Reiner Grootenhuis

Reiner’s path into the world of movement began long before he ever stepped onto a Pilates mat. While studying psychology, he immersed himself in Tai Chi, Zen practice and Weng Chun, the martial art of the South Shaolin Monastery. Those early years shaped his understanding of the body, discipline and mindful practice. After completing his psychology degree, he even opened his own Weng Chun Kung Fu school, an expression of his passion and commitment to sharing what he loved. Life then pulled him in a different direction. He embarked on a successful corporate career and completed an MBA, yet he never let go of the sense of connection and embodiment he had found in martial arts.

As his family grew, marriage and two children, so did a quiet longing to return to a world where movement and inner awareness played a central role. When he discovered Pilates in the early 2000s, something clicked. The method spoke to the same deep principles that had inspired him years earlier. He trained intensively with Body Arts and Science International, and soon his curiosity and desire for exchange led him to build online spaces where dedicated teachers could meet, discuss and support one another. Both the pilates-contrology-forum and the large non-profit pilates-contrology-marketplace grew out of this impulse to connect and contribute.

Eventually, Reiner followed his heart completely and opened his pilates-powers studio in Tönisvorst, not far from Joseph Pilates’ birthplace. What began as a studio slowly became a true home for movement: he expanded the space, refined the equipment, broadened the class offerings, and built a comprehensive training program that reflected both tradition and innovation.

A key influence on his path has been his long-standing work with Kathy Corey. Under her guidance, Reiner explored the rich teaching traditions of the first-generation Pilates elders. Her trust in him, appointing him to the board of the Pilates Heritage Congress, later naming him Vice President, and eventually recognizing him as a Pilates Master Teacher, became milestones not just of achievement but of deep personal meaning.

His work also reached beyond the studio walls. Writing for “Pilates Intel” allowed him to share insights with an international audience, and his role on the certification committee of the German Pilates Association helped shape the standards of the profession. Through these commitments, he contributed to building a stronger and more connected Pilates community. Today, as a certified teacher trainer in the Kathy Corey Pilates method, Reiner continues to follow the same calling that has guided him from the beginning: to explore, to learn, and to share movement in a way that honors both its history and its future.

He has published the following book and manuals:

Wunda Chair (in German)

Arm Chair (in English & German)

Cadillac part 1 and 2 (in English, German, Korean),

Reformer part 1 and 2 (in English, German and Korean)

A biography of Carola Trier (in English & German)

Foot Corrector and Toe Corrector together with Kathy Corey (in English & German)

The Pilates Ped-O-Pul with Kathy Corey (in English & German)

A Spine Corrector Manual (in English &in German )