Beyond the Reformer

Nic Lenny
  • 5.0 (12)
  • Alternative Health

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. 5d ago ·  Video

    Are We Making Pilates Too Hard? Rethinking How We Teach Reformer Pilates

    "Making hard things feel easy is really, really hard and it takes a lot of skill for you as a teacher." In this solo episode, Nic shares a topic that has come up again and again in her life recently: what are we actually teaching? Sparked by an Instagram post about one of her Soul Pilates Education graduates, who found herself at a studio asking her to teach in a way that went against everything evidence-based she had learned, Nic reflects on why, in an industry that seems to be going harder and harder, she is choosing to go softer. She explores the difference between something being a genuine challenge and something just being hard, why meeting clients where they are at matters so much, and how loading a body full of imbalances can simply make those imbalances stronger. She also unpacks why tissue changes from a place of relaxation, why she never cues "engage your core," and why making difficult exercises feel easy is one of the most valuable skills a Pilates teacher can develop. Nic also shares why going softer doesn't mean going easy, how knowing your "why" can help you find studios that align with you, and the story behind Soul Pilates' Unravel class, which sold out almost instantly. Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:59 The Instagram post that sparked this episode 02:30 Why Pilates is being made as hard as possible 03:35 Challenge vs hard: what's the difference? 04:04 Meeting the people in front of you 04:53 Repetition, cognitive load and reading the room 08:04 Why loading imbalances makes them stronger 09:17 Unravelling and why tissue changes from relaxation 11:44 The problem with "spicy" Pilates 12:02 Are we overloading or underloading clients? 13:02 The cueing experiment: feel the burn vs notice and allow 14:58 Taking clients from beginner to advanced 15:38 Why Nic never cues "engage your core" 17:58 Who here is good at being relaxed? 18:55 The magic of Pilates 20:57 Why we shouldn't go too soft either 21:44 Finding your why as a teacher 23:23 The Unravel class that sold out 24:43 Final thoughts 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 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_reformer_pod/ Soul Pilates Education: https://www.instagram.com/soul_pilates_education/ Sign up to Our Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/2bff55298739/beyond-the-reformer Ready to take your Pilates teaching to the next level? Applications are now open for Soul  Pilates Education's 2027 Teacher Training programs in Bristol! Choose between our 12-month Comprehensive Training (Jan 2027) or our 7-month Reformer Training (Mar 2027). Learn to teach with real depth, adapt movement, and gain full confidence with clients. Limited places available. Ready to take your Pilates teaching to the next level? Applications are now open for Soul Pilates Education's 2027 Teacher Training programs in Bristol! Choose between our 12-month Comprehensive Training (Jan 2027) or our 7-month Reformer Training (Mar 2027). Learn to teach with real depth, adapt movement, and gain full confidence with clients. Limited places available.  Become a Certified Pilates Teacher in 2027

