The Emergence Podcast

Alana Wilbur Episode 2: Season 2

In this episode of The Emergence Podcast [https://www.lauragunderpilates.com/emergencepodcast], we sit down with Alana Wilber [https://www.instagram.com/alana.moves/⁠], founder of BOA Pilates [https://www.bowapilates.com/rates], to discuss what it really takes to build a sustainable career as a movement educator by following your joy and trusting your intuition. Alana shares her candid journey from navigating tech sales in San Francisco to intentionally building a solo studio and a robust online infrastructure. We unpack the realities of the classical versus contemporary Pilates debate, why mastering the fundamentals is non-negotiable for client safety, and how to push past the fear of putting your work out there. If you're looking to create longevity in your teaching practice and build a business that genuinely aligns with your gut and authentic self, this conversation is for you. Key Topics Covered: * The Strategic Exit: How Alana used her departure from the corporate tech world to secretly fund her Pilates career. * The "House of Cards" Mistake: Why skipping the fundamentals is the biggest trap for new instructors looking to be creative. * The "One Box" Method: Her simple, no-stress mindset trick for launching a solo studio without getting overwhelmed. * Digital Longevity: The genius strategy Alana uses to build an online library and essentially "get paid to work out." * Stop Trying to "Fix" People: Why playing physical therapist is hurting your practice—and what true empathetic teaching actually looks like. Follow us on: Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/emergencepod/⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/emergencepod/] Substack: ⁠https://lauragunder.substack.com⁠ [https://lauragunder.substack.com] Alana Wilbur : https://www.instagram.com/alana.moves/ [https://www.instagram.com/alana.moves/]

Ep. 1 :Max Lobatto

Max Lobato on Studio Energy, Burnout, and Ditching the "Instagram Pilates" Performance Teaching movement is a massive energy exchange. This week on Emergence, we strip away the rigidity of the fitness industry to talk about the human behind the teacher with London-based classical Pilates instructor Max Lobato. We get into the reality of 12-hour teaching days, navigating the intense energy of highly scheduled clients, and why constantly filming your self-practice is killing your flow state. If you’re feeling the friction of the industry, looking to build more sustainability into your career, or just struggling to find joy in your own movement, this one is for you. Key Topics Covered: * Reading the Room: How to manage "spicy" studio energy and confidently pivot a session when a client needs a nervous system reset. * Training vs. Practicing: Why separating your flow state from your mechanical study is crucial for career longevity. * Avoiding the Rut: Tangible ways to rotate apparatus and keep your solo practice from flatlining. * The Antidote to Burnout: Why mastering the fundamentals—and actively living a life outside the studio—ultimately makes you a better teacher. What strategies do you use to protect your energy on those heavy teaching days? Let me know what you thought of the episode! Follow us on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emergencepod/ [https://www.instagram.com/emergencepod/] Substack: https://lauragunder.substack.com [https://lauragunder.substack.com] Max Lobatto : https://www.instagram.com/maxpilates5/ [https://www.instagram.com/maxpilates5/]

The Emergence Podcast Season 2

Welcome back to the Emergence Podcast! We are officially kicking off Season 2, and if the current fitness landscape feels like the "Wild West" to you, you aren't alone. In this season premiere, host Laura Gunder—ex-professional ballerina turned NYC classical Pilates instructor—sets the stage for a year focused on the human side of being a fitness professional. For years, Laura navigated the industry’s lack of a roadmap, battling the "hustle" culture that leads to burnout, health struggles, and financial instability. Now, she’s sharing the systems and mindset shifts needed to make this career not just successful, but sustainable. * The Season 2 Roadmap: What to expect from our bi-weekly guest interviews. * The New Resource Center: Introducing the Emergence Substack, a written companion to the podcast designed for readers and deep-divers who want tangible takeaways from every episode. * The "Selfish" Approach to Service: Why protecting your own energy, health, and "financial fitness" is the only way to truly show up for your clients. * Breaking the Isolation: Why building a community of instructors is the best defense against a chaotic industry. Whether you’re struggling with the 40-hour-a-week hustle or looking for a sense of grounding in your practice, this season is dedicated to you. No polish, no pretense—just real talk about the ripple effect of being a healthy, supported teacher. Connect with the Community: * Subscribe to our Substack: https://substack.com/@emergencepod [https://substack.com/@emergencepod]and resource guides. * Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emergencepod/ [https://www.instagram.com/emergencepod/] * Feedback? We’d love to hear from you! Reach out with topics or questions you want addressed this season. Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review if you're finding value in these conversations!

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.

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.