Pilates Business Podcast

The boutique fitness industry is changing quickly.

Pilates is booming. Consumers are investing more in movement and wellness. Clients are no longer necessarily loyal to just one type of fitness experience. And at the same time, studio owners are navigating rising costs, instructor shortages, changing membership regulations and new expectations around transparency.

So what does all of this mean for the future of your studio?

In this episode of The Pilates Business Podcast, I’m joined by Mike Gasinski, Chief of Staff at the Health & Fitness Association, to step outside the four walls of...

Why is your Pilates studio full but not profitable? In this episode of The Pilates Business Podcast, host Seran Glanfield takes on one of the most uncomfortable questions in boutique fitness: how can your classes be packed, your waitlists growing, and your bank account still not reflect any of it? 💛

Drawing on years of coaching studio owners and looking at the numbers behind the numbers, Seran explains why a busy studio isn't always a profitable one, and why some of the busiest Pilates studios are also the most financially fragile.

If you're teaching, hiring, adding cla...

What if the reason you’re exhausted isn’t because you’re teaching too many classes or need better time management—but because you’re carrying an invisible workload that never switches off? 

In this episode of The Pilates Business Podcast, host Seran Glanfield explores the hidden mental load behind studio owner burnout: the constant decisions, client follow-ups, instructor concerns, marketing questions, financial worries, and unfinished tasks quietly consuming your energy. Seran explains why growing a Pilates studio or boutique fitness business doesn’t automatically make this mental load disappear—and why working fewer hours isn’t always th...

More clients. Full classes. Waitlists. Growing revenue.

That’s the dream… right? ✨

But what happens when your Pilates studio finally starts growing—and instead of feeling more freedom, you find yourself busier, more overwhelmed, and carrying even more responsibility?

In this episode of The Pilates Business Podcast, host Seran Glanfield explores the side of Pilates studio growth that nobody really talks about: growth doesn’t eliminate problems—it changes them.

Seran explains why fuller classes and more clients can expose capacity issues, why hiring instructors doesn’t automatically give you all your time back...

In this episode of The Pilates Business Podcast, host Seran Glanfield sits down with Laura Munkholm, co-founder of Walla Studio Management Software, to unpack the real relationship between technology and connection in a boutique fitness business. 

Seran and Laura explore how the strongest pilates studio owners are using AI for repeatable training and smarter reporting, why AI-generated marketing copy is quietly costing studios trust, and how the right tech stack can actually deepen client relationships instead of replacing them. 

From personalized client "audiences" to handwritten wow moments and leadership self-awareness, this conversation is full of pr...

The Pilates industry is growing—and with that growth comes more competition, more choice, and more pressure on studio owners to stand out. But does differentiation really mean adding more classes, more amenities, more content, and more to your already overflowing plate? 

In this episode of The Pilates Business Podcast, host Seran Glanfield shares her biggest takeaways after spending several days at a Pilates industry conference in Miami alongside studio owners, instructors, educators, franchise leaders, and other industry experts. She explores why an exceptional client experience may be your Pilates studio’s greatest competitive advantage, why b...

Your Pilates studio is growing. Classes are fuller, revenue is climbing, and new clients are walking through the door… so why does running your business somehow feel harder than before? 😵‍💫

In this episode of The Pilates Business Podcast, host Seran Glanfield explores a stage of Pilates business growth that few studio owners expect: when success creates more complexity, more responsibility, and more reliance on YOU. Seran shares why the systems and leadership habits that helped you build your studio may not be the same ones you need to scale it—and why working harder isn't the answer. ...

In this episode of The Pilates Business Podcast, host Seran Glanfield reveals the hidden signs of client churn most boutique fitness studio owners miss entirely. 

Clients rarely quit a Pilates studio in one dramatic moment. They quit emotionally, weeks or even months before they ever cancel, and by the time the numbers move, the decision was already made. 

Seran breaks down why competition is rarely the real reason clients leave, how consumer behavior in boutique fitness is driven by identity rather than transactions, and why identity-based retention will always outlast motivation-based retention. 

If you...

