Pilates Elephants
We get to grips with new research, teaching strategies, and social issues around Pilates and Pilates teaching. This is 100% authentic, unscripted, real talk about everything Pilates.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
359. How to Train Great Pilates Instructors Fast
Train instructors faster by focusing on “good enough to start”, not perfection.
Most studio owners overwhelm new instructors by trying to teach everything upfront. This slows learning and reduces confidence.
Instead:
Define the minimum skill set needed to teach one class competentlyGive instructors a clear, repeatable “recipe” (exact class plan)Have them practice and teach the same class repeatedlyLayer in new skills only after masteryKey ideas:
Prioritize depth over breadthUse real teaching reps + feedback as the main learning driverStandardize your class before trying to scale your teamResult: faster r...
358. Is your studio a Food Hall or a Restaurant?
Studio owners often think they need a new trend, new machine, or new offer to stand out.
In this episode, Raphael and Heath argue the opposite.
They explain why the studios that win are not the ones chasing novelty. They are the ones with a clear style, a consistent client experience, and a team that delivers the same standard every time.
They also unpack the difference between running a food hall, where every instructor does their own thing under one roof. And running a restaurant, where the whole team delivers one clear product...
357. Live Lecture: Foundations of Rehab
This lecture was delivered live for our Diploma of Clinical Pilates.
You'll also find it as a video on YouTube if you want to see the visuals. Here's the YouTube link: https://youtu.be/UATwStlLVWI
Mentioned in this episode:
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
356. Are contraindications actually real?
Short answer - mostly not. But in a few cases, yes.
I delve into a better way to think about contrainidications, and working with people with pain, injury and chronic conditions.
Links:
Brinjikji et al. 2015a - disc bulge is highly prevalent in pain-free people hereBrinjikji et al. 2015b - disc bulge is slightly MORE prevalent in people with back pain herePainful exercises are slightly BETTER than non-painful exercises for people with chronic pain hereMentioned in this episode:
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your...
355. Great instructors DO fill classes - here's why
Why I don't believe there is a better definition of a good instructor than a full class of strong clients.
Mentioned in this episode:
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
354. What to do if your classes are not full
This is for instructors AND studio owners.
It's the exact troubleshooting process I use to help studio owners fill their classes - based on the best practices of 100+ studios I've seen the numbers for, and what's working right now for the 30+ studios I currently work with.
Mentioned in this episode:
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
353. Don't confuse giving information with teaching
Many Pilates instructors make the same mistake when introducing an exercise: they give too much information.
Instead of helping clients move, long explanations overwhelm them and nothing sticks.
In this episode, we explore the difference between explaining and teaching, and why fewer, simpler cues often lead to better movement and faster learning.
If you want clients to actually do the exercise well, this mindset shift is essential.
Mentioned in this episode:
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
This podcast uses the following third-party services...
352. Adam McAtee - We Don't Get to Redefine Physics
While we can adapt Pilates to the laws of physiology, we cannot change the definition of technical words like "strength" just to fit a specific teaching style or Pilates philosophy.
Mentioned in this episode:
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
351. Nathan Ross Rees - Total Instructor Accountability
Nathan makes the case that instructors should take 100% responsibility for filling our classes.
If our attendance is low,we should see that as a personal indicator that something in the experience or connection is missing.
Mentioned in this episode:
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
350. The Law of the Spring:
A common mistake is assuming that two Pilates exercises are the same just because they look identical.
However, the actual "exercise" depends on where the load and force are being applied.
Nerd out with us.
Mentioned in this episode:
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
349. Great Instructors Fill Classes
Studios hire Pilates instructors to fill classes with happy clients.
If your instructors' classes are not full, by definition are not good at their job - yet.
As a studio owner, it's your job to help them become good!
Mentioned in this episode:
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
348. Progressing Strength, Flexibility & Skill In Pilates
Every Pilates exercise trains strength, range of motion, and skill.
We explore how to progress your clients intelligently by adjusting one dimension at a time to build capacity, clarity, and confidence in movement.
Mentioned in this episode:
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
347. Why “Quiet the Big Muscles” Is Wrong
Special shout out to Adam McAtee for this post
Citations in these episodes:
ep 278 Does Pilates strengthen your little muscles?ep 216 Why knowing which muscles are working in a movement is a waste of timeep 160 Can we even feel muscles activating?Mentioned in this episode:
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
346. Why Dallas sold half her studio - then bought it back
Dallas Noerdlinger (Core Pilates, Oklahoma City) shares why she sold 50% of her studio during pregnancy, what changed in the business and culture, and how she bought it back.
We talk boutique vs franchise positioning, keeping instructors happy, managing owner overwhelm, and the “unlimited membership” + waitlist problem—plus practical fixes for capacity, pricing, and schedule structure.
Mentioned in this episode:
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
AdBarker - https...
345. Where Should I Be Feeling This?
The most useful kind of body awareness is mostly unconscious and automatic control, like a cat. This is built through practice, not narration.
Links:
Glute activation drills increase perception but not actual glute activation hereEpisode 160 "Can we even feel muscles activating?" hereMentioned in this episode:
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
344. Text Neck Isn’t Causing Your Neck Pain
Studies mentioned in this episode:
2025 longitudinal study finds text neck is not associated with future neck pain here2023 systematic review of interventions for neck pain finds strengthening works here2017 Chen et al. systematic review finds neck strengthening is the most effective intervention for workplace neck pain - more effective than posture or ergonomic advice hereMentioned in this episode:
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
AdBarker - https...
