The Pilates Lounge

The vagus nerve is everywhere right now — from nervous system "hacks" to expensive gadgets promising to reset your body.
But what do we actually know about it?
In this episode, Katie explores the fascinating anatomy of the vagus nerve, including new 2026 research mapping its intricate network of fibres and what that could mean for the future of medicine and movement.
She also dives into:
Why around 80% of vagus nerve signals travel from the body to the brain
What new research into exercise and vagal activity may tell us about the importance of consistent movement
Why the vagus nerve does not control your pelvic floor
The relationship between the pelvic floor, sacral nerves, bladder, bowel and sexual function
How the diaphragm and pelvic floor work together as part of a bigger system
What ancient traditions can teach us about the body — and where modern interpretations of chakras differ from their original traditions
The ongoing debate around polyvagal theory and why good science should remain open to challenge
Why Pilates professionals should stay curious, keep learning and avoid putting the body into one tiny box
Katie also reflects on how understanding the nervous system, ancient wisdom and modern research has influenced the way she teaches Pilates.
The big takeaway: there is no single magic nervous-system hack. The body is interconnected, and meaningful change comes from understanding the bigger picture — and showing up consistently.
Keep Learning
Katie encourages you to explore the latest research into the vagus nerve and continue questioning, learning and looking beyond a single tradition or perspective.
Stay curious. Stay learning. Stay moving.
And don't forget to subscribe to the Pilates News newsletter for free handouts and resources connected to the topics explored on the podcast.

Got your Pilates certification and dreaming of opening your own studio? Before you sign a lease or start buying reformers, Katie shares the realities she wishes she had considered before becoming a studio owner.
In this episode, Katie explores:
The real cost of building and marketing a Pilates studio
Why social media is now essential for small businesses
The shift from being an instructor to becoming a leader
Why your team's problems become your problems
The importance of knowing your numbers
The realities of profitability, stress, and business longevity
Why working for someone else might actually be the better choice for some instructors
What it really takes to build a studio that thrives long term
Opening a studio can be incredibly rewarding—but it's not the easy path to success. If you're considering taking the leap, this episode is your reality check before you do.
Thinking about opening your own Pilates studio—or already wondering what you've gotten yourself into?
Don't try to figure it all out alone. Katie's Thrive Program is designed to help Pilates professionals build a business that doesn't just survive, but actually thrives.
Join the Thrive Program waitlist and get the support, strategy, and guidance you need to build your studio with intention.
And while you're there, subscribe to the Pilates News newsletter for free resources, handouts, and practical insights for Pilates professionals, movement educators, and Pilates lovers.
Your studio can be more than a business. Build it to last.

Why do passionate Pilates instructors burn out and leave an industry they love?
In this episode, Katie Crane shares what she has learned from more than 20 years of teaching and running a studio about creating a sustainable career in Pilates.
From protecting your energy and setting boundaries with clients to diversifying your skills beyond teaching, Katie explores practical ways instructors can avoid burnout and build careers that last.
In This Episode
Why teaching Pilates alone may not be sustainable long term
How to protect your energy and maintain professional boundaries
Why oversharing with clients can contribute to burnout
What "spiritual hygiene" means for Pilates instructors
Why instructors need to diversify beyond teaching
Ways to add value through marketing, social media, administration, mentoring and more
How finding your own strengths can create a more sustainable career
The Big Question
Who are you going to be besides a Pilates instructor?
Katie encourages instructors to think beyond teaching hours and consider what other skills they can develop to create longevity in the industry.
Katie's Takeaway
Protect your energy. Keep learning. Diversify your skills. Build a career you can sustain.
Work With Katie
Refine Mentoring Program — Develop and refine your Pilates teaching skills.
Thrive Mentoring Program — Build a stronger, more sustainable career and business.
Connect With Katie
The Pilates Professional
https://thepilatesprofessional.com.au
Don't forget to subscribe to the Pilates newsletter for free resources connected to the topics discussed on the podcast.
Keywords
Pilates, Pilates instructor, Pilates burnout, Pilates teacher, Pilates career, Pilates business, Pilates education, Pilates mentoring, sustainable Pilates career

What happens when the Pilates industry changes so much that you no longer recognise the Pilates you've spent 20 years teaching?
In this episode of The Pilates Lounge, Katie Crane reflects on the last 18 years of her life and career and the huge changes she has witnessed within the Pilates industry.
From the rise of Pilates in Australia to the growing popularity of heavily loaded reformer classes, shorter teacher training pathways, and the pressure for everything to be faster and easier, Katie asks a big question:
Is this the end of Pilates as we know it?
Katie shares honestly about mourning the Pilates she once knew, accepting that the industry is changing, and deciding that instead of fighting the change, she will focus on what she knows to be true: helping people move better, feel better, and develop a deeper understanding of their own bodies.
In This Episode
Why the 18-year eclipse cycle prompted Katie to reflect on her own life and career

