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Beyond the Reformer

Nic Lenny

Welcome to Beyond the Reformer, the podcast where Pilates professionals and enthusiasts come together for thoughtful conversations, genuine insights, and inspiring stories. Join Nic every Monday morning to feel more connected, inspired, and empowered in your Pilates practice, teaching, and beyond…

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Monday · 1 hr 4 min
Why Some Pilates Teachers Always Have Full Classes with Phil M Jones
"You're in the service business, you're not in the teaching business." In this episode, we are joined by Phil M Jones, bestselling author of the Exactly What to Say book series (over 1 million copies sold) and one of the world's most in-demand communication and sales experts, having delivered over 3,500 presentations across 50+ countries. They explore why personality can't be taught but connection can, and what that means for Pilates teachers who think they're "not chatty people." Phil breaks down why the question "how are you" is a connection killer, and gives a simple alternative that opens up real conversation with clients instead. They unpack why the first and last five minutes of class matter more than the workout itself, why some of the most technically excellent private session teachers still lose clients, and how to build a pre-brief and debrief into every one-on-one so people actually come back. They also go deep on the business side of Pilates studios, from why membership models built on spreadsheets fail, to how studio owners can build retention and referrals by making long-term clients feel like they belong. Timestamps 00:00 Intro to Phil M Jones 03:47 Can personality be taught? What actually makes a great teacher 06:52 Why you're in the "helping business," not the teaching business 11:08 Ban the question "how are you" 19:03 You are the brand: why the first 15 minutes before class matter 24:33 Why 6 technically great private sessions still lost a client 40:37 The three keys to reconnect with clients on the way out 48:35 Building memberships around real people, not spreadsheets If you're enjoying the podcast, make sure you're following along so you don't miss future episodes. And feel free to share this one with someone you think would take something from it. Connect with Nic: Beyond the Reformer Instagram Soul Pilates Instagram Soul Pilates Education Nic's Instagram Join Soul at Home Book a Pilates Class Sign up to Our Newsletter Connect with Phil M Jones: Phil's Instagram Phil's Website Exactly What to Say Sign up below to hear more about our Pilates Teacher Training Courses and to get priority access when our next course opens here.
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September 7 · 14 min
The Conversations That Mattered This Year
"We have so much more in common than we have in differences, despite what Instagram might make you think." - Nic This week's episode is a little different. Instead of one guest, Nic is looking back at 11 conversations from the podcast's first year - not ranked as a "best of," but chosen as the moments that made her stop, think, and question. Across the past year, Beyond the Reformer has brought together voices from every corner of the Pilates world - different schools, different methods, different opinions on what Pilates should even be. In this episode, Nic weaves together the conversations that stuck with her most, and finds a common thread running underneath all the differences: everyone featured is ultimately driven by the same thing - helping people feel stronger, move with more confidence, and understand their bodies a little better. It's part reflection on the show's first year, part reminder that the Pilates community has more in common than social media sometimes suggests. If you've enjoyed the podcast, the smallest things really do help us grow - subscribe on YouTube, follow on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and come find us on Instagram. Every like, comment, and share helps more people discover these conversations. Connect with Nic: Beyond the Reformer Instagram Soul Pilates Instagram Soul Pilates Education Nic's Instagram Join Soul at Home Book a Pilates Class Sign up to Our Newsletter Guests Featured In This Episode Ava Rodriguez, Tracy Ward, Shelly Power, Kath P, Alan Herdman, Yvette McGaffin, Lesley Logan, Juan Nieto, Brent Anderson, Tracy M. and Rael. Guest Episodes: Ava Rodriguez Episode 1 Ava Rodriguez Episode 2 Tracy Ward Shelly Power Kath Pentecost Alan Herdman Yvette McGaffin Lesley Logan Juan Nieto Brent Anderson Part 1 Brent Anderson Part 2 Tracy Mallett Rael Isacowitz Part 1 Rael Isacowitz Part 2 Interested in joining the September Teacher Training intake? Find all the details and book a call here.
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August 31 · 1 hr 6 min
Why Your Pilates Qualification Is Just the Beginning
"Just because you've got your 600 hour certificate doesn't mean you know it all. This is your beginning. This is just truly your beginning." In this episode, Nic is joined by Anita Horry, a second-generation Pilates master teacher, founder of the Anita Horry Academy, and internationally respected educator and business mentor based in Spain. With over 20 years in the industry, Anita has trained and mentored teachers across the globe and is actively involved in raising Pilates education standards through her work with the PMA and ITAP. Together they explore what it really takes to become an exceptional Pilates teacher, and why finishing a qualification is just the start of the journey. They get into the gap between what teacher training programs deliver and what the real world of teaching actually demands, from learning to read bodies effectively to the crucial role of mentorship and supervised teaching hours. They also take an honest look at the state of the industry right now, including the explosion of reformer studios, underqualified teachers being pushed onto studio floors too soon, and investors entering the space without understanding the method. And for anyone running or thinking of opening a studio, Anita brings her accountancy background to the table with a grounded conversation on fixed costs, cash flow, VAT thresholds, and why being a great teacher does not automatically make you a great business owner. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Anita Horry 01:33 What makes an exceptional Pilates teacher 02:37 Why your qualification is just the beginning 03:15 The state of teacher training right now 04:45 Early gratification and the push to earn too soon 06:14 How Pilates changed Anita's life 13:39 Anita's training journey and lineage 21:27 Classical versus contemporary and what we should actually call Pilates 28:59 Investors, oversaturation, and studios without substance 34:53 The real numbers behind running a viable studio 45:17 Educational standards, PMA, and ITAP accreditation 55:30 Log book hours, supervised teaching, and why they matter 58:16 Quick-fire questions If you're enjoying the podcast, make sure you're following along so you don't miss future episodes. And feel free to share this one with someone you think would take something from it. Connect with Nic: Beyond the Reformer Instagram Soul Pilates Instagram Soul Pilates Education Nic's Instagram Join Soul at Home Book a Pilates Class Sign up to Our Newsletter Connect with Anita: Anita Horry Academy Website Anita Horry Academy Youtube Anita Horry Academy Instagram Anita Horry Academy Facebook Sign up below to hear more about our Pilates Teacher Training Courses and to get priority access when our next course opens - https://mailchi.mp/ba9c00dd1d0b/56swq8a1k9 Sign up below to hear more about our Pilates Teacher Training Courses and to get priority access when our next course opens here.
