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In this episode of Pilates Perspectives, Joy has an open conversation with Stephanie Comella (Co-Founder & CEO of Zebrafish Neuro) and Vanessa Cameron, PhD (nurse and disability advocate), about ableism in healthcare and movement spaces. Vanessa shares what it was like to become a wheelchair user and the ostracization she experienced, highlighting the subtle ways bias shows up in clinics, Pilates studios, and “helping” professions within the wellness industry.

Together, they explore how to support disabled clients with more respect and better outcomes: ask what they need instead of assuming, shift from being the “authority” to being a collaborator, and move away from the mindset of trying to “fix” someone. You’ll also hear nuanced guidance on person-first vs. identity-first language, why word choice matters in accessible fitness instruction, and how floor-based programming and adaptive Pilates can expand access and confidence for wheelchair users and those with limited mobility, without sacrificing challenge, skill-building, or autonomy.

This essential conversation addresses disability inclusion in Pilates, accessible movement education, and creating welcoming spaces for diverse bodies in wellness environments.

This special release episode is also available to watch on YouTube.

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Amy Rost, Founder of Arc Pilates, joins Joy for a powerful conversation on building real community through Pilates education and events. She shares how to create inclusive Pilates spaces that feel like home, how to create a community if you can’t find one you feel you belong in, and how connection can be an antidote to loneliness and burnout in the wellness industry. Together, we explore the shift from an individualistic to a collectivistic mindset, where belonging, collaboration, and service to the greater good become the foundation for sustainable impact in Pilates instruction and community wellness.

Guided by Amy’s north star: connection, collaboration, community, this episode is an invitation to build something bigger than yourself. If you’re interested in Pilates community building, creating welcoming movement spaces, or developing educational programs that foster genuine connection, this conversation offers practical insights for building lasting community impact.

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In this Pilates history episode, Joy interviews John Howard Steel, author of Caged Lion, and Ken Endelman, founder and CEO of Balanced Body, for a rare firsthand telling of what it was like to train directly with Joseph Pilates, the creator of Pilates, in New York. John recounts the atmosphere of Joseph Pilates’ original studio, Joe’s focused teaching methods and classical Pilates training approach, and the principle he repeated again and again: “never stop moving.”

You’ll hear behind-the-scenes stories about John’s friendship with Joe and Clara, including Clara’s hospitality and the personal care that shaped the original Pilates studio culture. John also shares a powerful takeaway from learning with the founder of Pilates: you didn’t have to be perfect, you just had to try your best. The conversation explores Joe’s philosophy of the human body, functional movement principles, and why he believed that if people learned to breathe better and move better, society itself could improve.

If you’re interested in the origins of Pilates, the history of Pilates, Joseph Pilates’ original teaching style, Contrology methods, classical Pilates training, Pilates instructor education, and the legacy of the Joseph Pilates method, this episode offers essential insight and inspiration into authentic movement education.

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Tonya Amos is the kind of leader who expands what Pilates can be and who it can be for. As the owner of the award-winning Aspire Pilates Center and Artistic Director of the Grown Women Dance Collective, Tonya has delivered more than 22,000 hours of classes internationally, while building programs that pay it forward through scholarship access and community reinvestment. She shares what it means to bring Pilates to disinvested communities and demographics that haven’t historically had access, and why those communities may use Pilates differently.

Tonya also opens up about her experience with long COVID and how it reshaped her relationship to capacity, recovery, and care. Joy and Tonya explore the “rich tapestry” of Pilates through the lens of inclusion, cultural context, and Black liberation, and dig into practical ways studios and instructors can reduce barriers. If you’re interested in the future of Pilates, this conversation will challenge, inspire, and ground you.

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Mychele Sims has one of those “wait, how do these worlds connect?” careers: legal investigator, certified Pilates instructor, and dancer. In this episode, Joy sits down with Mychele for a conversation that reveals the surprising through-line between all three, and the skills of observing, listening, and interpreting human behavior with care and context.

Together, they unpack how Mychele’s “legal brain” and “movement brain” inform one another, from helping people breathe and stay calm in the legal realm to showing up with empathy in the Pilates studio. Mychele also shares why she prefers “body neutrality” over “body positivity”, and how that body-neutral framework can create a more grounded, sustainable relationship with movement and body image, especially for people who feel left out of mainstream wellness messaging and fitness instruction.

You’ll also hear a practical, values-driven discussion on accessibility in Pilates: what it really means to serve underserved populations through inclusive movement practices, why inclusive Pilates programming has to go beyond good intentions, and how Pilates instructors and movement professionals can design welcoming spaces, inclusive language, and accessible fitness training that welcome more bodies without making anyone feel like an afterthought.

