Claim OwnershipPilates Elephants
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© Copyright 2026 Raphael Bender
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We get to grips with new research, teaching strategies, and social issues around Pilates and Pilates teaching. This is 100% authentic, unscripted, real talk about everything Pilates.
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
352 Episodes
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Special shout out to Adam McAtee for this postCitations in these episodes:ep 278 Does Pilates strengthen your little muscles?ep 216 Why knowing which muscles are working in a movement is a waste of timeep 160 Can we even feel muscles activating?This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
Dallas Noerdlinger (Core Pilates, Oklahoma City) shares why she sold 50% of her studio during pregnancy, what changed in the business and culture, and how she bought it back.We talk boutique vs franchise positioning, keeping instructors happy, managing owner overwhelm, and the “unlimited membership” + waitlist problem—plus practical fixes for capacity, pricing, and schedule structure.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
The most useful kind of body awareness is mostly unconscious and automatic control, like a cat. This is built through practice, not narration.Links:Glute activation drills increase perception but not actual glute activation hereEpisode 160 "Can we even feel muscles activating?" hereThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
Studies mentioned in this episode:2025 longitudinal study finds text neck is not associated with future neck pain here2023 systematic review of interventions for neck pain finds strengthening works here2017 Chen et al. systematic review finds neck strengthening is the most effective intervention for workplace neck pain - more effective than posture or ergonomic advice hereThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
Your clients don’t skip Pilates because they don’t care.They skip because the system asks them to do work they don’t have the capacity for.In this short episode, Raphael shares:Why flexibility often reduces attendanceThe paradox of overwhelm: needing structure but lacking the bandwidth to create itHow studios unintentionally design for no-shows and drop-offA simple shift from “choice” to “default” that increases consistency and retentionIf your clients say they “don’t have time”, this episode explains what’s really happening and how to fix it.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
What do flamingo, arms in straps and knee pulls have in common?They look different. They feel different.They’re secretly doing the exact same thing.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
A Pilates cue goes off the rails and exposes everything we get wrong about “perfect form.” Expect heresy, biomechanics, and a very small grape that ruins neutral forever.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
How much Pilates do you need to do to get stronger?Probably less than you think!This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
Resources:Strength training reduces injury risk substantially here and here and hereResistance training itself is a very safe activity here and hereFoot pronation increases risk of shin splints here, but has no effect on overall injury risk here and there is minimal evidence that any biomechanical variable predicts running injuries hereKnee valgus does not predict future ACL injury hereThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
1What to look for when coaching your team - or critiquing your own classes.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
The humble lunge - there's a LOT more there than meets the eye. We go there - biomechanics, cueing, how to layer it and why most instructors don't get the full value from it.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
In this episode Patricia Robinson from Pilates Vita, London, breaks down how she built a boutique, premium-priced Pilates studio serving VIP clients in Kensington.Find Patricia here:https://www.pilatesvita.com/This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
The story of how Ana Maria Borrero went from from €17/hr employee to nearly €10k/month in revenue with 6 reformers, 20 classes, and a waitlist in a small Dutch town.Find Ana here:https://movewithana.nl/ https://www.instagram.com/movewithanapilates/This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
Many studio owners have a love/hate relationship with Classpass - Sari and I have an honest conversation about the pros and cons, and why (and how) her studios are leaving Classpass.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
There IS a right thing to cue in each exercise in Pilates. Here's how to know what it is.Bonus - There is no consistent pattern of muscle activation in the prone hip extension test. Except that gluteus maximus is consistently the last muscle to activate - hereThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
Many instructors use layers, but most miss the most powerful part of this amazing programming tool.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
Cassie and Henry from Sunny Space Studio share how they grew their reformer studio in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, to $65k a month within a year - without spending a dollar on ads. They break down how they attract over 100 first visits per month through exceptional client experience, brand consistency, and word of mouth. Plus how they train loyal clients into instructors, create SOPs that scale, and keep classes sold out with clear standards and warm service. This episode is a playbook for studio owners doing $10k+ who want to grow fast, without chaos or burnout.Check out Sunny Space here: https://www.sunnyspacestudio.ca/And on IG: https://www.instagram.com/sunnyspace.studioThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
Laura and Sam from Form & Flow Pilates share how they grew from one to two thriving studios in a year. They reveal the systems, standards, and teamwork that made it possible—and how they balance marriage, business, and growth without burnout.Find Laura and Sam's studios here: https://formandflow.co.uk/ Connect with me on Instagram: @the_raphaelbenderDownload a free course guide:Pilates CertificationStudio MastermindTeaching Mastery ProgramThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
Pilates Process Vancouver co-owner Alison Ward shares how clear boundaries protect studio culture, staff morale, and client respect. We dive into setting policies, holding firm under pressure, and why saying no can actually grow your business.Find Pilates Process Vancouver here: https://www.pilatesprocessvancouver.ca/ Connect with me on Instagram: @the_raphaelbenderDownload a free course guide:Pilates CertificationStudio MastermindTeaching Mastery ProgramThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
Most studio owners think offering more types of movement classes will attract more clients.In this episode, I explain why those formats actually hurt your studio by lowering margins, confusing your brand, and competing with cheap alternatives.Connect with me on Instagram: @the_raphaelbenderDownload a free course guide:Pilates CertificationStudio MastermindTeaching Mastery ProgramThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
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Love this podcast. This episode is so useful, I'll be listening again
it was great 👍
Loved this episode! So interesting.