50 Years of Balanced Body: From the First Reformer to an Unquestioned Leader in the Pilates Industry

The year 2026 is a doubly exceptional moment for the world of conscious movement. We celebrate the 100th anniversary of Joseph and Clara Pilates’ arrival in New York, the establishment of their first studio, as well as the 50th anniversary of the founding of Balanced Body. What was the journey to creating this global brand and what influenced its current position?

From a Small Workshop to a Global Leader 

In 1975, Ken Endelman – the creator of Balanced Body – was producing waterbeds in Hollywood. One of his clients, Isa Bohn, asked him to build a device called the “Reformer” for her. Although Ken’s first reaction was, “What is that?”, he accepted the challenge. Thus began an extraordinary journey of growth for the company that has lasted for half a century, revolutionizing the production of Pilates equipment and becoming an undisputed global leader in the industry. 

To support a diverse business, in 1976 Ken Endelman changed the company’s name to Current Concepts. It was at this time that Ken began an incredibly important collaboration with Stephan Frease – a Pilates instructor and expert in safety and functionality. Frease had a significant impact on the early designs of the equipment. Over time, the brand began to gain trust in the medical and sports communities. In 1984, he collaborated with the prominent first-generation teacher, Ron Fletcher, who requested the creation of personalized equipment for his studio. 

A pivotal moment for the company’s identity came in 1998 when it officially changed its name to Balanced Body – a name that better reflects the mission and ideals of the brand. Balanced Body is not only about producing top-quality equipment but also about defending the heritage and freedom of the entire industry. 

Historic Victory: The Liberation of the Name “Pilates” 

The company engaged in a fundamental issue from the perspective of the entire Pilates community worldwide, going far beyond its own commercial interests –the liberation of the name “Pilates” and the protection of the method itself from monopolization. In the 1990s, using the word “Pilates” came with significant risk. At that time, one American entrepreneur claimed trademark rights to it, aggressively intimidating teachers with lawsuits and demanding licensing fees from them. 

Without the decisive intervention of Balanced Body, today’s teachers would not be able to call their workplaces “Pilates studios,” and freely using the title “Pilates instructor” would risk legal action or involve paying licensing fees just for using the word. Seeing that the development of the entire industry was being stifled, Ken Endelman and the Balanced Body brand took on the burden and costs of a four-year legal battle. 

Ultimately, in October 2000, a U.S. federal court issued a landmark ruling: it determined that the word “Pilates” (like yoga or karate) is the name of a general exercise method and should never be treated as a trademark. This historic victory liberated the name forever. Thanks to the determination and victory of Balanced Body, today the entire community can teach this method without fear, and the word “Pilates” can be freely used by everyone – including competing equipment manufacturers. This was a moment that forever changed the trajectory of the conscious movement’s development worldwide. 

History of Development: Innovations That Changed the Game

The company has learned from the best, listening to physiotherapists and instructors for years. The equipment undergoes hundreds of hours of testing before it goes on sale. It is this rigorous approach and openness to expert feedback that have resulted in revolutionary changes in equipment over the decades. Balanced Body has been at the absolute technological forefront for 50 years, and the equipment of this brand sets global standards today.

The 70s and 80s – The First Reformers

As early as 1976, the company fulfilled a unique order for Good Samaritan Hospital, designing and building Pilates equipment in children’s sizes, intended for treating the youngest patients with neuromuscular disorders. In the 80s, the credibility of the Pilates method significantly increased, partly due to the opening of the dance medicine department at St. Francis Memorial Hospital in San Francisco, which was the first case of using Pilates equipment in a medical facility.

The 90s and 00s – Patents, Home Equipment, and Global Expansion

The 90s brought a huge technological leap. In 1994, Ken Endelman obtained the first patents for equipment since the death of Joseph Pilates (1967), including the innovative Infinity Footbar® (a bar that can be adjusted not only vertically but also horizontally), inspired by working with a young patient on adaptive skis.

In 2004, Balanced Body launched the IQ® Reformer – the first such advanced device designed specifically for home users.

A New Era of Innovation (21st Century) Balanced Body continuously pushes the boundaries of what is possible in training. Among the latest revolutions is the Konnector® System, a groundbreaking system that uses a single cable with attachment points for all four limbs, allowing for independent and simultaneous movement of arms and legs. It takes full-body training to a whole new level.

Innovations That Defined Modern Pilates

Balanced Body has always listened to the needs of instructors. In collaboration with Stephan Frease, the company developed adjustable footbars, platforms, and the famous fifth yellow spring, which, providing less resistance, required significantly greater control of movement from practitioners. It was also thanks to Frease that Balanced Body was the first to introduce the brilliantly simple system of color-coding spring resistance (initially using colored thread).

