Season 4, Episode 348 · Pilates Elephants
348. Progressing Strength, Flexibility & Skill In Pilates
8 Feb 2026 · 28 min
Episode notes
Every Pilates exercise trains strength, range of motion, and skill. We explore how to progress your clients intelligently by adjusting one dimension at a time to build capacity, clarity, and confidence in movement. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
Podcast
Pilates Elephants
Raphael Bender · Learning · English
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
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S4 · E353 · 15 Mar 2026 · 33 min
353. Don't confuse giving information with teaching
Many Pilates instructors make the same mistake when introducing an exercise: they give too much information. Instead of helping clients move, long explanations overwhelm them and nothing sticks. In this episode, we explore the difference between explaining and teaching , and why fewer, simpler cues often lead to better movement and faster learning. If you want clients to actually do the exercise well, this mindset shift is essential. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
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S4 · E352 · 8 Mar 2026 · 46 min
352. Adam McAtee - We Don't Get to Redefine Physics
While we can adapt Pilates to the laws of physiology, we cannot change the definition of technical words like "strength" just to fit a specific teaching style or Pilates philosophy. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
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S4 · E351 · 1 Mar 2026 · 50 min
351. Nathan Ross Rees - Total Instructor Accountability
Nathan makes the case that instructors should take 100% responsibility for filling our classes. If our attendance is low,we should see that as a personal indicator that something in the experience or connection is missing. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
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S4 · E350 · 22 Feb 2026 · 24 min
350. The Law of the Spring:
A common mistake is assuming that two Pilates exercises are the same just because they look identical. However, the actual "exercise" depends on where the load and force are being applied. Nerd out with us. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
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S4 · E349 · 15 Feb 2026 · 39 min
349. Great Instructors Fill Classes
Studios hire Pilates instructors to fill classes with happy clients. If your instructors' classes are not full, by definition are not good at their job - yet. As a studio owner, it's your job to help them become good! This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
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S4 · E347 · 1 Feb 2026 · 46 min
347. Why “Quiet the Big Muscles” Is Wrong
Special shout out to Adam McAtee for this post Citations 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 time ep 160 Can we even feel muscles activating? This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
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S4 · E346 · 25 Jan 2026 · 1 hr 2 min
346. Why Dallas sold half her studio - then bought it back
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
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S4 · E345 · 18 Jan 2026 · 39 min
345. Where Should I Be Feeling This?
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 here Episode 160 "Can we even feel muscles activating?" here This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
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S4 · E344 · 11 Jan 2026 · 20 min
344. Text Neck Isn’t Causing Your Neck Pain
Studies mentioned in this episode: 2025 longitudinal study finds text neck is not associated with future neck pain here 2023 systematic review of interventions for neck pain finds strengthening works here 2017 Chen et al. systematic review finds neck strengthening is the most effective intervention for workplace neck pain - more effective than posture or ergonomic advice here This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
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S4 · E343 · 4 Jan 2026 · 13 min
343. Why Your Clients Don’t Show Up (Even When They Want To)
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 attendance The paradox of overwhelm: needing structure but lacking the bandwidth to create it How studios unintentionally design for no-shows and drop-off A simple shift from “choice” to “default” that increases consistency and retention If 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…
