Beyond the Reformer

In Part One of this incredible two part interview, Nic sits down in California with Dr. Brent Anderson, physical therapist, educator and founder of Polestar Pilates.

Brent shares how science has reshaped the way Polestar teaches core control, why positive movement experiences matter more than perfection, and how Polestar Pilates was born.

The conversation goes deep into the emotional and spiritual power of movement. Brent reflects on how alignment creates presence, how presence builds internal locus of control, and why Pilates has the capacity to create life changing shifts far beyond the studio.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introducing Dr Brent Anderson of Polestar Pilates
01:41 Polestar’s culture of collaboration
04:43 Blending science, compassion and evolving movement research
05:29 Theory of core control
08:18 Teaching reformer to mixed levels and applying the 80 percent challenge rule
11:25 Swarm intelligence and precise cueing
14:37 Going from novice to expert
18:24 Brent’s early movement background
22:24 Why Polestar was born
26:24 Pilates as a catalyst for life change through body, mind and spirit alignment
28:10 The power of collective presence
33:09 Teaching as inquiry, mindfulness in class and internal locus of control
37:35 Moving beyond dogma
42:43 Subscribe for Part Two

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Connect with Nic:
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Connect with Dr Brent Anderson:
Polestar Pilates Website
Polestar Pilates Instagram
Brent Anderson Instagram

Interested in joining the July Teacher Training intake? Find all the details and book a call here.
Thinking about investing in Pilates equipment? Balanced Body are offering our listeners a special discount! Simply fill in the form here and mention Soul Pilates when you order.

A Pilates body has nothing to do with aesthetics and everything to do with awareness, strength and freedom in your own skin.

Nic sits down with Brooke Siler, author of The Pilates Body, to explore what the phrase “Pilates body” really means and why it has been so widely misunderstood.

Brooke discusses her early training with Romana Kryzanowska, the direct lineage back to Joseph Pilates, and the responsibility of carrying a method forward without losing its philosophy.

Brooke explains why breath is the missing piece in so much modern Pilates, the misunderstood concept of tension and release, and how true control builds empowerment in life.

They explore classical vs contemporary Pilates, the explosion of reformer Pilates, why mat work is still important, and what it means to stay rooted in the method while teaching in a modern world.

Timestamps
00:00 Introduction to Brooke
02:05 What the Pilates body means
09:46 Discovering Pilates and training with Romana Kryzanowska
12:09 What Romana was really like
15:36 Becoming a teacher
20:12 Romana’s lessons and stories about Joseph Pilates
24:09 What is misinterpreted about breath and control
28:31 Understanding tension and release
30:36 Classical vs contemporary Pilates
32:37 Breath as the foundation of powerful movement
34:39 Staying true to the method during the modern Pilates boom
39:21 The story behind writing and revising the book
44:12 Why mat work is essential and more relevant than ever
47:27 Responsibility as a teacher and Pilates for life and sport
53:04 Quick fire reflections and how to work with Brooke

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the podcast so you never miss a conversation. Share this episode with another Pilates teacher and leave a rating and review to help more people discover the show.

Connect with Nic:
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Join Soul at Home
Book a Pilates Class

Connect with Brooke:
Brooke Siler Pilates Website
Brooke Siler Pilates Instagram
Shop The Pilates Body Revised Edition

Interested in joining the July Teacher Training intake? Find all the details and book a call here.
Thinking about investing in Pilates equipment? Balanced Body are offering our listeners a special discount! Simply fill in the form here and mention Soul Pilates when you order.

Pilates as we know it today would not exist without Kristi Cooper and the bold decision she made in 2009 to put the method online before anyone believed it would work.

While in LA, Nic got the chance to visit Kristi Cooper in her gorgeous house in Santa Barbara to discuss the story behind Pilates Anytime and the evolution of online Pilates education.

In 2008, at a time when YouTube videos were limited to ten minutes and Pilates was still seen as exclusive and studio based, she was asked a simple question: why not put Pilates online?

They dive into Kristi’s early journey with Pilates at just 13 years old, her training with Rael Isacowitz, and her passion for preserving the lineage of the method through the Pilates Legacy Project.

The conversation explores classical versus contemporary Pilates, inclusivity across styles, the rise of athletic reformer trends, and the balance between staying true to the method while responding to modern data and member demand.

