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"When did being a good teacher become being endlessly accommodating?" In this solo episode, Nic answers the one problem you asked her to help solve when she put the question out on Instagram: exhaustion. As a studio owner, teacher and educator, she shares six reasons she thinks so many Pilates teachers and studio owners are running on empty, and she's honest that she's working through this herself. She explores why Pilates attracts people who care so deeply, the emotional and energetic labour of holding a room, and the hidden load of running a studio. She unpacks the "good person" trap of always saying yes, why boundaries need to flex without becoming rigid, and whether the careers we're building are actually sustainable, including the impact of undercutting on prices and why fair pay for teachers matters. There are no quick fixes here. The thread running through it all is awareness: noticing what drains you, what refills your cup, and making conscious choices about your trade-offs. Timestamps 00:00 Why exhaustion is the problem you asked about 01:45 Problem 1: why this work attracts people who care 04:14 Turning your hobby into your job 05:16 Finding a work structure that suits you 07:42 Problem 2: the emotional labour of teaching 08:32 The six minutes before and after class 09:48 The art of presence 11:34 Empaths and protecting your energy 16:51 The "doing more" mentality 17:57 Problem 3: the studio owner load 21:35 Scoring your meetings for energy 22:56 Problem 4: the good person trap 28:56 When to let a client go 31:05 Problem 5: boundaries that flex 34:00 Problem 6: building a sustainable career 38:44 Undercutting, pricing and paying teachers well 41:35 Awareness as the starting point 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: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_reformer_pod/ Soul Pilates Education: https://www.instagram.com/soul_pilates_education/ Sign up to Our Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/2bff55298739/beyond-the-reformer Ready to take your Pilates teaching to the next level? Applications are now open for Soul  Pilates Education's 2027 Teacher Training programs in Bristol! Choose between our 12-month Comprehensive Training (Jan 2027) or our 7-month Reformer Training (Mar 2027). Learn to teach with real depth, adapt movement, and gain full confidence with clients. Limited places available.  Episodes mentioned: Michael King: https://youtu.be/QrGUNoPmCqE?si=iuF0yMoefU7lmuit Phil M Jones: https://youtu.be/sD1fw5GaQtE?si=gr-Ma3H09t_2W2rn Cameron Angus: https://youtu.be/tu2UB2Qn6Rc?si=pxM6Ia2rNGB_6A9- Lisa from Studio Grow: https://youtu.be/GjKVyv67W7k?si=kDPGFIDn6m1ttKvT Christi Idavoy: https://youtu.be/nGoTG1BX950?si=EeXmmdgfiZiOQWui Ready to take your Pilates teaching to the next level? Applications are now open for Soul Pilates Education's 2027 Teacher Training programs in Bristol! Choose between our 12-month Comprehensive Training (Jan 2027) or our 7-month Reformer Training (Mar 2027). Learn to teach with real depth, adapt movement, and gain full confidence with clients. Limited places available.  Become a Certified Pilates Teacher in 2027

"I would rather be effective than sexy." In this episode, we are joined by Lindsey Hammond, Pilates studio owner, educator, and author of Teach Pilates Like It Matters. Lindsey has been running her first studio for 18 years and now trains teachers through her own education programme, which she is also licensing to studios. Together, Nic and Lindsey explore the gap between being qualified on paper and actually being ready to teach real clients. They unpack why teacher training covers the what of teaching but not always the how, why the idea of a teacher "it factor" is a myth, and how intentional repetition is what builds real confidence, charisma, and skill. They also get practical, from planning three classes a week instead of twenty and cutting your cueing down to what really matters, to trauma-informed teaching, tactile cueing and consent, and what studio owners are really looking for when you walk into an audition. Timestamps 00:00 Intro to Lindsey Hammond and Teach Pilates Like It Matters 00:54 What makes a Pilates teacher ready 01:18 The gap in Pilates teacher training 02:39 Why Lindsey created a bridge training for new teachers 04:55 From client to teacher: what makes a great Pilates teacher 06:56 How to fast-track becoming a great teacher 08:38 The myth of the Pilates teacher "it factor" 10:57 Cognitive load and teaching apparatus-based Pilates 14:55 Why repetition helps clients progress 15:40 Secondary cues: same exercise, different class 17:56 Inside Lindsey's onboarding programme for new teachers 20:16 The audition question that reveals everything 23:31 What's inside Teach Pilates Like It Matters 25:08 Trauma-informed Pilates teaching 29:22 When cueing goes wrong 31:39 Tactile cueing and consent 33:48 Why you need to take private sessions to teach them 36:29 How to plan three classes a week instead of twenty 38:48 Building your classes in "paragraphs" 40:49 Depth vs trends in Pilates 42:01 How to make your cueing more effective 45:44 Why your repetition needs to be intentional 48:09 Quick-fire questions 49:49 The cueing habit Lindsey wants teachers to stop 53:05 What studio owners look for in auditions 55:55 Where to find Lindsey 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: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_reformer_pod/ Soul Pilates Education: https://www.instagram.com/soul_pilates_education/ Sign up to Our Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/2bff55298739/beyond-the-reformer Connect with Lindsey: https://www.instagram.com/lindseydhammond/ Ready to take your Pilates teaching to the next level? Applications are now open for Soul Pilates Education's 2027 Teacher Training programs in Bristol! Choose between our 12-month Comprehensive Training (Jan 2027) or our 7-month Reformer Training (Mar 2027). Learn to teach with real depth, adapt movement, and gain full confidence with clients. Limited places available.  Become a Certified Pilates Teacher in 2027 Ready to take your Pilates teaching to the next level? Applications are now open for Soul Pilates Education's 2027 Teacher Training programs in Bristol! Choose between our 12-month Comprehensive Training (Jan 2027) or our 7-month Reformer Training (Mar 2027). Learn to teach with real depth, adapt movement, and gain full confidence with clients. Limited places available.  Become a Certified Pilates Teacher in 2027