  2. Nov 2 ·  Video

    What Makes a Great Pilates Teacher, Studio and Training with Courtney Miller

    “I started to shift my focus to curiosity. And that profoundly changed the way that I connect with people and the way that I show up in my classes.” In this episode, we are joined by Courtney Miller, Pilates educator, teacher trainer and founder of Pilates Republic, a growing group of Reformer Pilates studios in Southern California. Courtney has been teaching since 2001, is a long-standing Pilates Anytime instructor, and designed her own Rebel Reformer for her studios. Nic and Courtney explore how Courtney went from teaching out of insecurity and perfectionism to teaching with curiosity and connection. They talk about the isolation many new teachers feel, and why surrounding yourself with the right people can change everything. They unpack the rise of athletic and creative Reformer Pilates, and why athletic doesn’t have to mean advanced or risky when every exercise has a clear purpose. They also dig into the gaps in teacher training, including why new teachers need real teaching practice, ongoing education and the permission to be a rookie. They also go deeper into the business side of Pilates, from building and supporting a studio team to growing multiple locations without losing quality. They finish on standing out in a saturated industry where copycat studios are on the rise. Timestamps 00:00 Intro to Courtney Miller 01:21 From perfectionism to curiosity as a teacher 06:17 Overcoming isolation as a new Pilates teacher 10:06 Bringing Pilates into the gym and finding her creative approach 15:00 Athletic Reformer Pilates: risk, reward and purpose 20:04 Where the Pilates industry is heading 23:39 Classical, contemporary and the Pilates Republic approach 28:18 Building Pilates Republic 33:29 Hiring, training and supporting a studio team 40:25 How Courtney chooses studio locations 44:05 What new teachers really need from teacher training 50:01 Why continuing education matters 54:10 The biggest gaps in teacher training 01:01:12 AI, technology and the Pilates industry 01:03:02 Saturation, copycat culture and standing out 01:09:29 What’s next for Courtney 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 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_reformer_pod/ Soul Pilates Education: https://www.instagram.com/soul_pilates_education/ Sign up to Our Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/2bff55298739/beyond-the-reformer Ready to take your Pilates teaching to the next level? Applications are now open for Soul  Pilates Education's 2027 Teacher Training programs in Bristol! Choose between our 12-month Comprehensive Training (Jan 2027) or our 7-month Reformer Training (Mar 2027). Learn to teach with real depth, adapt movement, and gain full confidence with clients. Limited places available.  Connect with Courtney: Courtneys Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/courtneymillerpilates/photos Pilates Republic website: https://www.pilatesrepublic.com/ Ready to take your Pilates teaching to the next level? Applications are now open for Soul Pilates Education's 2027 Teacher Training programs in Bristol! Choose between our 12-month Comprehensive Training (Jan 2027) or our 7-month Reformer Training (Mar 2027). Learn to teach with real depth, adapt movement, and gain full confidence with clients. Limited places available.  Become a Certified Pilates Teacher in 2027  Ready to take your Pilates teaching to the next level? Applications are now open for Soul Pilates Education's 2027 Teacher Training programs in Bristol! Choose between our 12-month Comprehensive Training (Jan 2027) or our 7-month Reformer Training (Mar 2027). Learn to teach with real depth, adapt movement, and gain full confidence with clients. Limited places available.  Become a Certified Pilates Teacher in 2027

  3. Oct 26 ·  Video

    Why Are We All So Exhausted? The People-Pleasing Problem in Pilates

    "When did being a good teacher become being endlessly accommodating?" In this solo episode, Nic answers the one problem you asked her to help solve when she put the question out on Instagram: exhaustion. As a studio owner, teacher and educator, she shares six reasons she thinks so many Pilates teachers and studio owners are running on empty, and she's honest that she's working through this herself. She explores why Pilates attracts people who care so deeply, the emotional and energetic labour of holding a room, and the hidden load of running a studio. She unpacks the "good person" trap of always saying yes, why boundaries need to flex without becoming rigid, and whether the careers we're building are actually sustainable, including the impact of undercutting on prices and why fair pay for teachers matters. There are no quick fixes here. The thread running through it all is awareness: noticing what drains you, what refills your cup, and making conscious choices about your trade-offs. Timestamps 00:00 Why exhaustion is the problem you asked about 01:45 Problem 1: why this work attracts people who care 04:14 Turning your hobby into your job 05:16 Finding a work structure that suits you 07:42 Problem 2: the emotional labour of teaching 08:32 The six minutes before and after class 09:48 The art of presence 11:34 Empaths and protecting your energy 16:51 The "doing more" mentality 17:57 Problem 3: the studio owner load 21:35 Scoring your meetings for energy 22:56 Problem 4: the good person trap 28:56 When to let a client go 31:05 Problem 5: boundaries that flex 34:00 Problem 6: building a sustainable career 38:44 Undercutting, pricing and paying teachers well 41:35 Awareness as the starting point 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 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_reformer_pod/ Soul Pilates Education: https://www.instagram.com/soul_pilates_education/ Sign up to Our Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/2bff55298739/beyond-the-reformer Ready to take your Pilates teaching to the next level? Applications are now open for Soul  Pilates Education's 2027 Teacher Training programs in Bristol! Choose between our 12-month Comprehensive Training (Jan 2027) or our 7-month Reformer Training (Mar 2027). Learn to teach with real depth, adapt movement, and gain full confidence with clients. Limited places available.  Episodes mentioned: Michael King: https://youtu.be/QrGUNoPmCqE?si=iuF0yMoefU7lmuit Phil M Jones: https://youtu.be/sD1fw5GaQtE?si=gr-Ma3H09t_2W2rn Cameron Angus: https://youtu.be/tu2UB2Qn6Rc?si=pxM6Ia2rNGB_6A9- Lisa from Studio Grow: https://youtu.be/GjKVyv67W7k?si=kDPGFIDn6m1ttKvT Christi Idavoy: https://youtu.be/nGoTG1BX950?si=EeXmmdgfiZiOQWui Ready to take your Pilates teaching to the next level? Applications are now open for Soul Pilates Education's 2027 Teacher Training programs in Bristol! Choose between our 12-month Comprehensive Training (Jan 2027) or our 7-month Reformer Training (Mar 2027). Learn to teach with real depth, adapt movement, and gain full confidence with clients. Limited places available.  Become a Certified Pilates Teacher in 2027

