The Core Connect Podcast

In this candid second episode of her Pilates journey, Marianne opens up about the dedication, sacrifice, and resilience it took to build the business of her dreams.  She also shares the strategies that helped her build a loyal and like-minded client base early on in our instructor journey. From teaching over 40 hours a week during pregnancy and postpartum, to navigating the upheaval of leaving pla...

We talk openly about ACL tears and their recovery protocols. But pelvic floor tears? That silence is costing women time, confidence, and long-term health. In this episode, Matt Marney, Pilates educator, personal trainer, meditation teacher, and founder of  Wellness Education Dubai,  interviews Marianne Tafani, women’s health advocate and creator of the  Core Connect  postnatal method and studio. M...

Marianne walked into her first Pilates class in London at 22, just hoping to move without pain. Chronic injuries had ended her rhythmic gymnastics dreams as a teen, and her body was still in recovery. At 16, the pain was so bad her friends would push her around in supermarket trolleys, because walking was too much. A simple, no-frills mat class in 2008, the first time she’d moved pain-free in near...

Une senteur vous a-t-elle déjà consolé, apaisé ?  Une huile vous a-t-elle déjà aidé à traverser un rhume ou unetempête émotionnelle ?  Dans ce premier épisode en français du Core Connect Podcast , Audrey Fosseries, membre fondatrice de la grande entreprise d'huiles essentielles doTERRA partage son parcours singulier où santé naturelle, maternité, intuition et liberté se rejoignent. Audrey est mama...

This week, Marianne dives into the stages of labour and the all-important question-  when should you head to the hospital? -  with doula, hypnobirthing educator, and lactation specialist Stevie McKenzie. Stevie and Marianne also explore how tuning into your intuition and embracing discomfort in daily life can prepare you for a more empowered experience. 🎙 Curious about how to prepare your body pre...

In this powerful episode, Marianne welcomes Luz Maria Villagras Surco for a heartfelt conversation on attachment wounds and the path to inner healing. With nearly three decades of experience, a deep understanding of understanding of multicultural and interfaith dynamics, and trainings in clinical hypnosis, NLP, conscious parenting and Neurofeedback, Luz Maria is a renowned holistic therapist and m...

Want practical tips on how to approach healing incontinence based on the real reasons you are leaking? Listen up! In this solo episode,  Marianne busts the myth  that  all pelvic floor symptoms stem from weakness . You'll learn how overactive muscles, neurological misfiring, and core coordination issues can all play a role in pelvic floor dysfunction. And  strategies to get better ! If you&#39...

In this week's episode, Marianne guides listeners through the  Head-Heart Meditation -  a simple yet powerful practice designed to  lock the mind in the heart. For those who often find themselves caught in cycles of overthinking, this meditation offers a gentle invitation to drop all concerns into the heart, shifting awareness from mental noise to a deeper, more grounded presence. The episode...

Is the sun, the very source of life and a symbol of vitality across civilizations, really bad for us? In the final episode of this three-part series, health coach and sports scientist  Abs Sharma  joins  Marianne Tafani  to discuss a widely debated topic: Sun exposure! This episode takes a historical detour back to the 1970s to explore how fear of sun exposure took root. Abs and Marianne break dow...

Convinced by the health benefits of weight training but worried about “looking like a gym girl”? Here’s the thing: building significant muscle mass is incredibly difficult without enhancements—especially as we age. You’re unlikely to get bulky unless you’re consistently overeating, training intensely every day, and taking hormones. Today, Abs Sharma and Marianne break down this common myth.  Abs e...

How often do you hear that creatine is a must for hitting your fitness goals? What does the latest research say?  And have the long-term effects of creatine been adequatelystudied? With over 1,000 studies on creatine supplementation, only 5-10% of which are conducted on women, the research remains inconclusive—leaving us cautious, if not outright sceptical.  In this episode, sports scientist and h...

Have you heard of vaginal steaming?  This ancient practice is making a comeback for a reason—it can help with chronic infections, heavy periods, birth preparation, postpartum healing, and even reconnecting with your inner wisdom 🧘‍♀️ Our guest this week bridges the gap between tradition and modern self-care:  Liberty Gerderloos  is a menstrual cycle specialist known for creating powerful steaming...

Do you feel like meditation isn’t for you?  Too many thoughts, too little time, or the inability to sit still? You’re not alone. In this solo episode, Marianne shares how she once felt the same way but managed to build a solid and consistent meditation practice over the past eight years. She breaks down three simple steps to get into meditating in a way that is accessible to all, particularly thos...

