Course Description
Classical Pilates is more than a repertoire of exercises. It is a unique exercise system that combines the mind and body under the guidance of a teacher who has knowledge, skill, and intuition in order to bring one’s body into better balance. The best Pilates instructors not only have these qualities, but they teach organically with a discerning eye; their hands for proper spotting and placement; and succinct verbal cueing to teach a system that is tailored to individual needs.

With over twenty five years of experience, MeJo has created The Classical Syllabus® Graduate Course, for instructors looking to go beyond their certification.  It is for teachers who have already completed a Comprehensive Training Program, yet looking for a deeper understanding of the Classical Method, and how to apply it to real people.

Its purpose is to enhance and sharpen teaching skills by clarifying the exercises and methodology of teaching it; to learn how to assess a student’s body by spotting their imbalances, strengths and weaknesses; and most important to learn how to apply the Method by creating an individualized system that will most benefit any individual’s body.

Teaching at her own studio and overseeing up to 400 private lessons a week, (with Romana as her personal mentor) MeJo gained experience in applying the Method to various populations, including:  professional athletes, those suffering with chronic back pain, amputees, Parkinson’s disease, knee injuries, scoliosis, and many other ailments.

In this unique series, MeJo will share her years of study with several first generation instructors including Romana Kryzanowska, Sari Mejia Santos, Kathy Grant, Edwina Fontaine, and Jay Grimes.  She will provide valuable training from her years of study with Romana, her personal experience teaching the Method to various populations, and her experience as a Teacher Trainer in Romana’s Pilates Instructor Training Program.

The Seminars
The program consists of four seminars that can be taken individually or in full:

• The Beginner System

• Intermediate System Part I

• Intermediate System Part II

• The Advanced System

Each seminar is 11 hours, over the course of two days. 

Since The Classical Syllabus® is not a certification program, apprentice hours are not required. However, you must already have a comprehensive 600+ hour Certification. A Certificate of Completion will be given to those completing all four seminars. Since The Classical Syllabus® is limited to a small group of Certified Instructors, you will be able to discuss your most challenging students, and learn new effective techniques to work with them.

Curriculum

• Review the details of specific exercises giving you a better understanding of their goals and progressions

• Explain the reasons why we would modify or vary an exercise for an individual

• Teach you how to assess an individual’s body; spotting their strengths, weaknesses, misalignments, and imbalances; and how to correct it

• Review basic principles of movement and teaching, that Joe intended for his Method

• Teach you effective spotting and cueing, unique to the Classical Method that can be tailored to individuals needs

• Teach you how to select specific exercises, and create a system that will most benefit your student

• Review the distinct Gratz® apparatus and explain why it is such an integral part of the Classical Pilates Method

MeJo Wiggin is a highly respected Pilates expert with 30 years of experience in the industry. Based in Charleston, SC and serving the Daniel Island and Mt. Pleasant areas, she has established herself as one of the world's leading Pilates Teacher Trainers. Her impressive clientele includes celebrities like Bryce Dallas Howard and Michelle Pfeiffer, as well as professional athletes from the White Birch Polo Team, dance companies, and various sports backgrounds.

MeJo's career began in 1995 alongside legendary Pilates instructor Romana Kryzanowska at Drago's Gym in New York. After opening her first studio in Greenwich, CT in 1996, she was certified as a Level III Teacher Trainer for Romana's Pilates Teacher Training Program by 2003. Romana herself praised MeJo's work as "poetry in motion" and awarded her a Gold Card recognizing her advanced abilities. MeJo has been featured in several instructional Pilates videos, including "Romana's Pilates Mat DVD" series and has produced her own training materials.

As a dedicated advocate of the Classical Pilates Method, MeJo serves as an ambassador for Gratz Industries, the original equipment manufacturer founded by Joe Pilates. She continues to teach at multiple Pilates Training Schools across the United States and has developed "The Classical Syllabus®," a Continuing Education course for Pilates instructors worldwide. Her ongoing mission is to educate instructors globally about the benefits of the Classical Pilates Method through seminars and training programs.

Seminar 1 · The Beginner System

• Thursday, 9/24
  1:00–7:30 PM

• Friday, 9/25
  1:00–7:00 PM

Seminar 2 · The Intermediate System, Part I

• Saturday, 9/26
  12:00–6:30 PM

• Sunday, 9/27
  9:00 AM–3:00 PM

Seminar 3 · The Intermediate System, Part II

• Thursday, 11/19
  1:00–7:30 PM

• Friday, 11/20
  1:00–7:00 PM

Seminar 4 · The Advanced System

• Saturday, 11/21
  12:00–6:30 PM

• Sunday, 11/22
  9:00 AM–3:00 PM

Special Bonus · Mat Classes with MeJo

• Mat Class 1
  Beginner to Intermediate
  Sunday, 9/27 @ 9:00 AM

• Mat Class 2
  Intermediate
  Friday, 11/20 @ 5:15 PM

• Mat Class 3
  Advanced
  Sunday, 11/22 @ 9:00 AM

This advanced continuing education series welcomes all Pilates instructors who have completed a 600+ hour Comprehensive Certification Program. Proof of certification is required with registration.

Whether you're classically trained or certified in contemporary methods, this seminar series is for you. Contemporary instructors are encouraged to attend—discover firsthand the principles and techniques that have drawn so many to the classical approach. This is your opportunity to experience the depth and precision of classical Pilates from a master instructor.