The Evolution of Springs – The Phenomenon of Balanced Body Machines

Originally, during the time of Joseph Pilates, reformers had four springs of equal resistance. Balanced Body revolutionized this approach. Always listening to the needs of teachers and therapists, the company – in collaboration with the aforementioned expert Stephan Frease – developed and introduced a fifth lighter spring.

Today, the company’s hallmark is the patented Signature Springs™ – made from the highest quality nickel-plated carbon steel, ensuring unmatched smoothness, consistency of resistance, and durability. What demonstrates the uncompromising approach to quality? The fact that each individual spring undergoes rigorous testing in the company’s factory before it even reaches the customer.

In response to contemporary trends and the growing popularity of very dynamic group classes, in the jubilee year of 2026, Balanced Body introduces another innovation: DURO Springs™. Made from thicker wire and featuring larger coils, they have undergone thousands of cycles of testing on the company’s proprietary machines to withstand the most extreme loads of commercial studios without any issues.

Solutions That Became Market Standards

Over time, Balanced Body engineers introduced further revolutionary solutions that are hard to imagine in modern Pilates today. Traditional leather straps were replaced with a system of ropes (for faster and safer adjustments). They also introduced blocks on risers, which replaced older systems and prevented the ropes from tangling or rubbing against armrests during leg circles, for example.

It is the innovation of Balanced Body that has given the world fully adjustable footbars, enlarged platforms, and versatile jumpboards, opening this classic method to entirely new training possibilities. Today, the company patents and protects many of its groundbreaking solutions worldwide, such as the telescoping frame in the Metro IQ® model or proprietary spring systems or the Konnector® System. In total, it has registered over 40 patents.

Education and Community – the True Heart of Balanced Body

Balanced Body’s leadership position stems equally from excellent equipment and the building of a global knowledge base and community. The company co-created the first organized Pilates certification program in 1991. In 2004, Pilates on Tour® was born – a series of prestigious educational conferences for instructors, with its 100th edition taking place in 2018 in New Orleans. Pilates on Tour® connects the community in major cities around the world – from New York to London to Taipei.

In 2006, the proprietary, comprehensive Balanced Body Education Pilates program was launched, with a teaching model developed by Nora St. John. In 2026, the school will celebrate its 20th anniversary, now based on a global network of over 400 specialized Educators. It is also worth noting that Balanced Body’s commitment contributed to the establishment of the Pilates Method Alliance (PMA) in 2000 – a unified agency certifying instructors.

The company continuously responds to contemporary challenges – in 2020, it quickly transitioned to virtual education, organizing a 24-hour global event “Pilates Around the World,” which marked the beginning of a new era of online meetings. The latest example is the KRN Pilates App, supported by Balanced Body, offering access to hundreds of workouts and instructional videos directly from your smartphone.

10 years of Balanced Body in Poland 

The Pilates method is experiencing a true bloom in Poland, and conscious training is gaining popularity at an unprecedented pace. For a decade, Balanced Body has been a proud partner and driving force behind this revolution in the Polish market. 

Currently, over 300 studios across Poland (and several dozen in Europe) have been equipped with reliable Balanced Body equipment. Polish investors, physiotherapists, and trainers appreciate the artisanal quality of machines produced in the USA, which directly translates into rapid development and the highest professionalism of facilities offering Pilates classes in our country. 

A local distributor guarantees safety – authorized service in the country allows for quick action, constant support, and assurance of professional installation. For investors, it is a guarantee that their business is protected (Balanced Body equipment is covered by a lifetime warranty provided on-site). This provides an unbeatable advantage over cheaper, but risky equipment from abroad, where potential breakdowns and lack of service mean downtime in the studio. 

Moreover, Balanced Body Poland has revolutionized the approach to financing in our market. Alongside traditional options and leasing, we have introduced a unique nationwide possibility of equipment rental, even for new companies, with the option of later purchase. This innovative and flexible solution significantly facilitates the start for new studios and lowers the entry barrier into the world of professional business. 

However, this success is not only about machines but primarily about education and building a strong community. Certified Balanced Body Educators are actively working in Poland. Thanks to their presence and knowledge, Polish instructors have access to world-class education and international certifications without the need to travel abroad. It is this trust and continuous professional development that make Balanced Body the brand of choice in Poland. 