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August 24 · 57 min
Building a Reformer Pilates Studio on Your Own Terms with Kia
"Pilates isn't about that for me, you know? It's about really going deep, connecting these people." In this episode, we are joined by Kia, a classically trained Pilates teacher based in Los Angeles who built her entire studio out of a backyard gazebo during COVID, and has kept it that way ever since. Three reformers, a Cadillac, a tower, a wonder chair, and a waitlist - entirely by choice. They explore what it actually looks like to build a Pilates career rooted in passion rather than pressure, from how a single mat class on a hotel trip changed the direction of Kia's life, to why she completed a 650-hour classical training program and still goes back to those books today. They talk honestly about what new teachers struggle with most, why doing your own Pilates practice every single day is non-negotiable, and how to find your own voice in a method that has no single rulebook. They also get into the harder stuff - the moment at the Pilates Expo where Kia sat alone and questioned whether everything she had built was enough, the industry's money-driven boom and what it is doing to teaching standards, and why she started the Pilates Roundtable to fix the teacher loneliness nobody talks about. Plus Kia shares how she blends sound healing into her sessions, her post-client reset ritual, and why she thinks Joseph Pilates would have changed his own method a hundred times over by now. Timestamps 00:31 How COVID accidentally created the studio 02:23 Why Pilates felt different from anything else 07:47 A 650-hour classical training program 09:57 Why teachers must keep doing their own Pilates 13:03 Safety, social media, and different training backgrounds 14:50 What new teachers struggle with most 17:32 Learning more from clients than from any course 26:23 The 74% studio boom and what it means 29:27 When investors and money drive the industry 35:59 Blending sound healing into Pilates sessions 40:01 Advice for teachers chasing trends 43:40 How to find your own voice as a teacher 45:25 Would Joseph Pilates have evolved the method? 50:46 Why continuous learning makes better teachers If you're enjoying the podcast, make sure you're following along so you don't miss future episodes. And feel free to share this one with someone you think would take something from it. Connect with Nic: Beyond the Reformer Instagram Soul Pilates Instagram Soul Pilates Education Nic's Instagram Join Soul at Home Book a Pilates Class Sign up to Our Newsletter Connect with Kia: Kia’s Instagram Kia’s Website Sign up below to hear more about our Pilates Teacher Training Courses and to get priority access when our next course opens - https://mailchi.mp/ba9c00dd1d0b/56swq8a1k9 Sign up below to hear more about our Pilates Teacher Training Courses and to get priority access when our next course opens here.
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August 17 · 1 hr 6 min
Has Pilates Lost it's Identity with Ava Rodriguez
"Pilates won't lose its identity just because you learn different methods. It loses identity when you haphazardly memorize a set of exercises and think you can just teach this." In this episode, Nic is joined by Ava Rodriguez, a movement specialist, international presenter, and founder of the globally accredited Mobility Fitness Academy (MFA), recorded in person while both were in London ahead of speaking at a Reformer Pilates industry conference. Ava has spent her career training movement professionals across the world and is no stranger to BTR, making her second appearance on the show. They explore whether Pilates is losing its identity amid the current industry boom, why social media and AI are making studios sound the same, and the line between healthy diversification and diluted teaching that's lost its essence. They unpack the real gap between certification and competency, why most teacher training only gets you to the starting line, and how true continuing education means going deeper, not collecting more credentials. They also get into studio business clarity, why trying to serve everyone means standing out to no one, and finish on what actually matters in this work: helping people move, live, and function better, not just look good doing it. Timestamps 00:00 Has Pilates lost its identity? 02:38 The blending boom: more methods, less focus 03:35 Why AI is making every studio sound the same 10:45 Instructor vs. teacher: what training doesn't give you 13:18 The lifelong question that makes you a better teacher 17:32 Diluted messaging and losing your specialism 18:49 Why you can't be a studio for everyone 24:16 Change is coming. Are you on the right train? 24:36 Fighting with ChatGPT on purpose 34:48 What Pilates actually gives people 39:38 What it really means to lose your identity 44:03 What training is actually for 48:13 The client told it was impossible 58:09 Outcome over education 1:01:50 Where the industry is heading next If you're enjoying the podcast, make sure you're following along so you don't miss future episodes. And feel free to share this one with someone you think would take something from it. Connect with Nic: Beyond the Reformer Instagram Soul Pilates Instagram Soul Pilates Education Nic's Instagram Join Soul at Home Book a Pilates Class Sign up to Our Newsletter Connect with Ava: Ava's Instagram Move Beyond with Ava Website Sign up below to hear more about our Pilates Teacher Training Courses and to get priority access when our next course opens - https://mailchi.mp/ba9c00dd1d0b/56swq8a1k9
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August 10 · 1 hr 2 min
Why Great Pilates Isn’t Enough Anymore | Georgia Testa
