how they move.
What does a first session with you look like?
We start by understanding your body and what you want from the work. I’ll watch how you move and guide you gently through the fundamentals, so you finish the first session feeling supported and clear on what we’re building toward.
How is what you do different from other training?
With my background in dance and movement education, I read bodies closely and tailor every session to the person in front of me. Classical Pilates isn’t a generic workout — it’s precise, progressive work that meets you exactly where you are and builds from there.
How honest will you be about whether this is helping?
Always. I want you to feel real progress, not just go through the motions. If something is working I’ll tell you, and if we need to adjust the approach I’ll be straight with you about that too.
What’s your background?
I played professional football in Japan and Korea, and discovered Pilates through my team’s training. I moved to Sydney to train in the classical method at Cynthia Lochard’s studio and qualified in 2018. I’m also a certified football coach and physical education instructor.
Who do you work best with?
Athletes and active people who want a genuine performance edge, and anyone who wants to build real strength and control rather than just general fitness. If you train hard and want your body to keep up, this is the work.
What does a first session with you look like?
I watch how you move first — where you’re strong, where you compensate, and what your body does under load. From there I build a programme around your goals, whether that’s performance, recovery, or simply moving better. You’ll leave the first session with a clear sense of where we’re starting and where we’re headed.
How is what you do different from other training?
A lot of training builds fitness on top of whatever movement habits you already have — including the faulty ones. Classical Pilates rebuilds the foundation underneath: the deep control and stability that everything else is built on. For an active body, that’s the difference between training hard and training well.
How honest will you be about whether this is helping?
Completely. As a former professional athlete, I know the difference between feeling like you’re working and actually getting results. I’ll tell you honestly what’s improving, what still needs work, and how long it’s realistically going to take.
How many sessions before I feel a difference?
Most people notice something meaningful within three to five sessions — not necessarily that the pain is gone, but that they understand their body better and move with less fear. Significant functional improvement typically unfolds over ten to twenty sessions, depending on the complexity of the issue and how long it’s been present. A good instructor is straightforward about timelines and will tell you honestly if another approach would serve you better
My doctor said I can exercise but I don’t know what’s safe.
“You can exercise” is not a movement prescription — and for people recovering from surgery, injury, or a significant health event, that ambiguity can be genuinely frightening. A private session gives you a clear, condition-specific starting point: what you can do safely right now, what to build toward, and what to avoid. For many people, this bridge between medical clearance and confident movement is exactly what was missing.
I’ve had chronic back pain for years. Is it too late to fix it?
Chronic pain is complex — but duration alone doesn’t determine the outcome. What tends to perpetuate chronic back pain is a combination of protective movement patterns (which create weakness elsewhere), reduced confidence in the body’s ability to move safely, and a lack of targeted strengthening. Good Pilates works through all three. The first session is largely diagnostic: watching how you move reveals far more than an MRI report about why the pain persists and what will actually help.
What’s the difference between Pilates and physiotherapy for recovery?
Physiotherapy is typically focused on getting you out of pain and restoring basic function, which it does well. Pilates picks up where physio leaves off — rebuilding whole-body movement quality, strength, and coordination across a longer timeline. The ideal is an instructor who understands both sides: someone who can translate your physio’s diagnoses into a Pilates system designed for your specific needs, communicate with your treating therapist if needed, and make sure nothing falls through the gap between being cleared and moving well again.
I have a bulging disc. Will Pilates make it worse?
Not if it’s approached correctly — and that distinction matters enormously. Certain movements can aggravate disc injuries; others actively support recovery by strengthening the surrounding musculature and reducing compressive load on the spine. An instructor who understands will modify exercises for your specific level, your symptoms, and whether you’re in an acute or chronic phase. Many people with disc issues find Pilates delivers their first sustained relief after years of intermittent treatment.