Happy New Year!

Inspired by all the New Year IG reels I’m seeing these days, this episode is all about looking ahead to 2025 and figuring out what I’m keeping in my business and mindset for the year ahead and what I’m leaving behind in 2024.

I hope it inspires, you, (hardworking Pilates Business Owner) to reflect on the year that’s been and to plan for the year ahead.

Welcome to Episode 16 of Raising the Bar on the Future of Pilates!

In this episode, I talk to Melissa Barry of Hudson Barry Pilates in Sydney. Melissa is also the creator of the WonderMum Wellness podcast and most recently her new online platform: SALT the Remedy which brings in pilates, homeopathy, consulting and working to support women through perimenopause and beyond. 

Melissa started her career in Naturopathy before embarking on her Pilates teaching career. She has owned commercial studio spaces over the past 22 years and since 2019, has built a custom space on her property in Sydney.

As a multi-passionate entrepreneur, Melissa has evolved her offerings to online classes, coaching and teacher training. We chat about how she is creating multiple revenue streams and how that has grown organically over time. 

We also chat about the evolution of her business through the years, how she has managed to grow successfully while raising 4 kids and how her new businesses are taking shape.

We talk about: 

And lots more!

Melissa has kindly offered listeners a discount on her online shop. Simply go to: 

https://salttheremedy.com/discount/KIMPAXTON

Use the Code KIMPAXTON to receive a 15% discount on kits that are part of the wondermum collection and the perimenopause collection - all available at SALT the Remedy

How to get a hold of Melissa: 

Other contact links

www.hudsonbarry.com.au

www.salttheremedy.com

instagram @melissa.pilates.mumma & @salt.theremedy

More about Melissa: 

Melissa Barry

Homeopath | Pilates Practitioner | Educator The

Wondermum Podcast Host | Writer

Human Design & Magnetic Mindset Coach,

working with women (usually) who desire to build a

part time business around their family within the

pilates and wellness coaching space.

Melissa is passionate about supporting women to

heal through perimenopause AND inspiring the

next generation of mothers, teachers & healers to

understand their energetic blueprint & thrive,

manifesting their best life & business!

Mother of 4 and successful entrepreneur, Melissa opened

her first Pilates & Wellness studio in 2002 and built it to a 6

figure business in her first year (part-time)

Melissa has since fully trained in both the contemporary

work (Adv Diploma PITC) which was where she landed, and

then went on to discover, learn & certify in the Classical

method (APEI) making her a 3rd generation teacher, a

lineage of which she is very proud.

Melissa has been faculty for TAFE NSW for Pilates Diploma

level training and in 2019 launched the beginnings of her

own teacher training program, to share her unique depth in

the method, along with other holistic principles that underpin her work.

Over her years in the wellness industry, now spanning 30

years, Melissa has massaged rockstars like INXS, Duran

Duran, Bryan Ferry & Terence Trent D’Arby. Provided Pilates,

massage & homeopathy for numerous professional athletes,

Ex NBA stars and Olympic athletes. Worked for 6 years as

the Sydney Kings Naturopath & Pilates coach and got to

work with various actors like Cody Fern & (along with her

sister Ali) support Nicholas Cage’s family while in the country filming.

Melissa developed a strong reputation for being able to

help high level performers recover from injury or illness and

prepare for vigorous performances - not unlike the work she

does to help mothers prepare for and recover from

childbirth (& helping women who give birth is the real flex!)

Melissa is considered a thought leader and a powerful activator for those seeking change!

Thanks Melissa!

Today I am thrilled to chat with a well loved veteran of the Pilates world here in Australia, Jo Bezzina.

Jo started teaching Pilates in 2003 and is the owner of Pilates on George in the Sydney CBD, She is also a mentor, educator, examiner, committee member and presenter.  You might already know Jo as she was the winner of the Pilates Anytime instructor competition in 2017.

Jo has just recently completed her Masters in Learning Sciences and in this podcast we chat about her studies and the way she is integrating this knowledge into the Pilates studio.

We also dive into how Jo has developed her business over the years, how she managed through Covid and what it’s like to operate a studio in the Sydney CBD.