"Until you do that, you're not a brand, you're just a transactional product within their life." In this episode, we are joined by Georgia Testa, founder of Studio 281, a fast-growing Reformer Pilates and functional fitness brand with five locations across Bedford, Milton Keynes, Ampthill, and Olney. They explore what it really takes to build a genuine community in a Pilates studio, from why customer loyalty can never be built on a transactional relationship, to the mindset shift needed to stand out in an increasingly saturated market. They unpack the current state of the Pilates industry, including how modalities like Reformer, strength training, and wellness concepts can work alongside each other rather than compete, and why brand now matters more than the product itself. They also go deeper into the realities of running and scaling a multi-location studio business, from leadership and hiring the right instructors, to the honest, unfiltered challenges of balancing motherhood, burnout, and growth. Timestamps 00:00 Meeting Georgia and the origins of Studio 281 00:47 Why community has become central to the studio 04:12 Georgia's journey from dance to personal training to Pilates 10:34 Why every modality should own its own lane 13:52 Competitors vs. inspiration in a saturated market 20:07 The consultant framework: building real community from scratch 33:50 Scaling across multiple locations 45:08 Brand over product in a crowded Pilates market 47:36 Motherhood, burnout, and finding your own balance 59:03 Where to find Georgia and Studio 281 If you're enjoying the podcast, make sure you're following along so you don't miss future episodes. And feel free to share this one with someone you think would take something from it. Connect with Nic: Beyond the Reformer Instagram Soul Pilates Instagram Soul Pilates Education Nic's Instagram Join Soul at Home Book a Pilates Class Sign up to Our Newsletter Connect with Georgia: Georgia's Instagram Studio 281 Instagram Studio 281 Website 281 Training Academy Sign up below to hear more about our Pilates Teacher Training Courses and to get priority access when our next course opens - https://mailchi.mp/ba9c00dd1d0b/56swq8a1k9
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August 3 · 1 hr 5 min
How to Build a Pilates Business That Actually Supports Your Life with Caroline Copp
"They create a business that worked for them ten years ago and they forget to move their business to work for them for the future." In this episode, Nic is joined by Caroline Copp, a Pilates teacher turned business coach for wellness entrepreneurs. Having opened and sold two studios, Caroline now helps wellness professionals build scalable businesses through her Scaling Wellness Accelerator and weekly Scaling Wellness Podcast. Together they explore one of the most common traps in the Pilates industry: accidentally building a demanding job instead of a business that supports your life. They get into why so many teachers hit a revenue ceiling, the real state of studio saturation across the UK, and why in 2026 nobody is paying for content anymore - they're paying for transformation. Caroline also shares what she would do differently opening a studio today, why your equity is the one thing you can never get back, and her framework for building and scaling a digital product the right way - test before you build, know your Island A and Island B, and stop competing with free content by adding more content. Timestamps 00:59 Have Pilates teachers accidentally built a job, not a business? 02:55 How Caroline came into Pilates and why it changed everything 05:41 Why the Pilates industry is losing its lane 11:52 Opening and selling two studios - what she learned 17:44 Should you go into a business partnership? 20:16 The first online product that failed and why 27:18 Nobody wants your content anymore — they want transformation 36:02 Teaching other teachers: the untapped opportunity 37:11 How to test and scale a digital product without wasting six months 42:11 Pricing for transformation, not just what feels right 48:54 Why most studios are unprofitable and what to do about it 52:18 Studio saturation: 6 studios to 25 in one city 53:56 What Caroline would do if she opened a studio today 56:36 Best business advice: most people don't get what they want 58:21 Biggest mistake Pilates business owners make 01:00:12 What success looks like now If you're enjoying the podcast, make sure you're following along so you don't miss future episodes. And feel free to share this one with someone you think would take something from it. Connect with Nic: Beyond the Reformer Instagram Soul Pilates Instagram Soul Pilates Education Nic's Instagram Join Soul at Home Book a Pilates Class Sign up to Our Newsletter Connect with Caroline: Caroline’s Instagram Caroline’s Website Caroline’s Scaling Wellness Podcast Interested in joining the September Teacher Training intake? Find all the details and book a call here.
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July 27 · 1 hr 23 min
The Truth About Pilates Cueing Nobody Talks About with Shelly Power
"We're not gonna cue muscles to cue a movement." In this episode, Nic is joined by Shelly Power, Director of Curriculum for Polestar Pilates and one of the most respected educators in the industry. Shelly has been teaching Pilates since 1992, has led teacher trainings since 2000, and has examined and mentored Pilates teachers all over the world, including Nic herself. They explore why great teaching has no finish line, and why the best Pilates instructors stay curious long after they're certified. Shelly breaks down why cueing individual muscles ("tighten your core," "shoulders down") often works against the body instead of for it, and shares the story of a professional ballet soloist whose chronic knee pain disappeared the moment her cueing changed. They also get into the current state of the Pilates industry: the "trickle down" effect that turns founders' teaching into rigid dogma a few generations later, the pressure of the online "Pilates police," and why rushing to defend a method matters far less than actually helping the person in front of you. Timestamps 00:00 Intro to Shelly Power 04:17 The "trickle down theory" of Pilates dogma 13:31 Teaching without shame: the "climb a tree" story 17:05 Nic's exam story and what it means to be an empowering teacher 29:57 Belief over anatomy: the ballet soloist's knee pain 48:55 Why we need to stop cueing muscles to cue a movement 1:17:56 Curiosity, beginner's mind, and Shelly's closing advice If you're enjoying the podcast, make sure you're following along so you don't miss future episodes. And feel free to share this one with someone you think would take something from it. Connect with Nic: Beyond the Reformer Instagram Soul Pilates Instagram Soul Pilates Education Nic's Instagram Join Soul at Home Book a Pilates Class Sign up to Our Newsletter Connect with Shelly: Shelly’s Instagram Shelly’s LinkTree Polestar Pilates Website Interested in joining the September Teacher Training intake? Find all the details and book a call here.
