From Basement Studio to 9 Locations: How New York Pilates Defined Its Method

From Basement Studio to 9 Locations: How New York Pilates Defined Its Method

"Real change in your body happens from grounded, consistent work. Doing the split and a handstand is entertaining, but that's not what Pilates is about." In this episode, Nic is joined by Heather Andersen, founder of New York Pilates - one of the most recognisable reformer studio brands in the world, with nine locations across New York City and counting. Heather built New York Pilates from a basement space in Greenwich Village in 2013, at a time when group reformer classes simply didn't exist. She shares what it actually took to scale to nine studios - from building onboarding systems and maintaining consistency across locations, to the pricing mistakes and people management lessons learned the hard way. They also get into the state of the industry: why clients are confused about what Pilates even is, what separates genuine contemporary Pilates from the "Pilates adjacent" world, and why the most transformational work looks like nothing on camera. Timestamps 00:23 How New York Pilates started 01:37 Heather's background in ballet and early Pilates training 07:14 Making the leap from teacher to studio owner 13:14 Building the brand from day one 14:38 Early mistakes and people management 16:03 What a New York Pilates class feels like 18:44 Classical vs. contemporary vs. Pilates adjacent 25:20 Scaling from one studio to nine 29:16 Building systems for consistency 31:34 Teacher onboarding and quality management 37:51 Pricing, ClassPass, and why loyalty beats volume 44:34 Social media and the decision to talk about real Pilates 55:22 Where to find Heather 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 Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/soul_pilates/] * Soul Pilates Education [https://www.instagram.com/soul_pilates_education/] * Nic's Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/nic_soulpilates/] * Join Soul at Home [https://soulpilates.tv/] * Book a Pilates Class [https://www.soulpilates.co.uk/our-timetable.html] * Sign up to Our Newsletter [https://mailchi.mp/2bff55298739/beyond-the-reformer] Connect with Heather * Heather’s Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/heatherandersen_?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==] * New York Pilates Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/newyorkpilates/] * New York Pilates Website [https://www.newyorkpilates.com/] * New York Pilates Intro Offer [https://www.newyorkpilates.com/intro-offers-nyc-and-hamptons/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPOTM2NjE5NzQzMzkyNDU5AAGnqGvmbSZlzg8VGmaYm6M9Pal3E0aqsXXhGOpTbaZjE2iDhmeeJBJTBas1Zz8_aem_KpAadhiQ7bh8JLGE2uCy0g] * New York Pilates Reformer Certification [https://www.newyorkpilates.com/reformer-pilates-certification/] Join the Soul Pilates Retreat in Cornwall on 19 June for a weekend of movement, rest and nourishment. Find all the details here. [https://www.soulpilates.co.uk/restful-retreats.html] Thinking about investing in Pilates equipment? Balanced Body are offering our listeners a special discount! Fill in the form here [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd-lGFiH2VDIZP7OY1xB3Mew_NgD79rR-Vccrr8pFD3j_MMew/viewform] and mention Soul Pilates when you order. Interested in joining the July Teacher Training intake? Find all the details and book a call here [https://www.soulpilates.co.uk/reformer-teacher-training.html]. Get 5% off Balanced Body Pilates equipment with the code SOUL PILATES  [https://balancedbodyequipment.uk/reformers/]