Growth sounds exciting—more clients, more classes, a bigger team, maybe even another location. But if your fitness studio already feels chaotic, growth won’t fix the problem. It’ll simply make the chaos bigger. 😬

In this episode of The Pilates Business Podcast, host Seran Glanfield shares the four foundational systems every Pilates studio and boutique fitness business needs before scaling. From creating an intentional client journey that improves retention, to building team systems, simplifying decision-making, and protecting your time as CEO, Seran explains why sustainable growth starts behind the scenes.

If you’re a Pilates, yo...

If your Pilates studio marketing feels like a lot of work for very little return, the answer may not be to post more, create more Reels, send more emails, or spend more money on ads.

The real problem might be your message.

In this episode of The Pilates Business Podcast, Seran Glanfield explores one of the most common marketing challenges among Pilates, barre, and yoga studio owners: marketing the method instead of marketing what the method makes possible.

Because effective boutique fitness marketing isn’t simply about creating awareness of what yo...

Can a fully booked schedule still leave you struggling financially?

In this episode of The Pilates Business Podcast, host Seran Glanfield challenges one of the biggest myths in the boutique fitness industry—that full classes automatically equal a successful business. While a busy Pilates studio may look thriving from the outside, many studio owners are quietly battling cash flow challenges, rising payroll costs, and the overwhelming pressure of being the person their business depends on.

Seran explores the critical difference between revenue and profitability, why growth without strong systems can create more stress than success, an...

When you invest in a business coach, what should you really expect in return?

A longer to-do list? More ideas? A formula that worked for someone else in a different market, with a different team and a completely different business model?

I don’t think so.

Good business coaching should help you build a stronger business and become a smarter, more capable business owner. It should improve your profit, sharpen your decision-making, strengthen your systems and help you understand how every part of your studio works together.

Because the goal is no...

Is your studio feeling full, but your revenue still feels capped?

In this episode of The Pilates Business Podcast, host Seran Glanfield challenges one of the biggest myths in the boutique fitness industry—that the only way to grow a Pilates studio is by adding more classes, raising prices, or opening a second location.

Drawing on more than a decade of experience coaching boutique fitness studio owners, Seran explores how a smarter Pilates business model can unlock sustainable growth without increasing your workload or expanding your space. She shares why relying on a single revenue st...

For many established studio owners, watching a new Pilates studio open nearby can trigger self-doubt, frustration, and the question: Why are clients leaving when we've built a great business? 

In this episode of The Pilates Business Podcast, host Seran Glanfield, founder of Spring Three Studio Business Consulting, explores why newer studios often capture attention—not because they're better, but because they're new. She shares why long-term success isn't built on novelty, but on intentional positioning, client loyalty, exceptional experiences, and a brand that continues to evolve. 

Whether you own a Pilates studio, yoga studio, or bout...

The Pilates industry is evolving rapidly — and studio owners who want to stay relevant need more than great classes to thrive. In this episode of The Pilates Business Podcast, host Seran Glanfield sits down with CJ Zarb, founder of Pilates Journal and creator of the Pilates Journal Expo, to discuss the future of the Pilates industry and what boutique fitness studio owners need to understand to build sustainable growth over the next five years.

Together, they unpack the biggest shifts happening across the global Pilates business landscape — from changing consumer expectations and instructor shortages to leadership, community, coll...

In this episode of The Pilates Business Podcast, host Seran Glanfield sits down with boutique fitness business broker and exit planning expert Mitch McGinley to unpack a conversation many studio owners avoid — what are you actually building? While many Pilates and boutique fitness studio owners focus on revenue, class numbers, and client retention, few stop to consider the long-term value of the business itself.

 Seran and Mitch dive into what truly creates business value, how to build systems that make your studio sustainable, and why creating a business that can run without you matters whether you ever pla...

In this episode of The Pilates Business Podcast, host Seran Glanfield dives into one of the biggest frustrations boutique fitness studio owners face: working harder than ever… but still not seeing consistent growth. 😩

From packed schedules and instructor burnout to inconsistent lead generation and operational overwhelm, Seran unpacks the hidden growth blockers keeping Pilates studio owners stuck in survival mode. She shares powerful insights into why hustle alone won’t scale a Pilates business — and what studio owners actually need to focus on to build a profitable, sustainable boutique fitness business.

