Building a successful Pilates studio takes far more than great teaching, and this episode breaks down what truly creates long term growth, profitability, and sustainability in the Pilates industry.

Nic sits down with Pilates business strategist Seran Glanfield to explore what it really takes to build a thriving and sustainable Pilates studio.

They discuss the biggest mistakes studio owners make, why mindset plays such a crucial role in success, and how to shift from thinking like a teacher to stepping fully into the role of business owner.

Seran explains why great teaching alone is not enough, how to stop getting distracted by competitors, and what separates studios that struggle from those that consistently grow.

She shares practical insights into tracking key metrics, building a strong brand message, raising prices with confidence, and using marketing in a way that aligns with your values.

Timestamps

00:00 Introducing Seran Glanfield

02:20 How Seran found Pilates and transitioned from finance

04:33 Moving from teaching Pilates into business strategy

06:15 How Pilates businesses differ across cultures around the world

07:47 A deeper look at the business side of Pilates studios

08:04 The most common mistakes studio owners make

11:41 Traits shared by the most successful studio owners

12:53 Why leadership and mindset are so important

17:40 The numbers every studio owner should be tracking

28:43 Approaching marketing in a way that feels aligned and intentional

29:33 Why clear brand messaging makes such a big difference

31:14 How to build a sustainable marketing strategy

36:08 Raising prices and overcoming fear around money

40:36 Mindset shifts that support long term success

45:25 Future trends in the Pilates industry

51:59 Quick fire questions

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to follow or subscribe to Beyond the Reformer wherever you listen or watch.

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 Seran:

• Spring Three Website
• Spring Three Instagram
• Spring Three Facebook
• Spring Three YouTube
• Seran on LinkedIn
• Spring Three Podcast on Spotify

Interested in joining the February Reformer+ 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.

To receive 10% off SPINEFITTER by SISSEL, click this link and use the code BEYOND at checkout. As an affiliate, I’ll receive a small commission which helps support the podcast.

Happy New Year and welcome to part 2 of the 2025 Beyond the Reformer Recap!

In this episode, Nic reflects on the lessons that emerged over the past year and how they are shaping the year ahead.

Following on from part 1, this episode explores balance, burnout, education, and the realities of building a sustainable life in Pilates alongside family, teaching, and leadership.

Guests such as Audrey O’Connor, Julie Driver, Rachel Hall, Amy Kellow, and Claire Sparrow share insights that go beyond movement and into how we live, teach, and lead.

Timestamps:

00:00 Reflections on the year

04:11 Audrey O’Connor on slowing down

08:56 Julie Driver on challenges in Pilates education

21:20 Rachel Hall on asking for help and building a community

30:31 Amy Kellow on classical versus contemporary Pilates

35:19 Claire Sparrow on balancing business, teaching, and family

41:04 Looking ahead to the new year

Thank you so much to all the guests who came onto the podcast in 2025! If you’d like to be a guest this year, please apply here!

Listen back to episodes mentioned!

Audrey O’Connor

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Julie Driver

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Rachel Hall

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Amy Kellow

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Claire Sparrow

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Interested in joining the February Reformer+ 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.

Welcome to part 1 of the 2025 Beyond the Reformer Recap! Nic is reflecting on the conversations that shaped Beyond the Reformer over the past six months.

What began as a 10-episode series so that Nic could tick having a podcast off her goals list, quickly grew into an ongoing show that connected teachers, studio owners, educators, and movement professionals from all corners of the Pilates community. With listeners tuning in from 94 countries, this podcast has grown bigger than Nic could have imagined.

Guests such as Diane Nye, Linda Rhodes and Sarah Liston, Michael King, Jenna Zaffino, Alexander Bohlander, Christi Idavoy, Jeannie Di Bon, and Ava Rodriguez share insights that go far beyond movement alone.

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome to the 2025 recap part 1

05:00 Diane Nye on what makes the most successful teacher

08:14 Linda and Sarah on the realities of running a Pilates studio

11:00 Michael King on the tapestry and method of Pilates

18:39 Jenna Zaffino on what teachers in the industry need to hear right now

28:05 Alexander Bohlander on mindfulness and ease in Pilates

29:11 Insights from the Polestar Pilates community

32:51 Christi Idavoy on Pilates being a calling

36:08 Jeannie Di Bon on understanding hypermobility and EDS

44:29 Ava Rodriguez on nervous system responses and teaching strategies

47:50 Subscribe for part 2

Want to be a guest on Beyond the Reformer in 2026? Apply here!

Listen back to episodes mentioned!

Diane Nye

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Linda Rhodes and Sarah Liston

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Michael King

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Jenna Zaffino

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Alexander Bohlander

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Christi Idavoy

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Jeannie Di Bon

Apple Podcasts

Interested in joining the February Reformer+ 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.

