Beyond the Reformer

Nic Lenny
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Welcome to Beyond the Reformer, the podcast where Pilates professionals and enthusiasts come together for thoughtful conversations, genuine insights, and inspiring stories. Join Nic every Monday morning to feel more connected, inspired, and empowered in your Pilates practice, teaching, and beyond…

  1. há 15 h

    What the Future of Reformer Pilates Actually Looks Like with Yvette McGaffin

    In this episode, Nic is joined by Yvette McGaffin, co-founder of ReformRx and the driving force behind what is set to become the world's first digitally connected Reformer Pilates machine for the home. Yvette's story is one of the more remarkable in the Pilates industry right now. A professional dancer turned studio owner, she built and ran her own Reformer Pilates studios in Belfast and Edinburgh before identifying a gap that had been sitting in plain sight for decades: the reformer itself had barely changed in 50 years. What followed was years of prototyping, welding in sheds, searching Herefordshire countryside for the right designer, and eventually building a piece of equipment that's now in luxury hotels, health clubs, and studios across Europe. They explore what it actually takes to build something from scratch in the Pilates industry - the resilience, the false starts, and the moments that unlocked everything. They get into the real barriers to Reformer Pilates accessibility, from cost and intimidation to the question of who the industry thinks it's for. And they discuss where connected fitness meets Pilates, and why Yvette believes technology should make the friction fall away and leave you with just the movement. They also go deeper into what the next five to ten years could look like for the industry - and why Yvette believes Reformer Pilates is about to stop being something people add in, and start being the foundation everything else is built on. Timestamps 00:27 Why the reformer hadn't changed in 50 years 04:29 Yvette's journey into Pilates and professional dance 06:56 Building the Reform Method and opening studios 10:24 Who Reformer Pilates is really for 16:45 The decision to build ReformRx 19:04 Designing the reformer from scratch 23:23 What the smart spine changed 26:43 Should teachers be worried about at-home reformers? 27:49 Why mat Pilates is harder than people think 29:55 How studios are using connected reformers 32:13 ReformRx in hotels and hospitality 40:08 What building ReformRx taught Yvette 44:40 Where to find Yvette and the Ultra One Reformer If you're enjoying the podcast, make sure you're following along so you don't miss future episodes. And feel free to share this one with someone you think would take something from it. Connect with Nic: Beyond the Reformer InstagramSoul Pilates InstagramSoul Pilates EducationNic's InstagramJoin Soul at HomeBook a Pilates ClassSign up to Our NewsletterConnect with Yvette Yvette’s InstagramYvette’s LinkedInNordicTrack WebsiteReformRX Website Interested in joining the July Teacher Training intake? Find all the details and book a call here.

    48 min

  2. 29 de jun.

    How to Build a Profitable Pilates Studio Business with Joanne Mathews

    "I think we're at that time where we can actually professionalize this industry, and we can have the standards that we want to set, and we can offer people careers." In this episode, we are joined by Joanne Mathews, founder and CEO of Ten Health & Fitness, one of London's longest-running Dynamic Reformer Pilates brands, now growing into franchising with Tenreformer. They explore why London's reformer studios have grown 72% in 18 months against just 50% growth in demand, and what that saturation means for studios competing on price instead of differentiation. They also dig into what it takes to build a Pilates business with longevity: going employed-only with teachers, building an in-house academy, choosing the right locations, the realities of rising costs and shrinking profitability, and Joanne's leadership philosophy after nearly two decades running studios. Timestamps  01:24 The car crash that led to her "happy accident" into Pilates 03:31 Launching Ten with one borrowed reformer studio 06:08 Finding a business partner and going employed-only from day one 09:06 The case for professionalising the Pilates industry 15:01 Training standards, VAT, and not being a recognised profession 24:21 Scaling from one studio to a London-wide brand 28:30 Choosing locations and franchising with Tenreformer 34:24 Rising costs, big-box gyms, and the race to the bottom on price 41:12 Is owning a Pilates studio still profitable? 44:10 What community really means at Ten 52:17 Building TenAcademy and what makes a great teacher today 1:00:49 Joanne's leadership philosophy: true support If you're enjoying the podcast, make sure you're following along so you don't miss future episodes. And feel free to share this one with someone you think would take something from it. Connect with Nic: Beyond the Reformer InstagramSoul Pilates InstagramSoul Pilates EducationNic's InstagramJoin Soul at HomeBook a Pilates ClassSign up to Our NewsletterConnect with Guest: Joanne Mathews InstagramTen Health & Fitness InstagramTen Health & Fitness Website Interested in joining the July Teacher Training intake? Find all the details and book a call here.

