Moving Conversations

Following up on our in-depth conversation with Beth Kaplanek in the last episode, Nora and Brian provide more detail on the different kinds of hip replacements and what instructors should be aware when working with clients with posterior, posterior lateral, lateral or anterior surgical approaches. We also talk about what to do when a client comes to you very early in their post surgery journey rat...

Hip and knee replacements have been called “the surgery of the century” due to how frequently they are performed. As movement professionals, understanding what happens in a hip replacement, basic precautions to be aware of and how to progress a client safely are essential skills for managing clients with this common condition. Beth Kaplanek has both a personal and a professional interest in the to...

As more and more people are taking GLP1’s such as Ozempic for weight loss, information on the benefits and downsides is changing at a rapid rate. Today Nora and Brian discuss some of the latest findings on the anti-inflammatory and heart protective effects as well as the challenges of muscle loss, fatigue and emotional impacts. With close to 10% of the US population on one of these drugs, understa...

With 30+ years of clinical practice as a DPT, Pilates instructor and educator, Dr. Manns current project is assisting women through menopause with a whole person approach including movement, nutrition, sleep,  medication where appropriate alongand cognitive and emotional support. Today’s episode focuses on the myofascial effects of menopause and strategies for managing them to improve women’s abil...

Working with instructors and clients around the world, we see how influencers have changed the fitness landscape. From new teachers who want to be international presenters to clients wanting to do the latest move, to influencers doing crazy things on Pilates equipment, it’s a wild world out there. Join Nora and Brian for some straight talk on the difference between an educator and an influencer an...

Where do you start with a complicated client? How do you know what to focus on first? As a follow up to a previous episode “Begin with the End in Mind” Brian and Nora talk about strategies for finding a starting point when designing programs for challenging clients. Through case examples, client management strategies and assessment, we provide a framework to get you started.  Moving Conversation S...

Breathing is a hot topic and we wanted to start the conversation with Helen Vanderburg, a world champion synchronized swimmer, gym owner, international presenter and a woman who has possibly taught a greater variety of fitness modalities than anyone else we know. This conversation includes key ways to use breath to activate, balance, and restore the body and mind and provides practical examples fo...

When working with clients with multiple issues, it can be easy to stop seeing the forest for the trees and get lost in the details of addressing each specific issue. In this episode we talk about how to make client sessions more effective by prioritizing specific skills and staying focused on them over time. This is how progress happens. We provided plenty of examples, tools and inspiration to sup...

We both grew up in an industry where keeping the shoulders away from the ears and scapular stability were a foundation of upper body strength. While helpful, this is a limiting understanding of functional upper body movement. Today we take a deep dive into the nuances of identifying, training and improving scapular mobility along with building a three dimensional understanding of upper body traini...

Fear is a common emotion in many clients and especially in those who are dealing with pain. As an instructor, learning to create trust, manage expectations, refer when needed and maintain your center with difficult clients are important skills to cultivate. Brian and Nora talk through several common scenarios, share case studies and encourage you to cultivate compassion without losing your center....

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is entering all of our lives. What impact is it having in the movement space? Pros and cons, human versus machine, science versus personal touch. Brian and Nora provide a thought provoking, wide ranging discussion of where the future of technology might impact our careers, our passion and our skills. Moving Conversation Socials      Brian’s Book on Low Back Pain and Co...

Brian just returned from a major fitness industry trade show and it got us thinking about fitness fads that come and go and fitness fundamentals that last through time. This conversation takes a look at how fitness and Pilates have evolved over the last 30 years. From group exercise to personal training to Pilates, the history of fitness reflects the growth of movement science and the growing soph...

Last episode we learned about mirror neurons and the vagus nerve and other ways the brain and body connect with Anne C. Bishop, a neuroscientist and Pilates teacher. Today Brian and I discuss ways to bring the brain into training through clarifying intention, creating a safe environment and meeting our clients where they are on every level. Take a listen! Moving Conversation Socials      Brian’s B...