In this interview, we talk about:

How Jo got started in Pilates and even though she didn’t initially see it as a career opportunity

Her early years as a teacher, working in various studios and gyms.

Her work as a mentor and educator for Polestar Pilates

How she came to purchase her business, Pilates on George in 2016 and how she brought her own values to the business whilst maintaining existing client relationships.

How Covid and the aftermath of Covid affected her business in the Sydney CBD

We talk at length about her recent Master’s studies in Learning Systems and how she envisions integrating her learning into the Pilates teaching context for both clients and teacher trainees

Her thoughts about the industry and where it’s going

How to get a hold of Jo:

Instagram: @pilatesongeorge

More about Jo: 

Joanne Bezzina is a dynamic and dedicated Pilates practitioner with over 20 years of experience, recognised internationally and winner of the Pilates Anytime instructor competition in 2017. She is a highly sought after teacher in Sydney (owner of Pilates On George) and senior educator for Polestar Pilates Australia. Her teaching blends traditional and contemporary methods, emphasising clear communication, humour, and client empowerment. Jo holds a Master of Learning Sciences and Technology and is fascinated by the cognitive processes that support optimal Pilates instruction. She incorporates the latest evidence-based research when delivering sessions to the public and during her education offerings. Jo’s primary goal is to inspire and empower clients, ensuring they leave each session happier, more relaxed, and stronger.

Welcome to Episode 14 of Raising the Bar on the Future of Pilates!

Today I’m talking about the importance of goal setting in your business and what better time to plan ahead into 2025 than the end of 2024?

In this episode, I talk about:

Taking the time to reflect on 2024 - your successes and things you’ve accomplished throughout the year

Giving thought to the goals you’d like to set for 2025 that will have a big impact on you as an individual, your clients and of course, your bottom line

The importance of experimentation in your business

How to be accountable to your goals throughout the year with the proper support

and how to create a letter to yourself, written for the end of 2025 to help you envision the year ahead.

If you are interested in getting this onto paper and embedded into your mindset, I am opening up my diary from now until the end of January 2025 so you can sit down with me and work out the year ahead. In an hour we’ll work together so you can become more focused and ready for action - to make 2025 your best year in business yet!

Simply go to kimpaxtoncoaching/goalsetting to book your time with me!

Today I am talking to my dear friend Suzanne McCarty, 2nd Generation Pilates teacher, Gyrotonic Master trainer, yoga teacher and now massage therapist. She is also about to join the faculty on my Classical Pilates Mat program which will be held in in Brisbane and Coffs Harbour in 2025.

Suzanne has been teaching Pilates for almost 25 years, having had the amazing opportunity to learn from Romana Kryzanowska and other Pilates teachers in The USA , Europe and Australia. 

She is a deeply curious teacher and movement professional, and is constantly learning more about the human body to work more effectively with her clients.

In the podcast, I chat with Suzanne about how she approaches working with her clients and how she uses these multi-modalities to bring the best out of her clients. 

Suzanne comes from a Background In Ballet, having an incredible career in Vienna 1989-2000 at the Vienna Volksoper and the Vienna State Opera. She returned back to Australia in 2008 to start her own studio and we chat about her earlier career and how she found Pilates.

We’ll also touch on her home studio, her influences and what her plans are for the future.

We discuss:

Her early life as a dancer in Vienna

How a switched-on surgeon in the early 2000’s led Suzanne to Pilates after a knee injury

How she found herself studying in the US with Romana Kryzanowska and other master teachers

Her memories on Romana, Drago’s Gym and the Classical Pilates teacher training

How she found Gyrotonic®, how it informs her teaching and how she works with her clients in Gyrotonic®

How she started her own studio in her house, then opened a commercial premise before bringing her studio back home during Covid

How she has dealt with burnout in her commercial premise and how she has overcome imposter syndrome over the years

Her love and passion for training other teachers

Her thoughts on the current state of the Pilates industry

Thanks Suzanne!