If you’ve ever felt trappe...

In this episode of The Pilates Business Podcast, host Seran Glanfield sits down with Sara Talbert—movement educator, studio owner, teacher trainer, and founder of B Pilates Boutique and Lume Movement—to unpack what it really takes to build a thriving Pilates business. 

Sara shares her journey from teaching $45 Pilates sessions to creating multiple revenue streams through a brick-and-mortar studio, digital platforms, education, and an app designed to expand access to movement. This conversation dives into the realities of entrepreneurship, overcoming perfectionism, balancing motherhood and business ownership, and creating a sustainable business model that supports both growth and l...

In this episode of The Pilates Business Podcast, Seran Glanfield dives into one of the most overlooked growth strategies for boutique fitness studios: client retention. While many studio owners focus heavily on lead generation, marketing, and social media, the studios experiencing sustainable growth are often the ones creating exceptional client experiences that keep members coming back year after year.

Seran shares why retention matters so much in a Pilates studio or boutique fitness business, how loyal clients become your most powerful marketing tool, and the small but impactful ways studio owners can create a sense of belonging...

What does it actually take to build a strong Pilates instructor team in today’s rapidly growing industry? 🤔 

In this episode of The Pilates Business Podcast, host Seran Glanfield sits down with Lolo from the National Pilates Certification Program to unpack the real conversation happening behind studio owner burnout, instructor shortages, and inconsistent client experiences.

Together, they dive into why so many Pilates studio owners feel stuck teaching every class themselves, what true instructor competency really looks like, and how stronger teaching standards can help boutique fitness businesses build sustainable growth. This episode explores the future...

Why do some Pilates studios consistently fill classes while others seem stuck in a cycle of promotions, discounts, and unpredictable revenue?

In this episode of The Pilates Business Podcast, host Seran Glanfield explores one of the biggest mistakes boutique fitness studio owners make when it comes to marketing: treating it as a reactive activity rather than a strategic system. 

Seran shares why random marketing creates random results, how inconsistent messaging impacts client trust, and what successful Pilates, barre, and yoga studio owners do differently to create sustainable growth. 

If you're tired of posting on...

Running a successful boutique fitness studio can look amazing from the outside… but behind the scenes? Many studio owners are overwhelmed, overworked, and still doing everything themselves. 

In this episode of The Pilates Business Podcast, host Seran Glanfield dives into the leadership shift every Pilates studio owner, yoga studio owner, and boutique fitness business owner must make to create sustainable growth.

 From micromanaging and burnout to building systems, empowering your team, and stepping into a true CEO role, Seran shares the mindset and leadership strategies that help studio owners grow without sacrificing their freedom. 

If...

In this episode of The Pilates Business Podcast, host Seran Glanfield sits down with industry pioneer Todd Kuhn, founder of The Core Collab, to unpack what it really takes to build a profitable and sustainable pilates business. 

From running 40 classes a week in community halls to scaling a boutique fitness business into a 20-location franchise, Todd shares raw, behind-the-scenes insights into the evolution of the pilates studio model. 

Together, they explore the biggest mistakes studio owners make, why being a great instructor isn’t enough to grow a thriving pilates studio, and how systems, community, and...

Your Pilates classes are incredible… so why aren’t more clients booking? 🤔

In this powerful episode of The Pilates Business Podcast, host Seran Glanfield unpacks one of the biggest frustrations boutique fitness studio owners face: having amazing classes, highly trained instructors, and transformational client experiences… yet still struggling with inconsistent bookings and unpredictable growth.

Seran shares why great teaching alone isn’t enough to grow a profitable Pilates studio or boutique fitness business — and reveals the missing pieces that impact conversions, client acquisition, and sustainable studio growth. From unclear messaging and overwhelming pricing structures to ineffective m...

