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The Pilates Lounge

The Pilates Lounge

Written by: Katie Crane
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Welcome to the Pilates & Movement Journey, a show tailored for Pilates Professionals, movement educators, and enthusiasts. Immerse yourself in transformative content that connects mind, body, and spirit. Explore holistic wellness, gain expert insights, and foster a vibrant community. Ignite your passion for Pilates with engaging discussions, practical tips, and a focus on overall well-being. Join us on this journey to elevate your spirit and embrace a healthier, more mindful lifestyle. https://www.thepilatesprofessional.com.au/2024 Exercise & Fitness Fitness, Diet & Nutrition Hygiene & Healthy Living Self-Help Success
Episodes
  • The difference between a good class and a fabulous class (and how you can improve)

    The difference between a good class and a fabulous class (and how you can improve)
    Jul 13 2026

    What makes a truly exceptional Pilates instructor?

    Is it the perfect sequence?
    The smoothest transitions?
    The most advanced repertoire?

    In this solo episode, Katie Crane explores one of the most important skills every Pilates teacher should develop—the ability to teach the people in front of you, not simply the class you planned.

    Inspired by a conversation with her teacher training students, Katie unpacks why regressions, modifications, and progressions aren't optional extras—they're the foundation of quality teaching. She challenges the growing focus on choreography and "flow" while reminding us that great Pilates education is built on critical thinking, understanding movement, and knowing the "why" behind every exercise.

    Whether you're a student, a newly qualified instructor, or an experienced teacher, this episode is a powerful reminder that every person in your class deserves to participate, grow, and succeed at their own level.

    In This Episode
    • Why teaching a sequence is not the same as teaching Pilates
    • The difference between a good class and a truly exceptional class
    • Why regressions and modifications should be part of every lesson
    • How to teach the room instead of sticking rigidly to your plan
    • The importance of understanding the purpose behind every exercise
    • Why critical thinking is one of the most valuable skills a Pilates teacher can develop
    • The problem with memorizing choreography without understanding movement
    • How comprehensive education builds confident, adaptable instructors
    • What new teachers should start practicing immediately to improve their teaching
    Key Takeaways

    ✨ A good class runs the sequence. A fabulous class runs the room.

    ✨ Every exercise should have a regression, progression, and clear purpose.

    ✨ Teaching is about responding to the people in front of you—not simply delivering choreography.

    ✨ If a client cannot perform an exercise, it's the teacher's responsibility to help them access the movement safely.

    ✨ Great Pilates instructors continually ask one question:

    Why?

    Understanding why an exercise belongs in a class creates better movement, better outcomes, and better teachers.

    Resources Mentioned
    • Pilates Pro Academy
    • Refine Mentorship Program
    • The Pilates Professional

    Learn more at:
    https://thepilatesprofessional.com.au

    Enjoying The Pilates Lounge?

    If you found this episode valuable:

    • Subscribe to The Pilates Lounge Podcast
    • Leave a review on your favourite podcast platform
    • Share this episode with another Pilates instructor or student who would benefit from hearing it

    Together, we can continue raising the standard of Pilates education.

    Connect with Katie Crane

    Website: https://thepilatesprofessional.com.au

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thepilatesprofessional

    Subscribe to the Pilates News Newsletter for exclusive resources, handouts, and educational content designed for Pilates professionals and movement educators.
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    30 mins
  • Why The Financial Crisis Is Not Your Problem

    Why The Financial Crisis Is Not Your Problem
    Jul 6 2026

    What if the way you talk about hard times online is actually pushing your clients away?

    Welcome back to The Pilates Lounge Podcast with your host, Katie Crane. In this solo episode, Katie shares an honest, off-the-cuff take on a trend she's noticed across social media: Pilates studio owners and instructors posting about how hard business is right now. She unpacks why that messaging can hurt your business, and what to say instead if you want to become the safe, steady place your community turns to when life feels hard.

    In This Episode, We Discuss
    • The social media trend of studio owners posting fear-based messages about the cost of living crisis
    • Why being in business is a rollercoaster, not a ladder, and always has been
    • How your social media messaging either attracts or repels your ideal client
    • Why "the sky is falling" posts don't help your business, even when they're true
    • How to speak to your ideal client's fears while offering them a solution
    • Why Pilates helps reset the nervous system during stressful times
    • Katie's morning reading habit and two book recommendations for mindset
    • The difference between people who survive hard times and people who suffer through them
    • Why you get to choose how you show up, and it's okay to walk away if you need to
    Key Takeaways

    ✨ Be the roof, not the storm

    People aren't looking for someone to confirm that life is hard. They're looking for a safe, steady place to turn to. Show up as that place.

    ✨ Speak to fears with solutions, not more fear

    Your ideal client already feels stressed. The most useful thing you can post is how Pilates helps them, not a list of everything that's going wrong.

    ✨ Business is a rollercoaster, not a ladder

    Business was never meant to be easy or linear. Every business owner has hard days. The difference is in the story you choose to tell your community.

    ✨ Protect your mornings

    Reading for fifteen minutes each morning, instead of scrolling social media, can shift your mindset and help you show up stronger for your clients.