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July 20 · 44 min
Harder Isn’t Always Better: The Smarter Way to Build Strength
"I've been lied to my whole life. This just feels relaxing, and yet my body is starting to change." In this episode, Nic flies solo to unpack a question she gets asked constantly on her teacher trainings: why isn't harder always better? She explores what conditioned so many of us, especially in the fitness world, to believe that pushing more, harder, and faster is always the goal, and shares her own burnout story from the corporate world that led her to Pilates in the first place. Nic unpacks the difference between a Pilates instructor and a Pilates teacher, why the classical repertoire is built on mastering the fundamentals with ease before adding intensity, and why some of the most common cueing in Pilates today (think "engage your core," "zip up and hollow") doesn't actually hold up to what we now know about the body. She also reflects on lessons picked up across a year of guests on the podcast, and makes the case for why efficiency, not effort, is the real skill Pilates teaches - both on the mat and in life. Timestamps 00:06 Intro: why harder isn't always better 08:44 Nic's own burnout story and how Pilates changed her life 12:45 Getting "practiced" at being busy, and the cost of always pushing 17:32 Pilates instructor vs. Pilates teacher 27:04 Adrenaline, burnout, and "I came for my bad back and stayed for my mental health" 33:31 Why we shouldn't be cueing "engage your core" (and the "zip up and hollow" story) 40:24 Why the end of class matters as much as the start, and closing thoughts If you're enjoying the podcast, make sure you're following along so you don't miss future episodes. And feel free to share this one with someone you think would take something from it. Connect with Nic: Beyond the Reformer Instagram Soul Pilates Instagram Soul Pilates Education Nic's Instagram Join Soul at Home Book a Pilates Class Sign up to Our Newsletter Interested in joining the September Teacher Training intake? Find all the details and book a call here. Sign up below to hear more about our Pilates Teacher Training Courses and to get priority access when our next course opens here.
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July 13 · 1 hr 4 min
How to Cue Pilates Like a Pro with Alan Herdman
"The technique is less important than the person." In this episode, we are joined by Alan Herdman - the man widely credited with bringing Pilates to the UK, opening the country's first Pilates studio back in the early 1970s. After training in New York under Bob Fitzgerald, Alan returned to London and has spent the last 55 years shaping how Pilates is taught, practiced, and passed on. They explore what real teacher training looked like in the early days of Pilates, from months of apprenticeship to learning tactile cueing on real bodies, and why Alan believes the explosion in demand for teachers has made standards "a little suspect." They unpack the difference between being an instructor and being a teacher, the gaps emerging in fast-tracked training courses, and why Alan still believes you cannot learn to teach Pilates without a body in front of you. They also go deeper into the evolution of the industry, the rise of group reformer classes, the misunderstood role of flexion in modern training, and the client stories that have kept Alan teaching for over five decades. Timestamps 00:00 Alan opens the UK's first Pilates studio 03:11 How "Pilates" got its name 09:57 Training as an apprentice in New York 13:35 Bodies first, technique second 24:14 Why Alan built a network outside Pilates 25:27 Is teacher training broken? 27:53 The truth about tactile cueing 36:11 How far is too far for Pilates on social media 40:13 What Joseph Pilates would think of Pilates today 45:16 The flexion problem in modern training 48:16 What it really takes to teach a group class 57:10 Why group reformer classes aren't really teaching 58:56 The client who's been coming for 50 years If you're enjoying the podcast, make sure you're following along so you don't miss future episodes. And feel free to share this one with someone you think would take something from it. Connect with Nic: Beyond the Reformer Instagram Soul Pilates Instagram Soul Pilates Education Nic's Instagram Join Soul at Home Book a Pilates Class Sign up to Our Newsletter Connect with Alan: Alan Herdman Pilates Website Alan Herdman Pilates Instagram Alan Herdman Pilates LinkedIn Sign up below to hear more about our Pilates Teacher Training Courses and to get priority access when our next course opens here.
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July 6 · 47 min
What the Future of Reformer Pilates Actually Looks Like with Yvette McGaffin
In this episode, Nic is joined by Yvette McGaffin, co-founder of ReformRx and the driving force behind what is set to become the world's first digitally connected Reformer Pilates machine for the home. Yvette's story is one of the more remarkable in the Pilates industry right now. A professional dancer turned studio owner, she built and ran her own Reformer Pilates studios in Belfast and Edinburgh before identifying a gap that had been sitting in plain sight for decades: the reformer itself had barely changed in 50 years. What followed was years of prototyping, welding in sheds, searching Herefordshire countryside for the right designer, and eventually building a piece of equipment that's now in luxury hotels, health clubs, and studios across Europe. They explore what it actually takes to build something from scratch in the Pilates industry - the resilience, the false starts, and the moments that unlocked everything. They get into the real barriers to Reformer Pilates accessibility, from cost and intimidation to the question of who the industry thinks it's for. And they discuss where connected fitness meets Pilates, and why Yvette believes technology should make the friction fall away and leave you with just the movement. They also go deeper into what the next five to ten years could look like for the industry - and why Yvette believes Reformer Pilates is about to stop being something people add in, and start being the foundation everything else is built on. Timestamps 00:27 Why the reformer hadn't changed in 50 years 04:29 Yvette's journey into Pilates and professional dance 06:56 Building the Reform Method and opening studios 10:24 Who Reformer Pilates is really for 16:45 The decision to build ReformRx 19:04 Designing the reformer from scratch 23:23 What the smart spine changed 26:43 Should teachers be worried about at-home reformers? 27:49 Why mat Pilates is harder than people think 29:55 How studios are using connected reformers 32:13 ReformRx in hotels and hospitality 40:08 What building ReformRx taught Yvette 44:40 Where to find Yvette and the Ultra One Reformer If you're enjoying the podcast, make sure you're following along so you don't miss future episodes. And feel free to share this one with someone you think would take something from it. Connect with Nic: Beyond the Reformer Instagram Soul Pilates Instagram Soul Pilates Education Nic's Instagram Join Soul at Home Book a Pilates Class Sign up to Our Newsletter Connect with Yvette Yvette’s Instagram Yvette’s LinkedIn NordicTrack Website ReformRX Website Interested in joining the July Teacher Training intake? Find all the details and book a call here. Sign up below to hear more about our Pilates Teacher Training Courses and to get priority access when our next course opens here.
