Resources mentioned in the episode here:

• Connect with Kyle Marsh on Instagram
• Find True II Form online here and on Instagram
• Original ABC article here
• Common Core Standards for US academic education here
• Professional breakdancers have 4.4 injuries per 1000 hours of breakdancing here
• Elite Powerlifters suffer 1.1-4 injuries per 1000 hours here
• Yoga is a low-risk activity here
• Breakdancers suffered fewer injuries than 25 out of 36 sports, including cycling, badminton and sailing, at the 2018 youth games here
• Hoof GP here
• Highly skilled workers on YouTube here

Connect with me on Instagram: @the_raphaelbender

Download a free course guide:

• Pilates Certification
• Visualized Anatomy

Become a Breathe Education Mentor Affiliate: Program info

What exactly is muscle gripping? Turns out it’s not an internally coherent concept. We make the case with logic and research that it’s time to let go of gripping and just relax.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

• Connect with Adam McAtee on IG here
• Glutes fire last in the prone leg extension test here
• Hamstring recruitment order varies between people in the same exercise here
• Glute max activation increases with squat depth here
• Quad activity is pretty flat up to 90% of max in a squat, whereas gluteus maximus activity increases with increasing load here
• Physical therapists can’t visually detect a pelvic tilt of less than 34° here

Connect with me on Instagram: @the_raphaelbender

Download a free course guide:

• Pilates Certification
• Visualized Anatomy

Become a Breathe Education Mentor Affiliate: Program info

Find resources mentioned in the episode:

• Hypermobile physical therapy students don’t sustain more injuries - they sustain different injuries here and here
• Amateur athletes who are hypermobile have the same number of injuries as non-hypermobile people here
• Over 2 years, no difference in injury rate between hypermobile and non-hypermobile NCAA div 1 collegiate footballers here
• 8-week bespoke physiotherapy plus OT vs advice & information; both groups improved equally after 8 weeks here
• After ACLR, 5X greater chance of reinjury for hypermobile people on return to high intensity sport here
• In dancers hypermobility is correlated with increased pain, but stabilization exercises did not change pain or injury incidence here
• A 2014 systematic review found “there is some evidence that people with JHS improve with exercise but there is no convincing evidence for specific types of exercise or that exercise is better than control.” here
• Joint-specific exercise and general exercise result in equal improvement for people with hypermobility here
• Pain in hypermobility is probably caused by central nervous system sensitization not biomechanics here

Connect with me on Instagram: @the_raphaelbender

Download a free course guide:

• Pilates Certification
• Visualized Anatomy

Become a Breathe Education Mentor Affiliate: Program info

Live coaching call with Kala from QuietBodies Pilates. In this conversation, we cover:

• How to market your studio to attract new hires who are a great fit
• How to screen for the perfectly aligned candidate
• How to take leadership of a team of instructors
• How to retain great instructors long-term
• And more.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

• Breathe Education Culture here
• Find Kala Loek's QuietBodies on IG here or online here

Connect with me on Instagram: @the_raphaelbender

Download a free course guide:

• Pilates Certification
• Visualized Anatomy

Become a Breathe Education Mentor Affiliate: Program info

We all know teaser is awesome for your abs, and criss cross really works the obliques. But do they really?

Join me as I look at the science and physiology of ab strengthening. The results may surprise you!

Resources mentioned in the episode:

• Review of core activation in fitness exercises here
• Muscles are weakest in their fully shortened position here
• Stretch-induced muscle growth here and here
• Mechanical tension is the main stimulus for strengthening here

Connect with me on Instagram: @the_raphaelbender

Download a free course guide:

• Pilates Certification
• Visualized Anatomy

Become a Breathe Education Mentor Affiliate: Program info

The story of how Natasha changed her understanding of pain from purely biomechanical to biopsychosocial.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

• Find Natasha online here, on her Facebook account, or IG account

Connect with me on Instagram: @the_raphaelbender

Download a free course guide:

• Pilates Certification
• Visualized Anatomy

Become a Breathe Education Mentor Affiliate: Program info

This is my personal list of things I recommend you study to become a great(er) instructor.

Connect with me on Instagram: @the_raphaelbender

Download a free course guide:

• Pilates Certification
• Visualized Anatomy

Become a Breathe Education Mentor Affiliate: Program info

When are props useful, and when are they a distraction? In fact, what is the role of a Pilates instructor and what makes a good one? How much is teaching Pilates performative, and how much is service? Tune in to find out our thoughts.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

• Connect with Kyle Marsh on Instagram
• Find True II Form online here and on Instagram

Connect with me on Instagram: @the_raphaelbender

Download a free course guide:

• Pilates Certification
• Visualized Anatomy

Become a Breathe Education Mentor Affiliate: Program info

Is neutral spine more efficient? First we have to define what we mean by efficient. Then, I promise you a more nuanced answer than simply “yes” or “no”.

Resources mentioned in the episode here:

• Upright thoracic posture allows greater shoulder ROM here
• Passive tissues provide most of the stiffness of the spine in flexion here
• Flexed spine postures are more efficient for lifting heavy things here

Connect with me on Instagram: @the_raphaelbender

Download a free course guide:

• Pilates Certification
• Visualized Anatomy

Become a Breathe Education Mentor Affiliate: Program info

What is knee stability and how do we improve it?

Visualize the anatomy of the knee & hip - and get to grips with all the muscles you need to strengthen for someone with knee stability issues.

Good news - simple exercises can solve complex problems!

Connect with me on Instagram: @the_raphaelbender

Download a free course guide:

• Pilates Certification
• Visualized Anatomy

Become a Breathe Education Mentor Affiliate: Program info