Pilates Elephants

Resources: Strength training reduces injury risk substantially here and here and here Resistance training itself is a very safe activity here and here Foot pronation increases risk of shin splints here , but has no effect on overall injury risk here and there is minimal evidence that any biomechanical variable predicts running injuries here Knee valgus does not predict future ACL injury here Menti...

What to look for when coaching your team - or critiquing your own classes. Mentioned in this episode: Done-for-you client acquisition: This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy

The humble lunge - there's a LOT more there than meets the eye. We go there - biomechanics, cueing, how to layer it and why most instructors don't get the full value from it. Mentioned in this episode: Done-for-you client acquisition: This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy

In this episode Patricia Robinson from Pilates Vita, London, breaks down how she built a boutique, premium-priced Pilates studio serving VIP clients in Kensington. Find Patricia here: https://www.pilatesvita.com/ Mentioned in this episode: Done-for-you client acquisition: This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy

The story of how Ana Maria Borrero went from from €17/hr employee to nearly €10k/month in revenue with 6 reformers, 20 classes, and a waitlist in a small Dutch town. Find Ana here: https://movewithana.nl/ https://www.instagram.com/movewithanapilates/ Mentioned in this episode: Done-for-you client acquisition: This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: AdBarker - https://adb...

Many studio owners have a love/hate relationship with Classpass - Sari and I have an honest conversation about the pros and cons, and why (and how) her studios are leaving Classpass. Mentioned in this episode: Done-for-you client acquisition: This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy

There IS a right thing to cue in each exercise in Pilates. Here's how to know what it is. Bonus - There is no consistent pattern of muscle activation in the prone hip extension test. Except that gluteus maximus is consistently the last muscle to activate - here Mentioned in this episode: Done-for-you client acquisition: This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: AdBarker -...

Many instructors use layers, but most miss the most powerful part of this amazing programming tool. Mentioned in this episode: Done-for-you client acquisition: This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy

Cassie and Henry from Sunny Space Studio share how they grew their reformer studio in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, to $65k a month within a year - without spending a dollar on ads. They break down how they attract over 100 first visits per month through exceptional client experience, brand consistency, and word of mouth. Plus how they train loyal clients into instructors, create SOPs that sc...

Laura and Sam from Form & Flow Pilates share how they grew from one to two thriving studios in a year. They reveal the systems, standards, and teamwork that made it possible—and how they balance marriage, business, and growth without burnout. Find Laura and Sam's studios here : https://formandflow.co.uk/ Connect with me on Instagram : @the_raphaelbender Download a free course guide: Pilates Ce...

Pilates Process Vancouver co-owner Alison Ward shares how clear boundaries protect studio culture, staff morale, and client respect. We dive into setting policies, holding firm under pressure, and why saying no can actually grow your business. Find Pilates Process Vancouver here : https://www.pilatesprocessvancouver.ca/ Connect with me on Instagram : @the_raphaelbender Download a free course guide...

Most studio owners think offering more types of movement classes will attract more clients. In this episode, I explain why those formats actually hurt your studio by lowering margins, confusing your brand, and competing with cheap alternatives. Connect with me on Instagram : @the_raphaelbender Download a free course guide: Pilates Certification Studio Mastermind Teaching Mastery Program Mentioned...

Laura Saggers joins me to share the real story behind expanding from one to two Pilates studios. We cover the unexpected challenges of growth, what worked at one location but not the other, and how she navigated ClassPass, staffing, and competition. If you’re considering opening a second studio, this conversation will show you what no one tells you before you take the leap. Find Laura here: https:...

At just 23, Chelsea McBride turned personal struggles into purpose and built a Pilates studio that filled up so fast she had to close the books. In this episode, you’ll hear how Chelsea: Grew from teaching private sessions at home to running 50 weekly reformer classes with 11 beds. Built a team of six Created so much demand she now has a waitlist for new clients All in a town of only 15,000 people...