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June 29 · 1 hr 5 min
How to Build a Profitable Pilates Studio Business with Joanne Mathews
"I think we're at that time where we can actually professionalize this industry, and we can have the standards that we want to set, and we can offer people careers." In this episode, we are joined by Joanne Mathews, founder and CEO of Ten Health & Fitness, one of London's longest-running Dynamic Reformer Pilates brands, now growing into franchising with Tenreformer. They explore why London's reformer studios have grown 72% in 18 months against just 50% growth in demand, and what that saturation means for studios competing on price instead of differentiation. They also dig into what it takes to build a Pilates business with longevity: going employed-only with teachers, building an in-house academy, choosing the right locations, the realities of rising costs and shrinking profitability, and Joanne's leadership philosophy after nearly two decades running studios. Timestamps 01:24 The car crash that led to her "happy accident" into Pilates 03:31 Launching Ten with one borrowed reformer studio 06:08 Finding a business partner and going employed-only from day one 09:06 The case for professionalising the Pilates industry 15:01 Training standards, VAT, and not being a recognised profession 24:21 Scaling from one studio to a London-wide brand 28:30 Choosing locations and franchising with Tenreformer 34:24 Rising costs, big-box gyms, and the race to the bottom on price 41:12 Is owning a Pilates studio still profitable? 44:10 What community really means at Ten 52:17 Building TenAcademy and what makes a great teacher today 1:00:49 Joanne's leadership philosophy: true support If you're enjoying the podcast, make sure you're following along so you don't miss future episodes. And feel free to share this one with someone you think would take something from it. Connect with Nic: Beyond the Reformer Instagram Soul Pilates Instagram Soul Pilates Education Nic's Instagram Join Soul at Home Book a Pilates Class Sign up to Our Newsletter Connect with Guest: Joanne Mathews Instagram Ten Health & Fitness Instagram Ten Health & Fitness Website Interested in joining the July Teacher Training intake? Find all the details and book a call here. Sign up below to hear more about our Pilates Teacher Training Courses and to get priority access when our next course opens here.
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June 22 · 54 min
How Much Anatomy Do Pilates Teachers Actually Need to Know With Tracy Ward
"I really worry that we will lose the essence of what Pilates actually is. How much are we going to dilute it?" In this episode, Nic is joined by Tracy Ward - physiotherapist, Pilates teacher, and author of The Science of Pilates, published by DK. Tracy sits at the unique intersection of clinical practice and Pilates, bringing over 15 years of experience teaching, treating patients, and training new teachers through APPI. They explore what it really takes to understand anatomy as a Pilates teacher - not to the depth of a medical degree, but in a way that genuinely improves your cueing, your touch, and your ability to help clients feel the work in the right places. Tracy shares why she wrote The Science of Pilates and the gap she kept seeing in teacher training that inspired it. They get honest about the state of the industry right now - the social media-driven push toward dynamic, athletic content and what that means for the integrity of the practice. Both Nic and Tracy share their concern that the essence of Pilates is being diluted, and why returning to the foundations matters more than ever. They also dig into the reality of being a new teacher - the confidence challenges, finding your own voice, managing mixed-ability classes, and why the basics taught really well will always outperform a fancy class plan that doesn't land. Timestamps 01:56 Why anatomy overwhelms Pilates teachers 03:21 Tracy's journey into Pilates and physiotherapy 09:52 How The Science of Pilates came about 12:03 How the book was created and illustrated 17:15 How to bring anatomy to life beyond the textbook 19:59 Finding your voice as a new teacher 27:10 Managing mixed ability classes 29:54 Language, modifications and empowering clients 37:11 Social media and what it's doing to Pilates 42:08 Common misconceptions about the body 43:49 The myth of perfect posture 44:37 Should we be blending Pilates with other modalities? 47:38 Pain, movement and what clients misunderstand If you're enjoying the podcast, make sure you're following along so you don't miss future episodes. And feel free to share this one with someone you think would take something from it. Connect with Nic: Beyond the Reformer Instagram Soul Pilates Instagram Soul Pilates Education Nic's Instagram Join Soul at Home Book a Pilates Class Sign up to Our Newsletter Connect with Tracy Tracy’s Instagram Freshly Centered Website Freshly Centred Facebook Science of Pilates Book Pilates Kids Cards Join the Soul Pilates Retreat in Cornwall on 19 June for a weekend of movement, rest and nourishment. Find all the details here. Thinking about investing in Pilates equipment? Balanced Body are offering our listeners a special discount! Fill in the form here and mention Soul Pilates when you order. Interested in joining the July Teacher Training intake? Find all the details and book a call here. Sign up below to hear more about our Pilates Teacher Training Courses and to get priority access when our next course opens here.