In this episode of The Pilates Business Podcast, host Seran Glanfield dives into one of the most challenging (and often avoided) topics for studio owners—raising prices. Speaking directly to overwhelmed pilates studio owners and boutique fitness business operators, Seran shares three powerful strategies to increase your pricing without losing clients or damaging trust. She unpacks the common fears around pricing, why undercharging is keeping your pilates business stuck, and how to confidently position your services for long-term profitability. 

If you’re tired of working long hours, struggling with inconsistent revenue, and feeling undervalued, this episode offers a sma...

In this episode of The Pilates Business Podcast, host Seran Glanfield unpacks one of the most common misconceptions in the pilates business world: that hiring a front desk person will magically solve overwhelm. 

Speaking directly to boutique fitness business owners feeling stretched thin, Seran reveals why adding staff without the right systems in place can actually create more stress, not less. She shares practical insights on how to streamline operations, improve client experience, and build a sustainable pilates studio that runs smoothly - without relying on reactive hiring. 

If you’re struggling with burnout, inconsistent proc...

In this episode of The Pilates Business Podcast, host Seran Glanfield sits down with finance expert Danielle Hayden to unpack the hidden money mistakes that many boutique fitness studio owners make without even realizing it. 

From relying on a bank balance to judge business health to overlooking debt, profit margins, and cash flow, this conversation shines a light on the financial red flags that can quietly undermine a growing studio. 

Seran and Danielle explore what Pilates studio owners, yoga studio owners, and barre studio owners really need to understand about their numbers so they can ma...

In this episode of The Pilates Business Podcast, host Seran Glanfield dives into one of the biggest growth blockers for boutique fitness studio owners: being the center of everything. 

Many Pilates studio owners build their business on passion and exceptional teaching - but without stepping into leadership, growth becomes capped by time, energy, and capacity. 

Seran explores the critical shift from instructor to business leader, sharing how to create systems, empower your team, and remove yourself as the bottleneck in your Pilates business. 

If you're feeling overwhelmed, stuck teaching too many classes, and str...

In this episode of The Pilates Business Podcast, host Seran Glanfield tackles one of the most misunderstood signals in a boutique fitness studio business: the waitlist. While a waitlisted class can feel like the ultimate win, Seran breaks down why it might actually be a hidden bottleneck quietly costing your pilates studio revenue, burning out your best clients, and capping your growth potential.

Seran walks through the three most common mistakes pilates and boutique fitness studio owners make when demand outpaces capacity, including why treating your waitlist like a passive parking lot is one of the most...

If your studio is fully booked… but your revenue is stuck hovering between $15–20K months, this episode of The Pilates Business Podcast is a must-listen.

Hosted by Seran Glanfield, this episode dives into why so many Pilates studio owners and boutique fitness business owners hit a frustrating revenue plateau — despite working harder than ever. Seran unpacks the real reason growth stalls (hint: it’s not your marketing or your work ethic) and reveals how your current business model may be limiting your profit and scalability.

You’ll learn how to shift from a busy, time-heavy pilates bu...

In this episode of The Pilates Business Podcast, host Seran Glanfield tackles one of the most overlooked growth blockers facing boutique fitness studio owners today - the teaching trap. 

If you're a Pilates or boutique fitness studio owner who's fully booked, running back-to-back sessions, and still not seeing the revenue growth you know your business is capable of, this episode is your wake-up call. Seran explores why being your studio's best — and busiest — instructor may actually be the very thing quietly capping your growth, stalling your revenue, and keeping you locked in a cycle of exhaustion. 

She...

What does it actually take to build a boutique fitness brand that scales globally — without losing the quality, culture, and client experience that made it special in the first place? 

In this episode of The Pilates Business Podcast, host Seran Glanfield sits down with Michael Ramsey, co-founder and director of Strong Pilates — one of the fastest-growing hybrid fitness concepts in the world. Since launching in 2019, Strong Pilates has expanded to over 100 studios across 14 countries, with 155 more planned for the U.S. alone. 

Michael pulls back the curtain on how they did it — from proving the concept...