    About Katie Crane

    Katie Crane is the host of The Pilates Lounge Podcast and the owner of Encore Pilates and Wellness in Darwin, Australia. With twenty-one years in business, Katie shares real, honest insight into building a Pilates studio, leading a community, and staying resilient through the ups and downs of small business ownership.

    Resources Mentioned
    • Katie's studio: Encore Pilates and Wellness NT, Darwin
    • Katie's Instagram: @encore_pilates_and_wellness_nt
    • The Pilates Professional Instagram: @thepilatesprofessional
    • Book: a book on the All Blacks (New Zealand rugby team) and their "no dickheads" culture rule
    • Book: "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl
    Listen & Subscribe

    Listen to The Pilates Lounge Podcast on your favourite podcast platform.

    Continue the Conversation in The Pilates Muse

    Join the conversation here:

    https://www.thepilatesprofessional.com.au/the-pilates-muse-publication

    Prefer to Watch?

    This episode is also available on YouTube.

    About The Pilates Lounge

    The Pilates Lounge is a space for Pilates professionals, movement educators, and curious learners to explore meaningful conversations around movement, teaching, health, and the evolving Pilates industry.
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    31 mins
  • From Gymnastics to Pilates: Movement, Athletes & Performance with Lauren Skopal

    From Gymnastics to Pilates: Movement, Athletes & Performance with Lauren Skopal
    Jun 29 2026
    What does 30 years of elite movement — from rhythmic gymnastics to international circus performance — teach you about the body? And how does that change the way you use Pilates with athletes? In this episode of The Pilates Lounge Podcast, Katie Crane sits down with Lauren Skopal — exercise and sports scientist, founder of Limber Sports Performance, and former international acrobat. Lauren brings a rare perspective to movement education. Her background spans 12 years of competitive rhythmic gymnastics, 15 years performing aerial and acrobatic acts around the world, and a career in sports science and Pilates. The conversation is rich, honest, and packed with practical insight for Pilates professionals working with active bodies. In This Episode, We Discuss Lauren's journey from elite gymnastics to international circus performing — and how that shaped her body awarenessWhy gymnastics-trained athletes make the strongest performers in disciplines like circus and acrobaticsCommon injuries in artistic athletes and how Pilates supports long-term joint healthHow Pilates can be embedded into athlete warm-ups, cool-downs, and strength and conditioning programsThe gap between sports science education and what Pilates actually teaches about the bodyWhy niching down in your Pilates business actually brings in more clients, not fewerLauren's new online flexibility program inspired by gymnastics-based training Key Takeaways ✨ Body awareness starts young — and Pilates builds on that Gymnastics trains the body from a young age to move with precision, control, and effortlessness. Pilates shares that same attention to detail. Lauren sees a natural connection between the two disciplines — and uses both to help athletes understand how their body works. ✨ Pilates belongs inside the training program, not just the rehab room Most athletes only discover Pilates after injury. But Lauren makes the case for weaving it into warm-ups, cool-downs, and accessory work — before problems arise. It doesn't need its own time slot to be effective. ✨ Core-driven movement is a performance tool, not just injury prevention Pilates builds stabilization, movement control, and muscular endurance. Lauren says that when athletes know how to use their core well, it improves force transfer, biomechanics, and overall performance — not just joint longevity. ✨ Niching down builds authority — and attracts more of the right clients Lauren focuses her practice on athletic populations. Katie reflects on the same choice in her own studio. When you know exactly who you serve, you become the go-to person for that group. Referrals follow naturally. About Lauren Skopal Lauren Skopal is an exercise and sports scientist and the founder of Limber Sports Performance. She has over 30 years of experience in sport and movement as an athlete, international performer, coach, consultant, and educator. Lauren competed in rhythmic gymnastics nationally in Australia for 12 years before spending 15 years as an international acrobat and circus performer. She holds a Bachelor of Exercise and Sport and Health Science and a Master of Applied Sports Science from Deakin University. Lauren works with artistic athletes, gymnasts, dancers, tennis players, and circus artists — helping them build the stability, mobility, and movement quality they need to perform at their best. Connect with Lauren Website: limbarsportsperformance.com.au (to be confirmed) Instagram: @limbarsportsperformance Instagram: @limbabylauren Resources Mentioned Deakin University — Bachelor and Master of Exercise and Sport ScienceNational Institute of Circus Arts (NICA) — where Lauren has done coachingRichmond Football Club — Lauren completed placements here through her master's degreeTennis Australia — placement experience during Lauren's postgraduate studyPhysio Amir Tuckler — referral partner Lauren works closely with Listen & Subscribe Listen to The Pilates Lounge Podcast on your favourite podcast platform. Continue the Conversation in The Pilates Muse Join the conversation here: https://www.thepilatesprofessional.com.au/the-pilates-muse-publication Prefer to Watch? This episode is also available on YouTube. About The Pilates Lounge The Pilates Lounge is a space for Pilates professionals, movement educators, and curious learners to explore meaningful conversations around movement, teaching, health, and the evolving Pilates industry
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    51 mins
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