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June 15 · 54 min
The Wild West of Pilates: Why Teaching Standards Are Letting Everyone Down with Katie Nankivell
"There is a lot of money-hungry people chasing trends with a lack of moral compass and ethics behind them." The Pilates industry is growing fast - but not always in the right direction. In this episode, Nic is joined by Katie, founder of Pilates Delivered, an Amsterdam-based at-home and private Pilates service. Katie trained comprehensively with Polestar Pilates and has been teaching for over a decade across private clients, studios, and her own business. They get straight into the hard conversation: what's actually happening with teaching standards right now, why weekend certifications are producing a generation of teachers who only know the choreography, and why loving Pilates does not make someone qualified to teach it. They also explore what separates good teachers from great ones - from personality and people skills to the ability to read a body, adapt on the spot, and never stop learning. Katie shares how expanding into sound healing, Reiki, fascia, and nervous system work has made her a more intuitive, holistic teacher - and why Pilates has always been about the whole person. And on the business side, Katie talks candidly about building a sustainable private practice from scratch in a new city, setting boundaries with clients, pricing at a premium, and designing a career entirely on her own terms. Timestamps 00:00 Intro to Katie 00:21 What's really happening in the Pilates industry right now 01:47 Weekend certifications and the choreography problem 06:17 Katie's journey into Pilates and why she chose Polestar 10:13 Building Pilates Delivered: at-home Pilates in Amsterdam 13:47 What clients actually want — and what keeps them coming back 18:55 Expanding beyond Pilates: sound healing, Reiki, and fascia work 23:17 How holistic training makes you a more intuitive teacher 26:57 Pilates and wellness as complementary — not competing 32:35 What actually makes a great Pilates teacher 37:09 Just because you love Pilates doesn't mean you should teach it 39:29 Authenticity, personality, and being exactly who you are 44:04 Building a sustainable career outside the studio model 49:02 Quick-fire questions 50:26 Where to find Katie If you're enjoying the podcast, make sure you're following along so you don't miss future episodes. And feel free to share this one with someone you think would take something from it. Connect with Nic: Beyond the Reformer Instagram Soul Pilates Instagram Soul Pilates Education Nic's Instagram Join Soul at Home Book a Pilates Class Sign up to Our Newsletter Connect with Katie Pilates Delivered Instagram Pilates Delivered Website Katie’s Substack Join the Soul Pilates Retreat in Cornwall on 19 June for a weekend of movement, rest and nourishment. Find all the details here. Thinking about investing in Pilates equipment? Balanced Body are offering our listeners a special discount! Fill in the form here and mention Soul Pilates when you order. Interested in joining the July Teacher Training intake? Find all the details and book a call here. Sign up below to hear more about our Pilates Teacher Training Courses and to get priority access when our next course opens here.
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June 8 · 58 min
From Basement Studio to 9 Locations: How New York Pilates Defined Its Method
"Real change in your body happens from grounded, consistent work. Doing the split and a handstand is entertaining, but that's not what Pilates is about." In this episode, Nic is joined by Heather Andersen, founder of New York Pilates - one of the most recognisable reformer studio brands in the world, with nine locations across New York City and counting. Heather built New York Pilates from a basement space in Greenwich Village in 2013, at a time when group reformer classes simply didn't exist. She shares what it actually took to scale to nine studios - from building onboarding systems and maintaining consistency across locations, to the pricing mistakes and people management lessons learned the hard way. They also get into the state of the industry: why clients are confused about what Pilates even is, what separates genuine contemporary Pilates from the "Pilates adjacent" world, and why the most transformational work looks like nothing on camera. Timestamps 00:23 How New York Pilates started 01:37 Heather's background in ballet and early Pilates training 07:14 Making the leap from teacher to studio owner 13:14 Building the brand from day one 14:38 Early mistakes and people management 16:03 What a New York Pilates class feels like 18:44 Classical vs. contemporary vs. Pilates adjacent 25:20 Scaling from one studio to nine 29:16 Building systems for consistency 31:34 Teacher onboarding and quality management 37:51 Pricing, ClassPass, and why loyalty beats volume 44:34 Social media and the decision to talk about real Pilates 55:22 Where to find Heather If you're enjoying the podcast, make sure you're following along so you don't miss future episodes. And feel free to share this one with someone you think would take something from it. Connect with Nic: Beyond the Reformer Instagram Soul Pilates Instagram Soul Pilates Education Nic's Instagram Join Soul at Home Book a Pilates Class Sign up to Our Newsletter Connect with Heather Heather’s Instagram New York Pilates Instagram New York Pilates Website New York Pilates Intro Offer New York Pilates Reformer Certification Join the Soul Pilates Retreat in Cornwall on 19 June for a weekend of movement, rest and nourishment. Find all the details here. Thinking about investing in Pilates equipment? Balanced Body are offering our listeners a special discount! Fill in the form here and mention Soul Pilates when you order. Interested in joining the July Teacher Training intake? Find all the details and book a call here. Sign up below to hear more about our Pilates Teacher Training Courses and to get priority access when our next course opens here.
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June 1 · 1 hr 8 min
The Missing Piece in Pilates Teacher Training with Amy Havens
"I think self-acceptance and self-compassion... it's gonna keep changing and if you hear the loud stuff saying, I can't do that anymore - no." - Amy Havens In this episode, Nic is joined by Amy Havens, a veteran Pilates educator, mentor, and movement teacher based in Santa Barbara with over 30 years of experience in the industry. Amy has trained across multiple lineages - including Fletcher, BASI, Kathy Grant, and Madeleine Black - and is widely respected as one of the most thoughtful voices in Pilates education today. They explore what it really takes to become a truly great Pilates teacher - from the qualities that no training manual can teach, like patience and compassion, to the art of learning to see and respond to the bodies in front of you. Amy shares her rich origin story, from discovering Pilates as a dance student in 1989 to becoming injured, finding healing through the work, and eventually committing to teaching as a lifelong calling. They also dig into the current state of the Pilates industry - the growing divide between fitness Pilates and the more healing-oriented tradition, the case for prerequisites before teacher training, and why mastering the fundamentals will always matter more than creative programming. Amy makes a compelling case for mentorship as the missing piece for so many new teachers, and shares what that relationship can look like when it's done well. Timestamps 00:00 Intro to Amy Havens 00:14 What makes a truly great Pilates teacher 02:08 Learning to see and respond to different bodies 04:49 Amy's origin story - discovering Pilates in college 08:10 Observing from the front desk and falling in love with the work 10:42 Getting cold feet before teacher training - and why that was the right call 13:23 Amy's formal training with Madeleine Black at the Physical Mind Institute 15:27 Learning to teach, not just to do 17:34 How injury became the turning point toward teaching 21:38 Why the best teachers are often those whose lives were changed by Pilates 22:40 The case for prerequisites in Pilates teacher training 28:13 What great mentorship actually looks like 31:46 Amy as a forever student - training across multiple lineages 37:06 How studying different styles shaped Amy's teaching 43:29 The state of the Pilates industry - two forks in the road 45:14 Fitness Pilates vs. healing Pilates - is it all Pilates? 47:52 Why studio owners need to do better at describing what they offer 53:00 Don't teach too much too soon - a lesson from Madeleine Black 55:25 Why mastering fundamentals matters more than creative programming 56:44 Quick-fire questions 01:03:28 Where to find Amy If you're enjoying the podcast, make sure you're following along so you don't miss future episodes. And feel free to share this one with someone you think would take something from it. Connect with Nic: Beyond the Reformer Instagram Soul Pilates Instagram Soul Pilates Education Nic's Instagram Join Soul at Home Book a Pilates Class Sign up to Our Newsletter Connect with Amy: Move with Amy Website Amy’s Instagram Amy’s Facebook Amy’s Email Pilates Anytime Website Join the Soul Pilates Retreat in Cornwall on 19 June for a weekend of movement, rest and nourishment. Find all the details here. Thinking about investing in Pilates equipment? Balanced Body are offering our listeners a special discount! Fill in the form here and mention Soul Pilates when you order. Interested in joining the July Teacher Training intake? Find all the details and book a call here. Sign up below to hear more about our Pilates Teacher Training Courses and to get priority access when our next course opens here.