  4. Oct 19 ·  Video

    Qualified But Not Ready? What Pilates Teacher Training Doesn’t Teach You with Lindsey Hammond

    "I would rather be effective than sexy." In this episode, we are joined by Lindsey Hammond, Pilates studio owner, educator, and author of Teach Pilates Like It Matters. Lindsey has been running her first studio for 18 years and now trains teachers through her own education programme, which she is also licensing to studios. Together, Nic and Lindsey explore the gap between being qualified on paper and actually being ready to teach real clients. They unpack why teacher training covers the what of teaching but not always the how, why the idea of a teacher "it factor" is a myth, and how intentional repetition is what builds real confidence, charisma, and skill. They also get practical, from planning three classes a week instead of twenty and cutting your cueing down to what really matters, to trauma-informed teaching, tactile cueing and consent, and what studio owners are really looking for when you walk into an audition. Timestamps 00:00 Intro to Lindsey Hammond and Teach Pilates Like It Matters 00:54 What makes a Pilates teacher ready 01:18 The gap in Pilates teacher training 02:39 Why Lindsey created a bridge training for new teachers 04:55 From client to teacher: what makes a great Pilates teacher 06:56 How to fast-track becoming a great teacher 08:38 The myth of the Pilates teacher "it factor" 10:57 Cognitive load and teaching apparatus-based Pilates 14:55 Why repetition helps clients progress 15:40 Secondary cues: same exercise, different class 17:56 Inside Lindsey's onboarding programme for new teachers 20:16 The audition question that reveals everything 23:31 What's inside Teach Pilates Like It Matters 25:08 Trauma-informed Pilates teaching 29:22 When cueing goes wrong 31:39 Tactile cueing and consent 33:48 Why you need to take private sessions to teach them 36:29 How to plan three classes a week instead of twenty 38:48 Building your classes in "paragraphs" 40:49 Depth vs trends in Pilates 42:01 How to make your cueing more effective 45:44 Why your repetition needs to be intentional 48:09 Quick-fire questions 49:49 The cueing habit Lindsey wants teachers to stop 53:05 What studio owners look for in auditions 55:55 Where to find Lindsey 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 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_reformer_pod/ Soul Pilates Education: https://www.instagram.com/soul_pilates_education/ Sign up to Our Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/2bff55298739/beyond-the-reformer Connect with Lindsey: https://www.instagram.com/lindseydhammond/ Ready to take your Pilates teaching to the next level? Applications are now open for Soul Pilates Education's 2027 Teacher Training programs in Bristol! Choose between our 12-month Comprehensive Training (Jan 2027) or our 7-month Reformer Training (Mar 2027). Learn to teach with real depth, adapt movement, and gain full confidence with clients. Limited places available.  Become a Certified Pilates Teacher in 2027 Ready to take your Pilates teaching to the next level? Applications are now open for Soul Pilates Education's 2027 Teacher Training programs in Bristol! Choose between our 12-month Comprehensive Training (Jan 2027) or our 7-month Reformer Training (Mar 2027). Learn to teach with real depth, adapt movement, and gain full confidence with clients. Limited places available.  Become a Certified Pilates Teacher in 2027