    1h 7min

  3. 22 de jun. ·  Vídeo

    How Much Anatomy Do Pilates Teachers Actually Need to Know With Tracy Ward

    "I really worry that we will lose the essence of what Pilates actually is. How much are we going to dilute it?" In this episode, Nic is joined by Tracy Ward - physiotherapist, Pilates teacher, and author of The Science of Pilates, published by DK. Tracy sits at the unique intersection of clinical practice and Pilates, bringing over 15 years of experience teaching, treating patients, and training new teachers through APPI. They explore what it really takes to understand anatomy as a Pilates teacher - not to the depth of a medical degree, but in a way that genuinely improves your cueing, your touch, and your ability to help clients feel the work in the right places. Tracy shares why she wrote The Science of Pilates and the gap she kept seeing in teacher training that inspired it. They get honest about the state of the industry right now - the social media-driven push toward dynamic, athletic content and what that means for the integrity of the practice. Both Nic and Tracy share their concern that the essence of Pilates is being diluted, and why returning to the foundations matters more than ever. They also dig into the reality of being a new teacher - the confidence challenges, finding your own voice, managing mixed-ability classes, and why the basics taught really well will always outperform a fancy class plan that doesn't land. Timestamps 01:56 Why anatomy overwhelms Pilates teachers  03:21 Tracy's journey into Pilates and physiotherapy  09:52 How The Science of Pilates came about  12:03 How the book was created and illustrated  17:15 How to bring anatomy to life beyond the textbook  19:59 Finding your voice as a new teacher  27:10 Managing mixed ability classes  29:54 Language, modifications and empowering clients  37:11 Social media and what it's doing to Pilates  42:08 Common misconceptions about the body  43:49 The myth of perfect posture  44:37 Should we be blending Pilates with other modalities?  47:38 Pain, movement and what clients misunderstand If you're enjoying the podcast, make sure you're following along so you don't miss future episodes. And feel free to share this one with someone you think would take something from it. Connect with Nic: Beyond the Reformer InstagramSoul Pilates InstagramSoul Pilates EducationNic's InstagramJoin Soul at HomeBook a Pilates ClassSign up to Our NewsletterConnect with Tracy Tracy’s InstagramFreshly Centered WebsiteFreshly Centred FacebookScience of Pilates BookPilates Kids Cards Join the Soul Pilates Retreat in Cornwall on 19 June for a weekend of movement, rest and nourishment. Find all the details here. Thinking about investing in Pilates equipment? Balanced Body are offering our listeners a special discount! Fill in the form here and mention Soul Pilates when you order. Interested in joining the July Teacher Training intake? Find all the details and book a call here.

    54 min

  4. 15 de jun.

    The Wild West of Pilates: Why Teaching Standards Are Letting Everyone Down with Katie Nankivell