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May 25 · 1 hr 9 min
Burnout, Boundaries and Building a Career That Lasts as a Pilates Teacher with Audrey O'Connor
"I cannot be of service to other people if I cannot be of service to myself." You left the corporate world for a reason. But somehow you're exhausted, resentful, and wondering why this passion-driven career feels just as relentless as the one you walked away from. Nic is joined by Audrey O'Connor - former quantity surveyor, Pilates teacher, sound healer, and wellness educator who now works with global brands like Google. Back for her second appearance, Audrey digs into what burnout actually looks like for Pilates teachers - not just tiredness, but resentment, physical symptoms, and the trap of performing busyness as a badge of honour. They get practical on morning rituals, finances, multiple revenue streams, and valuing your time before resentment does it for you. Audrey also brings in something unexpected: astrology and human design as tools for understanding why you show up the way you do - and why changing your mind is not the same as being flaky. Whether you're in the thick of burnout or starting to feel the edges of it, there's something here for you. Timestamps 01:13 What burnout actually is - beyond just being tired 03:50 Busyness as a badge of honour and how to recognise the patterns 07:52 Vision, values, and the Pilates industry comparison trap 09:02 How performance and money are connected to burnout 11:12 Taking care of your body when teaching is your job 13:15 Switching off on holiday (and why content creation doesn't count as rest) 17:05 Rituals, routines and habit stacking 23:37 Finding a ritual practice that fits your life 26:07 Astrology and human design as tools for self-understanding 31:34 Why Pilates teachers are particularly prone to burnout 32:21 Being of service vs. sacrificing yourself 34:15 Burnout, undervaluing, and our complicated relationship with money 56:58 Mindset, self-worth, and why opportunities arrive when you stop chasing them 58:44 If you're overwhelmed right now - start here If this episode resonated, share it with someone in the industry who needs to hear it. And make sure you're following along so you don't miss what's coming next. Connect with Nic: Beyond the Reformer Instagram Soul Pilates Instagram Soul Pilates Education Nic's Instagram Join Soul at Home Book a Pilates Class Sign up to Our Newsletter Connect with Audrey: Audrey's Sound Healing Training Core State Website Audrey’s Instagram The Everyday Hero Manifesto Book Join the Soul Pilates Retreat in Cornwall on 19 June for a weekend of movement, rest and nourishment. Find all the details here. Thinking about investing in Pilates equipment? Balanced Body are offering our listeners a special discount! Fill in the form here and mention Soul Pilates when you order. Interested in joining the July Teacher Training intake? Find all the details and book a call here. Sign up below to hear more about our Pilates Teacher Training Courses and to get priority access when our next course opens here.
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May 18 · 52 min
Teaching Pilates to Children: How to Make It Fun, Inclusive & Effective
Nic is joined by Clarissa Shepherd, kids Pilates specialist, pre and postnatal educator, Club Pilates master trainer, and author of Sage Does Pilates and Babies & Barre. Clarissa's story is anything but conventional. From working in TV news and witnessing a live on-air shooting, to packing up her car with $600 and driving to Dallas, to funding her Pilates certification while working night shifts - her path to becoming a Pilates teacher is one of grit, resilience and pure determination. But what makes Clarissa's work truly unique is who she teaches. While the Pilates industry talks about being "for everyone," Clarissa noticed a glaring gap - children are almost always left out. She shares why bringing Pilates into families' lives earlier is one of the biggest untapped opportunities in the industry, and how her own experience of an absent mother during childhood became the driving force behind her mission to connect families through movement. The conversation explores how to adapt Pilates for different ages - from babies and toddlers to teenagers and everything in between - and why storytelling, play and affirmations are just as important as the repertoire. Clarissa also shares how she's training other teachers to do this work and working towards licensing her kids Pilates framework so it can reach families around the world. Timestamps 00:00 Intro to Clarissa 00:32 Why families are the missing piece in Pilates 02:51 Clarissa's backstory - news, Dallas and $600 to her name 05:43 Discovering Pilates and being inspired by female leadership 09:01 Funding her certification and the sacrifices she made 13:13 Moving to Germany, becoming a mother and finding her path 16:03 How pregnancy sparked her interest in pre and postnatal Pilates 17:30 Teaching children for the first time 17:40 How to adapt Pilates for different ages and stages 20:07 Using affirmations and mentorship with teenagers 22:52 Making Pilates a game for younger children 24:18 Mommy and me classes and incorporating babies into movement 25:41 The creativity and storytelling skills kids Pilates demands 25:41 Training teachers to teach kids Pilates 44:10 Who Clarissa works with - from ballerinas to retirees 45:04 What's next for Clarissa 46:24 Quick-fire questions 48:24 Where to connect with Clarissa Thanks so much to Clarissa for coming on the podcast and sharing such an honest and inspiring story. Please make sure to subscribe and rate the show 5 stars if you've been loving it - it helps the show more than you know. Connect with Nic: Beyond the Reformer Instagram Soul Pilates Instagram Soul Pilates Education Nic's Instagram Join Soul at Home Book a Pilates Class Sign up to Our Newsletter Connect with Clarissa: Clarissa's Instagram Pilates Mamii Website YouTube: Pilates Mamii Facebook: Pilates Mamii Clarissa’s Sage Does Pilates Book Clarissa’s Babies & Barre Book Join the Soul Pilates Retreat in Cornwall on 19 June for a weekend of movement, rest and nourishment. Find all the details here. Thinking about investing in Pilates equipment? Balanced Body are offering our listeners a special discount! Fill in the form here and mention Soul Pilates when you order. Interested in joining the July Teacher Training intake? Find all the details and book a call here. Sign up below to hear more about our Pilates Teacher Training Courses and to get priority access when our next course opens here.
