- Insiders Profile -

Orianna Morrison

As Lisboners reset their routines and set fresh resolutions, Orianna Morrison arrives at exactly the right moment with the opening of Frequency Pilates, a design-led studio dedicated to modern reformer-based Pilates and strength training.

Rooted in precision, breath, and body intelligence, Orianna’s approach blends classical Pilates principles with contemporary reformer-based strength training within an elevated, thoughtfully designed environment. Her vision is clear: to create a space where strength, alignment, and fluidity coexist, and where movement becomes a way to reconnect with both body and mind.

◆ To begin, could you introduce yourself and tell us about your journey into movement and Pilates?

I started practicing modern Pilates about thirteen years ago while living between Miami and New York. I became deeply drawn to the advanced machines, not only because they’re physically challenging, but because they demand full presence. You’re completely focused, and through that focus, something shifts mentally, emotionally, even spiritually.

That curiosity turned into commitment. I got certified, studied anatomy in depth, and began refining what movement could feel like when strength, control, and awareness come together. Contemporary Pilates became both my grounding and my expansion.

◆ If you had to describe Frequency Pilates in just three words, what would they be?

Intentional, Immersive, and Transformative.

◆ You’ve just opened your own studio. What inspired the creation of Frequency Pilates, and why now?

Frequency has been in the making for nearly three years. I come from a contemporary art and design background, and I’ve always been interested in how spaces shape the way we feel and live. At the same time, movement has been central to how I build strength, resilience, and endurance in my own life.

I wanted to create a space that went beyond fitness, one that enhances lifestyle, builds community, and elevates how people feel when they leave. Frequency is experiential fitness rather than just a workout. The timing felt right to bring all of these worlds together.

◆ Your method is very distinctive. Can you explain what defines the Frequency Method?

The Frequency Method is a modern reformer-based training system that blends the precision of Pilates, the intensity of contemporary resistance training, and the mindfulness of functional movement.

It’s built on time under tension, muscular endurance, and energetic alignment. We move slowly and deliberately, creating deep control that activates both the physical and energetic systems of the body. The Frequency Reformer is extremely results-driven, it builds strength in a way that feels intelligent and sustainable.

Frequency Pilates

◆ Frequency places a strong emphasis on technique, alignment, and breath. Why are these foundations so important in your teaching?

Because they’re what make the work effective and safe. When alignment and technique are respected, strength develops with clarity rather than strain. Breath connects everything; it keeps you present and anchored. These foundations allow people to progress while staying deeply connected to their bodies.

◆ The name “Frequency” suggests energy and vibration. What does it represent for you on a physical and emotional level?

I’m very intentional in everything I do. When I thought about the purpose of opening this space, it was truly about raising people’s frequency: their energy, their presence, their sense of alignment. That intention extends beyond me to the team we work with. Frequency is community. It’s about how we show up, how we move, and how we support one another through intentional practice.

◆ What do you think people are truly looking for today when they walk into a movement practice?

A moment to reconnect with themselves and their bodies. Fifty minutes of pure presence. People are also looking for strength, not just physical, but internal. Walking into a space that feels immersive, thoughtful, and inspiring allows people to settle, refocus, and reconnect with themselves through movement.

◆ How do you help students build strength while staying connected to flow and awareness?

Through slow, controlled movement. Our approach is rooted in the power of time under tension, where focus and precision create deeper engagement. The experience is immersive: the design of the space, the music, the pacing of the class, everything works together to keep students present while building real strength.

Frequency Pilates

◆ Could you walk us through your ideal day in Lisbon, from a mindful morning to an evening ritual?

Nature is essential for me, and having access to it here is something I’m deeply grateful for. My ideal morning starts with meditation, setting intentions for the day, and practising gratitude, followed by my ceremonial matcha.

At the studio, I greet the team and set the space with palo santo before classes begin. The day is filled with everything that happens behind the scenes: refining, building, and enhancing the Frequency experience. In the evening, a sunset walk at Costa da Caparica to release, then coming home to cook a homemade meal.

◆ What’s your favorite place to hang out in Lisbon when you’re not at the studio?

There are so many places that inspire me. Driving to the beach, Ericeira is a favorite, especially for lunch at Costa Fria. I love a good art exhibition, and the Friends of a Farmer market is always a source of inspiration with such beautiful produce and energy.

Costa Fria