In this episode, Nikki chats with Emma Kumley about strategies that she has used to build a community and foster positive and memorable experiences for her clients in her new studio. They also discuss marketing ideas for organic growth as a studio owner.

About Emma Kumley

Emma Kumley, JD, PMA-CPT and certified GYROTONIC® Trainer, has been teaching movement for 25 years. She began teaching group fitness classes as an AFAA certified instructor after she finished high school. One husband, one law career, and four kids later, Emma finds herself as the owner and operator of The Movement Studio in Oxford, FL, where she teaches Pilates and the GYROTONIC® Method. Her personal movement journey has evolved from early ballet and modern dance experience to group fitness and corporate gym overdose to the balanced gratitude that is born of boutique fitness studio ownership. This evolution has taught her that physical fitness should be a way to love your body, and she advocates for moving whenever and wherever you can! To learn more about Emma, visit themovementstudiofl.com. 

In this episode, Nikki chats with Marimba Gold-Watts working with hypermobile clients. They discuss Marimba's personal experience with hypermobility, what it means to be hypermobile, specific strategies for improving proprioception, and why you don't have to fear allowing clients to move through their full range of motion. 

About Marimba Gold-Watts

Marimba Gold-Watts, PMA-CPT, RCST® is the 2018 Winner of the Next Pilates Anytime Instructor Contest. Formerly a professional dancer, she began studying Pilates in 1999 and received her pilates certification at The Kane School of Core Integration under the direction of Kelly Kane in 2007.  In 2012, Marimba and her husband Steve opened Articulating Body Inc., a pilates and wellness studio in New York City. Marimba is also a Registered Certified Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapist®, a graduate of Barnard College of BA in Art History, and has taught modern dance both internationally and at The Ailey school since 2005. Her goal is to help her clients achieve strong, fluid, and more articulate bodies. To learn more about Marimba, visit articulatingbody.com.

In this episode, Nikki chats with Michelle DuVall about the benefits of barre and why it's important to foster community among barre instructors and seek continuing education beyond the initial training. They also discuss how to add variations to classes and what to expect if you are taking a barre class for the first time.

About Michelle DuVall

Michelle is an expert movement teacher who finds joy in motivating others to make connections through mindful movement. Michelle holds a BFA in Dance, PMA®-CPT, 200hr Yoga certification, and trained in The Roll Model Method by Jill Miller.​​

She is a co-founder and Education Director of a former barre method company. She spent years teaching barre, and training other barre instructors how to teach.  Taking her knowledge, Michelle wanted to create a method and community that was inclusive, creative, and backed by proper biomechanics. 

With her rich background in various movement styles, Michelle created Barre Variations. A manual, method, and video library with an expanded syllabus of choreography and technique.

Michelle believes that there is plenty of room at the barre, and aspires to inspire others to let their inner creative barre star shine! To learn more about Michelle, visit barrevariations.com. 

In this episode, Nikki and Missoni, co-owner of Ara Pilates and Movement, discuss what do you do when you have to move your studio and revamp your entire business model. They cover how to position yourself to larger companies, so you can collaborate, increase brand awareness, and attract more clients, and offer ideas for creating an amazing and unique client experience. 

To connect with Missoni, say hello on Instagram or visit her website. 

In this episode, Nikki chats with Australia based physical therapist and Pilates educator Susan Cottrell about how she incorporates fun and empowerment into a clinical setting and cultivating body diversity in the Pilates world.

To connect with Susan visit her website or say hello on Instagram. 

In this episode, physical therapist, Pilates teacher, and co-founder of  Momentum Fest Jessica Valant recaps what it was like to plan a 3 day Pilates festival and shares her tips for planning a large scale event. 

To connect with Jessica, visit her website or say hello on Instagram. 

In this episode, Leah and Nikki chat about the cultural differences between teaching Pilates in Ireland versus in the states. They also discuss the types of clients that Pilates attracts in these markets and some of the challenges and advantages to building a business in an area that has fewer Pilates studios. 

To connect with Leah, say hello on Instagram. 

In this episode, Jewel Elizabeth shares her insight on how to tailor programming for large groups and online classes, her experience presenting for the daily burn, and her best advice for advancing your career if you're a Pilates teacher who wants more opportunities beyond the walls of the studio. 

In this episode, Susan Sommers discusses how she and Neil Healey worked together to create a private FB group for contemporary Pilates instructors to come together, share ideas, and learn from one another in a positive and supportive environment. 

She also delves into her philosophy for teaching to the body in front of her and why it's important to keep an open mind. 

In this episode, Hollie Grant talks about her mission to change the conversation around how women view their bodies and exercise into something more empowered and more focused on athletics not aesthetics. She also discusses why she developed The Model Method, a combination of Pilates and High Intensity Interval Training and the importance of cross training.

To connect with Hollie visit her website, say hello on Instagram, or check out her passion project Athletics Not Aesthetics on Instagram.