Daphne Peña-Higgs is a respected name in the world of Classical Pilates. For more than two decades, she has dedicated her life to preserving and teaching the original method created by Joseph Pilates. Her journey is not just about building a successful studio; it is about protecting a legacy, educating people, and helping clients live strong and pain-free lives. Based in London, Daphne has become one of the leading classical voices in the city, known for her knowledge, integrity, and deep passion for authentic Pilates.
Daphne was fortunate to train in what was then called Authentic Classical Pilates with Romana Krysanowska, the protégé of Joseph Pilates himself. Between 1997 and 1999, she worked closely with Romana and several other master “old school” teachers in Los Angeles and New York. This experience shaped her understanding of the method and gave her a strong foundation in the original system. She completed her certification in 2000, carrying with her not just exercises, but a philosophy and a responsibility to keep the work true to its roots.
“Invest in the best training you can find. When you stay close to the source, you protect both yourself and your clients.”
After her training, Daphne moved to Sydney, Australia, where she was put in charge of new apprentices. It was an important leadership role that allowed her to guide and mentor upcoming teachers. Soon after, her life changed quickly. With a new husband, a new pregnancy, and a move back to London, she faced both personal and professional transitions at the same time. At six months pregnant, she opened London’s first classical Pilates studio in Queen’s Park, NW6, late in the year 2000. It was a bold step, but one that reflected her determination and belief in the work.
Today, 26 years later, her studio continues to thrive. She is proud to say that many of her original clients still train with her. Through changes in the fitness industry and shifts in business trends, she has kept the classical method alive and strong. Her commitment has not gone unnoticed. Daphne was named among the Top 100 Female Entrepreneurs by Small Business Britain, and her studio has regularly been featured in Time Out’s list of top Pilates studios in London. These recognitions reflect both her business strength and her professional excellence.
Before Pilates became her life’s work, Daphne had a successful career as a dancer, singer, and actress. She performed on Broadway and in the West End for many years. However, the physical demands of dancing on raked stages, wearing heels, and performing eight shows a week took a serious toll on her body. While performing in the original company of the musical Sunset Boulevard, her injuries became severe. The company’s osteopath warned her that she had significant damage in her neck and lower back. He told her that without therapy or Pilates, she could face serious impairment by the age of 35.
That warning became a turning point. Daphne discovered Pilates at a time when she needed healing and strength. The method transformed her body and her life. It kept her strong and pain-free, even during pregnancy. Now almost 60 years old, she lives without medications and continues to feel strong and capable. She believes that Classical Pilates is the reason she is able to enjoy such good health today.
Her journey has included many important moments. Having trained as a dancer from a young age, she always explored different movement styles, including yoga, barre, and aerial work. However, nothing strengthened her body like classical Pilates. During her pregnancy, she experienced no back pain, used no drugs during childbirth, and recovered quickly. After a major car accident that caused whiplash, she was pain-free in just six weeks, thanks to the neck exercises she had learned through the classical system. She also believes that her consistent Pilates practice has helped her experience very few menopausal symptoms so far.
For Daphne, leading change in the wellness industry does not mean creating something new or trendy. Instead, it means educating people about the difference between authentic Classical Pilates and the modern versions that often appear in gyms and quick certification programs. When she first introduced classical work to London, many people were not even familiar with the word “Pilates.” She worked hard to share the brilliance of the original method. Today, Pilates has become a popular trend, and many fitness centres offer short weekend certifications. Daphne worries that this can lead to poorly trained instructors and unsafe practices.
She explains that Joseph Pilates designed his equipment with a furniture designer named Gratz, and this original apparatus remains the foundation of her studio. She compares it to the foundation of a house. If the foundation is changed, the structure above it cannot function as intended. In the same way, altering the equipment or mixing the method with unrelated exercises can reduce its effectiveness and even cause harm. Daphne sees her role as a guardian of the original system, ensuring that clients receive safe, high-quality instruction based on decades of tradition.