  5. Oct 12 ·  Video

    Busy Isn't Profitable: How to Fix Your Pilates Studio Operations

    "We looked really, really busy and busy isn't the same as profitable." In this solo episode, Nic, founder of Soul Pilates, shares the key lessons from a recent talk she gave on studio operations, and turns it into a mini workshop for Pilates studio owners. She opens up about the moment her accountant told her she'd made no money despite a full studio, and explains why good operations and good profit are part of the same thing. She walks through her three pillars of great studio operations, clarity, consistency and ownership, and shares how Soul Pilates uses the RACI model to make sure nothing falls through the gaps as the team grows. Nic also digs into the common gaps she sees in studios, from late cancellations, class cover and client complaints to the sales journey and reformer maintenance. She shares real stories from her own studios, why SOPs need room for grey areas, and how building a daily, weekly and monthly rhythm frees you up to work on your business, not just in it. Timestamps 00:00 Welcome to Beyond the Reformer 03:03 The questions every studio owner should ask themselves 04:15 Why growing means you can't do everything yourself 06:04 Write down every task you do in a week 08:08 Busy isn't the same as profitable 10:08 Just because you can do it doesn't mean you should 11:43 Pillar one: clarity in every role 14:15 Pillar two: consistency, and when SOPs go wrong 16:55 Pillar three: ownership and the RACI model 19:21 Turning frustrations into processes 20:08 How to handle late cancellations 23:45 Class cover and keeping great teachers 25:52 Handling client complaints 29:10 Teaching consistency and the sales journey 30:46 Reformer maintenance and safety 31:49 Building your studio rhythm 33:47 Operations are built one problem at a time 34:26 Your one operational commitment this week 36:25 Why every studio should be run like it could be sold 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 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_reformer_pod/ Soul Pilates Education: https://www.instagram.com/soul_pilates_education/ Sign up to Our Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/2bff55298739/beyond-the-reformer Ready to take your Pilates teaching to the next level? Applications are now open for Soul Pilates Education's 2027 Teacher Training programs in Bristol! Choose between our 12-month Comprehensive Training (Jan 2027) or our 7-month Reformer Training (Mar 2027). Learn to teach with real depth, adapt movement, and gain full confidence with clients. Limited places available.  Become a Certified Pilates Teacher in 2027

  6. Oct 6 ·  Video

    How to Build a Pilates Studio That’s Actually Worth Something, with Mitch McGinley

    "Good exit strategy is just good business strategy." In this episode, Nic is joined by Mitch McGinley, founder of Boutique Fitness Broker and author of The Number Nobody Talks About. Mitch has spent his career helping boutique fitness and wellness owners buy and sell their studios, closing over 70 transactions worth more than 30 million dollars, and he sold his own yoga studio before founding his brokerage. They explore what actually makes a Pilates studio valuable, and why it's rarely the things owners assume, like a beautiful build out or steady revenue. Instead they unpack profit margin, owner dependence, and team strength as the real drivers of value, along with why some studios never should have expanded to a second or third location in the first place. They also get into the practical side, from how a studio is actually valued using earnings multiples, to what takes the longest to fix before a sale, to why every studio owner, even those with zero intention of selling, benefits from thinking like they might one day. Timestamps  01:15 Does revenue and utilization make a studio valuable  02:47 Are studio owners paying themselves enough  05:13 Extracting yourself from the day to day  10:47 What owners think makes their business valuable versus what buyers actually value  10:55 The build out myth  12:10 What is a healthy profit margin  13:31 The biggest misunderstanding about business value  15:22 Who is actually buying studios  19:03 The emotional side of selling  21:45 What makes a sale go smoothly  23:21 What actually makes a studio different  26:09 Standing out in a saturated market  29:16 Feeling the pinch as margins get squeezed  31:29 Is now the time to sell  33:16 What makes people think about selling  35:06 Why you should sell at the peak  38:39 Making your studio more valuable over the next three years  40:59 What takes the longest to fix before a sale  42:51 Is multiple locations more or less valuable  45:25 Why bed count matters for profitability  47:57 Buying versus building new locations  49:29 How a studio is actually valued  51:57 What people do after they sell 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 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_reformer_pod/ Soul Pilates Education: https://www.instagram.com/soul_pilates_education/ Sign up to Our Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/2bff55298739/beyond-the-reformer Connect with Mitch McGinley: Website: https://boutiquefitnessbroker.com/ Sign up below to hear more about our Pilates Teacher Training Courses and to get priority access when our next course opens here. Ready to take your Pilates teaching to the next level? Applications are now open for Soul Pilates Education's 2027 Teacher Training programs in Bristol! Choose between our 12-month Comprehensive Training (Jan 2027) or our 7-month Reformer Training (Mar 2027). Learn to teach with real depth, adapt movement, and gain full confidence with clients. Limited places available.  Become a Certified Pilates Teacher in 2027

