Pilates Perspectives

What does the pelvic floor actually do, and why does pelvic floor health involve so much more than Kegel exercises? Joy is joined by Dr. Charisse Balance, PT, DPT, RYT, a physical therapist specializing in chronic pain, pregnancy, and postpartum care with advanced training in Myofascial Release, Myofunctional Therapy, and yoga.

Dr. Balance breaks down the different layers of the pelvic floor, their functions, and their role in everything from sexual health and bowel and bladder function to core stability, Pilates practice, and overall movement. She explains the differences and relationships among structures such as the levator ani and perineal muscles, and why understanding pelvic floor anatomy requires looking beyond a single isolated group of muscles.

Explore the important relationship between the pelvic floor, diaphragm, and breath, including why the timing of diaphragmatic breathing and pelvic floor contraction matters. Learn how mobility and elasticity in surrounding structures, such as the psoas and piriformis, can influence pelvic floor function, along with the fascial connections between the pelvic floor, transverse abdominis, adductors, and the rest of the body.

They also examine common forms of pelvic floor dysfunction, why pelvic floor physical therapy involves far more than strengthening exercises, and how a nervous-system-informed approach is the first step when addressing pelvic pain, tension, or dysfunction. 

Listeners will also learn what internal myofascial release is, how trained pelvic health professionals may use it, and simple pelvic floor exercises and strategies to support pelvic floor awareness at home.

Whether you’re a Pilates instructor, movement professional, pregnant or postpartum client, or simply interested in better understanding pelvic health, pelvic floor anatomy, core stability, diastasis recti, breathing, pelvic floor physical therapy, postpartum recovery, and whole-body movement, this episode offers a deeper look at one of the body’s most important—and often misunderstood—systems.

Content warning: This episode discusses sexual health and sexual function in clinical terms. It may not be suitable for younger listeners.

This episode is powered by Balanced Body®.

Why are so many men hesitant to try Pilates, and what happens when they finally do? Join Joy and Reed Flanagan, ISSA Master Trainer and Founder of Atlantis Fitness & Pilates, for a candid conversation about Pilates for men, masculinity, and movement culture.

Reed explores some of the cultural assumptions that can make men apprehensive about stepping into a Pilates studio, from discomfort with entering a traditionally woman-dominated space to the challenge of being a beginner at something new. He shares practical ways Pilates instructors can make classes more approachable for male clients, including introducing concepts such as mindfulness, body awareness, flexibility, and functional mobility using language that resonates.

They break down the benefits of Pilates for weightlifting and bodybuilding. Reed explains how incorporating Pilates workouts can complement traditional strength training by improving core stabilization for heavy squats and lifts, movement control, joint mobility, and access to smaller or more specific muscle groups. 

Reed also discusses why qualities like flexibility and mobility are often undervalued in traditional men’s fitness culture, and why becoming comfortable with being uncomfortable (or simply not being “good” at something right away) can be an important part of personal growth. From training young athletes to working with older adults, Reed explains why, across ages, fundamental functional movement needs may be more alike than they are different. 

This episode ultimately looks beyond exercise to a broader question: What does healthy masculinity look like? Reed offers his perspective on embracing strength, confidence, self-awareness, and openness.

This episode is powered by Balanced Body®.

Who is the voice behind Pilates Perspectives? In this special episode, the spotlight turns to Joy Puleo, Director of Education at Balanced Body and host of the podcast, interviewed by her colleague, Paul Endelman, for a personal conversation about her path through a Pilates career, movement education, leadership, and creativity.

Joy reflects on her career as an “improbable and unlikely Pilates instructor,” sharing how her own experiences challenged assumptions about who belongs in the fitness and Pilates community. In an open conversation about body image, self-confidence, vulnerability, and curiosity, she explores the importance of creating inclusive movement environments where more people feel confident participating.

Learn about Pilates teacher education, including the benefits and limitations of traditional apprenticeship and modular Pilates teacher training models, the most meaningful moments of Joy’s career as a Pilates educator, and the challenges of stepping into the leadership legacy of Nora St. John and Al Harrison during a period of enormous change brought on by COVID.

Joy speaks candidly about fitness career sustainability and preventing Pilates instructor burnout, particularly what can happen when the thing you love becomes your profession. She shares lessons on protecting the sources of inspiration that brought you to the work in the first place: nurturing curiosity, seeking out what fills you up, surrounding yourself with people and passions that matter, and making space for life beyond your job.