"We looked really, really busy and busy isn't the same as profitable." In this solo episode, Nic, founder of Soul Pilates, shares the key lessons from a recent talk she gave on studio operations, and turns it into a mini workshop for Pilates studio owners. She opens up about the moment her accountant told her she'd made no money despite a full studio, and explains why good operations and good profit are part of the same thing. She walks through her three pillars of great studio operations, clarity, consistency and ownership, and shares how Soul Pilates uses the RACI model to make sure nothing falls through the gaps as the team grows. Nic also digs into the common gaps she sees in studios, from late cancellations, class cover and client complaints to the sales journey and reformer maintenance. She shares real stories from her own studios, why SOPs need room for grey areas, and how building a daily, weekly and monthly rhythm frees you up to work on your business, not just in it. Timestamps 00:00 Welcome to Beyond the Reformer 03:03 The questions every studio owner should ask themselves 04:15 Why growing means you can't do everything yourself 06:04 Write down every task you do in a week 08:08 Busy isn't the same as profitable 10:08 Just because you can do it doesn't mean you should 11:43 Pillar one: clarity in every role 14:15 Pillar two: consistency, and when SOPs go wrong 16:55 Pillar three: ownership and the RACI model 19:21 Turning frustrations into processes 20:08 How to handle late cancellations 23:45 Class cover and keeping great teachers 25:52 Handling client complaints 29:10 Teaching consistency and the sales journey 30:46 Reformer maintenance and safety 31:49 Building your studio rhythm 33:47 Operations are built one problem at a time 34:26 Your one operational commitment this week 36:25 Why every studio should be run like it could be sold 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: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_reformer_pod/ Soul Pilates Education: https://www.instagram.com/soul_pilates_education/ Sign up to Our Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/2bff55298739/beyond-the-reformer Ready to take your Pilates teaching to the next level? Applications are now open for Soul Pilates Education's 2027 Teacher Training programs in Bristol! Choose between our 12-month Comprehensive Training (Jan 2027) or our 7-month Reformer Training (Mar 2027). Learn to teach with real depth, adapt movement, and gain full confidence with clients. Limited places available.  Become a Certified Pilates Teacher in 2027

"Good exit strategy is just good business strategy." In this episode, Nic is joined by Mitch McGinley, founder of Boutique Fitness Broker and author of The Number Nobody Talks About. Mitch has spent his career helping boutique fitness and wellness owners buy and sell their studios, closing over 70 transactions worth more than 30 million dollars, and he sold his own yoga studio before founding his brokerage. They explore what actually makes a Pilates studio valuable, and why it's rarely the things owners assume, like a beautiful build out or steady revenue. Instead they unpack profit margin, owner dependence, and team strength as the real drivers of value, along with why some studios never should have expanded to a second or third location in the first place. They also get into the practical side, from how a studio is actually valued using earnings multiples, to what takes the longest to fix before a sale, to why every studio owner, even those with zero intention of selling, benefits from thinking like they might one day. Timestamps  01:15 Does revenue and utilization make a studio valuable  02:47 Are studio owners paying themselves enough  05:13 Extracting yourself from the day to day  10:47 What owners think makes their business valuable versus what buyers actually value  10:55 The build out myth  12:10 What is a healthy profit margin  13:31 The biggest misunderstanding about business value  15:22 Who is actually buying studios  19:03 The emotional side of selling  21:45 What makes a sale go smoothly  23:21 What actually makes a studio different  26:09 Standing out in a saturated market  29:16 Feeling the pinch as margins get squeezed  31:29 Is now the time to sell  33:16 What makes people think about selling  35:06 Why you should sell at the peak  38:39 Making your studio more valuable over the next three years  40:59 What takes the longest to fix before a sale  42:51 Is multiple locations more or less valuable  45:25 Why bed count matters for profitability  47:57 Buying versus building new locations  49:29 How a studio is actually valued  51:57 What people do after they sell 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: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_reformer_pod/ Soul Pilates Education: https://www.instagram.com/soul_pilates_education/ Sign up to Our Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/2bff55298739/beyond-the-reformer Connect with Mitch McGinley: Website: https://boutiquefitnessbroker.com/ Sign up below to hear more about our Pilates Teacher Training Courses and to get priority access when our next course opens here. Ready to take your Pilates teaching to the next level? Applications are now open for Soul Pilates Education's 2027 Teacher Training programs in Bristol! Choose between our 12-month Comprehensive Training (Jan 2027) or our 7-month Reformer Training (Mar 2027). Learn to teach with real depth, adapt movement, and gain full confidence with clients. Limited places available.  Become a Certified Pilates Teacher in 2027