The Missing Piece in Pilates Teacher Training with Amy Havens

"I think self-acceptance and self-compassion... it's gonna keep changing and if you hear the loud stuff saying, I can't do that anymore - no." - Amy Havens In this episode, Nic is joined by Amy Havens, a veteran Pilates educator, mentor, and movement teacher based in Santa Barbara with over 30 years of experience in the industry. Amy has trained across multiple lineages - including Fletcher, BASI, Kathy Grant, and Madeleine Black - and is widely respected as one of the most thoughtful voices in Pilates education today. They explore what it really takes to become a truly great Pilates teacher - from the qualities that no training manual can teach, like patience and compassion, to the art of learning to see and respond to the bodies in front of you. Amy shares her rich origin story, from discovering Pilates as a dance student in 1989 to becoming injured, finding healing through the work, and eventually committing to teaching as a lifelong calling. They also dig into the current state of the Pilates industry - the growing divide between fitness Pilates and the more healing-oriented tradition, the case for prerequisites before teacher training, and why mastering the fundamentals will always matter more than creative programming. Amy makes a compelling case for mentorship as the missing piece for so many new teachers, and shares what that relationship can look like when it's done well. Timestamps 00:00 Intro to Amy Havens 00:14 What makes a truly great Pilates teacher 02:08 Learning to see and respond to different bodies 04:49 Amy's origin story - discovering Pilates in college 08:10 Observing from the front desk and falling in love with the work 10:42 Getting cold feet before teacher training - and why that was the right call 13:23 Amy's formal training with Madeleine Black at the Physical Mind Institute 15:27 Learning to teach, not just to do 17:34 How injury became the turning point toward teaching 21:38 Why the best teachers are often those whose lives were changed by Pilates 22:40 The case for prerequisites in Pilates teacher training 28:13 What great mentorship actually looks like 31:46 Amy as a forever student - training across multiple lineages 37:06 How studying different styles shaped Amy's teaching 43:29 The state of the Pilates industry - two forks in the road 45:14 Fitness Pilates vs. healing Pilates - is it all Pilates? 47:52 Why studio owners need to do better at describing what they offer 53:00 Don't teach too much too soon - a lesson from Madeleine Black 55:25 Why mastering fundamentals matters more than creative programming 56:44 Quick-fire questions 01:03:28 Where to find Amy 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 Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/soul_pilates/] * Soul Pilates Education [https://www.instagram.com/soul_pilates_education/] * Nic's Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/nic_soulpilates/] * Join Soul at Home [https://soulpilates.tv/] * Book a Pilates Class [https://www.soulpilates.co.uk/our-timetable.html] * Sign up to Our Newsletter [https://mailchi.mp/2bff55298739/beyond-the-reformer] Connect with Amy: * Move with Amy Website [https://www.movewithamyhavens.com/] * Amy’s Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/movewithamyhavens/] * Amy’s Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/amychavens] * Amy’s Email  [amychavens@gmail.com] * Pilates Anytime Website [https://www.instagram.com/pilatesanytimeus/] Join the Soul Pilates Retreat in Cornwall on 19 June for a weekend of movement, rest and nourishment. Find all the details here. [https://www.soulpilates.co.uk/restful-retreats.html] Thinking about investing in Pilates equipment? Balanced Body are offering our listeners a special discount! Fill in the form here [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd-lGFiH2VDIZP7OY1xB3Mew_NgD79rR-Vccrr8pFD3j_MMew/viewform] and mention Soul Pilates when you order. Interested in joining the July Teacher Training intake? Find all the details and book a call here [https://www.soulpilates.co.uk/reformer-teacher-training.html]. Get 5% off Balanced Body Pilates equipment with the code SOUL PILATES  [https://balancedbodyequipment.uk/reformers/]

Burnout, Boundaries and Building a Career That Lasts as a Pilates Teacher with Audrey O'Connor

"I cannot be of service to other people if I cannot be of service to myself." You left the corporate world for a reason. But somehow you're exhausted, resentful, and wondering why this passion-driven career feels just as relentless as the one you walked away from. Nic is joined by Audrey O'Connor - former quantity surveyor, Pilates teacher, sound healer, and wellness educator who now works with global brands like Google. Back for her second appearance, Audrey digs into what burnout actually looks like for Pilates teachers - not just tiredness, but resentment, physical symptoms, and the trap of performing busyness as a badge of honour. They get practical on morning rituals, finances, multiple revenue streams, and valuing your time before resentment does it for you. Audrey also brings in something unexpected: astrology and human design as tools for understanding why you show up the way you do - and why changing your mind is not the same as being flaky. Whether you're in the thick of burnout or starting to feel the edges of it, there's something here for you. Timestamps 01:13 What burnout actually is - beyond just being tired 03:50 Busyness as a badge of honour and how to recognise the patterns 07:52 Vision, values, and the Pilates industry comparison trap 09:02 How performance and money are connected to burnout 11:12 Taking care of your body when teaching is your job 13:15 Switching off on holiday (and why content creation doesn't count as rest) 17:05 Rituals, routines and habit stacking 23:37 Finding a ritual practice that fits your life 26:07 Astrology and human design as tools for self-understanding 31:34 Why Pilates teachers are particularly prone to burnout 32:21 Being of service vs. sacrificing yourself 34:15 Burnout, undervaluing, and our complicated relationship with money 56:58 Mindset, self-worth, and why opportunities arrive when you stop chasing them 58:44 If you're overwhelmed right now - start here If this episode resonated, share it with someone in the industry who needs to hear it. And make sure you're following along so you don't miss what's coming next. Connect with Nic: * Beyond the Reformer Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/beyond_reformer_pod/] * Soul Pilates Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/soul_pilates/] * Soul Pilates Education [https://www.instagram.com/soul_pilates_education/] * Nic's Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/nic_soulpilates/] * Join Soul at Home [https://soulpilates.tv/] * Book a Pilates Class [https://www.soulpilates.co.uk/our-timetable.html] * Sign up to Our Newsletter [https://mailchi.mp/2bff55298739/beyond-the-reformer] Connect with Audrey: * Audrey's Sound Healing Training [https://corestatehq.com/mastery-of-sound] * Core State Website [https://corestatehq.com/about] * Audrey’s Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/audreyoconnor_____/] * The Everyday Hero Manifesto Book [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Everyday-Hero-Manifesto-Positivity-Productivity/dp/0008312877] Join the Soul Pilates Retreat in Cornwall on 19 June for a weekend of movement, rest and nourishment. Find all the details here. [https://www.soulpilates.co.uk/restful-retreats.html] Thinking about investing in Pilates equipment? Balanced Body are offering our listeners a special discount! Fill in the form here [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd-lGFiH2VDIZP7OY1xB3Mew_NgD79rR-Vccrr8pFD3j_MMew/viewform] and mention Soul Pilates when you order. Interested in joining the July Teacher Training intake? Find all the details and book a call here [https://www.soulpilates.co.uk/reformer-teacher-training.html]. Get 5% off Balanced Body Pilates equipment with the code SOUL PILATES  [https://balancedbodyequipment.uk/reformers/]