What Pilates looked like in Australia when Katie first started teaching

How the Pilates industry has changed over the past 18 years

Why Katie believes the meaning of "Pilates" has become blurred

The growing focus on strength and heavy loading in modern reformer classes

Why Pilates, in Katie's view, is about much more than strength or equipment

The importance of listening to your body and developing self-awareness

Why more people are looking for shortcuts in Pilates education

Katie's decision to offer three different pathways to becoming a Pilates instructor

The tension between traditional Pilates education and what today's market wants

What it means to stop fighting industry change and focus on what you believe in

Katie's thoughts on the future of Pilates and her own place within it

The Big Question
Who are you becoming as the industry around you changes?
Katie reflects on how easy it is to hold onto the way things used to be, even when the world has already moved forward.
For her, the answer isn't to fight the evolution of Pilates anymore.
It is to continue teaching what she knows works.
Katie's Takeaway
Pilates isn't about simply performing exercises or following repertoire.
For Katie, the deeper purpose is helping people understand their bodies well enough to know what they need.
As she puts it, controllogy isn't simply about controlled movement — it's about having control of your body because you understand what your body needs.
A Conversation for Pilates Professionals
This episode is intentionally provocative.
Katie openly questions where the industry is heading, what should still be considered Pilates, and whether the profession is losing some of the depth that once defined it.
You may agree with her.
You may disagree.
Either way, she wants you to think about it.
Is Pilates changing — or are we simply seeing the next evolution of the method?
Connect With Katie
Find Katie and learn more about her work at:
The Pilates Professional
https://thepilatesprofessional.com.au
You can also find the podcast on YouTube at The Pilates Professional.
And don't forget to subscribe to the Pilates News newsletter for free handouts and resources connected to the topics discussed on the podcast.
Share This Episode
Know a Pilates teacher, educator, or movement professional who has been thinking about where the industry is heading?
Share this episode with them and keep the conversation going.
Keywords
Pilates, Pilates industry, Pilates instructor, Pilates teacher training, Pilates education, reformer Pilates, Pilates professional, Pilates teaching, Pilates methodology, Pilates trends, future of Pilates, Pilates certification, movement education, controllogy

In this thought-provoking episode, Katie Crane explores whether Pilates instructors have always been progressively loading their clients, or whether the recent emphasis on heavy resistance training has shifted the conversation. Katie unpacks the definitions of progression and load, examines why the term has become so popular, and questions whether chasing heavier weights aligns with the true purpose of Pilates.
Rather than rejecting strength training, Katie encourages Pilates professionals to understand where progressive loading belongs, how Pilates naturally develops strength, and why mobility, stability, and movement quality should never be sacrificed in the pursuit of heavier resistance.
In This Episode You'll Learn
What "progressive load" actually means.
Why Pilates has always included progressive loading—even without adding dumbbells.
How spring tension, repetitions, tempo, range of motion, and exercise progressions all contribute to loading.
Why progressive overload has become a popular marketing term in the Pilates industry.
The connection between women's health, aging, and resistance training.
Why Pilates plays an important role alongside strength training rather than replacing it.
How excessive loading can reduce mobility, flexibility, and movement quality.
Why Pilates should continue to prioritize functional movement over simply lifting heavier.
Key Takeaways
Progressive loading is not new—it has always been part of Pilates.
More weight doesn't automatically mean better outcomes.
Pilates develops strength through intelligent progression, movement quality, and control.
Mobility and stability are just as important as muscular strength.
Heavy resistance training and Pilates complement each other when used appropriately.
Great Pilates teaching is about building resilient, functional bodies—not simply increasing load.
Memorable Quotes
"Progressive load is what we do in Pilates—but we don't need to overload people if they aren't getting the Pilates principles right."
"The magic of Pilates is joint health, better alignment, improved posture, proprioception, and dynamic stability."
Resources Mentioned
Thrive Business Program for Pilates studio owners
Refined Teacher Training Program
Pilates Professional Newsletter
Pilates Lounge Podcast YouTube Channel
Connect with Katie Crane
Ready to continue your Pilates education?
Join Katie's community for practical education, business mentoring, and movement insights designed to help you become a more confident teacher and build a thriving Pilates career.
Subscribe to the Pilates Professional Newsletter
Join the waitlist for Thrive
Learn more about the Refined Teacher Training Program
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If this episode challenged your thinking, share it with another Pilates instructor or movement professional. Conversations like these help elevate the industry and encourage thoughtful, evidence-informed teaching.