20 Years of Integrity, Community, and Building a Pilates Legacy in China with Patricia Liao & Anita Tang

20 Years of Integrity, Community, and Building a Pilates Legacy in China with Patricia Liao & Anita Tang

I am so thrilled to share this conversation with two of my dearest friends in the Pilates world — Patricia Liao and Anita Tang, co-founders of The Orange Room Wellness Center in Shanghai, China. What We Cover: * How Patricia and Anita met as expats in the international school community and said "yes" to each other before they even knew what they were agreeing to * Why they started as a yoga and Pilates studio and how The Orange Room evolved into one of the most respected Merrithew training centers in China * The core values — integrity, honesty, and commitment — that have guided every hiring decision and every business challenge for 20 years * How they navigated the 2008–2009 global recession, losing 40% of their clients overnight, and how the community they had built came together to help them survive * What it really looks like to build a team that feels like family — and why their instructors stay for the long haul * How they manage their partnership as 50/50 co-founders, and why mutual respect is the foundation that makes it work * Their approach to avoiding instructor burnout by prioritizing life outside the studio * What they look for when hiring (hint: it's not just qualifications — it's values, temperament, and how someone gels with the team) * The future of The Orange Room and their thoughtful plan to pass the torch to the next generation ~ Connect With Me ~ Instagram - @adriana.rotella [http://instagram.com/adriana.rotella] Website - adrianarotella.ca [http://adrianarotella.ca]

When the Body Won't Let Go: Working With Complex Clients with Melanie Byford-Young

In this episode, I sat down with someone who has been in my world for a long time — Melanie Byford-Young, physiotherapist, Master Rehab Instructor Trainer for Stott Pilates, and co-owner of Pacific Northwest Pilates in Portland, Oregon. Melanie has spent over 25 years doing what most of us find the hardest: working with the most complex, challenging clients. And she does it brilliantly. What we talked about: * How Melanie went from physiotherapy to Pilates * The concept of "unwinding" complex joints * Why stretching isn't always the answer * The Pilates boom and where it's headed * Teaching instructors to think, not just follow a syllabus * How to have better pain conversations with clients * The "contrarian" client * Global bodies, global differences * The case for lifelong mentorship Learn more about Melanie and the workshops: https://www.melaniebyfordyoungeducation.com/workshops [https://www.melaniebyfordyoungeducation.com/workshops] Special Offer for Listeners: Save $100 when registering for both workshops using code PODCAST20 at checkout. Register here for both workshops and receive the listener offer: https://www.melaniebyfordyoungeducation.com/offers/NpqtFTNo/checkout [https://www.melaniebyfordyoungeducation.com/offers/NpqtFTNo/checkout] (Bundle price: $500 → $400) Offer valid through June 9, 2026. ~ Connect With Melanie ~ Website - www.melaniebyfordyoungeducation.com [https://www.melaniebyfordyoungeducation.com/] Website - pacificnorthwestpilates.com [https://pacificnorthwestpilates.com/] Facebook - @PNWPilates [https://www.facebook.com/PNWPilates/] Instagram - @pacificnwpilates [https://www.instagram.com/pacificnwpilates/] Instagram - @melaniebyford_youngeducation [https://www.instagram.com/melaniebyford_youngeducation/] ~ Connect With Me ~ Instagram - @adriana.rotella [http://instagram.com/adriana.rotella] Website - adrianarotella.ca [http://adrianarotella.ca]