The conversation also explores Joy’s creative process, her active imagination, and why quiet spaces are essential to the way she thinks and creates. Throughout it all is a theme central to her philosophy as an educator: the importance of cultivating joy in movement and confidence in the body, rather than focusing solely on performance or perfection.

This episode is powered by Balanced Body®.

What should you actually eat to support your workouts, and does “healthy eating” look the same for everyone? Joy and Kylie Benak, Registered Dietitian and Pilates teacher, cut through nutrition myths and explore how to fuel your body for movement, workout recovery, and long-term health.

Kylie explains why fitness nutrition is highly individual, with dietary needs influenced by genetics, lifestyle, activity level, and body composition. She breaks down what a truly balanced meal looks like and why building a plate around only protein intake may leave out important nutrients your body needs for energy, athletic performance, muscle repair, and post-workout recovery.

The conversation explores the roles of protein, carbohydrates, healthy fats, and fiber, including why the quality of carbohydrates and fats matters, how protein supports muscle recovery and bone strength, and practical examples of nutrient-dense foods to incorporate into your diet. Kylie also discusses creatine supplementation, including its potential benefits for physical performance, cognition, and memory.

Learn practical strategies for pre-workout fueling and post-workout nutrition, and how your needs may change depending on the type and timing of exercise.

The episode also takes on popular detoxes and cleansing diets, exploring why they are generally unnecessary and, in some cases, can do more harm than good. Most importantly, Kylie discusses how to move away from rigid food rules and develop a healthier, more sustainable relationship with eating.

Whether you’re a Pilates instructor, fitness professional, athlete, or simply looking to better understand nutrition, exercise, muscle recovery, workout fueling, and balanced eating, this episode offers practical guidance for fueling your body without getting caught up in diet culture or nutrition trends.

This episode is powered by Balanced Body®.

What happens in the brain when we move, and why does cognitive movement complexity matter more than high intensity? Joy is joined by Dr. Julia Basso, neuroscientist, certified yoga teacher, Director of the Embodied Brain Lab, and Co-Director of the Science and Art Movement Lab at Virginia Tech, for a fascinating dive into the neuroscience of exercise, neurodivergence, and the deep mind-body connection.

Dr. Basso and Joy explore how physical activity cultivates mind-body integration while breaking down peer-reviewed research on exercise and executive function. She discusses how complex movement activates key neurotransmitter systems targeted by common ADHD medications and explains why movement therapy for ADHD offers unique cognitive benefits for neurodivergent individuals.

Learn about the link between physical conditioning and neuroplasticity, including why multi-planar, complex movement patterns are so powerful for brain health. Dr. Basso also contrasts solo training with group movement, citing groundbreaking research showing that synchronized movement enhances social bonding and prosocial behavior.

Along the way, she demystifies the neuroscience research methods used to study the brain in motion, offers practical strategies for creating neurodiversity-affirming Pilates classes, and examines how music drives motor learning and engagement.

For Pilates instructors, physical therapists, movement professionals, and anyone curious about the neuroscience of exercise, this episode offers an evidence-based roadmap for leveraging movement to enhance cognitive function, social connection, and lifelong brain health.

This episode is powered by Balanced Body®.

Pregnancy often comes with a long list of exercise restrictions, but how many movement "rules" are actually backed by evidence? In this episode of Pilates Perspectives, host Joy Puleo sits down with pre- and postnatal specialist Stephanie Forster to unpack the realities of prenatal Pilates and postpartum Pilates recovery, debunking pervasive myths that make pregnancy workouts feel unnecessarily restrictive.

Stephanie explores how cultural misconceptions have shaped ideas around prenatal fitness, specifically clarifying common myths about core exercises during pregnancy, twisting, and abdominal training. She shares practical modification strategies for each trimester, details which Pilates exercises need adaptation as the body changes, and explains why maintaining active movement is essential for joint mobility, core strength, and overall maternal wellness.

The conversation also looks beyond delivery, offering evidence-informed guidance on postpartum exercise and safe return-to-fitness protocols. Discover expert strategies for managing diastasis recti, supporting pelvic floor health, rebuilding deep core strength, and helping clients safely transition back to full-body movement after birth.

