Laura Saggers joins me to share the real story behind expanding from one to two Pilates studios.

We cover the unexpected challenges of growth, what worked at one location but not the other, and how she navigated ClassPass, staffing, and competition.

If you’re considering opening a second studio, this conversation will show you what no one tells you before you take the leap.

Find Laura here:

• https://www.instagram.com/laurasaggers/
• https://risepilates.com.au/

Connect with me on Instagram: @the_raphaelbender

Download a free course guide:

• Pilates Certification
• Studio Mastermind
• Teaching Mastery Program

At just 23, Chelsea McBride turned personal struggles into purpose and built a Pilates studio that filled up so fast she had to close the books.

In this episode, you’ll hear how Chelsea:

• Grew from teaching private sessions at home to running 50 weekly reformer classes with 11 beds.
• Built a team of six
• Created so much demand she now has a waitlist for new clients
• All in a town of only 15,000 people

Connect with Chelsea:

• Online https://www.themindandbodyclub.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themindandbodyclub

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

Work with me 1:1 to grow your business

Sara Leach, owner of Downtown Pilates in Mississippi, shares how she built a thriving reformer studio serving mostly 50+ clients, scaled to six teachers, and runs 40+ classes a week. We dive into how she built an incredibly tight and loyal community, plus key challenges she faces in her business.

Connect with Sara and Downtown Pilates Studio

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dpstudios042
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dPstudios042

Connect with me on Instagram: @the_raphaelbender

Download a free course guide:

• Pilates Certification
• Studio Mastermind
• Teaching Mastery Program

We discuss:

• How to tell if you've made this hiring mistake (you almost certainly have)
• How to properly filter potential hires
• Practical steps to get your existing team delivering a consistent high quality experience
• The exact hiring process we used to set up our studio for growth and retention

Mentioned in this episode:

Get help installing our hiring process in your studio

Get help installing our hiring process in your studio

Heath and Raphael challenge the myth that flawless form makes for safe, effective Pilates. They discuss why, and when, form should “fall apart” in strength and balance work, how load, not alignment, predicts injury, and why real progress comes from reps at the edge of fatigue and wobble.

Bootsy's Basic Funk Formula: https://youtu.be/IHE6hZU72A4?si=1MMYdLpKd6UVjoo1

Connect with me Raph on Instagram: @the_raphaelbender

Connect with Heath on Instagram: @contrologycollective

Download a free course guide:

• Pilates Certification
• Teaching Mastery Program

Jennifer Tan opened Bacolod’s first reformer Pilates boutique, Madila Pilates, and hit $23K revenue with 87% margins in her first month.

She shares her journey from student success team member to thriving studio owner, why she expanded just weeks after launch, and the strategies fueling her rapid growth.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

• Find Madila Pilates online here and on Instagram here
• 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

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