Pilates Elephants

This is what we've learned over a decade and a half of building a successful business with amazing people - how to attract the exact right people - the answer might surprise you!

Read about Breathe Education Culture here: https://breathe-education.com/culture/

Connect with me on Instagram: @the_raphaelbender

Download a free course guide:

• Pilates Certification
• Visualized Anatomy

In this episode, I share my thoughts on why we should spend less time on fine details, and more time on working our clients through range, under load, with control.

Connect with me on Instagram: @the_raphaelbender

Download a free course guide:

• Pilates Certification
• Visualized Anatomy

Why are we still hanging on to the idea of neutral spine in the Pilates world? It's not even part of Pilates, and it's certainly not science-based. Plus, it's just plain illogical.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

• You can bias lower abs from upper abs by doing posterior pelvic tilt vs ab curl here
• People with LBP lift with LESS flexion in their lumbar spine here
• There was low-quality evidence that greater lumbar spine flexion during lifting was not a risk factor for LBP onset/persistence or a differentiator of people with and without LBP here
• Spine posture in general has not been shown to be a causal factor in LBP according to a systematic review of systematic reviews in 2020 here

Connect with me on Instagram: @the_raphaelbender

Download a free course guide:

• Pilates Certification
• Visualized Anatomy

In this episode, Raphael Bender chats with Bernadett Gazsi, a Dallas-based Pilates instructor who transitioned her business online to help moms overcome back pain. Bernadett shares:

• How her clinical Pilates education ignited her purpose.

• Strategies for building a remote business while moving across continents.

• Insights into high-touch client care, group sessions, and fostering progress.

• Lessons learned, including the importance of clarity, action, and perseverance.

• Balancing motherhood, entrepreneurship, and personal growth.

Listen for inspiration on taking bold steps, learning through action, and creating a meaningful impact.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

• Connect with Bernadette online here, on Instagram, and Facebook
• Connect with Raph on Instagram: @the_raphaelbender
• Download a free course guide: Pilates Certification and Visualized Anatomy

I talk through a recent study looking at whether strict form gives better results from exercise.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

• Read the paper cited in the episode here

Connect with me on Instagram: @the_raphaelbender

Download a free course guide:

• Pilates Certification
• Visualized Anatomy

Can you reduce activation of one muscle, by increasing activation of another? Find out in this episode.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

• Read the paper cited in this episode here.

Connect with me on Instagram: @the_raphaelbender

Download a free course guide:

• Pilates Certification
• Visualized Anatomy

You can watch this episode on YouTube here

Free workshop on how to track these KPIs plus a free Google Sheet here

Connect with me on Instagram: @the_raphaelbender

Download a free course guide:

• Pilates Certification
• Visualized Anatomy

Do biomechanics predict running injuries? Learn how to move beyond single-factor thinking, the 80/20 of injury prevention, and why simple changes like increasing cadence can reduce risk. Clear, actionable tips for Pilates instructors to help clients run injury-free, or rehab injured runners.

Connect with me on Instagram: @the_raphaelbender

Download a free course guide:

• Pilates Certification
• Visualized Anatomy

Citations and my notes for this episode are in a Google Doc here

Watch this episode on YouTube here

Flow is a cornerstone of Pilates, but can there be too much of a good thing?

Raphael Bender and Heath Lander dive into the balance between seamless transitions and overwhelming choreography.

Learn how to harness flow to keep your clients engaged, avoid common pitfalls, and create transformative sessions that leave them saying, “Where did the time go?!”

Connect with me on Instagram: @the_raphaelbender

Download a free course guide:

• Pilates Certification
• Visualized Anatomy

This episode is my Christmas gift to you: a done-for-you promo that will help you attract new clients, increase revenue, and make your current clients feel like the ultimate gift-givers. 🎁

I'm releasing this episode a day earlier than usual to give you an extra day to run the promo.

What’s Inside:

• How to run a $270 gift card promo for just $50, to generate new clients
• Step-by-step instructions and a timeline.
• Why this strategy works to grow your studio.

Ready to launch your promo?

Grab the email templates and terms of use here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ORSyqxYRhjSkE74YMVwl4AypOenndJOoGwIu9btnhks/edit?usp=sharing

Set it up today, and watch your studio thrive this holiday season! 🎄

Watch this as a video on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/PuwdQ0vVkls