Some Pilates studios grow because of strategy. Others grow because of community. Angela Walker has built her studio through both.

This episode is a deep dive into what it really takes to grow a thriving, award winning Pilates studio outside of a big city.

Angela, the owner of Align Pilates near Glasgow, shares the real story behind building a community led, wellness focused space.

Angela opens up about so many important topics such as studio growth, dealing with burnout, setting boundaries with your teachers, teacher training, the pressure of social media and why community matters just as much as good teaching!

Timestamps

00:00 Intro to Angela Walker

02:09 How Angela grew from teaching on one reformer at home to a full community studio

04:02 Building a wellness centred space that clients feel connected to

08:05 The realities of growth and the challenges facing modern Pilates studios

11:45 Creating a supportive, balanced team culture

17:34 Keeping clients engaged with classes

25:01 Why Angela moved into teacher training and how she develops new instructors

27:38 The community spirit behind Align

29:24 Angela’s take on the state of Pilates today

32:54 Social media pressures for studio owners

37:16 Balancing profit and quality while running a boutique studio

41:04 Being named Best Pilates Studio

43:26 The future of Align and the broader Pilates industry

48:04 Quick fire questions

If you loved this conversation, follow or subscribe to Beyond the Reformer so you never miss an episode. It really helps the show reach more teachers, studio owners and Pilates lovers around the world.

We will be back on the 29th of December with a new episode! Have a wonderful Christmas and thank you as always for the support on the podcast.

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 Angela

• Align Pilates Instagram
• Align Pilates Website

Interested in joining the February Reformer+ 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.

To receive 10% off SPINEFITTER by SISSEL, click this link and use the code BEYOND at checkout. As an affiliate, I’ll receive a small commission which helps support the podcast.

Once you learn what fascia really does, you can’t unsee it in every client you work with.

In this conversation, Nic sits down with movement educator and fascia expert Katherine Pentecost for a deep dive into the world of fascia and why every Pilates teacher needs to understand it.

Kath shares her journey about how discovering fascia changed absolutely everything about the way she moved, cued, programmed and taught.

Nic and Kath explore what fascia actually is, the biggest misconceptions teachers still have, how fascia adapts to movement, why it’s so deeply connected to whole-body wellness, and how shifting your cueing and sequencing can unlock better results for every client you work with.

This episode is full of ‘aha’ moments for Pilates teachers, studio owners and anyone curious about movement, anatomy and long-term wellbeing.

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome and intro to Kath

01:40 What fascia is and why it matters

04:48 How Kath first discovered fascia

08:42 Bringing fascia awareness into Pilates

13:03 Applying fascia concepts in real teaching

15:29 Fascia essentials for Pilates teachers

18:41 Helping clients build awareness and agency

28:48 What healthy fascia looks like in movement

31:34 Stories that show how adaptable fascia is

32:57 When fascia becomes restricted

34:38 Hydrating and releasing fascia in practice

35:29 Blending fascia work with Pilates

39:34 Teaching and sequencing for fascia health

49:01 Where fascia education is heading next

52:05 Training programmes and pathways with Kath

57:10 Quickfire questions

Please hit subscribe and rate the show ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ if you loved today’s episode!

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 Kath:

• Website
• Kath’s Instagram
• Kath’s Courses

Interested in joining the February Reformer+ 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.

To receive 10% off SPINEFITTER by SISSEL, click this link and use the code BEYOND at checkout. As an affiliate, I’ll receive a small commission which helps support the podcast.

Pain does not mean your body is broken. If you work with clients in pain or you have ever felt afraid to move, this conversation is for you.

In this episode of Beyond The Reformer, Nic sits down with Pilates teacher, movement specialist and chronic pain educator Dana Karen (DK) Ciccone to explore what pain really is, how fear shapes the way we move, and why every body is meant to move.

Drawing on DK’s personal journey of chronic pain, injury and rebuilding trust with her body, the conversation looks at the stories people carry into the studio and how much those stories influence their movement.

Nic and DK share practical tools for teachers who work with clients in pain, including how to ask better questions, how to build psychological safety, and how to use springs and equipment intentionally to rebuild confidence.

They discuss inclusivity, representation, the evolution of Pilates and the importance of teaching in a way that celebrates strength rather than limitation.