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In this two-part season finale episode, host Joy Puleo sits down with the visionary minds behind Pilates Anytime: first, co-founders John Marston and Kristi Cooper, then current CEO Kira Sloane, to explore how one platform reshaped the global Pilates community.

In Part 1, John and Kristi share the story of bringing Pilates online at a time when streaming fitness was just emerging. They reflect on breaking free from rigid definitions of classical Pilates, their mission to represent the full breadth of the practice, and how accessibility and inclusivity are imperative to the future of Pilates. Together, they explore what it means to honor tradition while expanding the reach of Pilates to all bodies, backgrounds, and abilities.

In Part 2, Kira Sloane dives into the evolution of leadership and humanity in the Pilates world. From shifting from yoga to Pilates to cultivating the “founder energy” that drives transformation, Kira shares insights on how personal growth and connection are at the heart of meaningful teaching. She discusses the “third space” that emerges in the studio and the “quality of quietude” that defines Pilates—a space where transformation happens through the smallest, most mindful details.

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Host Joy Puleo sits down with renowned educator Karen Frischmann (Pilates Educator, Mastery Series, Classical Progressions continuing education programs) to explore how contemporary and classical Pilates share the same destination, even if the paths look different. This conversation explores Pilates as a holistic approach to health, cultivating systemic balance, disciplined practice, and durable core strength for foundational exercises. 

Karen unpacks Jay Grimes’s guidance: “It’s all in there” and “trust the work”, and shows how approaching movement with curiosity helps teachers and students alike shift from chasing perfection to building longevity. Gain practical wisdom on why you should just get moving (it’ll be messy, and that’s part of it), how to progress intelligently, and where the magic of Contrology equipment elevates learning in the studio. Whether you identify as classical, contemporary, or a comfortably hybrid approach, you’ll leave with actionable insights for Pilates programming and refining your own Pilates practice and pedagogy. Perfect for Pilates instructors, studio owners, and dedicated movers searching for evidence-informed, tradition-respecting ways to grow.

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In this powerful episode of Pilates Perspectives, Jessica Valant, physical therapist, Pilates instructor, and women’s health expert specializing in perimenopause and menopause, joins Joy for a deeply honest conversation about community, vulnerability, and empowerment through movement. Jessica opens up about her own health journey, including a breast cancer diagnosis and other challenges that reshaped her understanding of connection and resilience.

Together, Joy and Jessica explore how movement fosters community, the responsibility of instructors to create safe spaces, and why clear boundaries and expectations are crucial for establishing trust and safety. They discuss how vulnerability in Pilates and mindful movement can lead to personal agency, helping clients advocate for themselves, understand their limitations, and embrace the nuanced wisdom of the human body.

Whether you’re a Pilates teacher, wellness professional, or movement enthusiast, this episode will inspire you to foster authentic connection, honor individuality, and see how even small acts of community can create profound impact.

You can find Jessica at jessicavalant.com or on Instagram @jessicasvalant.

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In this captivating conversation, Joy Puleo sits down with Elizabeth Larkam, co-founder of Polestar Pilates, author of Fascia in Motion, and co-editor of Pilates Applications for Health Conditions, to explore how Pilates can be a powerful partner in rehabilitation. Elizabeth shares how her sister inspired her life’s work, reveals behind-the-scenes stories from Polestar's early days, and explains how a deeper understanding of movement science helps to integrate Pilates seamlessly into post-rehab care.

Together, they unpack the sensationalization of Pilates on social media and the confusion it creates for clients, advocating instead for evidence-informed, individualized programming. The episode dives into proprioception, gait-based assessment, and the importance of not taking physical ability for granted. Elizabeth also reflects on dance medicine, the value of true collaboration across healthcare and studio settings, and where the next wave of Pilates innovation is headed.

Elizabeth teaches daily online classes at: http://www.bewellstaywell.net/elizabethlarkam

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Host Joy Puleo welcomes two pivotal voices in Pilates history: trademark attorney Gordon Troy and Ken Endelman, CEO & Founder of Balanced Body, for a deep dive into the landmark Pilates trademark lawsuit. What would the Pilates landscape look like today if “Pilates” had remained a protected trademark? They take you inside the heat of the courtroom, the legal strategy, and the decisive ruling that unlocked open access to Pilates for studios, instructors, and everyday fitness enthusiasts. Along the way, Ken and Gordon share personal stories from the front lines, including what it was like to work closely with Pilates elders to safeguard Joseph Pilates’ legacy.

This episode unpacks how the ruling reshaped the industry, fueling global growth, innovation in Pilates equipment, diversified teacher training, and more accessible pathways for people discovering Pilates for strength, mobility, and pain relief. They answer questions like, Was Pilates ever trademarked? Can you trademark a method? Why the court said no, and how that decision affects the community today. Gordon also explores other notable Pilates lawsuits and their implications for studios and consumers.

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