The Emergence Podcast

Laura Gunder
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Health & Fitness
  • Updated Weekly

The Emergence Podcast empowers fitness professionals through candid conversations about building sustainable minds, bodies, and businesses. Host Laura Gunder, an ex-professional ballet dancer turned classical Pilates instructor based in New York City, shares insights from her decade-long journey navigating an industry with no set path to success. By fitness instructors, for fitness instructors.

  1. 5d ago

    What They Don’t Teach You in Certification: Realities of the Pilates Industry with Miku Yoshida

    In this episode of The Emergence, we sit down with Los Angeles-based Pilates instructor Miku Yoshida. Recently named Instructor of the Year by the Pilates Journal Expo and featured on the covers of both Pilates Journal and Pilates Style Magazine, Miku brings a wealth of knowledge from her eight years of teaching and her role as a Master Instructor and Educator for Balanced Body. Miku shares her candid advice on navigating the realities of the Pilates industry—from the distinct differences between training future instructors and teaching everyday clients, to managing the inevitable chaos of large group equipment classes. We also dive into protecting your mental health against social media noise, setting boundaries to prevent burnout while teaching 30+ hours a week, and why sometimes losing a client is actually for the best. What we cover in this episode: Teaching Teachers vs. Clients: Why you can't teach your everyday clients with the same rigorous, detail-obsessed mentality you use for teacher trainers. Mastering Group Classes: Practical strategies for keeping a 10-person reformer class moving safely, including why "moving together" is your best tool for crowd control. The Evolution of Cueing: Why giving fewer cues is more effective and how to avoid over-explaining the work. Building Confidence in New Instructors: Actionable advice for newer teachers struggling with imposter syndrome and voice projection. Industry Longevity: Managing a heavy client load, protecting your personal practice time, and why being a team player (and being nice to the front desk) is your biggest asset. Plus: Juggling, finding your footing after a bad session, and a look ahead to Miku’s upcoming workshop in Italy in 2027. Subscribe to The Emergence Substack For episode summaries, written reflections, and additional resources for fitness professionals, make sure to subscribe to our bi-weekly newsletter on Substack.

  2. Sep 23

    Laura G's catchup

    "Hey everyone, it’s Laura, and today we’re doing something a little different. No guest, just me, sitting down for a quick solo check-in to kick off this next chapter of Emergence. If you’re new here, or even if you’ve been listening since the beginning, I wanted to pull back the curtain and re-introduce myself without the filter. I’m a Pilates instructor running an independent practice here in New York City, and honestly, stepping into my 30s this year completely shifted how I look at our industry. We see so much performative perfection online—the matching sets, the effortless flow—but nobody is posting about the 16,000-step days, the exhaustion of split shifts, or the very real financial math of studio deductions. Teaching is incredibly physical, and behind the scenes, figuring out how to run a sustainable business can feel really isolating. So today’s episode is just a candid, relaxed chat about the messy middle of it all. We’re getting into movement, mindset, and money—because we can’t build long-term careers or take care of our clients if we aren’t fiercely protecting our own energy first. Grab a coffee or throw your AirPods in on your walk to the studio, treat this like we're catching up in the backroom between clients, and let’s get into it."

  3. Sep 15

    Finding Stillness in the Hustle: Breathwork, Burnout, and Boundaries with Avi Greenberg

    In this episode of The Emergence Podcast, we sit down with multidisciplinary wellness and breathwork coach ⁠Avi Greenberg⁠. Transitioning from a high-stress corporate lifestyle to a more grounded, intentional existence, Avi shares his personal journey of overcoming anxiety through functional breathwork, cold exposure, and plant medicine. We dive deep into the specific challenges fitness professionals and movement instructors face today—from navigating burnout and the scarcity mindset to battling the social media comparison trap. Avi offers candid advice on how to create safe spaces for clients to lean into discomfort, and why finding passive recovery and non-competitive community is essential for your longevity in the wellness space. What We Cover in This Episode: The Catalyst for Change: Avi’s pivot from the tech and fashion industries to wellness, and how the Wim Hof method shifted his trajectory. Holding Space for Discomfort: Coaching strategies to build trust so clients feel safe enough to sit with—and grow through—physical and mental discomfort. Beating Burnout & Scarcity: How instructors can survive the early hustle without losing their passion or compromising their boundaries. The Comparison Trap: Why stepping outside the wellness industry bubble and finding a non-competitive mentor is crucial for your mental health. Mortality as a Tool for Clarity: How confronting life's finite nature can help you build a career and lifestyle you genuinely want.