"I'm about as alpha male as it gets. I come from 30 years in special forces. It doesn't come much better than that. And I now teach Pilates and I absolutely see the benefits." In this episode, Nic is joined by Tim Gough, co-owner and instructor at Vagabond Pilates in Dorset, and a 30-year veteran of the Royal Marines and Special Boat Service. Tim shares how his wife Millie's own Pilates journey through cancer recovery pulled him into the method during deployment, and how that eventually led him to leave the military and co-found a full-equipment Pilates studio with Millie and Molly. They explore why Pilates is still seen as a female-dominated space, what needs to change in how it's marketed and taught to get more men in the door, and the surprising overlap between special forces mindset and the discipline of a Pilates practice. Tim also opens up about the challenges of studio ownership, adjusting to life after the military, and what he's learned about teaching, mentorship and building a team since joining Vagabond as an instructor. Timestamps  00:00 Tim's first podcast and his path into Pilates  01:43 How his wife Millie's Pilates journey began  03:53 Teaching Pilates to his unit during deployment  07:11 The mission to get more men into Pilates  13:52 Running a men-only class at Vagabond  16:53 Making the studio feel welcoming for everyone  20:44 Thirty years in special forces, then Pilates  23:20 Why one session isn't enough  30:18 Clients who say Pilates changed their life  31:09 Why nobody notices your struggle in class  34:34 Meeting high-performing clients where they are  38:17 How Vagabond Pilates started  40:40 Interviewing to become an instructor  43:49 Adjusting to life after the military  44:29 Working with his wife and an all-female team  49:11 Mentorship and keeping good teachers  51:50 A look inside the Vagabond studio  54:03 Quickfire questions  59:15 Where to find Tim and Vagabond Pilates 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 InstagramSoul Pilates InstagramSoul Pilates EducationNic's InstagramJoin Soul at HomeBook a Pilates ClassSign up to Our NewsletterConnect with Tim: Tim Gough LinkedIn Tim Gough Instagram Vagabond Pilates Website Ready to take your Pilates teaching to the next level? Applications are now open for Soul Pilates Education's 2027 Teacher Training programs in Bristol! Choose between our 12-month Comprehensive Training (Jan 2027) or our 7-month Reformer Training (Mar 2027). Learn to teach with real depth, adapt movement, and gain full confidence with clients. Limited places available.  Become a Certified Pilates Teacher in 2027

"The second guessing is you're trying to be like somebody else and you can never be like somebody else. You can only be like you are." In this episode, Nic swaps the usual guest chair for an Agony Aunt session, answering real Pilates dilemmas sent in by listeners. She unpacks what's really behind imposter syndrome, why tactile cueing feels so nerve-wracking for so many teachers, and how to bring your full, authentic personality into the studio without oversharing, including a candid take on teaching as a neurodivergent instructor. She also gets into the harder judgment calls: balancing what a client wants against what they need, what to do when a studio's direction stops matching your values, and the real story behind opening (and choosing not to keep opening) studios, and what that taught her about staying true to the Soul ethos as things grow. Timestamps 00:02 Intro to this week's Agony Aunt format 02:19 Dilemma one: will I ever feel good enough? 07:50 Dilemma two: tactile cueing, confidence and authenticity 16:55 Giving clients what they want vs what they need 19:59 Dilemma three: when your values don't match your studio 29:00 Dilemma four: growing without losing yourself 40:49 Closing thoughts and what's 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 InstagramSoul Pilates InstagramSoul Pilates EducationNic's InstagramJoin Soul at HomeBook a Pilates ClassSign up to Our NewsletterReady to take your Pilates teaching to the next level? Applications are now open for Soul Pilates Education's 2027 Teacher Training programs in Bristol! Choose between our 12-month Comprehensive Training (Jan 2027) or our 7-month Reformer Training (Mar 2027). Learn to teach with real depth, adapt movement, and gain full confidence with clients. Limited places available.  Become a Certified Pilates Teacher in 2027