Timestamps

00:00 Nic’s personal updates

02:07 Intro to today’s guest, DK Ciccone

03:36 DK opens up about her early experiences with pain and movement

07:09 How Pilates became a turning point in DK’s healing journey

13:44 DK’s path into teaching and rediscovering purpose

15:58 How to understand and support clients who arrive with pain

27:41 What creates a safe movement experience for every body

34:09 Helping clients build confidence with spring choices

35:28 Why inclusivity in Pilates studios matters

38:22 The boom of Pilates and how the industry is shifting

43:59 Pain, fear and how language influences the way we move

51:33 DK’s insights on Pilates in Scotland compared with America

56:21 What the future of Pilates education needs

01:03:13 Quickfire questions with DK

01:04:55 Where to connect with DK

If you enjoyed this episode, follow Beyond The Reformer, share it with a friend or fellow teacher, and leave a rating so more people can discover these conversations.

Nic also loves hearing your takeaways, so feel free to message 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 DK

• Movement Remedies Website
• Cultivating Courage Workshop
• Meant to Move Foundations
• DK’s Instagram
• Email DK:

Interested in joining the February Reformer+ 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.

To receive 10% off SPINEFITTER by SISSEL, click this link and use the code BEYOND at checkout. As an affiliate, I’ll receive a small commission which helps support the podcast.

Movement becomes medicine when you learn how to truly feel it, and this conversation with Christi Idavoy shows you exactly how to teach from that place of depth, clarity and presence.

Today, Nic sits down with senior Polestar Pilates educator Christi Idavoy for an inspiring conversation on movement, teaching, energy, intuition and the art of presence in the studio.

Christi shares the story of how movement has shaped her life since childhood, the unexpected path that led her from yoga to Pilates, and the moment she met Brent Anderson which changed everything for her.

She discusses the philosophy behind Polestar Pilates, why presence is a teachable skill, how to create safer and more transformative client experiences, and why knowing yourself always comes before guiding others.

For any Pilates teacher, studio owner or movement educator, this episode will allow you to understand the deeper layers of teaching Pilates, beyond just the choreography.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro to Christi Idavoy

03:37 Exploring the idea of movement as medicine

05:47 Christi shares her early journey into Pilates

15:04 Discovering Polestar and meeting Brent Anderson

20:30 Christi’s teaching philosophy and approach to education

28:06 Understanding the power of presence in the studio

34:05 Self discovery through movement and embodiment

34:44 Balancing teaching, family life and the demands of the industry

36:01 Burnout, intuition and embracing personal growth

38:16 Presence, boundaries and honouring your energy

40:23 The heart brain connection

43:55 Practical guidance for Pilates instructors

50:42 How to create a meaningful and transformative client experience

56:34 Christi’s personal wellbeing and self care practices

01:02:36 How to work with Christi

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure you follow Beyond The Reformer so you never miss a conversation.

Share this episode with another Pilates teacher who would love this episode and if you have a moment, leaving a quick rating or review helps the show reach even more people in our growing global 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 Christi

• Christi Idavoy Website
• Christi’s Instagram

Interested in joining the February Reformer+ 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.

To receive 10% off SPINEFITTER by SISSEL, click this link and use the code BEYOND at checkout. As an affiliate, I’ll receive a small commission which helps support the podcast.

Few people have shaped modern Pilates education like Nichole Zuckerman. As one of Polestar Pilates’ most senior educators, Nichole has dedicated her career to deepening how teachers understand movement, presence, and the human body.

Nic sits down with Nichole to explore the philosophy that has made Polestar Pilates one of the most respected education schools in the world.

Nichole shares her upbringing surrounded by reformers and studio life, what it was like growing up as Brent Anderson’s daughter, and how Polestar has evolved into a global leader in Pilates education.

They talk about teaching with presence, the psychology behind movement, and why developing awareness, empathy, and curiosity are essential for every Pilates teacher.

This is a rich, insightful conversation for anyone who wants to teach with more depth and meaning!

Timestamps

00:00 Meet today’s guest Nichole Zuckerman

02:53 Nichole’s role within Polestar Pilates

03:48 Growing up surrounded by Pilates

07:50 What defines the Polestar Pilates philosophy

13:08 Challenges and misconceptions in Pilates education

18:00 The value of holistic, individualised teaching

28:51 Bringing a personal touch to group classes

30:09 Why presence is a teacher’s most powerful skill

30:56 Cultivating mindfulness inside and outside the studio

35:55 Psychology, creativity, and movement freedom

42:58 The global growth of Polestar Pilates

51:34 Advice for aspiring Pilates instructors

53:53 Quick-fire questions

If you enjoyed this episode, hit follow on your podcast app, share it with a fellow teacher, and leave a rating or review. Every share helps this community grow and keeps these conversations reaching more Pilates educators around the world.

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 Nichole:

• Polestar Pilates' Website

Interested in joining the February Reformer+ 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.

To receive 10% off SPINEFITTER by SISSEL, click this link and use the code BEYOND at checkout. As an affiliate, I’ll receive a small commission which helps support the podcast.