The Pilates Boom: What We're Getting Wrong and How to Fix It with Carla Ricalis

This week I got to sit down with someone who has been part of my Pilates journey since the very beginning, Carla Ricalis, Toronto-based instructor, educator, and studio owner of Studio 3. What I love about Carla is that she doesn't just teach Pilates, she thinks deeply about it. This conversation went in so many directions, and I was reminded again of how much there is still to talk about in this industry. In this episode we cover: * How the Pilates landscape has changed — and what the boom of reformer-based "fitness Pilates" studios actually means for the industry * The difference between client-centric and exercise-centric teaching, and why it matters for your clients' results and long-term retention * Why quality over quantity has always been at the heart of Pilates — and what gets lost when that principle is ignored * The importance of continuing education and what Carla would say to instructors who want to go deeper with their practice * How Carla has built a culture at Studio 3 that keeps both instructors and clients engaged, connected, and coming back * Instructor burnout — what it really looks like and how thoughtful scheduling and studio culture can prevent it * Her three pillars for running a successful Pilates studio ~ Connect With Carla ~ Website - www.studiopower3.ca [http://www.studiopower3.ca/] LinkedIn - connect with Carla [https://www.linkedin.com/in/carla-ricalis-studio3/] Instagram - @studio3pilatesyoga [http://instagram.com/studio3pilatesyoga] ~ Connect With Me ~ Instagram - @adriana.rotella [http://instagram.com/adriana.rotella] Website - adrianarotella.ca [http://adrianarotella.ca]

A Client's Unfiltered Take on What Pilates Really Does with Charan Bhattal

I've been coaching instructors and movement professionals for years, so I thought it was time to flip the script and bring on someone who experiences Pilates from the other side — as a client. In this episode, I'm joined by one of my absolute favourite people to work with, Charan Bhattal. In this episode, we talk about: * Why Charan came back to Pilates after completing teacher training — and never using it * The moment she realized she couldn't (and didn't want to) practice alone * How Pilates has transformed her tennis game, her yoga practice, and the way she simply walks through a city * The difference between pushing through pain and truly listening to your body * Why I believe the "no pain, no gain" mentality is one of the most damaging things we were ever taught * What Charan looks for when she walks into a Pilates studio on the road — and what she refuses to do in a class, even when everyone around her is doing it * Her biggest physical transformation (hint: it involves her core, her glutes, and yes — new jeans) * Why I think the patient is always the smartest person in the room ~ Connect With Charan ~ Website - graceandgoode.com [https://graceandgoode.com/] ~ Connect With Me ~ Instagram - @adriana.rotella [http://instagram.com/adriana.rotella] Website - adrianarotella.ca [http://adrianarotella.ca]

From Patient to Instructor: Building a Global Community with Hilal Leigh

This week I sat down with Hilal Lee — certified STOTT Pilates instructor, studio founder, app creator, and the 2024 Pilates Journal Instructor of the Year — based out of Dubai and reaching Pilates lovers everywhere through her mobile app and social media community. Hilal's story is not your typical career pivot. A serious neck injury in 2014 that left the left side of her body temporarily paralyzed became the turning point that led her to leave a successful corporate career and pursue Pilates full time. What struck me most about her story is not just the courage it took to make that leap, but the sheer discipline and strategic thinking she brought to it. She had a plan — and she worked it. In this episode, we covered: * Leaving corporate behind — why a near-paralysis experience became the catalyst for a completely new life, and why she says she might never have left without it * The romanticization of becoming a Pilates instructor — what it actually takes, including years of early-morning and late-night shifts, continuous education, and learning in a second language * Why solid training matters more than ever — with weekend certifications flooding the market, we got into why a rigorous foundation (and ongoing education) isn't optional if you want to truly serve your clients * Building a one-to-one practice and staying sane — the isolation of solo teaching, and how community, workshops, and getting out to events is what keeps the spark alive * Creating the Hilal Pilates app — how she built a mat-based library of 250+ classes from scratch, during COVID, with a baby at home, and why knowing your audience is everything * Pricing yourself fairly — a conversation I know so many of us need to have. Hilal's perspective: benchmark your peers, trust your education, and know your market. You have earned it. * Pilates as a foundation for everything — whether your clients go on to lift weights, play pickleball, or just want to pick something up off the floor without pain, we are giving people the tools to move well for life * Face fitness and fascia — Hilal's newest certification and why posture work from the neck down shows up everywhere, including on your face ~ Connect With Hilal ~ Instagram - @hilalleighpilates [https://www.instagram.com/hilalleighpilates?igsh=MXg2NWdqdWZzaGNjMQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr] Website - hilalleighpilates.com [https://hilalleighpilates.com//] ~ Connect With Me ~ Instagram - @adriana.rotella [http://instagram.com/adriana.rotella] Website - adrianarotella.ca [http://adrianarotella.ca]