    "There is a lot of money-hungry people chasing trends with a lack of moral compass and ethics behind them." The Pilates industry is growing fast - but not always in the right direction. In this episode, Nic is joined by Katie, founder of Pilates Delivered, an Amsterdam-based at-home and private Pilates service. Katie trained comprehensively with Polestar Pilates and has been teaching for over a decade across private clients, studios, and her own business. They get straight into the hard conversation: what's actually happening with teaching standards right now, why weekend certifications are producing a generation of teachers who only know the choreography, and why loving Pilates does not make someone qualified to teach it. They also explore what separates good teachers from great ones - from personality and people skills to the ability to read a body, adapt on the spot, and never stop learning. Katie shares how expanding into sound healing, Reiki, fascia, and nervous system work has made her a more intuitive, holistic teacher - and why Pilates has always been about the whole person. And on the business side, Katie talks candidly about building a sustainable private practice from scratch in a new city, setting boundaries with clients, pricing at a premium, and designing a career entirely on her own terms. Timestamps 00:00 Intro to Katie 00:21 What's really happening in the Pilates industry right now 01:47 Weekend certifications and the choreography problem 06:17 Katie's journey into Pilates and why she chose Polestar 10:13 Building Pilates Delivered: at-home Pilates in Amsterdam 13:47 What clients actually want — and what keeps them coming back 18:55 Expanding beyond Pilates: sound healing, Reiki, and fascia work 23:17 How holistic training makes you a more intuitive teacher 26:57 Pilates and wellness as complementary — not competing 32:35 What actually makes a great Pilates teacher 37:09 Just because you love Pilates doesn't mean you should teach it 39:29 Authenticity, personality, and being exactly who you are 44:04 Building a sustainable career outside the studio model 49:02 Quick-fire questions 50:26 Where to find Katie If you're enjoying the podcast, make sure you're following along so you don't miss future episodes. And feel free to share this one with someone you think would take something from it. Connect with Nic: Beyond the Reformer InstagramSoul Pilates InstagramSoul Pilates EducationNic's InstagramJoin Soul at HomeBook a Pilates ClassSign up to Our NewsletterConnect with Katie Pilates Delivered InstagramPilates Delivered WebsiteKatie’s Substack Join the Soul Pilates Retreat in Cornwall on 19 June for a weekend of movement, rest and nourishment. Find all the details here. Thinking about investing in Pilates equipment? Balanced Body are offering our listeners a special discount! Fill in the form here and mention Soul Pilates when you order. Interested in joining the July Teacher Training intake? Find all the details and book a call here.

    54 min

  5. 8 de jun.

    From Basement Studio to 9 Locations: How New York Pilates Defined Its Method

    "Real change in your body happens from grounded, consistent work. Doing the split and a handstand is entertaining, but that's not what Pilates is about." In this episode, Nic is joined by Heather Andersen, founder of New York Pilates - one of the most recognisable reformer studio brands in the world, with nine locations across New York City and counting. Heather built New York Pilates from a basement space in Greenwich Village in 2013, at a time when group reformer classes simply didn't exist. She shares what it actually took to scale to nine studios - from building onboarding systems and maintaining consistency across locations, to the pricing mistakes and people management lessons learned the hard way. They also get into the state of the industry: why clients are confused about what Pilates even is, what separates genuine contemporary Pilates from the "Pilates adjacent" world, and why the most transformational work looks like nothing on camera. Timestamps 00:23 How New York Pilates started 01:37 Heather's background in ballet and early Pilates training 07:14 Making the leap from teacher to studio owner 13:14 Building the brand from day one 14:38 Early mistakes and people management 16:03 What a New York Pilates class feels like 18:44 Classical vs. contemporary vs. Pilates adjacent 25:20 Scaling from one studio to nine 29:16 Building systems for consistency 31:34 Teacher onboarding and quality management 37:51 Pricing, ClassPass, and why loyalty beats volume 44:34 Social media and the decision to talk about real Pilates 55:22 Where to find Heather If you're enjoying the podcast, make sure you're following along so you don't miss future episodes. And feel free to share this one with someone you think would take something from it. Connect with Nic: Beyond the Reformer InstagramSoul Pilates InstagramSoul Pilates EducationNic's InstagramJoin Soul at HomeBook a Pilates ClassSign up to Our NewsletterConnect with Heather Heather’s InstagramNew York Pilates InstagramNew York Pilates WebsiteNew York Pilates Intro OfferNew York Pilates Reformer Certification Join the Soul Pilates Retreat in Cornwall on 19 June for a weekend of movement, rest and nourishment. Find all the details here. Thinking about investing in Pilates equipment? Balanced Body are offering our listeners a special discount! Fill in the form here and mention Soul Pilates when you order. Interested in joining the July Teacher Training intake? Find all the details and book a call here.

    58 min

  6. 1 de jun.

