Lesley Logan’s Joe’s Gym: Adapting an Open-Gym Teaching Model for Modern Pilates Studios

# What this workshop covers

# Who this is for

Teachers and studio owners who want to: run mixed-level sessions, increase client access, create affordable scheduling options, and build systems that support individualized learning in an open-studio environment.

# Core objectives

• Explain the history and principles behind Joe Pilates' original open-gym model and how those ideas map to today's studios.
• Teach strategies for supervising multiple clients across apparatus (Reformer, Wunda Chair, Tower, Mat) while providing individualized cues and progressions.
• Show how the model increases accessibility through flexible scheduling, personalized programming, and lower-cost options.
• Offer methods to introduce Joe's Gym practices gradually to both new and established clients.
• Present systems for onboarding, organizing sessions, and maintaining a safe, supportive learning environment.
• Outline potential business benefits such as improved studio efficiency, higher client retention, and long-term profitability.

# Practical elements and equipment

The workshop lists the apparatus teachers should be familiar with to apply the model: Wunda Chair, Tower, Reformer with box, and Mat. Segments include hands-on strategies for mixed-equipment sessions and session formats that accommodate different levels at once.

# Teaching strategies highlighted

• Multi-apparatus sequencing: design session formats where clients rotate or remain on different apparatus with clear micro-goals for each station.
• Individualized guidance within group flow: use concise cueing, short check-ins, and targeted progressions so each client moves at an appropriate challenge level without stopping the overall session.
• Gradual introduction: pilot open-gym elements with a subset of clients, offer orientation sessions, and create clear expectations for client autonomy and safety.

# Onboarding and safety systems

Lesley Logan emphasizes the need for structured onboarding and session organization. Examples include short orientation lessons for newcomers, written or visual maps of session flow, and safety checks for apparatus setup. These systems aim to keep the environment efficient while preserving individualized attention.

# Accessibility and pricing

The Joe's Gym model supports accessibility by enabling flexible scheduling and personalized programming that can be offered at lower per-session cost. Logan frames these changes as ways to broaden participation and make Pilates more attainable for a wider client base.

# Business implications

Adopting this teaching model can influence studio operations: more efficient use of space and staff time, potentially higher client retention due to personalized progress, and a pathway to improved long-term profitability. The workshop provides guidance on implementing these shifts in a way that protects teaching quality and client safety.

# Credits and format

# Bottom line

This workshop is a how-to for teachers and studio managers who want to run open-studio, mixed-equipment sessions that balance client autonomy with individualized instruction. It focuses on concrete systems—onboarding, session design, safety checks, and business adjustments—so studios can introduce the Joe's Gym approach gradually and reliably.