You can find Suzanne here: 

Hara Beyond Movement Studio

https://www.beyondmovementstudio.com/

And on instagram:

@harabeyondmovementstudio

Suzanne mentions:

The Pilates Studio Teacher Training Mat certification, coming to Coffs Harbour and Brisbane in 2025

https://www.pilatesteachertraining.com.au/courses/classical-mat

More about Suzanne:

Suzanne loves to share her passion for movement, anatomy and the energetic body that is based on experience from a lifetime of studying and practising movement.

She enjoyed a 12-year professional dance career in Vienna, Austria as a ballet dancer in the Vienna Volksoper & State Opera Ballet Companies before becoming a movement teacher in year 2000.

Suzanne has taught Movement to people from all walks of life full-time for over twenty five years. 

Suzanne’s deep understanding and love of movement, dance & anatomy enables her to guide both the fully able and the injured to move in a way that honours their body and gets the most out of each session. Suzanne is passionate about ensuring everyone who comes to her leaves her care in a better physical state than they arrived.

Suzanne has recently added remedial massage to her list of qualifications to offer a more hands-on approach to helping her clients achieve their best physical condition.

Suzanne is a Teacher Trainer in the GYROKINESIS® and GYROTONIC® Methods. She is passionate about sharing her knowledge and skills with other teachers or helping to expand the network of The GYROKINESIS® and GYROTONIC® methods here in Australia.

Suzanne holds the following qualifications:

2nd generation Pilates Instructor (Full Pilates education with Romana Kryzanoswka New York graduation year 2000.)

Diploma of Pilates/ Australia

Pilates Instructor-Principal Level Pilates Trainer Pilates Alliance Australasia

GYROTONIC® & GYROKINESIS® Master Trainer

Yoga Therapist (Certified-International Association Yoga Therapists)

Yoga Teacher 500 hours

Lisa Howell Dance teacher training level 1/ level 2 Pointework & Flexibility training

Dance for Parkinsons

Diploma of Remedial Massage

Former:

Ballet Dancer- Vienna Volksoper Ballet 1988-1996

Ballet Dancer Vienna State Opera Ballet 1996-2000

When not teaching movement, training courses  or performing massage, Suzanne loves spending time with her husband and puppy or travelling interstate to visit her sons & daughters. She loves Music , Film & above all The Ballet

Is falling off the Reformer the new industry standard??

I know, it's quite the statement. 

It's something that I'm hearing more and more about in the world of 'Pilates' and I feel compelled to talk about in this solo show. 

This podcast was inspired by an article in the Guardian last week, and it highlights a very troubling trend that I see often on social media - the #pilatesfail 

Call me old fashioned, but I don't think there is anything redeeming about falling off a Reformer in your Pilates class. As a teacher and studio owner, I care very much about the safety and welfare of my clients and it pains me to see our industry reduced to an internet trope, or a meme to share with your friends to laugh at the contorted bodies that have fallen through the springs (and I'm sure if the camera was to continue rolling, the follow up for that poor client probably involved a trip to the ER!).

I've had enough.

So, I have created a resource for you:

Sign up to my newsletter at kimpaxtoncoaching.com/safepilates and I'll send you 10, downloadable and customisable Canva templates using the #safepilates ethos so you can share on social media your philosophy around how you approach safety in your studio. 

Let's differentiate ourselves in the saturated Pilates market so we can let our clients know that we care about them by putting their safety first.

I hope you enjoy the episode, I would LOVE to hear what you think!

Yours, in #safepilates

Kim

PS: Here's a link to the Guardian article:

In the latest episode, I had the pleasure to talk to Jodie Tapper of the Soul Flexible Online App and Soul Flexible Studio in Harrisdale, Western Australia (and my first guest from WA!)

The Soul Flexible App offers online access to classes run by fully certified Pilates instructors and educators from around Australia. These instructors come from diverse backgrounds and training schools, but share a common passion for delivering high-quality Pilates classes on demand.

I’m really excited to talk with an entrepreneur that is doing something different by building a business online, where the potential is vast, but the competition is real! In this interview we talk about how Jodie is carving out a niche in her corner of the internet.

(and look out for some Wunda Chair and Tower classes that I will be filming for the app soon!)