343. Why Your Clients Don’t Show Up (Even When They Want To)
Your clients don’t skip Pilates because they don’t care.
They skip because the system asks them to do work they don’t have the capacity for.
In this short episode, Raphael shares:
Why flexibility often reduces attendanceThe paradox of overwhelm: needing structure but lacking the bandwidth to create itHow studios unintentionally design for no-shows and drop-offA simple shift from “choice” to “default” that increases consistency and retentionIf your clients say they “don’t have time”, this episode explains what’s really happening and how to fix it.
Mentioned in this epis...
342. 3 Pilates exercises walk into a bar...
What do flamingo, arms in straps and knee pulls have in common?
They look different. They feel different.
They’re secretly doing the exact same thing.
Mentioned in this episode:
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
341. There's a grape under your back
A Pilates cue goes off the rails and exposes everything we get wrong about “perfect form.” Expect heresy, biomechanics, and a very small grape that ruins neutral forever.
Mentioned in this episode:
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
340. What's the minimum effective dose of Pilates for strengthening?
How much Pilates do you need to do to get stronger?
Probably less than you think!
Mentioned in this episode:
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
339. Is Pilates Education Increasing Our Risk Of Injury?
Resources:
Strength training reduces injury risk substantially here and here and hereResistance training itself is a very safe activity here and hereFoot 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 hereKnee valgus does not predict future ACL injury hereMentioned in this episode:
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
<...
338. The 3 Skills That Differentiate Average Pilates Instructors From Superstars
What to look for when coaching your team - or critiquing your own classes.
Mentioned in this episode:
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
337. What are lunges for?
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:
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
336. How Build A Studio That Attracts VIP Clients with Patricia Robinson
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:
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
335. How Ana is making €100k+ teaching Pilates in a Tiny Dutch Town
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:
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
334. Leaving Classpass with Sari Sadhati
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:
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
333. What To Cue (It's Not What You Think)
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:
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
332. You're using layers wrong, with Heath Lander and Raphael Bender
Many instructors use layers, but most miss the most powerful part of this amazing programming tool.
Mentioned in this episode:
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
331. 100 First Visits/Month With $0 Ads - Cassie & Henry from Sunny Space studio
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 scale, and keep classes sold out with clear standards and warm service.
This episode is a playbook for studio owners doing $10k+ who want to grow fast, without chaos or...
330. How this husband & wife team built 2 thriving studios in 1 year - Laura & Sam from Form & Flow UK
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 CertificationStudio MastermindTeaching Mastery ProgramMentioned in this episode:
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow yo...
329. Boundaries protect culture - with Alison Ward of Pilates Process Vancouver
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:
Pilates CertificationStudio MastermindTeaching Mastery ProgramMentioned in this episode:
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
<...
328. Why You Shouldn't Offer Mat, Yoga or Barre In Your Studio
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 CertificationStudio MastermindTeaching Mastery ProgramMentioned in this episode:
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: <...
327. What No One Tells You About Opening a Second Pilates Studio, with Laura Saggers and Raphael Bender
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://www.instagram.com/laurasaggers/ https://risepilates.com.au/Connect with me on Instagram: @the_raphaelbender
Download a free course guide:
...326. How a 23-Year-Old Built a Waitlisted Pilates Studio in Just 1 Year, with Chelsea McBride and Raphael Bender
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 sixCreated so much demand she now has a waitlist for new clientsAll in a town of only 15,000 peopleConnect with Chelsea:
Online https://www.themindandbodyclub.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themindandbodyclubConnect with me on Instagram: @the_raphaelbender
...
325. How to build a loyal community, with Sara Leach and Raphael Bender
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/dpstudios042Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dPstudios042Connect with me on Instagram: @the_raphaelbender
Download a free course guide:
Pilates CertificationStudio MastermindTeaching Mastery ProgramMentioned in this episode:
<...324. The Biggest Hiring Mistake Studio Owners Make - And How To Fix It
We discuss:
How to tell if you've made this hiring mistake (you almost certainly have)How to properly filter potential hiresPractical steps to get your existing team delivering a consistent high quality experienceThe exact hiring process we used to set up our studio for growth and retentionMentioned in this episode:
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
323. Why the best instructors encourage messy form, with Heath Lander and Raphael Bender
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: @the_raphaelbender
Connect with Heath on Instagram: @contrologycollective
Download a free course guide:
Pilates CertificationTeaching Mastery ProgramMentioned in this episode:
322. From Zero to $23K/mo in 34 Days: Jennifer Tan’s Pilates Studio Launch in the Philippines
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 hereConnect with me on Instagram: @the_raphaelbenderDownload a free course guide:
Pilates CertificationStudio MastermindTeaching Mastery ProgramMentioned in this episode:
Get 1:1 coaching with me to gr...
321. When did Pilates become so obsessed with specific cues? With Raphael Bender
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 CertificationStudio MastermindTeaching Mastery ProgramMentioned in this episode:
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studio
This podcast uses the following third-party services...
320. The 5 stages of Pilates studio business, with Raphael Bender
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 client boundaries, focus on one offer, outsource admin.
Stage 2 – Builder ($10k–$40k/mo)
Small team, people problems, misalignment.
Fix: Get clear on values, enforc...