    The Missing Piece in Pilates Teacher Training with Amy Havens

    "I think self-acceptance and self-compassion... it's gonna keep changing and if you hear the loud stuff saying, I can't do that anymore - no." - Amy Havens In this episode, Nic is joined by Amy Havens, a veteran Pilates educator, mentor, and movement teacher based in Santa Barbara with over 30 years of experience in the industry. Amy has trained across multiple lineages - including Fletcher, BASI, Kathy Grant, and Madeleine Black - and is widely respected as one of the most thoughtful voices in Pilates education today. They explore what it really takes to become a truly great Pilates teacher - from the qualities that no training manual can teach, like patience and compassion, to the art of learning to see and respond to the bodies in front of you. Amy shares her rich origin story, from discovering Pilates as a dance student in 1989 to becoming injured, finding healing through the work, and eventually committing to teaching as a lifelong calling. They also dig into the current state of the Pilates industry - the growing divide between fitness Pilates and the more healing-oriented tradition, the case for prerequisites before teacher training, and why mastering the fundamentals will always matter more than creative programming. Amy makes a compelling case for mentorship as the missing piece for so many new teachers, and shares what that relationship can look like when it's done well. Timestamps 00:00 Intro to Amy Havens 00:14 What makes a truly great Pilates teacher 02:08 Learning to see and respond to different bodies 04:49 Amy's origin story - discovering Pilates in college 08:10 Observing from the front desk and falling in love with the work 10:42 Getting cold feet before teacher training - and why that was the right call 13:23 Amy's formal training with Madeleine Black at the Physical Mind Institute 15:27 Learning to teach, not just to do 17:34 How injury became the turning point toward teaching 21:38 Why the best teachers are often those whose lives were changed by Pilates 22:40 The case for prerequisites in Pilates teacher training 28:13 What great mentorship actually looks like 31:46 Amy as a forever student - training across multiple lineages 37:06 How studying different styles shaped Amy's teaching 43:29 The state of the Pilates industry - two forks in the road 45:14 Fitness Pilates vs. healing Pilates - is it all Pilates? 47:52 Why studio owners need to do better at describing what they offer 53:00 Don't teach too much too soon - a lesson from Madeleine Black 55:25 Why mastering fundamentals matters more than creative programming 56:44 Quick-fire questions 01:03:28 Where to find Amy If you're enjoying the podcast, make sure you're following along so you don't miss future episodes. And feel free to share this one with someone you think would take something from it. Connect with Nic: Beyond the Reformer InstagramSoul Pilates InstagramSoul Pilates EducationNic's InstagramJoin Soul at HomeBook a Pilates ClassSign up to Our NewsletterConnect with Amy: Move with Amy WebsiteAmy’s InstagramAmy’s FacebookAmy’s Email Pilates Anytime Website Join the Soul Pilates Retreat in Cornwall on 19 June for a weekend of movement, rest and nourishment. Find all the details here. Thinking about investing in Pilates equipment? Balanced Body are offering our listeners a special discount! Fill in the form here and mention Soul Pilates when you order. Interested in joining the July Teacher Training intake? Find all the details and book a call here.

    1h 8min

  7. 25 de mai.

    Burnout, Boundaries and Building a Career That Lasts as a Pilates Teacher with Audrey O'Connor

    "I cannot be of service to other people if I cannot be of service to myself." You left the corporate world for a reason. But somehow you're exhausted, resentful, and wondering why this passion-driven career feels just as relentless as the one you walked away from. Nic is joined by Audrey O'Connor - former quantity surveyor, Pilates teacher, sound healer, and wellness educator who now works with global brands like Google. Back for her second appearance, Audrey digs into what burnout actually looks like for Pilates teachers - not just tiredness, but resentment, physical symptoms, and the trap of performing busyness as a badge of honour. They get practical on morning rituals, finances, multiple revenue streams, and valuing your time before resentment does it for you. Audrey also brings in something unexpected: astrology and human design as tools for understanding why you show up the way you do - and why changing your mind is not the same as being flaky. Whether you're in the thick of burnout or starting to feel the edges of it, there's something here for you. Timestamps 01:13 What burnout actually is - beyond just being tired 03:50 Busyness as a badge of honour and how to recognise the patterns 07:52 Vision, values, and the Pilates industry comparison trap 09:02 How performance and money are connected to burnout 11:12 Taking care of your body when teaching is your job 13:15 Switching off on holiday (and why content creation doesn't count as rest) 17:05 Rituals, routines and habit stacking 23:37 Finding a ritual practice that fits your life 26:07 Astrology and human design as tools for self-understanding 31:34 Why Pilates teachers are particularly prone to burnout 32:21 Being of service vs. sacrificing yourself 34:15 Burnout, undervaluing, and our complicated relationship with money 56:58 Mindset, self-worth, and why opportunities arrive when you stop chasing them 58:44 If you're overwhelmed right now - start here If this episode resonated, share it with someone in the industry who needs to hear it. And make sure you're following along so you don't miss what's coming next. Connect with Nic: Beyond the Reformer InstagramSoul Pilates InstagramSoul Pilates EducationNic's InstagramJoin Soul at HomeBook a Pilates ClassSign up to Our Newsletter Connect with Audrey: Audrey's Sound Healing TrainingCore State WebsiteAudrey’s InstagramThe Everyday Hero Manifesto Book Join the Soul Pilates Retreat in Cornwall on 19 June for a weekend of movement, rest and nourishment. Find all the details here. Thinking about investing in Pilates equipment? Balanced Body are offering our listeners a special discount! Fill in the form here and mention Soul Pilates when you order. Interested in joining the July Teacher Training intake? Find all the details and book a call here.

