Pilates Unscripted

Adriana Rotella

Pilates Unscripted refines how we think about movement. Join host Adriana Rotella as she shares real conversations with leading experts in the field and breaks down what really matters when it comes to the body. Whether you're a seasoned pro or brand new to mindful movement, if you care about how your body moves, you're in the right place.

  1. Oct 20

    Leadership, Burnout & Conscious Productivity with Stephanie Woodward

    Most of us didn't get into this work because we wanted to manage people. We fell in love with movement. But somewhere along the way, we found ourselves running studios, leading teams of instructors, or working alongside people who all have different energy, different needs, and different ideas about how things should be done. Nobody hands you a manual for that part. That's why I sat down with my friend Stephanie Woodward; executive coach, workplace facilitator, leadership consultant, and founder of Agency to Change. Stephanie is the creator of the Conscious Productivity Framework, host of The Conscious Productivity Podcast, and author of the #1 Amazon bestseller The Big Scale Back: Success and Balance By Your Own Design. We covered so much ground in this one. Here's what you'll find: Episode Chapters 2:50 - Stephanie's origin story: workaholic since age 12, promoted at 28 to lead a team in their 40s 6:00 - The adrenal crash: climbing the ladder to 80–100 hour weeks and hitting rock bottom 8:00 - The Conscious Productivity Framework: Clarity, Climate, and Flow 12:00 - Why self-leadership comes first (before team leadership) 15:00 - The team's nervous system: how a regulated leader changes everything 23:00 - Where to start with self-leadership: books, podcasts, and knowing yourself 28:00 -  Dealing with the "bad apple": hiring for values, setting team norms, and having hard conversations 33:00 - Why it's like parenting (but you get to expect more from adults) 36:00 - Community, connection & climate at work 40:00 - Team-building strategies: Enneagram, cooking classes, anonymous surveys 44:00 - Chronotypes: understanding when your team (and your boss) is at their best ~ Go to getsensate.com/arnutrition and use code "ARnutrition" for 10% off ~   ~ Connect With Stephanie ~ Instagram - @agencytochange  Website - agencytochange.com Youtube - @agencytochange274 Podcast - The Conscious Productivity Podcast  Take the Conscious Productivity Quiz - DISCOVER MORE   ~ Connect With Me ~ Instagram - @adriana.rotella Website - adrianarotella.ca

  2. Oct 13

    From Nutritionist to DJ: Following Your Breadcrumbs with Rachel Molenda (DJ Ray)

    This episode is a special one for me because my guest is someone I've known since our nutrition school days; long before she became "DJ Ray" or launched Reunion, the alcohol-free, women-only dance party that's taken Toronto by storm. Rachel Molenda has worn more hats than I can count: holistic nutritionist, intuitive eating coach, mindset coach, and now DJ and event producer. But through every reinvention, the thread that's stayed constant is her commitment to showing up as fully, unapologetically herself, even when it's scary, even when people might judge, and even when things go completely sideways. In this episode, we cover: How Rachel went from presenting on vitamin A with a guitar in nutrition school to building a 500-person dance party movement (yes, she literally sang a song about vitamins) Her career evolution through nutrition, intuitive eating, and mindset coaching The breadcrumb trail that led her to DJing and raves at 31, and how all the clues were there in hindsight The cancellation story: Rachel planned a sold-out 500-person rooftop party, only to wake up the morning of to orange skies and wildfire smoke warnings. She lost $8,000 in refunds in 48 hours  How vulnerability and community turned the whole thing around: she went live on Instagram, her community rallied, and the resold tickets sold out in four days Why Reunion is alcohol-free and women-only, and what happens when you remove liquid courage and the male gaze from a dance floor Knowing when to walk away from something successful (Rachel walked away from a 300,000-download podcast) and what "feeling dead inside" signals A deep dive into Pilates, Stott vs. classical, the "Pilates wars," and whether it even matters as long as people feel good ~ Go to getsensate.com/arnutrition and use code "ARnutrition" for 10% off ~   ~ Connect With Rachel ~ Website - www.rachelmmolenda.com  Website - www.thereuniondanceparty.com  Instagram - @rachelmmolenda Youtube - @rachelmmolenda Reunion ~ JOIN THE WAITLIST   ~ Connect With Me ~ Instagram - @adriana.rotella Website - adrianarotella.ca

  3. Sep 29

    Why Muscle Is Your Longevity Organ with Barbara Birke

    Barbara Birke joins me this week for one of my favorite conversations yet. We dive deep into why building and maintaining muscle is one of the most important investments women can make for long-term health, especially as we move through our 40s, 50s, and beyond. If you've ever wondered whether Pilates counts as strength training, how much protein you really need, or why the scale isn't telling you the whole story, this episode is for you. Key Takeaways Muscle is the longevity organ. It supports your bones, joints, metabolism, blood sugar, brain, mood, and energy. Use it or lose it. From age 35 onward, muscle declines unless you actively work against it. 2–3 sessions, 30 minutes each per week is enough to see meaningful benefits. Protein matters: Aim for 1.2–1.6g per kilo of body weight if you're active. Body composition > scale weight. Muscle is denser than fat. How your jeans fit tells you more than a number. Form first, then load. Don't add weight to faulty movement patterns. Reduce tension, fix the form, then build back up. Pilates counts as strength training as long as there's progressive overload (increasing spring resistance over time). Movement is not a punishment. Reframe it as nourishment and self-care.   ~ Go to getsensate.com/arnutrition and use code "ARnutrition" for 10% off ~ Pilates Instructor Mentorship | JOIN HERE   ~ Connect With Barbara ~ Instagram - @strongwithbarbara Website - optimum-you.com YouTube - @strongwithbarbara  Strength Training Course - Power & Balance  ~ Connect With Me ~ Instagram - @adriana.rotella Website - adrianarotella.ca

  4. Sep 15

    Reclaiming Your Body Through Perimenopause & Menopause with Jenn Pike

    In this episode, I sit down with my mentor and dear friend Jenn Pike; functional diagnostic nutrition practitioner, registered holistic nutritionist, medical exercise specialist, and host of The Simplicity Sessions podcast. With 30 years in the fitness and wellness space, Jenn breaks down what's really happening in women's bodies during perimenopause and menopause, why so many of us feel dismissed by the healthcare system, and how to build a foundation of trust with ourselves again. In this episode, we talk about: Showing up as the same person online and off, and why authenticity builds trust before anyone even meets you The physical and emotional "two bodies" every instructor needs to read in class Why perimenopause is a full-body rewiring  Jenn's top three starting points: track your sleep and digestion, understand your period vs. your cycle, and get intentional with nutrition Why so many women are undernourished, not overfed  The problem with keto, fasting, and diet culture's obsession with being smaller instead of stronger Training with your cycle (or the lunar cycle if you don't have one) instead of against it Why "Pilates" on social media often isn't Pilates at all Knowing when it's time to pivot vs. go deeper in your business The power of mentorship    ~ Go to getsensate.com/arnutrition and use code "ARnutrition" for 10% off ~ Pilates Instructor Mentorship | JOIN HERE   ~ Connect With Jenn ~ Instagram - @jennpike Website - www.jennpike.com Facebook - @thesimplicityproject YouTube - @JennPike    ~ Connect With Me ~ Instagram - @adriana.rotella Website - adrianarotella.ca

About

Pilates Unscripted refines how we think about movement. Join host Adriana Rotella as she shares real conversations with leading experts in the field and breaks down what really matters when it comes to the body. Whether you're a seasoned pro or brand new to mindful movement, if you care about how your body moves, you're in the right place.

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