View resources here.

This episode is powered by Balanced Body®.

Joy talks with Kathi Ross-Nash, creator of the Red Thread Method, founder of the KRN Education and the Pilates Advanced Professional Teacher Training (PPATT) program, celebrated author, and globally renowned classical Pilates teacher, about utilizing lesser-known specialized Pilates apparatus and props to deepen the work beyond the familiar Pilates Reformer and Mat work.

Kathi shares how a systematic approach to the Pilates method reveals the biomechanical purpose behind every piece of equipment, from its dimensions and proportions to its role in supporting progressive skill-building. She explores how the flow and transitions between Pilates apparatus should be customized to the individual body in front of you, and why effective Pilates education cannot thrive in an environment of fear or criticism. Hear how her close mentorship with Pilates Elder Jay Grimes continues to influence her teaching today, and how reconnecting with her own practice taught her self-love and deep appreciation for the movement.

With profound insight, historical reverence, and practical wisdom, Kathi reminds us that when you truly understand the classical Pilates method, the work becomes critical, transformative, and life-changing for both the teacher and the client.

This episode is powered by Balanced Body®.

Leah Grant, NCPT and BFA, explores the powerful connection between functional exercise, creative expression, and the ultimate mind-body experience. Through the lens of the Pilates method, Leah shares how mindful movement can help quiet distractions, invite emotional openness, and create the ideal conditions for achieving a psychological flow state.

Leah reminds us that every fitness professional has the capacity to think, move, teach, and problem-solve creatively. Like any physical skill, creativity grows through deliberate practice, repetition, curiosity, and imagination. For Pilates instructors, that creative practice shows up every day in technical Pilates cueing, innovative Pilates sequencing, adapting exercises for diverse body types, and empowering students to trust their own somatic voice.

Explore how letting someone else lead can open new pathways for professional inspiration, why setting structural boundaries is essential for reducing mental distraction, and how cultivating receptivity can help us access more creative freedom in both somatic movement instruction and everyday life.

This episode is powered by Balanced Body®.

What happens when therapeutic Pilates meets physical therapy, evidence-based practice, and decades of advanced movement education? Joy Puleo sits down with Chrissy Romani-Ruby—Educational Director of PHI Pilates, PT, D.Ed, MPT, ATC, NCPT—and Cassie Ruby-Nemec, NCPT, DPT, and Board Certified Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist, for a thoughtful conversation on the powerful relationship between clinical Pilates and physical rehabilitation.

Learn how Pilates for physical therapy accelerates patient recovery, why deep anatomical knowledge matters for every Pilates teacher, and how movement professionals can become more effective communicators through precise Pilates cueing and instruction. Chrissy and Cassy discuss the vital importance of biomechanics, how to evaluate peer-reviewed research, and why high-quality Pilates continuing education is essential in an ever-evolving wellness industry.

Unpacking the pitfalls of "meaningless movement" and examining the risks of becoming too mechanical in your teaching style, this episode offers practical insights for Pilates instructors, physical therapists, and movement educators who want to teach with greater clinical clarity, purpose, and impact.

Tune in for an inspiring discussion on evidence-based Pilates, lifelong learning, and how sports science, communication, and human connection work together to create better rehabilitation outcomes for clients and students alike.

This episode is powered by Balanced Body®.

What does it take to become the Pilates teacher you aspire to be? Joy chats with Lesley Logan, founder of OPC (Online Pilates Classes), Pilates educator, business owner, and host of the Be It Till You See It podcast, for a candid conversation about teaching, self-advocacy, and building a meaningful Pilates career.

Lesley shares practical advice for new and experienced Pilates instructors alike, including how to build confidence before you feel fully ready, create the kind of learning environment you wish existed for yourself, and foster a genuine sense of belonging for every client. Hear about the power of curiosity, the importance of asking questions, and why great teaching starts with listening.

Together, Joy and Lesley discuss how self-advocacy can help movement professionals find the right opportunities, why instructors should focus on what clients can do rather than what they can’t, and how creating a welcoming, supportive Pilates experience leads to stronger client relationships and better outcomes.

Tune in for an empowering conversation on Pilates instruction, professional growth, authentic leadership, and creating the kind of movement community you’d be excited to join yourself.

This episode is powered by Balanced Body®.