Pilates 101 Podcast

A fascinating insight into the world of women’s health and the issues around menopause and endometriosis. This has come about from the brilliant Channel 4 documentary hosted by Davina McCall called – Sex, Myths and Menopause. Davina highlighted many of the challenges around these issues, the possibility that science has failed women in its resources, support and understanding and how talking about these challenges is vital in helping all women going through these issues. I chat to women’s health and pelvic health specialists Emily Elgar and Pippa Carter. They are also our APPI specialist presenters, and creators of our women’s Health Programs and courses.  It’s a long chat and full of great information, as well as recommendations for resources that are available for us as an industry and our clients. A huge thank you to Emily and Pippa for their time and expertise and we hope you enjoy the podcast.

Summer Ready - What does this even mean?   In this episode Glenn tackles the question that always dominates the marketing world at this time of year - Get your body ready for summer! He asks what this really means and what should we, as a Pilates community, view this question as. Glenn follows his analysis of this question with some quick fire tips for a strong and healthy Pilates body, and finishes with a full review of his Conference 2021 class plan, as a way to get a strong and healthy body that allows you to move with confidence and poise. 

In this fascinating episode APPI founder Glenn Withers addresses the question of expectations vs reality of running a Pilates business in 2022. Glenn interviews Aimee Clayton and Jessica Nicholson of Physiofitandpilates.

Aimee and Jess have been running their business for several years and share their experiences around what it takes to run their business. Aimee and Jess open up about the struggles with COVID, cancelations, block booking issues, time management and people management. It is a bare bones discussion around their experiences and covers many questions and issues that are facing all of us in this industry right now.

We hope you enjoy a truly personal story and an honest discussion of the current challenges.

This week’s podcast starts with a poignant message that Glenn wanted to share and address and appeal with our community in relation to the crisis in the Ukraine.

On behalf of Elisa and myself and all of us at APPI Health Group and APPI clinics here in the UK and out partners around the world. We unite in support of Ukraine and its people. May we all pray support these brave people who stand for their human rights and reject War. We are putting together some plans for how we, as a global Pilates community, can unite and raise much needed funds for the people of Ukraine. Stay tuned for more in the coming days. APPI worldwide family stand in support of Ukraine.

The main portion of this week’s podcast is a discussion with Co-Founder Glenn Withers exploring the current information that is available around maintaining and managing a Healthy Hips for your clients. Glenn will take a look at the hip joint, what are the common issues, and ways we can look at structuring sessions in relation to the hip!

Glenn will discuss the importance of maintaining the mobility, the appropriate strength and muscle balance in and around the hip, not forgetting, when it comes to function that there are other integral elements that need to be considered.

And remembering the essence of Pilates ability to engage the inner, outer and extended core is an integral part of the Hip Pathology and Hip Function.

In this episode APPI founder Glenn Withers shares with us his memories, lessons, challenges and successes of developing and running APPI with co-founder Elisa Withers over the last 21 years. Glenn then reveals and discusses the Top 20 Fitness trends for 2022 as described by the American Society of Sports Medicines annual survey. Following the announcement of the list Glenn delves into the Top 10 trends and what this means for us as a Pilates industry, where our opportunities are and how we can utilise this survey for our growth and development over the next year ahead.

Episode 18 - Setting Your Business up for Success in 2022

In this first podcast of 2022 APPI co-founder Glenn Withers gives us a masterclass in leadership, motivation and planning for success in a Pilates based business. Glenn shares his secrets of January motivation and planning that he has used in the last 20 years of running APPI’s clinics and studios across London. Glenn will go over the 5 essential steps to setting your business up for success in 2022 from motivational emails, to strategy days, missions statements, core values, SMART goals, target setting and the importance of tracking your sales numbers and where they come from in your business. This is the first time Glenn has laid bare his approach to management so we hope you enjoy this special edition of Pilates 101.

A huge congratulations to all of you out there, from business owners to new Pilates Instructors in the industry, for making it through another interesting year. We are here to celebrate the biggest challenges and to remember the beautiful moments that motivated us to carry on.  

We are so delighted to have the amazing Master Trainers Glenn Withers, Melanie Bryant and Sarah Norris on this podcast talking about the ups and downs of managing the business in 2021. We can all agree that this year has passed in a blink of an eye, maybe a bit different than initially predicted but they are here to tell you the biggest lessons learnt throughout this year. Some of the questions below are covered in this episode:

·         What was your highlight of 2021 Pilates teaching wise?

·         And what about the most challenging aspect of 2021 for you work wise?

·         What have been the biggest lessons you have learnt this year, with the ups and downs and what it is like running a physio and Pilates business this year?

We would be so delighted to hear your thoughts on 2021 and what kept you focused and motivated, so please send us an email to [email protected] if you would like to share this with us and why not, with the entire community.

Thank you for being part of the APPI community this year, for helping us innovate, motivate and be better tomorrow. A very Happy Christmas to you all!

Episode 16 – Investigating the concept of Pilates for Menopause and Pelvic Health with Pippa Carter

Glenn asks our listens to provide us your thoughts, ideas and feedback, on any behaviour changes in your clients, booking trends in the types of classes that your clients are requesting within in your clinics and working environments from pre pandemic to today and anything else you have noticed that you would like to share. You can submit your thoughts and ideas at [email protected]  

The main section of the Podcast this month is focused on Women’s Pelvic Health and the Menopause. Glenn interviews our author of our Pilates for Menopause Course Pippa Carter where they discuss, investigate and delve into the ideas and concepts of using Pilates for the treatment of Menopause and Pelvic Health.

A little bit about Pippa, she qualified as a physiotherapist in 2008 and in 2010 completed her MSc in Sports Physiotherapy at Cardiff University with her research interest focused on dance medicine. Following this she presented her research in Singapore at the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science. She has had the opportunity to work in a number of settings over the past 11 years from the NHS to the Private sector developing her skills in treating a variety of complex musculoskeletal conditions. Pippa has a special interest in the field of dance and sports medicine. She has had the opportunity to work with the Royal Ballet Company, leading West End theatre companies and with BBC productions such as Strictly Come Dancing.

Pippa runs her own successful Pilates and physiotherapy business alongside working as a highly specialist physiotherapist at Spire Cardiff Hospital. Pippa has trained in the assessment and treatment of women’s health conditions using her experience both in physiotherapy and Pilates to help this population group improve their symptoms and quality of life.

Episode 15 - Mindfulness Special and Glenn has a special call to all Women's Health Physios

In this month’s episode we have an exciting interview with Hannah Ellicock to discuss the importance of Mindfulness not only within our Pilates practice but how we incorporate this into our daily lives and how we can help our clients to adopt the same theory into theirs. 

As well as being a trained Mindfulness Teacher, Hannah is a Registered Osteopath, APPI Pilates and Therapeutic Yoga teacher. She started meditating after a stressful personal period, realising that she needed a way to help her manage stress and anxiety better. With her Osteopathic background she is particularly interested in helping people with chronic health conditions learn mindfulness as a tool for living alongside their conditions. 

Glenn also has an exciting opportunity to discuss with any of our Women’s Health Specialists who listen to our podcast. 

In this episode its all about shoulders! Following an interesting discussion with a shoulder surgeon, Glenn addresses what he feels should be the standard approach to rehabilitation of shoulder injuries. A few common myths will be addressed, some frustrations at current management practices is expressed, and a review of everything shoulders! From shoulder anatomy to mechanics to dysfunctions and ultimately the correct rehabilitation program: an 11 movement program that will get you started on the right track with your clients. It’s all here in this episode – frustration, exploration and ultimately conclusion on how we manage shoulders!