  4. Sep 1

    Chaz Knight on the Future of Pilates and the Power of Community

    Welcome back to The Emergence! Today, we are thrilled to welcome back Chaz Knight—experienced educator, mentor, and recent Pilates Style cover star. With over 16 years of teaching experience and extensive certifications across multiple lineages (including Romana's, Fletcher, and Authentic Pilates), Chaz brings a wealth of knowledge to the conversation. We dive deep into the art of teacher training, what it actually means to teach "Neoclassical Pilates," and why the future of the method relies on community over gatekeeping. Whether you are a brand new instructor trying to find your voice, or a seasoned teacher feeling the weight of burnout, this episode is packed with actionable insights on how to elevate your practice and better serve the bodies in front of you. In this episode, we discuss: The Art of the Spring: Why cueing the springs is about finding space in the spine, not just working the muscles. Neoclassical Pilates: Moving beyond a scarcity mindset to honor the rich history and variations of the first-generation elders. Teaching the System vs. Running the Order: Why moving slowly and mastering the basics is the true path to advanced work. The "Let Them Fail" Strategy: A brilliant psychological approach to working with combative or difficult clients. Combating Teacher Burnout: Why collaboration, continued education, and discounted teacher rates are essential for industry survival. Guest Announcements: Chaz drops two exciting exclusives in this episode! Be sure to look out for the launch of the new Neoclassical Pilates Substack (featuring writing and an advice column) and the upcoming opening of his brand new private studio in West Hollywood, outfitted with legacy equipment. Connect with Emergence: Substack Instagram If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review on Spotify, and share it with a fellow Pilates teacher!

  5. Aug 18

    Savannah Dysard: Bio-Individuality, Healing Your Gut, & Curing Instructor Burnout

    Are you a movement educator running on empty? When your career is built on pouring energy into others, it is incredibly easy to lose connection with your own body. This week on The Emergence Podcast, we sit down with Savannah Dysard to dismantle the rigid wellness dogmas that lead to burnout and embrace the power of bio-individuality. Savannah opens up about her personal journey healing from Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO), revealing how culturally accepted "healthy" habits—like standard green juices and heavily processed gluten-free foods—were actually harming her gut. Together, we explore what it really means to regulate your nervous system, how to break free from militant workout schedules, and why prioritizing your own "oxygen mask" is the ultimate prerequisite for teaching. In this episode, we cover: The Myth of Universal Wellness: Why standard nutrition advice fails and how to navigate your unique food thresholds without losing the joy of eating. Intuitive Movement vs. Rigid Routines: How to transition away from calendar-blocked, grueling workouts to movement that actually serves your current season of life. Yoga for Digestion: The direct link between anxiety, stress, and gut health, and how to use movement to build bodily safety. The "Airplane Oxygen Mask" Rule: Why carving out non-negotiable personal time is essential for preserving your creative energy and career longevity. Micro-Resets for High Stress: Actionable, 2-minute tools you can use to calm a fight-or-flight response right before teaching a class. Wellnessbysav Instagram

  6. Aug 4

    Finding Your Autonomous Voice & The Legacy of Kathy Grant with Blossom Leilani Crawford