Teaching Pilates to Children: How to Make It Fun, Inclusive & Effective

Nic is joined by Clarissa Shepherd, kids Pilates specialist, pre and postnatal educator, Club Pilates master trainer, and author of Sage Does Pilates [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sage-Does-Pilates-Clarissa-Shepherd/dp/B0CT9Y67YX] and Babies & Barre. [https://store.bookbaby.com/book/babies-and-barre1?srsltid=AfmBOor9T9nv05H6kW2Uf0-hUlTWzI2I5sZZZjYboj5CauRxJIwu3BjC] Clarissa's story is anything but conventional. From working in TV news and witnessing a live on-air shooting, to packing up her car with $600 and driving to Dallas, to funding her Pilates certification while working night shifts - her path to becoming a Pilates teacher is one of grit, resilience and pure determination. But what makes Clarissa's work truly unique is who she teaches. While the Pilates industry talks about being "for everyone," Clarissa noticed a glaring gap - children are almost always left out.  She shares why bringing Pilates into families' lives earlier is one of the biggest untapped opportunities in the industry, and how her own experience of an absent mother during childhood became the driving force behind her mission to connect families through movement. The conversation explores how to adapt Pilates for different ages - from babies and toddlers to teenagers and everything in between - and why storytelling, play and affirmations are just as important as the repertoire. Clarissa also shares how she's training other teachers to do this work and working towards licensing her kids Pilates framework so it can reach families around the world. Timestamps 00:00 Intro to Clarissa  00:32 Why families are the missing piece in Pilates  02:51 Clarissa's backstory - news, Dallas and $600 to her name  05:43 Discovering Pilates and being inspired by female leadership  09:01 Funding her certification and the sacrifices she made  13:13 Moving to Germany, becoming a mother and finding her path  16:03 How pregnancy sparked her interest in pre and postnatal Pilates  17:30 Teaching children for the first time  17:40 How to adapt Pilates for different ages and stages  20:07 Using affirmations and mentorship with teenagers  22:52 Making Pilates a game for younger children  24:18 Mommy and me classes and incorporating babies into movement  25:41 The creativity and storytelling skills kids Pilates demands  25:41 Training teachers to teach kids Pilates  44:10 Who Clarissa works with - from ballerinas to retirees  45:04 What's next for Clarissa  46:24 Quick-fire questions  48:24 Where to connect with Clarissa Thanks so much to Clarissa for coming on the podcast and sharing such an honest and inspiring story. Please make sure to subscribe and rate the show 5 stars if you've been loving it - it helps the show more than you know. Connect with Nic: * Beyond the Reformer Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/beyond_reformer_pod/] * Soul Pilates Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/soul_pilates/] * Soul Pilates Education [https://www.instagram.com/soul_pilates_education/] * Nic's Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/nic_soulpilates/] * Join Soul at Home [https://soulpilates.tv/] * Book a Pilates Class [https://www.soulpilates.co.uk/our-timetable.html] * Sign up to Our Newsletter [https://mailchi.mp/2bff55298739/beyond-the-reformer] Connect with Clarissa: * Clarissa's Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/pilatesmamii_/] * Pilates Mamii Website [http://www.pilatesmamii.com] * YouTube: Pilates Mamii [https://www.youtube.com/@PilatesMamii/videos] * Facebook: Pilates Mamii [http://facebook.com/1499958710045630?ref=NONE_xav_ig_profile_page_web] * Clarissa’s Sage Does Pilates Book [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sage-Does-Pilates-Clarissa-Shepherd/dp/B0CT9Y67YX] * Clarissa’s Babies & Barre Book [https://store.bookbaby.com/book/babies-and-barre1?srsltid=AfmBOor9T9nv05H6kW2Uf0-hUlTWzI2I5sZZZjYboj5CauRxJIwu3BjC] Join the Soul Pilates Retreat in Cornwall on 19 June for a weekend of movement, rest and nourishment. Find all the details here. [https://www.soulpilates.co.uk/restful-retreats.html] Thinking about investing in Pilates equipment? Balanced Body are offering our listeners a special discount! Fill in the form here [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd-lGFiH2VDIZP7OY1xB3Mew_NgD79rR-Vccrr8pFD3j_MMew/viewform] and mention Soul Pilates when you order. Interested in joining the July Teacher Training intake? Find all the details and book a call here [https://www.soulpilates.co.uk/reformer-teacher-training.html]. Get 5% off Balanced Body Pilates equipment with the code SOUL PILATES  [https://balancedbodyequipment.uk/reformers/]