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May 11 · 1 hr 6 min
Beyond Classical: Ron Fletcher's Pilates Legacy With Kyria Sabin
"The body floats on the breath. Without the breath, we don't have a core. We don't have a centre." - Kyria Sabin In this episode, we are joined by Kyria Sabin, director of Fletcher Pilates International and one of the most respected custodians of a first-generation Pilates lineage in the world. Kyria worked directly with Ron Fletcher - a first-generation teacher who studied with Joseph and Clara Pilates and danced with Martha Graham - and has dedicated her career to preserving and evolving his approach to the method. Her path into Pilates was never planned; she was heading towards law school when a session at the Ron Fletcher Studio changed everything. Kyria and Nic explore what it truly means to carry a lineage forward, why the "classical vs contemporary" debate misses the point, and what made Ron Fletcher's approach so unique - from his movement-based philosophy to his breath-centred teaching. They take an honest look at the current state of Pilates education, the dangers of watered-down training, the rise of reformer-only studios, and what it actually takes to establish meaningful standards for the industry. And they go deeper into the spiritual dimension of Pilates - why client transformation so often shows up in relationships and sense of self first, and what Ron Fletcher would likely say if he saw where Pilates is today. (Spoiler: it's one word.) Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Kyria Sabin 00:10 Carrying Ron Fletcher's legacy - responsibility and blessing 04:47 What makes the Fletcher approach unique 08:31 Classical vs contemporary - why the conversation misses the point 12:42 Kyria's journey: from art world to Pilates 15:38 How Kyria trained - the apprenticeship model 17:24 Life in Tucson and accidentally staying for 35 years 18:39 The gift of seeing bodies and learning to teach 21:57 Taking over Fletcher Pilates International 23:13 Building a cohesive studio culture and team 26:35 Creating the Fletcher Pilates teacher training programme 28:39 What goes into a quality Pilates education 32:39 The 12-step framework that underpins the Fletcher programme 34:02 Why Pilates transformation shows up in clients' lives, not just bodies 38:45 What defines a high-quality teacher training programme 43:55 Should reformer teachers still be comprehensively trained? 56:29 What excites Kyria about the future of Pilates 58:21 What concerns her about where the industry is heading 01:00:22 Quick-fire questions 01:02:26 Where to find Kyria If you're enjoying the podcast, make sure you're following along so you don't miss future episodes. And feel free to share this one with someone you think would take something from it. Connect with Nic: Beyond the Reformer Instagram Soul Pilates Instagram Soul Pilates Education Nic's Instagram Join Soul at Home Book a Pilates Class Sign up to Our Newsletter Connect with Kyria: Fletcher Pilates Instagram Fletcher Pilates Website Fletcher Pilates Facebook Kyria’s Instagram Sign up below to hear more about our Pilates Teacher Training Courses and to get priority access when our next course opens here.
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S5 · E54
May 7 · 51 min
A Year of Pilates Conversations Changed How I Think About Teaching
Beyond the Reformer turns 1!! 🥳 In this special solo anniversary episode, Nic marks one full year of Beyond the Reformer by sharing her honest reflections on everything she has learned over the past year. She opens up about nearly quitting the podcast, the challenge of doing too much as a studio owner and educator, and how a year of conversations with some of the most respected Pilates professionals in the world has genuinely changed her perspective. A huge thank you to every single one of you who has supported the podcast over the past year. The community that has been built is more than anything Nic could have imagined, and she cannot wait to continue bringing you these conversations. Timestamps: 00:00 Reflecting on one year of the podcast 07:08 The reality of doing too much 10:13 Bringing a journalism mindset into podcasting 14:31 Putting yourself out there and asking for opportunities 18:30 Understanding classical vs contemporary Pilates 22:39 Why your personality is your superpower 24:16 Finding your reason for teaching Pilates 26:01 How to choose the right teacher training 30:28 What presence really means in teaching 35:35 Humility and the importance of continuous learning 41:01 Rethinking failure and challenge in classes 45:07 What’s next for the podcast and community Make sure to subscribe to continue hearing these conversations every week, and send Nic a DM on the Beyond the Reformer Instagram page with your thoughts on this week’s episode. Connect with Nic: Beyond the Reformer Instagram Soul Pilates Instagram Soul Pilates Education Nic’s Instagram Join Soul at Home Book a Pilates Class Sign up to Our Newsletter Sign up below to hear more about our Pilates Teacher Training Courses and to get priority access when our next course opens here.
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