"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 InstagramSoul Pilates InstagramSoul Pilates EducationNic's InstagramJoin Soul at HomeBook a Pilates ClassSign up to Our NewsletterConnect with Phil M Jones: Phil's InstagramPhil's WebsiteExactly What to SayReady to take your Pilates teaching to the next level? Applications are now open for Soul Pilates Education's 2027 Teacher Training programs in Bristol! Choose between our 12-month Comprehensive Training (Jan 2027) or our 7-month Reformer Training (Mar 2027). Learn to teach with real depth, adapt movement, and gain full confidence with clients. Limited places available.  Become a Certified Pilates Teacher in 2027

"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 InstagramSoul Pilates InstagramSoul Pilates EducationNic's InstagramJoin Soul at HomeBook a Pilates ClassSign 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. Ready to take your Pilates teaching to the next level? Applications are now open for Soul Pilates Education's 2027 Teacher Training programs in Bristol! Choose between our 12-month Comprehensive Training (Jan 2027) or our 7-month Reformer Training (Mar 2027). Learn to teach with real depth, adapt movement, and gain full confidence with clients. Limited places available.  Become a Certified Pilates Teacher in 2027

"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 InstagramSoul Pilates InstagramSoul Pilates EducationNic's InstagramJoin Soul at HomeBook a Pilates ClassSign up to Our NewsletterConnect with Anita: Anita Horry Academy WebsiteAnita Horry Academy YoutubeAnita Horry Academy InstagramAnita 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 Ready to take your Pilates teaching to the next level? Applications are now open for Soul Pilates Education's 2027 Teacher Training programs in Bristol! Choose between our 12-month Comprehensive Training (Jan 2027) or our 7-month Reformer Training (Mar 2027). Learn to teach with real depth, adapt movement, and gain full confidence with clients. Limited places available.  Become a Certified Pilates Teacher in 2027

"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 InstagramSoul Pilates InstagramSoul Pilates EducationNic's InstagramJoin Soul at HomeBook a Pilates ClassSign up to Our Newsletter Connect with Kia: Kia’s InstagramKia’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 Ready to take your Pilates teaching to the next level? Applications are now open for Soul Pilates Education's 2027 Teacher Training programs in Bristol! Choose between our 12-month Comprehensive Training (Jan 2027) or our 7-month Reformer Training (Mar 2027). Learn to teach with real depth, adapt movement, and gain full confidence with clients. Limited places available.  Become a Certified Pilates Teacher in 2027

"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 InstagramSoul Pilates InstagramSoul Pilates EducationNic's InstagramJoin Soul at HomeBook a Pilates ClassSign up to Our NewsletterConnect with Ava: Ava's InstagramMove 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

"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 InstagramSoul Pilates InstagramSoul Pilates EducationNic's InstagramJoin Soul at HomeBook a Pilates ClassSign up to Our NewsletterConnect with Georgia: Georgia's InstagramStudio 281 InstagramStudio 281 Website281 Training AcademySign 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

"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 InstagramSoul Pilates InstagramSoul Pilates EducationNic's InstagramJoin Soul at HomeBook a Pilates ClassSign up to Our NewsletterConnect with Caroline: Caroline’s InstagramCaroline’s WebsiteCaroline’s Scaling Wellness PodcastInterested in joining the September Teacher Training intake? Find all the details and book a call here.

"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 InstagramSoul Pilates InstagramSoul Pilates EducationNic's InstagramJoin Soul at HomeBook a Pilates ClassSign up to Our NewsletterConnect with Shelly: Shelly’s Instagram Shelly’s LinkTreePolestar Pilates WebsiteInterested in joining the September Teacher Training intake? Find all the details and book a call here.

"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 InstagramSoul Pilates InstagramSoul Pilates EducationNic's InstagramJoin Soul at HomeBook a Pilates ClassSign up to Our NewsletterInterested in joining the September Teacher Training intake? Find all the details and book a call here. Ready to take your Pilates teaching to the next level? Applications are now open for Soul Pilates Education's 2027 Teacher Training programs in Bristol! Choose between our 12-month Comprehensive Training (Jan 2027) or our 7-month Reformer Training (Mar 2027). Learn to teach with real depth, adapt movement, and gain full confidence with clients. Limited places available.  Become a Certified Pilates Teacher in 2027