Pilates Students' Manual

Over the years of teaching and taking classes, I've amassed some good advice and best practice for you in your Pilates class. Today I share my top tips for you to help make your Pilates class experience more comfortable and more successful. From clothing, to the best way to roll your mat, to letting go of what you think other people may be thinking, I've got you covered in this episode....

Pilates is all about the core, but what does that really mean? Today we dive into Pilates as a system that moves the spine in all directions and works all major muscle groups to near fatigue. We explore Pilates exercises as full body movements that rely on core strength to happen, but are also adaptable to meet you where you are. Tune in!  I want to hear from you! Share your thoughts and follow th...

How many times a week should you do Pilates? Is once a week enough? Is every day too much? Tune in to hear what I recommend as a Pilates teacher and what the American College of Sports Medicine's physical activity guidelines have to say about the frequency of your Pilates sessions.  I want to hear from you! Share your thoughts and follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook @pilatesstudentsm...

If you tried Pilates and didn't fall in love with it immediately, this episode is for you! Today we explore why you may have not continued Pilates after your first class, and some encouragement to give Pilates a second chance. I share some personal stories about my first class, and why I chose to continue my Pilates practice. Tune in! I want to hear from you! Share your thoughts and follow th...

Have you heard the phrases "a more toned look" or "long and lean muscles" in Pilates marketing? They're talking about the "Pilates body," a mythical aesthetic favored by the post-promoting algorithms on social media. You might think that doing Pilates will make you look like that, or that maybe you can't do Pilates unless you look a certain way. I'm her...

Have you ever done an exercise in your Pilates and thought about adding a spring to make the exercise a bit harder? Today we deep dive into how the springs on Pilates apparatus support and challenge us, the limitations of adding springs and all things to keep in mind when adjusting the springs! Tune in! I want to hear from you! Share your thoughts and follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook @...

Today we're wrapping up 2022 and Season 5 of Pilates Students' Manual! I share some exciting news, the season stats, and a look forward to what's coming up in 2023! Check out the show notes for this season's stats and learn more about my upcoming workshop at https://links.oliviabioni.com/cec ! I want to hear from you! Share your thoughts and follow the podcast on Instagram and...

Have you ever done an exercise in Pilates class and not felt it the way you thought you should, then thought you might be doing it wrong? I've been there, and I'm here to tell you feeling it is not a reliable indicator of success in Pilates. Tune in to learn more about why that's the case, and what might be a better goal for your Pilates practice.  I want to hear from you! Share you...

When I first fell in love with Pilates, I wanted to do it all the time. As I continued my practice over the months and years, my enthusiasm for my practice has not always been consistent. This episode includes some strategies for keeping your Pilates practice fresh and engaging through the ebbs and flows of your movement adventure. I want to hear from you! Share your thoughts and follow the podcas...

Today we introduce the Pilates Elders, the first generation of Pilates teachers and students of Joseph Pilates himself. I share mini bios of the Elders, what I know about them from reading biographies, taking classes with second generation teachers, and meeting Elders in person. Tune in! I want to hear from you! Share your thoughts and follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook @pilatesstudentsm...

What are the physical activity guidelines and why are they so important? Tune in to this episode to learn how your Pilates practice can help you meet them! I want to hear from you! Share your thoughts and follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook @pilatesstudentsmanual . Full show notes, episode transcription, and chapter markers can be found on the podcast website here: https://bit.ly/PilatesS...

Looking to improve in your Pilates practice? Today we explore strategies for learning a new movement skill and how to break down an exercise into its strength, flexibility, and coordination components. Once you know what part of the exercise is difficult for you, you can work on that part to improve. I want to hear from you! Share your thoughts and follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook @pil...

Teaser is one of those "peak" exercises that can be really difficult to master, so let's break it down! Tune in to hear some of my favorite tips, tricks, and variations for this challenging mat and reformer exercise! I want to hear from you! Share your thoughts and follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook @pilatesstudentsmanual . Full show notes, episode transcription, and chapt...

Have you heard that using momentum in Pilates is cheating? Today we debunk this myth by exploring how integral momentum is in Pilates exercises. how momentum can make exercises more accessible, and how momentum can make exercises more challenging as well. Tune in! I want to hear from you! Share your thoughts and follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook @pilatesstudentsmanual . Full show notes,...

If you had private sessions in person at your home, but went virtual for COVID, this episode is for you. Today we explore a behind the scenes look at what your teacher might be juggling and important considerations to keep in mind if you're interested in returning to in person sessions. Tune in! I want to hear from you! Share your thoughts and follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook @pil...

What do you need for your first Pilates class?  Today's episode is a handy survival guide of tips and tricks to feeling comfortable and confident when you're new to Pilates. Tune in! I want to hear from you! Share your thoughts and follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook @pilatesstudentsmanual . Full show notes, episode transcription, and chapter markers can be found on the podcast...

Today we look at why Pilates works, what makes it so great, things to keep in mind when we think about Pilates, and I share some excellent news about Pilates and exercise! Tune in! I want to hear from you! Share your thoughts and follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook @pilatesstudentsmanual . Full show notes, episode transcription, and chapter markers can be found on the podcast website here...

Today we're wrapping up Season 4 of Pilates Students' Manual! I look back on some of my favorite episodes of the season, and look forward to what's coming up in 2022! Check out the show notes for this season's stats! I want to hear from you! Share your thoughts and follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook @pilatesstudentsmanual . Full show notes, episode transcription, and...

Pilates is not a one way street. There is a very important collaboration that happens between students and teachers that makes meeting expectations and achieving goals a team effort. Tune in to hear about how collaboration happens in both group and private sessions. I want to hear from you! Share your thoughts and follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook @pilatesstudentsmanual . Full show note...

Today is all about Pilates exercises that take us upside down. Tune in to hear some of the benefits of inversions, the mental and physical challenges they can entail, how to rise to those challenges, and my favorite ways to make inversions more accessible.    I want to hear from you! Share your thoughts and follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook @pilatesstudentsmanual . Full show notes, epis...

Today we discuss the strength training and Pilates. Strength training, also known as resistance training, is performing exercises that increase muscle strength and endurance with either body weight or external weights. Pilates is a form of strength training, but it does have some limitations. Tune in to hear how Pilates can complement your strength training!    I want to hear from you! Share your...

This episode looks at the scope of practice of a Pilates teacher. Understanding what your Pilates teacher can (and can't) do for you helps you to manage your expectations as a student and see how Pilates can fit into a bigger picture of health and wellness.  I want to hear from you! Share your thoughts and follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook @pilatesstudentsmanual . Full show notes,...

Let's look at the Pilates reformer, what it is, what it does, and what the springs mean. I also share what you can expect in a reformer Pilates class if you are feeling a little hesitant about taking the leap and trying one. Tune in! I want to hear from you! Share your thoughts and follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook @pilatesstudentsmanual . Full show notes, episode transcription, an...

I've bought a lot of Pilates equipment over the years, and most recently purchased a reformer. Today I share what I look for when purchasing equipment, what I take into account before buying something, and some of my recommendations for props and apparatus. Tune in!  I want to hear from you! Share your thoughts and follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook @pilatesstudentsmanual . Full sho...

Today we look at the different shapes your spine makes in Pilates, including neutral, flexion, extension, lateral flexion,  and rotation. Tune in to hear where these shapes appear in your Pilates classes, and why they are important for your daily life.  I want to hear from you! Share your thoughts and follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook @pilatesstudentsmanual . Full show notes, episode tr...