Is your Pilates studio marketing feeling like a whole lot of effort for very little reward? 

In this episode of The Pilates Business Podcast, host Seran Glanfield pulls back the curtain on one of the most common — and costly — mistakes boutique fitness studio owners make: trying to market to everyone. 

Seran breaks down why generic, broad marketing messaging doesn't just fail to attract new clients, it actively makes your studio invisible in a crowded market. 

From understanding the real difference between inclusivity and specificity, to uncovering the hidden costs of vague positioning — price shoppers...

In this episode of The Pilates Business Podcast, host Seran Glanfield tackles one of the most persistent myths in the boutique fitness industry: that more clients automatically equals more success. Seran breaks down why chasing new leads without the right foundations in place can actually accelerate stress, erode profit margins, and push studio owners closer to burnout — not further away from it. 

Drawing from her work with studio owners around the world inside her Thrive Business Coaching Program, Seran reveals why the real growth bottlenecks in most Pilates and boutique fitness businesses aren't about lead generation at all...

In this episode of The Pilates Business Podcast, host Seran Glanfield tackles one of the most frustrating experiences a studio owner can face — the dreaded revenue plateau. If your Pilates studio income has flatlined despite your best efforts, this episode is your wake-up call. 

Seran unpacks why flat revenue isn't a sign of failure, but rather a powerful signal from your business that something needs to shift. From capacity constraints and maxed-out schedules to outdated marketing language and lead generation strategies that have run their course, Seran walks studio owners through the real reasons revenue stalls — and what...

In this episode of The Pilates Business Podcast, host Seran Glanfield dives into one of the most common (and exhausting) challenges facing Pilates studio owners today: inconsistent new client flow. If you feel like you’re doing all the things—posting on social media, running promotions, offering discounts—yet still not seeing steady growth, this conversation will be a game changer. 

Seran breaks down why the problem is rarely about tactics and instead lives in your foundations: lead generation strategy, messaging clarity, trust-building, and the path into your studio. This episode is a must-listen for Pilates studio owners...

Studio ownership can look full, successful, and thriving on the outside… yet still feel incredibly lonely on the inside. 

In this episode of The Pilates Business Podcast, host Seran Glanfield explores the hidden truth behind burnout in a pilates studio and boutique fitness business — isolation. 

From carrying the emotional weight of leadership to navigating decisions, finances, and growth alone, Seran unpacks why so many studio owners feel disconnected even when their schedules are packed. 

She shares the mindset shifts, structures, and support systems that help studio owners move from overwhelm to clarity, confidence, and sus...

In this episode of The Pilates Business Podcast, host Seran Glanfield sits down with longtime friend, Pilates educator, and industry leader Victoria Torrie-Capan to explore what it truly means to elevate Pilates teachers as professionals in a rapidly changing industry. 

With over 20 years of experience as a teacher, studio owner, and mentor, Victoria shares why teaching excellence, business understanding, and personal growth cannot be separated — and how studio owners must rethink how they support their teams. 

Together, they unpack what’s missing from the current Pilates industry conversation, why comparison and isolation are holding teachers back...

In this episode of The Pilates Business Podcast, host Seran Glanfield breaks down the hidden reason so many boutique fitness studio owners feel stuck on a constant hamster wheel of marketing, discounting, and chasing new clients.

 Spoiler alert: it’s not a lead problem - it’s a retention problem. Seran explains why client retention is the real engine behind a profitable, sustainable pilates business and how focusing on keeping the right clients can create stable revenue, fuller classes, and far less burnout. 

If your pilates studio or boutique fitness business feels unpredictable month to month...

In this episode of The Pilates Business Podcast, host Seran Glanfield breaks down why studio owners don’t need more systems - they need the right ones.

 If running your Pilates studio or boutique fitness business feels overwhelming, chaotic, or overly dependent on you, this episode reveals how systemizing just 20% of your business can free up 80% of your time, energy, and mental bandwidth. 

Seran shares the three high-leverage areas that create the biggest shift - your client journey, internal operations, and team delegation - so your studio can run smoothly without you doing everything. 

Thi...