Beyond the Reformer

There are very few people in the Pilates world who have shaped the industry in the way Rael Isacowitz has.

In part 1 of this conversation, Nic sits down with the founder of Basi Pilates to explore the real foundations of the method, what it means to teach with purpose, and why the future of Pilates depends on more than just choreography.

From building one of the first curriculum-based teacher training programmes in the late 80s to creating a global community of educators, Rael shares the story behind Basi and the approach that continues to guide it today.

This episode goes deep into the art and science of movement, the importance of flow, and how great teaching can create real change in people’s lives.

Rael also shares his perspective on cueing, precision, and what separates a good instructor from a truly impactful teacher.

Timestamps
00:00 Introduction to Rael Isacowitz
01:57 The early vision behind creating a structured Pilates curriculum
04:17 What Pilates looked like in the late 80s
05:05 The very first Basi teacher training group
08:16 How Rael first discovered Pilates and his movement background
14:08 Opening one of the first Pilates studios in California
18:55 The story behind the name Basi Pilates
21:26 How the Basi platform and education evolved over time
25:05 The influence of yoga, dance, and giving credit in the industry
30:07 Creating joyful, athletic Pilates experiences
34:53 Pilates as a tool for positive change in the world
39:02 What the mind body connection really means in practice
42:51 Why cueing is one of the most important teaching skills

If you loved this episode, make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss part two coming later this week.

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Connect with Rael:
Rael Isacowitz Instagram
Basi Pilates Instagram
Basi Pilates Website

Join the Soul Pilates Retreat in Cornwall on 19 June for a weekend of movement, rest and nourishment. Find all the details here.

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

Are you feeling pressure to make your Pilates classes more creative but not sure where to start?

We’ve seen how much you’ve been loving the solo episodes, so Nic is back today to discuss how to be more creative in your classes without losing structure or purpose.

With so much inspiration coming from social media, it’s easy to feel like you need to constantly reinvent your teaching. But Nic challenges this idea and brings it back to what really matters, which is strong foundations, clear intention, and teaching that actually serves your clients.

She shares how creativity in Pilates is not about adding more complexity, but about understanding movement patterns, building from the fundamentals, and creating a class experience that feels purposeful and connected.

This episode will help you rethink creativity in Pilates and give you simple ways to make your classes feel fresh without losing what makes Pilates so powerful.

Timestamps
00:00 Why creativity in Pilates teaching is such a big topic right now
02:24 Why do you feel the need to be creative?
03:10 The impact of social media on Pilates classes
06:18 Letting your personality shape your teaching style
08:06 Teaching with intention and clear class outcomes
13:06 How to break down complex exercises into simple steps
16:11 Creating flow and storytelling in your classes
17:44 How to layer progressions and regressions for clients
20:09 Simple ways to adapt and evolve Pilates exercises
24:09 Taking clients on a journey over multiple weeks

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to follow or subscribe so you never miss a new one. And let Nic know if you took anything away from this episode, she loves receiving your DMs!

Connect with Nic:
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Join the Soul Pilates Retreat in Cornwall on 19 June for a weekend of movement, rest and nourishment. Find all the details here.

Thinking about investing in Pilates equipment? Balanced Body are offering our listeners a special discount! Fill in the form here and mention Soul Pilates when you order.

Most Pilates studios are sitting on far more revenue potential than they realise.

With the right pricing, membership strategy and business model, a single studio can grow into a multi-million-pound business without needing more space or more classes.

In this episode, Nic sits down with Pilates business expert Lise Kuecker, founder of Studio Grow, to discuss what actually drives profitable Pilates studios.

Lise works with hundreds of boutique fitness studios around the world and shares the real numbers behind successful studios.

From pricing psychology and memberships to team structure and sales metrics, this conversation reveals the systems that help studio owners turn passion into a sustainable and scalable business.

They discuss the most common mistakes studio owners make in their early years, why many studios unknowingly leak profit, and how simple adjustments to pricing or membership structure can dramatically increase revenue.

Timestamps
00:00 Intro to Lise
01:57 How Lise first got started in Pilates and the fitness industry
04:11 Early mistakes many studio owners make in their first year
09:45 How successful studios protect themselves from competition
11:53 The story behind how Studio Grow was created
12:54 Understanding memberships and how studios actually sell them
18:55 Where studios often lose money without realising
22:29 How labour models and organisational structure impact profit
24:12 The financial metrics every studio owner should track
24:44 Pricing strategies that guide clients towards the right option
27:40 Why memberships work and the psychology behind commitment
29:03 What the most successful Pilates studios do differently
34:22 Global boutique fitness trends and the rise of niche studios
40:03 Quick-fire questions

If you’re a pilates studio owner looking for a mastermind to help you scale, systemise, and grow your business, check out Studio Grow here for a FREE masterclass! 

