It is based on breathing, client assessment, getting familiar with the body anatomy via practice, strengthening the body with isometric exercises to get to do Pilates exercises, it is performed with props (bands, yoga blocks, elastic bands), small Barrell and Magic Circle to learn mechanical movements of Pilates. The exercises are the ‘mother’ of Classic Pilates Mat repertoire, broken into segments to make it accessible to all levels, every body. Total 100 hours after which you will sit an exam to gain a certificate of Mat completion.
Elisabetta Vangelista
Hi, I am Elisabetta!
My Pilates journey started many years ago, when I worked as finance professional in London. Pilates was my escape after long working hours spent at the desk and a pretty hectic life.
When I moved to Luxembourg, nearly six years ago, the Pilates community was small and my plans moved fast onto teaching. Today, I am 3rd generation classic Pilates teacher, one of the few in the world who learned from ‘the elders’, who in turn learnt the method directly from Joseph Pilates in the early 50s in New York.
Today, I remain connected to my finance community.
I teach in my own boutique studio in Merl and at UrbanLeaf Limpertsberg.
I am a passionate coach, I believe everyone deserves one-to-one attention, getting you find your best form is my ultimate objective. I practice Pilates every day. It is through my own practice and teaching that I continue to learn to bring you the best Pilates. I teach classical Pilates on GRATZ. original apparatus from the USA that you will not find anywhere else in Luxembourg. In my classes, expect intense physical efforts with single-focused concentration. Experience after only a few sessions how the body changes. Find your own way to a whole new body makeover.
Members / Drop-In
Group
- At Urban Leaf Studio
- Up to 10 people per group
- Every Tuesday and Saturday
- Mat and small equipment
What is Pilates
It is a method that was invented in the 1950s by Joseph Pilates, an ex-boxer, born and brought up in Germany. He invented the "Contrology", the art of control in movement, based on a balanced Body and Mind, eventualy drawn from the early Greeks and Romans ("mens sana in corpore sano"). He found that with the effective removal of gravity he could better align the pelvis and the torso during exercise, what we call today "the Stack" or "the Box", a pillar tenet in Pilates. J. Pilates had a studio at 939 Eighth Avenue in New York, right opposite the American Ballet at the time. He transformed the method to train ballerinas and that made it fluid and choreographic.
J. Pilates invented the "Pilates Apparatus". With the help of his brother he built the Reformer, Cadillac, Barrells, Wunda and Electric Chair. The company still exists and it is called GRATZ.
GRATZ remains today the only manufacturer in the world of certified Pilates equipment that guarantees J. Pilates standards.
The teachers who learnt directly from J. Pilates are ‘the elders’. I am a descendant teacher of Romana Krysanoska, who taught my own coach, Patricia Medros.
Still now, Classic Pilates is a mix of boxing, ballet, circus, yoga, gymnastics, hence its strenuous intensity.
*Source: "Caged Lion" (J.H.Steel), "Pilates return to life through contrology" (J. Pilates and W. Miller).
Teacher's Training Program

Classic Pilates Mat
It is the Classic repertoire 34 exercises from Joseph Pilates Return to Life. It covers history of the Pilates method. Total 100 hours of teaching/lessons/practice/observation/homework plus self-practice. You will sit an exam to gain a diploma of Classic Pilates Mat instructor and will be able to take the NCPC Pilates Mat Exam to obtain the NPCP-PMC (link).
You can bridge to this program, if you have a Mat Pilates certificate from a recognised school or you need Pre-Pilates Mat certificate.

Reformer on Mat
It is for existing Pilates Mat instructors, wishing to introduce apparatus in their education. You will train on Reformer and Mat, using props to simulate a Reformer, if you don’t have apparatus. It covers Foundation exercises from Reformer repertoire. Total 100 hours of teaching/lessons/practice/observation/homework plus self-practice.
You will sit an exam to gain a certificate of completion of Reformer on Mat. You can bridge to earn Reformer apparatus diploma.