Top products shaping the industry 

The Balanced Body portfolio is a story of the evolution of the entire exercise system and proof that engineering can go hand in hand with excellent design and responsibility for the planet. The most important products that have established and continue to maintain the brand’s position include: 

• Allegro® Reformer 

Introduced in 1999, it opened the doors of the Pilates method to large commercial fitness clubs (such as Bally Total Fitness) around the world. 

• Allegro® 2 Reformer 

Designed in 2011 in collaboration with the world-renowned design firm IDEO. This elegant model quickly gained the status of an absolute icon in the industry, proving that exercise equipment can be an outstanding piece of functional art. 

• Contrology® Line 

Responding to the needs of enthusiasts of the classical approach, in collaboration with the late expert Jay Grimes, Balanced Body created equipment that precisely replicates the touch, sound, and sensations of Joseph Pilates’ machines from the 1960s. 

• CoreAlign® 

Introduced in 2010 as a result of collaboration with physical therapist Jonathan Hoffman, who successfully expanded Balanced Body’s offerings with new methods of conscious movement. 

• EXO® Chair and Pilates Arc® 

Compact, versatile, and extremely durable equipment that has become a favorite among studios and home clients worldwide. 

• Metro IQ® Reformer 

A unique telescopic model that easily fits under a bed. Due to its portability, it is chosen not only for home use but is also utilized by physical therapists of top sports teams, such as the Cincinnati Reds baseball players in the MLB. 

News from Balanced Body

50 years is a time that – if well utilized – allows for development and the creation of many innovative solutions. Over the past year, several new products have appeared on the market:

• Reformer Bravo™

Designed with sustainability in mind. Its frame is made from eco-friendly polymer material, and its production uses over 256 recycled plastic bottles, which is a significant step towards ecology without compromising on quality.

• Allegro Nextgen Reformer™

The latest evolution of the iconic Allegro equipment, created to celebrate its 25th anniversary, introducing an 8-wheel suspension system, ergonomic solutions, and unmatched smoothness of movement. A true technological leap in this model is the implementation of the innovative Infinity Footbar® system (offering 10 horizontal and 4 vertical adjustment positions). This revolutionary change opens up new training possibilities and allows for perfect equipment adjustment to the proportions of each user.

• DURO Springs

The aforementioned springs designed in response to the growing popularity of very dynamic and intense group classes. Made from thicker wire, with larger coils, they easily withstand the most extreme loads in commercial studios while maintaining the well-known and valued smooth operation of classic Balanced Body springs.

Sustainable Development and Social Responsibility 

For Balanced Body, the past half-century has been a transition from humble beginnings to today’s headquarters in Sacramento, covering nearly 16,500 square feet. However, this tremendous growth is inextricably linked to a deep business ethic and care for the planet. The company’s “green” factory is powered by a powerful 1.1 megawatt photovoltaic installation, and it uses only FSC-certified wood for equipment production, sourced from responsibly managed forests where tree growth nearly doubles their logging. Moreover, the brand consistently uses recycled packaging and has been awarded the prestigious WRAP (Waste Reduction Award Program) four times for effective waste reduction. 

However, Balanced Body is not just about machines – it is primarily about people. The company cares for its team of nearly 300 people by creating an incredibly diverse and open work environment where representatives of various cultures and nationalities meet, with women making up 50% of the management team. The brand also teaches its employees about social responsibility, including providing each of them with an annual budget to allocate to a local school of their choice. 

The company also boldly engages in issues of equality and diversification within the Pilates industry itself. To break down financial and systemic barriers, it created a special scholarship program. In 2021 alone, 90 scholarships worth a total of $50,000 were awarded, thereby supporting the development of Black professionals and future instructors to spread the benefits of the Pilates method in underrepresented communities. 

Balanced Body – A Leader with an Established History 

The year 2026 at Balanced Body marks half a century of listening to customers, artisan passion, and pushing boundaries in the fitness world. It is a story of precision and innovation that has made the company an unmatched model in the world of conscious movement. Balanced Body is a brand that follows trends and creates them, remaining an undisputed leader. 

At this point, we can only thank you for your faith and trust. Without you, Balanced Body would be just a manufacturer and supplier of machines. It is you – instructors, physiotherapists, and enthusiasts – who work wonders on them every day, changing the lives of your clients. As the Balanced Body Polska team, we want to add one thing: thank you for inviting us into your spaces. Over 300 studios equipped with Balanced Body machines in our country is an impressive number. Behind it lies a vibrant Polish community of enthusiasts that grows stronger every day. Thank you for being the heart of this global community for 50 years and for creating the future of conscious movement together with us.