Seminar enrollment is limited to 20 participants.

Mat class enrollment is limited to 25 participants.

• Early Bird Pricing

  Available for full-program registration when all payments are completed by July 1, 2026

  • All 4 Seminars (8 days total): $3,999

    (includes enrollment in all 3 Mat Classes)

• Standard Pricing:

  Effective July 1, 2026

  • All 4 Seminars (8 days total): $4,200

    (includes enrollment in all 3 Mat Classes)

• Single Seminar Pricing:

  *Participants attending select seminars (rather than the full four-seminar series) must purchase each seminar and each mat class individually. Mat classes are included with full-series enrollment.

  • One Seminar (2 days): $1,100

  • One Seminar Mat Class: $45

Registration Priority

The program is divided into four separate seminars. Participants may register for individual seminars; however, priority registration is given to those enrolling in and paying for the full program.

In the event of limited availability, a participant registered for an individual seminar may be contacted and offered the opportunity to upgrade to the full program.

If the participant declines to upgrade, their individual seminar registration may be released in order to accommodate a full-program participant. In such cases, individual seminar tuition will be refunded in full.

A Certificate of Completion is awarded to participants who successfully complete all four seminars.

During the seminar series, MeJo will teach three special Mat classes demonstrating appropriate classical progressions, variations, and level-specific sequencing.

Mat Class Schedule

• Seminars 1 & 2
  Beginner to Intermediate Mat
  Sunday, 9/27 @ 9:00 AM

• Seminar 3
  Intermediate to Advanced Mat
  Progressive transitions and more challenging variations
  Friday, 11/20 @ 5:15 PM

• Seminar 4
  Full Advanced Mat
  Complete classical advanced repertoire
  Sunday, 11/22 @ 9:00 AM

Registration & Priority

These Mat classes are complimentary for participants enrolled in the full four-seminar series.

Single-seminar attendees and non-participants may register for individual Mat classes for $45 per class, space permitting. Enrollment priority is reserved for seminar participants. If space is needed to accommodate workshop attendees, non-participant registrations may be released and fully refunded.

Mat class enrollment is limited to 25 participants.

Steps to Secure Your Spot for the Seminars:

Complete Your Payment

Choose one of the following options:

• Online Purchase: Use one of these payment links

  1. Early Bird Price: All 4 Seminars (8 days total): $3,999 (Available for full-program registration when all payments are completed by 7/1 - Regular Price after 7/1: $4,200)

  2. Standard Pricing: Single Seminar (2 days): $1,100

     *Participants attending select seminars (rather than the full four-seminar series) must purchase each seminar individually using the links below. Mat classes are included with full-series enrollment; otherwise, Mat classes must also be purchased individually using the links below.

     Seminar 1: The Beginner System (9/24 - 9/25): $1,100

     Seminar 2: The Intermediate System, Part 1 (9/26 - 9/27: $1,100

     Seminar 3: The Intermediate System, Part 2 (11/19 - 11/20): $1,100

     Seminar 4: The Advanced System (11/21 - 11/22): $1,100

     Mat Class 1: Beg/Int (Sunday, 9/27 @ 9:00 AM): $45

     Mat Class 2: Intermediate (Friday, 11/20 @ 5:15 PM): $45

     Mat Class 3: Advanced (Sunday, 11/22 @ 9:00 AM): $45

• Check Payment:
  Urban Pilates
  1981 N Killingsworth Street
  Portland, OR 97217

• Payment Plan: Email kimkay@urban-pilates.com for details

Complete Required Agreements

Please review and sign both of the following:

• Studio Waiver

• Seminar Terms & Conditions

Submit Required Documentation

• Email a copy of your 600+ hour Comprehensive Pilates Certification to kimkay@urban-pilates.com.

Registration Confirmation:

You will not be considered officially registered, and your spot will not be held, until all of the following have been received:

• A minimum payment of $500 toward your total fee

• A signed Studio Waiver and agreement to the Seminar Terms

• Proof of completion of a 600+ hour Comprehensive Pilates Certification

Upon receipt of the above you will receive a confirmation email.

Questions? Contact us via text: 503-505-9203 or by email: kimkay@urban-pilates.com

Accommodations

• North Portland Options: While North Portland has limited hotel options, it offers numerous charming Airbnbs within walking distance of our studio. Staying nearby allows you to fully immerse yourself in the neighborhood's unique character and minimize travel time.

• Downtown Options: If you prefer traditional hotels, downtown Portland provides the most convenient hotel accommodations with easy access to our studio via public transportation.

Getting Around

• MAX Light Rail: The most cost-effective transportation option is Portland's MAX Light Rail system:

• Our studio is just 5 blocks from the North Killingsworth Street MAX station on the Yellow Line

• Direct service from Portland International Airport (PDX) via the Red Line to Rose Quarter, then transfer to the Yellow Line

• Trains run frequently throughout the day

Additional Transportation Options:

• Rideshare: Uber and Lyft operate throughout Portland

• Rental Cars: Available at the airport and downtown locations

• Bike Share: Portland's BIKETOWN program offers an eco-friendly option for shorter trips

Planning Assistance

Have questions about your travel arrangements? Contact Kim Kay at kimkay@urban-pilates.com for recommendations.

We look forward to welcoming you to our studio!