    1h 9min

  8. 18 de mai.

    Teaching Pilates to Children: How to Make It Fun, Inclusive & Effective

    Nic is joined by Clarissa Shepherd, kids Pilates specialist, pre and postnatal educator, Club Pilates master trainer, and author of Sage Does Pilates and Babies & Barre. Clarissa's story is anything but conventional. From working in TV news and witnessing a live on-air shooting, to packing up her car with $600 and driving to Dallas, to funding her Pilates certification while working night shifts - her path to becoming a Pilates teacher is one of grit, resilience and pure determination. But what makes Clarissa's work truly unique is who she teaches. While the Pilates industry talks about being "for everyone," Clarissa noticed a glaring gap - children are almost always left out.  She shares why bringing Pilates into families' lives earlier is one of the biggest untapped opportunities in the industry, and how her own experience of an absent mother during childhood became the driving force behind her mission to connect families through movement. The conversation explores how to adapt Pilates for different ages - from babies and toddlers to teenagers and everything in between - and why storytelling, play and affirmations are just as important as the repertoire. Clarissa also shares how she's training other teachers to do this work and working towards licensing her kids Pilates framework so it can reach families around the world. Timestamps 00:00 Intro to Clarissa  00:32 Why families are the missing piece in Pilates  02:51 Clarissa's backstory - news, Dallas and $600 to her name  05:43 Discovering Pilates and being inspired by female leadership  09:01 Funding her certification and the sacrifices she made  13:13 Moving to Germany, becoming a mother and finding her path  16:03 How pregnancy sparked her interest in pre and postnatal Pilates  17:30 Teaching children for the first time  17:40 How to adapt Pilates for different ages and stages  20:07 Using affirmations and mentorship with teenagers  22:52 Making Pilates a game for younger children  24:18 Mommy and me classes and incorporating babies into movement  25:41 The creativity and storytelling skills kids Pilates demands  25:41 Training teachers to teach kids Pilates  44:10 Who Clarissa works with - from ballerinas to retirees  45:04 What's next for Clarissa  46:24 Quick-fire questions  48:24 Where to connect with Clarissa Thanks so much to Clarissa for coming on the podcast and sharing such an honest and inspiring story. Please make sure to subscribe and rate the show 5 stars if you've been loving it - it helps the show more than you know. Connect with Nic: Beyond the Reformer InstagramSoul Pilates InstagramSoul Pilates EducationNic's InstagramJoin Soul at HomeBook a Pilates ClassSign up to Our Newsletter Connect with Clarissa: Clarissa's InstagramPilates Mamii WebsiteYouTube: Pilates MamiiFacebook: Pilates MamiiClarissa’s Sage Does Pilates BookClarissa’s Babies & Barre Book Join the Soul Pilates Retreat in Cornwall on 19 June for a weekend of movement, rest and nourishment. Find all the details here. Thinking about investing in Pilates equipment? Balanced Body are offering our listeners a special discount! Fill in the form here and mention Soul Pilates when you order. Interested in joining the July Teacher Training intake? Find all the details and book a call here.

    52 min
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Sobre

Welcome to Beyond the Reformer, the podcast where Pilates professionals and enthusiasts come together for thoughtful conversations, genuine insights, and inspiring stories. Join Nic every Monday morning to feel more connected, inspired, and empowered in your Pilates practice, teaching, and beyond…

Informações

  • Criado por
    Nic Lenny
  • Anos de atividade
    2025 - 2026
  • Episódios
    64
  • Classificação
    Livre
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Beyond the Reformer
  • Site do podcast
    Beyond the Reformer

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