Sara Leach, owner of Downtown Pilates in Mississippi, shares how she built a thriving reformer studio serving mostly 50+ clients, scaled to six teachers, and runs 40+ classes a week. We dive into how she built an incredibly tight and loyal community, plus key challenges she faces in her business. Connect with Sara and Downtown Pilates Studio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dpstudios042 Instagra...

We discuss: How to tell if you've made this hiring mistake (you almost certainly have) How to properly filter potential hires Practical steps to get your existing team delivering a consistent high quality experience The exact hiring process we used to set up our studio for growth and retention Mentioned in this episode: Done-for-you client acquisition: This podcast uses the following third-party s...

Heath and Raphael challenge the myth that flawless form makes for safe, effective Pilates. They discuss why, and when, form should “fall apart” in strength and balance work, how load, not alignment, predicts injury, and why real progress comes from reps at the edge of fatigue and wobble. Bootsy's Basic Funk Formula: https://youtu.be/IHE6hZU72A4?si=1MMYdLpKd6UVjoo1 Connect with me Raph on Instagram...

Jennifer Tan opened Bacolod’s first reformer Pilates boutique, Madila Pilates, and hit $23K revenue with 87% margins in her first month. She shares her journey from student success team member to thriving studio owner, why she expanded just weeks after launch, and the strategies fueling her rapid growth. Resources mentioned in the episode: Find Madila Pilates online here and on Instagram here Conn...

Pilates is all about cueing specific muscles, neutral spine and avoiding locking your joints, right? Often - yes. But it wasn't always that way. In fact all those things have flipped 180 degrees over the years since Joseph Pilates' day. Connect with me on Instagram: @the_raphaelbender Download a free course guide: Pilates Certification Studio Mastermind Teaching Mastery Program Mentioned in this e...

These are the 5 predictable stages every Pilates studio owner goes through — from dreamer to thriving CEO. Exactly what breaks, plus what to do to grow at each stage. Stage 0 – Wantrepreneur Stuck in planning mode. No revenue. Fix : Stop thinking, start doing. Follow Ep 273 for exact steps. Stage 1 – Solopreneur ($1k–$10k/mo) Teaching, cleaning, selling — overwhelmed. Fix : Raise prices, set clien...

This is for Pilates studio owners who are feeling pressure from an explosion of new studios offering the latest fads and undercutting prices. This is a step-by-step practical, battle-tested strategy to stand out without racing to the bottom or chasing trends. Here's the study I mention - 65% of people think they're above average intelligence: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/jo...

Why we changed our minds on hands-on cueing in Pilates. Resources mentioned in the episode: Listen to Ep. 160. 'Can we even feel muscles activating' here Connect with me on Instagram : @the_raphaelbender Connect with Heath on Instagram : @contrologycollective Download a free course guide: Pilates Certification Studio Mastermind Teaching Mastery Program Mentioned in this episode: Done-for-you clien...

ACSM's new pre and postnatal exercise guidelines just came out, and there are several substantial changes. We talk through them, the evidence behind each one, and what they mean for Pilates instructors. Links: Narrative review of exercise dose during pregnancy here Exercise and pregnancy in recreational and elite athletes here Systematic review of supine exercise during pregnancy here Systematic r...

Raph and Heath share their journey from rigid STOTT Pilates rules to a science-backed, minimalist approach to teaching. Discover why doing less —fewer cues, less correction, and simpler programming—gets clients better results, more flow, and deeper engagement. Connect with me Raph on Instagram : @the_raphaelbender Connect with Heath on Instagram : @contrologycollective Download a free course guide...

In this episode, Raphael and Heath challenge the myth that Pilates doesn’t build strength. They break down the science of strength adaptations, clarify what “strength” really means, and explain how Pilates can be a legitimate strength training method—when done right. Key Topics: What counts as “strength” and how it’s measured Why effort (not burn or soreness) drives adaptation How load, reps, and...