Beyond Classical: Ron Fletcher's Pilates Legacy With Kyria Sabin

"The body floats on the breath. Without the breath, we don't have a core. We don't have a centre." - Kyria Sabin In this episode, we are joined by Kyria Sabin, director of Fletcher Pilates International and one of the most respected custodians of a first-generation Pilates lineage in the world. Kyria worked directly with Ron Fletcher - a first-generation teacher who studied with Joseph and Clara Pilates and danced with Martha Graham - and has dedicated her career to preserving and evolving his approach to the method. Her path into Pilates was never planned; she was heading towards law school when a session at the Ron Fletcher Studio changed everything. Kyria and Nic explore what it truly means to carry a lineage forward, why the "classical vs contemporary" debate misses the point, and what made Ron Fletcher's approach so unique - from his movement-based philosophy to his breath-centred teaching. They take an honest look at the current state of Pilates education, the dangers of watered-down training, the rise of reformer-only studios, and what it actually takes to establish meaningful standards for the industry. And they go deeper into the spiritual dimension of Pilates - why client transformation so often shows up in relationships and sense of self first, and what Ron Fletcher would likely say if he saw where Pilates is today. (Spoiler: it's one word.) Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Kyria Sabin 00:10 Carrying Ron Fletcher's legacy - responsibility and blessing 04:47 What makes the Fletcher approach unique 08:31 Classical vs contemporary - why the conversation misses the point 12:42 Kyria's journey: from art world to Pilates 15:38 How Kyria trained - the apprenticeship model 17:24 Life in Tucson and accidentally staying for 35 years 18:39 The gift of seeing bodies and learning to teach 21:57 Taking over Fletcher Pilates International 23:13 Building a cohesive studio culture and team 26:35 Creating the Fletcher Pilates teacher training programme 28:39 What goes into a quality Pilates education 32:39 The 12-step framework that underpins the Fletcher programme 34:02 Why Pilates transformation shows up in clients' lives, not just bodies 38:45 What defines a high-quality teacher training programme 43:55 Should reformer teachers still be comprehensively trained? 56:29 What excites Kyria about the future of Pilates 58:21 What concerns her about where the industry is heading 01:00:22 Quick-fire questions 01:02:26 Where to find Kyria 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 Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/soul_pilates/] * Soul Pilates Education [https://www.instagram.com/soul_pilates_education/] * Nic's Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/nic_soulpilates/] * Join Soul at Home [https://soulpilates.tv/] * Book a Pilates Class [https://www.soulpilates.co.uk/our-timetable.html] * Sign up to Our Newsletter [https://mailchi.mp/2bff55298739/beyond-the-reformer] Connect with Kyria: * Fletcher Pilates Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/fletcher.pilates/] * Fletcher Pilates Website [https://fletcherpilates.com/] * Fletcher Pilates Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/fletcherpilates/] * Kyria’s Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/kyria_sabin/] Get 5% off Balanced Body Pilates equipment with the code SOUL PILATES  [https://balancedbodyequipment.uk/reformers/]