Pilates is all about cueing specific muscles, neutral spine and avoiding locking your joints, right?

Often - yes. But it wasn't always that way. In fact all those things have flipped 180 degrees over the years since Joseph Pilates' day.

Connect with me on Instagram: @the_raphaelbender

Download a free course guide:

• Pilates Certification
• Studio Mastermind
• Teaching Mastery Program

These are the 5 predictable stages every Pilates studio owner goes through — from dreamer to thriving CEO. Exactly what breaks, plus what to do to grow at each stage.

Stage 0 – Wantrepreneur

Stuck in planning mode. No revenue.

Fix: Stop thinking, start doing. Follow Ep 273 for exact steps.

Stage 1 – Solopreneur ($1k–$10k/mo)

Teaching, cleaning, selling — overwhelmed.

Fix: Raise prices, set client boundaries, focus on one offer, outsource admin.

Stage 2 – Builder ($10k–$40k/mo)

Small team, people problems, misalignment.

Fix: Get clear on values, enforce standards, fire low performers, track key metrics.

Stage 3 – Entrepreneur ($30k–$60k/mo)

Great first studio, second struggles.

Fix: Nail positioning, document systems to scale team and quality.

Stage 4 – CEO ($50k–$100k/mo)

Multi-location chaos, communication breakdown.

Fix: Install leadership systems, clarify roles, trim fat, build a real marketing team, and define a cash-positive growth model.

Connect with me on Instagram: @the_raphaelbender

Download a free course guide:

• Pilates Certification
• Studio Mastermind
• Teaching Mastery Program

Mentioned in this episode:

Work with me 1:1 to grow your business

This is for Pilates studio owners who are feeling pressure from an explosion of new studios offering the latest fads and undercutting prices.

This is a step-by-step practical, battle-tested strategy to stand out without racing to the bottom or chasing trends.

Here's the study I mention - 65% of people think they're above average intelligence: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0200103

Connect with me on Instagram: @the_raphaelbender

Download a free course guide:

• Pilates Certification
• Studio Mastermind
• Teaching Mastery Program

Mentioned in this episode:

Work with me 1:1 to grow your business

Why we changed our minds on hands-on cueing in Pilates.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

• Listen to Ep. 160. 'Can we even feel muscles activating' here

Connect with me on Instagram: @the_raphaelbender

Connect with Heath on Instagram: @contrologycollective

Download a free course guide:

• Pilates Certification
• Studio Mastermind
• Teaching Mastery Program

ACSM's new pre and postnatal exercise guidelines just came out, and there are several substantial changes. We talk through them, the evidence behind each one, and what they mean for Pilates instructors.

Links:

• Narrative review of exercise dose during pregnancy here
• Exercise and pregnancy in recreational and elite athletes here
• Systematic review of supine exercise during pregnancy here
• Systematic review on the benefits of aerobic and resistance training on maternal health and perinatal outcomes here
• Resistance training reduces need for insulin in pregnant women with gestational diabetes here
• ACOG position on exercise during pregnancy and postpartum here
• ACSM's Guidelines for exercise testing and prescription 12th ed here

Connect with me on Instagram: @the_raphaelbender

Connect with Nicole on Instagram: @clinicalpilatescoach

Download a free course guide:

• Pilates Certification
• Teaching Mastery Program

Raph and Heath share their journey from rigid STOTT Pilates rules to a science-backed, minimalist approach to teaching.

Discover why doing less—fewer cues, less correction, and simpler programming—gets clients better results, more flow, and deeper engagement.

Connect with me Raph on Instagram: @the_raphaelbender

Connect with Heath on Instagram: @contrologycollective

Download a free course guide:

• Pilates Certification
• Teaching Mastery Program

In this episode, Raphael and Heath challenge the myth that Pilates doesn’t build strength. They break down the science of strength adaptations, clarify what “strength” really means, and explain how Pilates can be a legitimate strength training method—when done right.

Key Topics:

• What counts as “strength” and how it’s measured
• Why effort (not burn or soreness) drives adaptation
• How load, reps, and proximity to failure matter more than equipment
• Debunking common myths around bodyweight vs. external load
• How to apply strength principles in Pilates for real results

Takeaway for Instructors:

You can—and should—train your clients for strength using Pilates. This episode will give you the tools to do it.

Connect with me on Instagram: @the_raphaelbender

Connect with Heath on Instagram: @contrologycollective

Download a free course guide:

• Pilates Certification
• Teaching Mastery Program

Five months ago, Brian Darsie opened the doors to his Pilates studio. He had never taught a group Pilates class outside his certification course. Since then, he’s taken a two-week holiday, and last month, he hit $30k revenue and $16k profit—all without working insane hours.

In this episode, Brian shares the mindset shifts, pricing strategies, and simple systems that helped him grow fast without burnout.

If you’re a Pilates instructor or studio owner, this is your proof that success doesn’t have to take years.

Connect with me on Instagram: @the_raphaelbender

Connect with Brian on Instagram: @anandbriand

Find Redwood Studio here: https://www.redwoodpilates.studio/ or on IG

Download a free course guide:

• Pilates Certification
• Teaching Mastery Program

Mentioned in this episode:

Work with me 1:1 to grow your business

You’ve heard it a thousand times: strength comes from control.

But what if that’s only half true?

In this episode, we challenge the dogma, unpack the nuance, and explore where real strength actually comes from—in Pilates and beyond.

Connect with me on Instagram: @the_raphaelbender

Connect with Heath on Instagram: @contrologycollective

Download a free course guide:

• Pilates Certification
• Teaching Mastery Program

Natalie shares how she navigated fear, self-doubt, and career pivots—and what made the difference.

If you’re thinking about change, this is how to do it right. And some pitfalls to avoid!

Connect with me on Instagram: @the_raphaelbender

Connect with Natalie on Instagram: @nataliewilsonpilates

Download a free course guide:

• Pilates Certification
• Teaching Mastery Program