  7. Sep 28 ·  Video

    When Men Misunderstand Pilates | Tim Gough

    "I'm about as alpha male as it gets. I come from 30 years in special forces. It doesn't come much better than that. And I now teach Pilates and I absolutely see the benefits." In this episode, Nic is joined by Tim Gough, co-owner and instructor at Vagabond Pilates in Dorset, and a 30-year veteran of the Royal Marines and Special Boat Service. Tim shares how his wife Millie's own Pilates journey through cancer recovery pulled him into the method during deployment, and how that eventually led him to leave the military and co-found a full-equipment Pilates studio with Millie and Molly. They explore why Pilates is still seen as a female-dominated space, what needs to change in how it's marketed and taught to get more men in the door, and the surprising overlap between special forces mindset and the discipline of a Pilates practice. Tim also opens up about the challenges of studio ownership, adjusting to life after the military, and what he's learned about teaching, mentorship and building a team since joining Vagabond as an instructor. Timestamps  00:00 Tim's first podcast and his path into Pilates  01:43 How his wife Millie's Pilates journey began  03:53 Teaching Pilates to his unit during deployment  07:11 The mission to get more men into Pilates  13:52 Running a men-only class at Vagabond  16:53 Making the studio feel welcoming for everyone  20:44 Thirty years in special forces, then Pilates  23:20 Why one session isn't enough  30:18 Clients who say Pilates changed their life  31:09 Why nobody notices your struggle in class  34:34 Meeting high-performing clients where they are  38:17 How Vagabond Pilates started  40:40 Interviewing to become an instructor  43:49 Adjusting to life after the military  44:29 Working with his wife and an all-female team  49:11 Mentorship and keeping good teachers  51:50 A look inside the Vagabond studio  54:03 Quickfire questions  59:15 Where to find Tim and Vagabond Pilates 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 Tim: Tim Gough LinkedIn Tim Gough Instagram Vagabond Pilates Website Ready to take your Pilates teaching to the next level? Applications are now open for Soul Pilates Education's 2027 Teacher Training programs in Bristol! Choose between our 12-month Comprehensive Training (Jan 2027) or our 7-month Reformer Training (Mar 2027). Learn to teach with real depth, adapt movement, and gain full confidence with clients. Limited places available.  Become a Certified Pilates Teacher in 2027

  8. Sep 21 ·  Video

    What No One Tells You About Teaching Pilates

    "The second guessing is you're trying to be like somebody else and you can never be like somebody else. You can only be like you are." In this episode, Nic swaps the usual guest chair for an Agony Aunt session, answering real Pilates dilemmas sent in by listeners. She unpacks what's really behind imposter syndrome, why tactile cueing feels so nerve-wracking for so many teachers, and how to bring your full, authentic personality into the studio without oversharing, including a candid take on teaching as a neurodivergent instructor. She also gets into the harder judgment calls: balancing what a client wants against what they need, what to do when a studio's direction stops matching your values, and the real story behind opening (and choosing not to keep opening) studios, and what that taught her about staying true to the Soul ethos as things grow. Timestamps 00:02 Intro to this week's Agony Aunt format 02:19 Dilemma one: will I ever feel good enough? 07:50 Dilemma two: tactile cueing, confidence and authenticity 16:55 Giving clients what they want vs what they need 19:59 Dilemma three: when your values don't match your studio 29:00 Dilemma four: growing without losing yourself 40:49 Closing thoughts and what's next 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 NewsletterReady to take your Pilates teaching to the next level? Applications are now open for Soul Pilates Education's 2027 Teacher Training programs in Bristol! Choose between our 12-month Comprehensive Training (Jan 2027) or our 7-month Reformer Training (Mar 2027). Learn to teach with real depth, adapt movement, and gain full confidence with clients. Limited places available.  Become a Certified Pilates Teacher in 2027

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

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…

Information

  • Creator
    Nic Lenny
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    82
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Beyond the Reformer
  • Show Website
    Beyond the Reformer

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