Passion & Perseverance
The story of RockIt Body’s patented Pilates reformer
- CategoryAdvertorials, Health
- Written byKaci Bacher
- Photographed byShane O’Donnell
To build something truly original—something that is both an answer to a calling and a challenge to the status quo—requires more than vision. It demands grit, ingenuity and a willingness to navigate obstacles that would send most running for the comfort of the familiar. This is the story of my journey.
Scaling a Pilates brand with the promise of lasting impact has long been my dream. Yet I knew that the key to unlocking a recognizable brand beyond the South Bay was the reformer—a machine that could bridge the traditions of classical Pilates and the energy required for modern fitness in the studio spaces of Manhattan Beach. Today the final prototype of the reformer stands in our flagship studio, tested in the hands (and feet) of our instructors who bring its potential to life every day. Signing off on production was more than a business milestone. It was the closing of one chapter and the beginning of a new era.
Patented Innovation
What makes a reformer worthy of a patent? In my case, years of trial, error and relentless improvement. The reformer’s frame is nearly all steel and aluminum—materials chosen not just for durability but for their nuanced tactile feedback, which is crucial for both the subtlety of classical Pilates and the dynamic demands of contemporary fitness routines in a bustling, high-volume studio.
Among its most significant and exciting innovations is a patented jumpboard, conveniently stored beneath the carriage, which can be deployed and locked into position in seconds. Other features, like easily adjustable straps, accommodate varying heights and ensure quick transitions between classes.
The carriage rides as smooth as silk. The RockIt Reformer’s features are not just technical achievements; they are the product of lived experience, born from the needs of athletes, instructors and anyone seeking to move better and feel stronger.
At the heart of my vision is the marriage of classical Pilates—characterized by control, precision and a holistic approach to movement—and the more modern fitness routines taught on spring-based machines, known as fitness Pilates. They are different methods with different purposes. The challenge was to create a machine and studio that honored both.
Scaling a Pilates brand with the promise of lasting impact has long been my dream. Yet I knew that the key to unlocking a recognizable brand beyond the South Bay was the reformer—a machine that could bridge the traditions of classical Pilates and the energy required for modern fitness in the studio spaces of Manhattan Beach. Today the final prototype of the reformer stands in our flagship studio, tested in the hands (and feet) of our instructors who bring its potential to life every day. Signing off on production was more than a business milestone. It was the closing of one chapter and the beginning of a new era.
Patented Innovation
What makes a reformer worthy of a patent? In my case, years of trial, error and relentless improvement. The reformer’s frame is nearly all steel and aluminum—materials chosen not just for durability but for their nuanced tactile feedback, which is crucial for both the subtlety of classical Pilates and the dynamic demands of contemporary fitness routines in a bustling, high-volume studio.
Among its most significant and exciting innovations is a patented jumpboard, conveniently stored beneath the carriage, which can be deployed and locked into position in seconds. Other features, like easily adjustable straps, accommodate varying heights and ensure quick transitions between classes.
The carriage rides as smooth as silk. The RockIt Reformer’s features are not just technical achievements; they are the product of lived experience, born from the needs of athletes, instructors and anyone seeking to move better and feel stronger.
At the heart of my vision is the marriage of classical Pilates—characterized by control, precision and a holistic approach to movement—and the more modern fitness routines taught on spring-based machines, known as fitness Pilates. They are different methods with different purposes. The challenge was to create a machine and studio that honored both.
The Power of Passion
Throughout this process, I often questioned why I continued to push forward. The answer revealed itself again and again: vision and passion. The lessons I learned were priceless.
Crossing the “dangerous jungle,” as Ray Dalio calls it in his book Principles, has been terrifying, and at times the fear of “what if” threatened to paralyze me. But as author Glennon Doyle reminds us, “If you can’t beat fear, just do it scared.”
The result is not just a Pilates studio but a community, a movement and a machine that stands as a testament to what is possible when you refuse to settle for ordinary. RockIt Body is a family—one that embodies the best of classical Pilates, as founded by Joseph Pilates, powered by a reformer built from vision and determination.
My hope is that our story inspires others to chase their dreams, embrace their fears and boldly step into the unknown. Because in the end, the real transformation happens not just on the reformer but in the heart of every person willing to cross the jungle and pursue a life extraordinary.