As a woman leader, Daphne’s main challenge was balancing motherhood with running a small business. When her daughter was born, she brought her to the studio during the first year. Her early clients were supportive, even if she needed to breastfeed between sessions. Later, with childcare support, her daughter continued to grow up around the studio. Daphne arranged her teaching schedule around school hours and holidays. In her younger years, she sometimes worked long days, teaching in the morning, handling family duties in the afternoon, and returning to work in the evening.
“If you change the foundation, the whole structure changes. The original work of Joseph Pilates is powerful for a reason.”
Over time, she learned the importance of setting boundaries. After being diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis about ten years ago, she realised she needed to rethink her work-life balance. She reduced her daily teaching hours and now teaches in the studio only four days a week. She limits private teaching to five hours a day and workshops to six hours. This shift helped her protect her own health while continuing to serve her clients effectively.
Daphne’s work has had a powerful impact on people’s lives. She says that everyone walks out of her studio taller, happier, and more centred. Many clients have avoided surgery because of their Pilates practice. Others have experienced remarkable recoveries after operations. She has worked with clients who have severe scoliosis and helped reduce the curvature of their spine by two to three degrees, which is a significant improvement. In her experience, there are very few physical issues that cannot be improved with dedicated classical Pilates training.
Looking ahead, Daphne hopes that people will become more discerning in their wellness choices. She encourages clients to ask teachers about their training and qualifications. A reputable Pilates teacher should complete at least 600 hours of comprehensive training through a respected centre. She believes that working with instructors who are close to the source of the method ensures safety and quality. Teachers are often described as first, second, third, or fourth generation, depending on how directly they are connected to Joseph Pilates. Daphne herself is a second-generation teacher, which places her close to the original lineage.
In her daily life, Daphne focuses on maintaining balance. She spreads out her paperwork days to avoid long hours at the computer. Since she is not a morning person, she does not force herself to exercise early. Instead, she prefers shorter workouts after teaching and longer sessions on her days off. She also enjoys walking in London’s many parks, appreciating the greenery that she sometimes misses when visiting Los Angeles or New York. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she feels deeply connected to the sea and swims whenever she can, regardless of the season.
One of her proudest moments was being recognised as one of the Top 100 Female Entrepreneurs by Small Business Britain. She was invited to the House of Lords for the event, where she met many inspiring women leaders. It was a meaningful acknowledgement of her years of dedication and hard work.
In terms of innovation and technology, Daphne believes that while modern tools can help with communication and administration, the heart of her work remains human connection and hands-on teaching. Pilates is a physical practice that requires observation, correction, and understanding of each individual body. Technology may support the business, but it does not replace the skill of a well-trained teacher.
She motivates her team by encouraging them to continue their own practice and education. Her teachers receive discounts on classes, workshops, and private sessions with her. She advises them to set clear working hours and group clients into blocks to avoid burnout. With nearly 30 years of teaching experience, Daphne offers guidance whenever her teachers face complex cases. This open support system creates a healthy and respectful work culture.
“Classical Pilates didn’t just heal my injuries – it gave me a strong, pain-free life.”
To women who want to build a career in health and wellness, Daphne offers simple but strong advice: invest in yourself. Choose the best comprehensive training you can afford. Visit different studios and find the method that truly speaks to you. If you are drawn to Pilates, work with teachers who are close to the source. She believes that learning from first- and second-generation teachers is a gift that can shape a lifelong career.
As she looks toward 2026, Daphne shares a heartfelt message. Classical Pilates has changed her life and the lives of many of her clients. It has given her strength, freedom from pain, and a deep sense of purpose. She encourages readers to try it for themselves, but to do so thoughtfully. Seek out qualified teachers with strong credentials and a true understanding of the original method. In a world full of trends, she stands firm in her belief that authenticity, dedication, and respect for tradition create lasting results.