What does it really take to build strong bones and age well?  In this episode, I sit down with Gemma Pearson, a clinical Pilates specialist and former dancer, who now runs a thriving practice supporting students with osteoporosis from her home in the South of France. But this conversation is about so much more than osteoporosis.  It’s about the power of training your feet and shifting your mindset...

If you’re pregnant, you may have been told: “Do 100 Kegels aday to prevent tearing during birth.”   But what if that advice was outdated—and could actually do more harm than good? In this episode, Marianne is busting the myths around pelvic floor training during pregnancy and shifting the focus to what truly prepares you for birth and optimises recovery. Overrecruiting your pelvic floor can lead t...

🤰Should Your Train Your Abs During Pregnancy? Can using them make diastasis recti worse? Could activating your core harm your baby in any way?   👉In this episode, Marianne breaks down the facts about abdominal training during pregnancy—what's safe, what’s beneficial, and what to avoid. The challenges to our abdominal wall during pregnancy go beyond just abdominal separation (diastasis recti)...

⚡Ever felt a sharp pain when sitting for too long?  Or maybe you've been told to "just do Kegels"—but something still feels off?   Enter Jasmine Evelyn—a Barbados-based physiotherapist, yoga teacher, avid runner, and young mama who’s on a mission to change how we approach pelvic health.   In this episode, we dive into Jasmine’s journey as a pelvic health specialist, the varied cause...

⭐In this heartfelt episode, Marianne sits down with Leslie Parker, a former ballerina, celebrated studio owner in Toronto, and one of North America’s most respected master Pilates trainers.  Over two decades in the industry, Leslie has built her career on inclusivity, openness, and a deep commitment to making Pilates accessible to all—an approach that sets her apart in a field often divided by de...

In this episode, Marianne is joined by Claire Sparrow, a Pilates instructor, mother of three, best-selling author, and creator of HOPE, a transformative method for healing the pelvic floor. After experiencing a prolapse following what seemed like a “normal” birth, Claire embarked on a personal and professional journey to redefine how women address pelvic health. Her story and expertise have empowe...

Fatigue, Hair Loss, Poor Concentration—Could You Be Iron Deficient? Did you know that iron deficiency can develop years before anemia sets in? Or that you'd need anywhere between  8 to 30 kilograms of spinach  just to meet your recommended daily iron intake? In this episode, Dr. Dheeraj Khiatani, a Singapore-based General Practitioner and one of Asia's leading experts on iron deficiency, joins Mar...

Welcome to the first Core Connect Podcast episode of 2025!  🌟 January often brings a flurry of resolutions and endless to-do lists. But what if this year, you started differently—by focusing on  being  rather than  doing ? In this episode, we explore how to care for yourself through mindful relaxation and gentle visualisation with the Sunflower Exercise 🌻 A simple practice to guide your mind and...

5 Simple Tactics to Improve your Sleep in 2025 Featuring Dr Korem, Chantal Blake, and Dr Labib  Who does not want more (and higher-quality) sleep? 💤 As the year comes to a close, join us for an  end-of-year masterclass  with three leading health experts.  Learn how to optimise your rest by leveraging natural rhythms, building sustainable routines, and reducing exposure to what OB/GYN Dr. Labib ca...

In this episode, Marianne is joined by  Claire Sparrow , a Pilates instructor, mother of three, best-selling author, and creator of  HOPE , a transformative method for healing the pelvic floor. After experiencing a prolapse following what seemed like a “normal” birth, Claire embarked on a personal and professional journey to redefine how women address pelvic health. Her story and expertise have em...

Do you find yourself feeling anxious during the Winter Holiday Season? Does this time of year bring up emotions like resentment, grief, or tension? You’re not alone. “Going home” or spending time with extended family can be both joyful and challenging. The good news is that there are intentional ways to navigate these emotions and truly enjoy this season. In this solo episode, Marianne shares thre...

You don’t have to call yourself “spiritual” to love Ellen Arthur’s voice and harmonium melodies. By the end of this episode—when Ellen shares a mantra to the sound of her harmonium—you’ll see why her music transcends labels and touches the soul. In this conversation, Ellen and Marianne explore: The science behind sound healing (no, it’s not woo-woo). Why we often resist mantras—and how surrenderin...