Anne C Bishop, creator of Brain Body Connect has spent over two decades deciphering the connection between neurology and teaching movement. In this episode, she introduces us to mirror neurons, polyvagal theory and other concepts from neurobiology and how they inform teaching. If you wonder why some cues work on one client but not on another, this episode provides some useful strategies to make yo...

As movement teachers, our role is to tell clients what to do, how to move and (ideally) how to move better. This often involves correcting their movement patterns through verbal cueing, manual cueing or adding props. In this conversation, Brian and Nora discuss when, how and why to correct or not to correct. Starting with the concept of the “correction continuum” where movement correction runs the...

The fitness world contains a wide variety of modalities and techniques. Nora and Brian discuss the roles Pilates and Personal Training play in a well rounded fitness routine. Pilates focuses on movement quality, while personal training focuses on functional abilities, when they are combined, everyone benefits. Nora and Brian discuss the roles the two disciplines play and how cooperation with talen...

Following up on our inspiring conversation with Elizabeth Larkam, we discuss ways to design Reformer classes for special populations. Putting a couple of classes on the schedule focusing on clients with osteoporosis, low back pain or pre and post-natal women can bring in a loyal clientele and position you as an instructor with specialized expertise. Working with these clients requires a deeper und...

S3-37 Intelligent Reformer Class Programming with Elizabeth Larkam  Elizabeth Larkam has been teaching and evolving Pilates for 40 years. She developed the original group Reformer program when Balanced Body’s Pilates Allegro was launched in 1999. Since then Elizabeth has explored many advances in movement science, and integrated them into movement practice in the Pilates environment. She has now c...

Today we are joined by Madeline Black, a Pilates teacher and educator with over 40 years experience changing lives through movement. Madeline has dedicated her life to deepening her understanding of the body in movement through in depth study of manual therapy, fascia and gait in addition to a practical background in dance, Pilates, yoga and related physical disciplines. Today we talk about how sh...

The Winter Olympics are just over and Brian and Nora reflect on the highs, lows, injuries, inspiration and magic of watching the best athletes in the world do their best. Moving Conversation Socials      Brian’s Book on Low Back Pain and Conditions:   Back Exercise; Stabilize, Mobilize and Reduce Pain   https://a.co/d/8IUb7L6       Email: movingconvos@gmail.com   IG: @movingconvos   FB: Moving Con...

Back pain has many causes and many solutions. Today Brian and Nora talk about the role of the thoracolumbar fascia in coordinating the action of the shoulder girdle, thorax, spine and pelvis and how it influences back pain. Movement, myofascial release and training principles for remodeling fascia are the key topics for today. Moving Conversation Socials      Brian’s Book on Low Back Pain and Cond...

Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the vertebral spaces the nerves travel through. Stenosis is a common concern for older adults and one that can be quite debilitating, leading to pain and weakness with walking, standing or sitting. Specific exercises from an experienced personal trainer or Pilates teacher can help clients to manage it to minimize pain and maximize functional movement. Join Brian a...

Following up on our conversation with Matt McCulloch about kids and sports, we wanted to talk about strategies and training approaches to help kids become more comfortable and confident in their bodies, to learn that movement is fun and to set them up for a lifetime of physical enjoyment. Kids come into Pilates and personal training for many different reasons. If you work with kids training to imp...

Matt McCulloch, the owner of Kinected Studio in New York joins us today to discuss the benefits and pitfalls of youth sports and how we can use our training as movement professionals to support our kids. Matt is a coach with two of his own boys in baseball and other sports and his experience and insights are invaluable for movement professionals and parents alike. Moving Conversation Socials     ...

Continuing with our January theme of creating your vision for health and vitality, the focus of today’s episode is strategies for creating a strong fitness foundation. Creating a plan, following through, adapting the program and creating success all start with a solid understanding of where you are, where you want to go and how to get there. Whether you  or your clients are brand new to fitness or...