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 Lise:
Studio Grow Website
Studio Grow Podcast
Studio Grow Instagram
Studio Grow Free Trainings

Join the Soul Pilates Retreat in Cornwall on 19 June for a weekend of movement, rest and nourishment. Find all the details here.

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

Too often Pilates teachers feel pressure to diagnose, label or overcomplicate movement.

In reality, the most powerful thing we can do is help people move with confidence.

In this episode, Nic speaks with clinician, Pilates educator and biomechanics specialist Sarah Jane Walls about the role of clinical reasoning in Pilates and why simplicity is often the most effective approach.

SJ shares her journey from competitive runner to Pilates teacher and clinic owner, explaining how Pilates quite literally changed her life after a serious injury in her early twenties.

Since then she has spent nearly three decades studying the body, completing multiple degrees including sports therapy, podiatry and public health, and is currently completing a PhD focused on biomechanics and diagnostic ultrasound.

Together they discuss what Pilates teachers really need to know when working with injuries or in rehabilitation settings.

SJ explains why communication and curiosity matter more than having every answer, how to assess movement by simply getting people moving, and why the feet often hold the key to understanding pain elsewhere in the body.

Timestamps
00:00 Intro to SJ
02:33 What clinical reasoning actually means in Pilates
04:08 Trusting the Pilates method when working with complex cases
05:30 SJ’s journey into Pilates
10:26 Why lifelong learning is essential for movement professionals
13:14 Mentors, business skills and building a successful studio
15:50 Helping runners understand why they need Pilates
19:40 Personalising group classes so every client feels seen
27:28 Partnering with clinics and building referral relationships
30:22 The value of shadowing clinicians and building referrals
31:56 The most important skills for Pilates teachers working in rehab
34:18 Assessing clients by getting them moving first
38:57 What Pilates teachers should look for when assessing feet
46:35 Correcting movement patterns from the ground up
50:11 Orthotics, rehabilitation and when they are actually useful
53:22 Quick-fire questions

If you found this conversation helpful, make sure you subscribe to Beyond the Reformer so you never miss an episode.

Connect with Nic:
Beyond the Reformer Instagram
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Soul Pilates Education
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Connect with SJ
SJ Walls Instagram
The Rehab Hub Website
SJ Walls LinkedIn

Join the Soul Pilates Retreat in Cornwall on 19 June for a weekend of movement, rest and nourishment. Find all the details here.

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

Nic sits down with Amy Jordan, founder of Pilates Addiction and creator of the WundaFormer, to explore what it really takes to build a Pilates empire without losing your purpose.

From leaving a career in entertainment marketing to opening her first studio with every penny she had, Amy shares the courage, creativity and conviction behind her journey.

They discuss equipment innovation, studio ownership, scaling through franchising, leadership boundaries, inclusive culture and the mindset required to grow sustainably.

Amy opens up about developing new Pilates apparatus, launching revolutionary home equipment and the lessons she learned about slowing down, building strong foundations and letting go of control.

She also shares her experience of facing cancer during Covid and how movement became part of her healing.

This episode is for Pilates teachers, studio owners, movement educators and entrepreneurs who want to innovate, scale and lead with integrity while staying connected to the true roots of the method.

Timestamps
00:00 Introduction to Amy Jordan
02:02 Leaving marketing and opening the first studio
07:05 Taking the leap and investing everything into her business
11:05 Expanding beyond the reformer
14:02 Sketching and inventing the WundaFormer
19:14 Opening multiple studios and building strong teams
29:22 Balancing athletic flow with classical principles
31:03 Reinventing props for better alignment at home
35:17 Building online reach and global impact
39:16 Designing a revolutionary home Pilates machine
43:01 Franchising Pilates Addiction and scaling with integrity
48:56 Leadership boundaries and empowering teams
50:52 Reflecting on what she has created
54:16 Quick fire questions

If this conversation inspired you, please subscribe, follow and leave a review wherever you’re listening.

Your support helps Beyond the Reformer grow and continue bringing you powerful conversations from across the global Pilates community.

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 Amy:
Amy Jordan Instagram
Pilates Addiction
Amy Jordan YouTube
WundaBar Website

Join the Soul Pilates Retreat in Cornwall on 19 June for a weekend of movement, rest and nourishment. Find all the details here.

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