Timestamps
00:00 Intro to Kristi
01:03 The original idea behind putting Pilates online
05:04 Kristi’s introduction to Pilates at 13 and how it changed her life
07:00 Training with Rael Isacowitz and stepping into teacher training
09:52 Launching Pilates Anytime in 2009
12:50 The Pilates Legacy Project and preserving the history of the method
19:05 Inclusivity across classical and contemporary styles and managing industry competition
23:54 Responding to trends while protecting the integrity of Pilates
25:29 Building community through workshops, emails and connection
26:34 Creating new content while managing a vast online library
28:20 The depth of Pilates education and the challenges facing modern teachers
29:09 Observation, mentorship and what makes a great Pilates instructor
31:03 How teachers are selected for Pilates Anytime
36:23 The educational role of online platforms in an unregulated industry
40:38 The future of online Pilates
42:24 Quickfire questions

If you want to keep hearing conversations from amazing people within the industry, then please make sure to follow the podcast, rate it five stars and share it on Instagram.

Connect with Nic:
Beyond the Reformer Instagram
Soul Pilates Instagram
Soul Pilates Education
Nic’s Instagram
Join Soul at Home
Book a Pilates Class

Connect with Kristi:
Pilates Anytime Website
Pilates Anytime Instagram
Kristi’s Instagram

Interested in joining the July Teacher Training intake? Find all the details and book a call here.
Thinking about investing in Pilates equipment? Balanced Body are offering our listeners a special discount! Simply fill in the form here and mention Soul Pilates when you order.

Pilates is EVERYWHERE right now, but not everything being labelled Pilates is safe or rooted in the original method.

Nic sits down with Victoria Batha Cuomo aka the Pilates Snob, for a thought-provoking conversation about the current state of the Pilates industry.

They explore how social media has both helped and harmed Pilates and why misinformation spreads so easily.

Victoria explains why a lack of regulation around education has created major issues for both teachers and clients, and why safety and understanding the system as a whole matters more than trends on Instagram.

They also discuss Victoria’s ‘WTF Wednesday’s’, the Pilates Transparency Project, and the original Pilates lawsuit.

Episode timestamps
00:00 Introducing Victoria aka The Pilates Snob
00:31 How social media is shaping the Pilates industry for better and worse
02:59 Victoria’s first experiences with Pilates and athletic training
05:27 Becoming a Pilates teacher
08:42 The realities and gaps in Pilates teacher training
21:06 WTF Wednesday and calling out unsafe industry trends
25:30 Common misconceptions about Pilates online
29:02 What the Pilates Transparency Project is really about
33:27 Breaking down the original Pilates lawsuit
38:06 Where Pilates education is falling short today
41:58 Pilates Snob University and mentorship for teachers
46:21 Quick fire questions

Thanks for tuning in to this weeks episodes! As always, if you enjoyed it, please share it with your network, rate the show 5 stars and subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Connect with Nic:
Beyond the Reformer Instagram
Soul Pilates Instagram
Soul Pilates Education
Nic’s Instagram
Join Soul at Home
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Connect with Victoria:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.pilates.snob/
Website: https://www.thepilatessnob.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pilatessnob
Interested in joining the July Teacher Training intake? Find all the details and book a call here.
Thinking about investing in Pilates equipment? Balanced Body are offering our listeners a special discount! Simply fill in the form here and mention Soul Pilates when you order.

Pilates is not meant to be rushed, trendy, or reinvented every week, and this conversation explains exactly why.

Nic sits down with Tracey Mallett in her California studio for an honest conversation about movement, teaching, creativity, and what it really takes to build a long and sustainable career in Pilates.

They explore the evolution of Pilates, classical and contemporary work, and the challenges facing new instructors in a trend driven industry.

Tracey speaks openly about confidence and trust in the teaching space, why simplicity often leads to better classes, and how understanding the foundations of the method allows for true creativity.

They also discuss social media presence as a Pilates teacher, suffering from burnout, and the pressure to constantly show up online.

Timestamps
00:00 How Pilates first entered Tracey’s life 
08:25 Building a long term career in Pilates 
12:40 How the Pilates industry has changed over the years 
27:42 Social media, confidence, and personal growth as a teacher 
34:05 Advice for anyone wanting to show up online 
39:46 Barre, Pilates fusion, and how movement has evolved 
49:35 Where Pilates education is heading next 
58:31 Finding balance between work, ambition, and personal life 
01:00:44 Quick fire questions

If you want to keep hearing from amazing guests like Tracey, please rate the show 5 stars and subscribe!

Connect with Nic:
Beyond the Reformer Instagram
Soul Pilates Instagram
Soul Pilates Education
Nic’s Instagram
Join Soul at Home
Book a Pilates Class

Connect with Tracey:
Tracey Mallett Website
Pilates Next Education
Bootybarre
Pilates Barre On Demand App
Tracey’s Instagram
Interested in joining the July Teacher Training intake? Find all the details and book a call here.
Thinking about investing in Pilates equipment? Balanced Body are offering our listeners a special discount! Simply fill in the form here and mention Soul Pilates when you order.