The Emergence Podcast

Laura Gunder

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. The Walk: Kira Lamb Recap | The Emergence Podcast

    12/18/2025

    The Walk: Kira Lamb Recap | The Emergence Podcast

    Laura reflects on her conversation with Kira Lamb this week, exploring the concept of reverence in movement practice and teaching. She discusses the importance of respecting your craft enough to embrace struggle, curiosity, and the discomfort of not knowing, recognizing that mastery takes years of trial and error. Laura reminds listeners that sustaining yourself as a practitioner requires adaptability and the willingness to juggle multiple paths, all while giving yourself grace through the difficulty. She challenges the culture of instant gratification and emphasizes that building resilience and self-confidence comes from working through the hard things, ultimately allowing us to show up better for ourselves and our clients.

    10 min

  2. 12/09/2025

    Ep. 18: Kira Lamb | The Emergence Podcast

    In this week's episode, Laura welcomes New York-based Pilates instructor Kira Lamb for a conversation about building a sustainable teaching practice rooted in classical methodology. Kira shares her journey from ballet dancer to creating the viral Contrology Freak Challenge, and offers practical wisdom on navigating the early years of teaching without burning out. The conversation explores the distinction between Pilates as a workout versus Pilates as a method, and how to create a practice that attracts like-minded clients. With 23 years of teaching experience, Kira emphasizes the power of repetition, teaching fundamentals deeply, and the necessity of adaptability as an entrepreneur in the fitness landscape.

    1h 2m
  3. The Walk: Erica Almodovar Recap | The Emergence Podcast

    11/25/2025

    The Walk: Erica Almodovar Recap | The Emergence Podcast

    In this week's episode of The Walk, Laura reflects on her conversation with Erica Almodovar, exploring the ongoing journey of becoming a skilled Pilates teacher. Laura discusses embracing struggle as part of the learning process, reminding listeners that certification is just the beginning and true mastery comes through years of practice and embodiment. She addresses the business side of teaching, emphasizing fair pricing, professional boundaries, and continuous investment in one's own education. As the holiday season approaches, Laura offers a gentle reminder to practice self-care while showing up authentically for clients and yourself.

    9 min

  4. 11/18/2025

    Ep. 17: Erica Almodovar | The Emergence Podcast

    In this episode, Laura sits down with renowned classical Pilates instructor Erica Almodovar, who shares her journey from managing health clubs to studying directly under Romana Kryzanowska and becoming an international teacher trainer. Erica reflects on her nearly 30 years in the industry, the invaluable lessons from observing Romana's teaching, and her commitment to passing on the classical method exactly as she learned it. The conversation explores challenges facing Pilates today—from quick certification programs to the importance of embodiment and continuous practice—as well as Erica's approach to teacher training, client retention, and building a sustainable business rooted in the integrity of Joseph Pilates' original work. Erica also discusses navigating stress in modern clients, protecting your body as an instructor, and her vision for mentoring the next generation of classical Pilates teachers.

    50 min
  5. The Walk: Emilio Lara Recap | The Emergence Podcast

    11/11/2025

    The Walk: Emilio Lara Recap | The Emergence Podcast

    On this week's episode of The Walk, Laura shares a candid reflection on the importance of slowing down and resisting the urge to constantly push for more. Drawing on her conversation with Emilio Lara about humility and sustainable success, she discusses her own tendency to become controlling during uncertain times and emphasizes that ambitious fitness professionals must balance their drive for growth with genuine self-care. Laura encourages listeners to practice gratitude for what they've already built, recognize when pushing harder creates more harm than progress, and remember that preserving their physical and mental health is essential to serving clients and maintaining longevity in the industry.

    12 min

  6. 11/04/2025

    Ep. 16: Emilio Lara | The Emergence Podcast

    On this week's episode of The Emergence Podcast, Laura chats with Emilio Lara, a coach, trainer, and multi-hyphenate creative based in Mexico City. They dive into a focused conversation around movement and discipline and how that translates into his way of life—across fitness and creativity. Emilio shares stories from his journey, from being an active kid inspired by his older brother's transformation, to discovering his passion for fitness at sixteen with those "killer chest workouts" by the side of his bed. He opens up about how discipline on the soccer field shaped him, his inspiring approach to coaching, and his philosophy of being the coach he wished he always had. They talk about what truly motivates him—the pride his clients take in their own transformations—and the hard lesson of learning to rest, listen to his body, and let go of the guilt that comes with taking time off.

    52 min
  7. The Walk: Emma Baker Recap | The Emergence Podcast

    10/28/2025

    The Walk: Emma Baker Recap | The Emergence Podcast

    On the Walk this week, Laura discusses key insights from her conversation with first-year instructor Emma Baker, emphasizing the importance of bringing one's full life experience into teaching rather than fitting a narrow definition of fitness professional. She explores practical strategies, including focusing on "needle-moving" micro-actions over overwhelming macro goals, creating grounding spaces to combat decision fatigue, and maintaining mindfulness during challenging sessions. Laura addresses anxiety around client turnover, advocating for building a financial safety net and trusting that quality work attracts clients. She challenges listeners to radically reassess their values and boundaries, asking what kind of coach they truly want to be and what lifestyle will help them show up with energy and authenticity rather than burnout.

    16 min

  8. 10/21/2025

    Ep. 15: Emma Baker | The Emergence Podcast

    In this episode of The Emergence Podcast, Laura sits down with Emma Baker, a New York-based personal trainer who made the leap from ballet dancer and corporate writer to fitness professional just a year and a half ago. Emma shares the realities of being a new trainer in New York City, from managing the physical and mental demands of running between studios to navigating the identity shift that comes with a major career change. The conversation explores how Emma's background in ballet and powerlifting shaped her coaching philosophy, the challenges of maintaining work-life balance while building a client base, and the importance of staying grounded and present with clients in a fast-paced industry. Emma opens up about overcoming imposter syndrome, learning to set boundaries, and discovering that the best coaching comes from honoring her unique blend of movement influences—from strength training to yoga and dance—rather than fitting into a single mold.

    1h 4m
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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
    2K
  • Episodes
    37
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Laura Gunder
  • Show Website
    The Emergence Podcast