    How do you stay grounded in your teaching when the fitness industry is constantly chasing the next big trend? In this episode of Emergence, we sit down with Blossom Leilani Crawford to explore why good, smart movement will always outlast the fads. Drawing heavily from the legendary influence of her mentor, Kathy Grant, Blossom shares her philosophy on radical transparency, the necessity of remaining a lifelong student, and why you can never truly clone your mentor. We also dive into the realities of modern bodies—including how to tackle the "forward head posture" epidemic using a "Body Jenga" approach—and how to build a studio business that honors your boundaries and sanity in a busy world. Whether you are a seasoned movement teacher or a devoted student, this conversation will inspire you to lean into your own curiosity and view the studio as your personal lab. 🎧 In this episode, we cover: Navigating Industry Noise: Why Pilates is an endlessly adaptable practice and how to analyze, rather than criticize, new fitness trends. The Kathy Grant Influence: Blossom breaks down the three core pillars of teaching: Radical Transparency, Doing the Work, and Remaining a Student. Finding Your Autonomous Voice: Why the best client relationships are collaborative physical puzzles, and why trying to perfectly mimic your mentor will ultimately hold you back. Modern Bodies & "Body Jenga": Addressing tech-neck, queuing from the head down, and why grounding your clients before they leave the studio is essential. Business Boundaries: How to structure your business around your actual capacity and protect the studio as a neutral sanctuary in heavy socio-political times.

  7. Jul 21

    Self-Compassion is a Superpower with Angeru Zorita

    Is the normative path crumbling for you? Are you tired of the endless pressure to over-optimize every single aspect of your life and training? In this episode of Emergence, Laura sits down with Aingeru Zorita—a former high-fashion photographer who spent 15 years shooting for iconic brands like Nike and Oscar de la Renta before radically pivoting his life. Today, Aingeru is a formidable ultra-runner who has conquered the Sahara Desert and co-founded the Southbound 400 Endurance Relay, as well as a dedicated life coach helping creatives and athletes build lives that deeply align with their true selves. Laura and Aingeru explore the physical and emotional extremes of ultra-running, how to strip away your ego to find ultimate freedom, and why self-compassion will always take you further than self-loathing. Whether you're an athlete pushing your physical limits or a creative navigating a major life transition, Aingeru’s story is a masterclass in leaning into intuition, taking courageous action, and giving yourself permission to change your mind. Key Takeaways: The Liberating Power of Insignificance: How running 50+ miles through desolate landscapes diminishes the ego and eases the paralysis of self-doubt. Embracing Non-Linear Paths: Why transitioning from music, to top-tier photography, to life coaching proves that success comes from following curiosity, not a rigid trajectory. Redefining Motivation: Moving away from the "suffer-fest" mentality to find out what genuinely resonates with your specific personality and values. Mindfulness Without Optimization Fatigue: How to practice meditation and presence without turning it into just another stressful task on your daily checklist. Self-Compassion as a Superpower: Why high-achievers need to drop the harsh self-critique and how self-acceptance acts as a holistic, energizing fuel for peak performance.

  8. Jun 30

    Beyond the Repertoire: The Gritty Reality of Building a Pilates Career with Katie Yip Season

    We all want the shortcut to mastery. But what if the only way up is through 10,000 hours of unglamorous, gritty work? On the newest episode of Emergence, ⁠Katie ⁠and I strip away the glossy facade of the fitness industry to talk about what it actually takes to build a lasting practice. We’re digging into why abandoning the desire for instant gratification is your biggest asset, and how treating each body with the Scientific Method (observation, hypothesis, testing) changes everything about how you teach. We also cover: ▪️ Why true mentorship means hoping your students eventually outgrow you ▪️ Escaping competition by being unapologetically yourself ▪️ How studio culture dictates success—and why the "abundance mindset" at⁠ Paradigm ⁠eliminates toxic hoarding ▪️ Motherhood as a forcing function for physical empathy and unlearning If you’re ready to stop competing and start mastering your craft, this one is for you. Please rate, review and share 3

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About

The Emergence Podcast empowers fitness professionals through candid conversations about building sustainable minds, bodies, and businesses. Host Laura Gunder, an ex-professional ballet dancer turned classical Pilates instructor based in New York City, shares insights from her decade-long journey navigating an industry with no set path to success. By fitness instructors, for fitness instructors.

Information

  • Creator
    Laura Gunder
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    51
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Laura Gunder
  • Show Website
    The Emergence Podcast

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