In this interview we talk about:

🌟 How Jodie got into Pilates after becoming injured in her corporate career. 

🌟 Why she decided to start an Online App and how Soul Flexible Online came to fruition with the help of her business (and life) partner

🌟 How her mentors have shaped her as a teacher

🌟 How she has struggled with burnout and feelings of isolation and how she has worked through it

🌟 How she combines running a home studio with developing the Soul Flexible Online App.

🌟 The hard work (and technology headaches) that comes with the territory of launching an app.

🌟 How the demographic for the app has changed over time.

🌟 How she collaborates with teachers to build the business

🌟 How she sees her business growing in 2 and 5 years

🌟 Her thoughts on the current state of the Pilates industry

Thank you Jodie!

Episode 10

Welcome back to Raising the Bar on the Future of Pilates Podcast!

I'm doing something a little different today by putting up my first solo show. This show was inspired by taking some time out from my studio business last week to rest and strategise for the year ahead. 

I've had my Pilates studio, The Pilates Studio Blackwood for close to 10 years now and let me tell you, in the first few years of my business, I took too little time away from my business and ended up burnt out from the experience, in a big way!

I don't want that to be you, so I hope this inspires you to book some time off for yourself - for me, it's always a huge return on investment to step away and be able to get some perspective and think creatively about the future of my business.

I'd love to know what you thought of the episode and what topics you'd like to hear me talk more about in the future. 

I'd also love for you to head over to my website, www.kimpaxtoncoaching.com and sign up for my weekly (ish) newsletter to stay up to date with the latest podcast episodes and my musings on all things Pilates, running a Pilates business and keeping the bar high for the future of the industry.

In this podcast I get to chat with the inimitable Olga Tamara. Creator and owner of Authentic Pilates International (APEI) and Authentic Pilates Studio in Sydney.

I’ve known Olga for almost 10 years now. When we first met, I hadn’t been in Australia very long and really knew very few people in the industry. I was looking to further my knowledge of Classical Pilates after studying it in Canada. Olga was incredibly welcoming to me, I have learnt a great deal from her and she has introduced me to a community of incredible, like minded instructors - many of whom I consider great friends today. 

I don’t think I’m alone when I say that Olga has created a real sense of inclusivity in the Pilates world here in Australia. Classical Pilates has been known to be very insular in the past, but Olga has brought down many of those barriers to learning. In fact she won Educator of the Year in the Pilates Journal Awards last year, which is so well deserved. 

Olga also facilitates and runs Classical Pilates conferences, where she brings in some amazing talent from overseas for us to learn from. She is about to host the next workshop in Sydney this coming October 18-20 (there’s still a few tickets available!).

In this interview we talk about:

Olga’s varied, creative careers: From dancer, to actress, movement teacher and fitness studio owner (including Jane Fonda workouts!) to events management and now as a Pilates studio owner and teacher trainer.

Her introduction to Pilates as a dancer and her retroduction to it years later

Her early days as a studio owner and how she manifested her clients from the beginning

How she stays inspired over the years and the varied clientele that she has taught in the past

How she launched her Classical Pilates teacher training program and how it has evolved over the years

How she makes Classical Pilates training accessible to a contemporary audience

The work that goes into creating a successful conference (spoiler: It’s a lot of work!)

Her feelings of burnout in her early career and how she overcame that.

Her views on the current state of the Pilates industry.

Thinking of going to the conference? A few tickets are still available: Book here

https://authenticpilateseducation.com/event/apei-classical-pilates-conference/

In the podcast, Olga mentions:

Lateral Thinking: Edward De Bono

https://www.amazon.com.au/Lateral-Thinking-Creativity-Step-Step/dp/0060903252

You can reach Olga via

https://authenticpilateseducation.com/

And via socials:

@authenticpilatesstudiosydney

@apei_sydney

Thank you Olga!

More about Olga:

Olga began her career as a professional classical dancer with the Australian Ballet Company in 1971 and first experienced the wonders of Pilates during those first precious years. She toured with the company for seven years then enjoyed a successful career performing on stage and television as an actress from 1979 until 1984. Her interest in movement didn’t waver during that time so in 1985 she became a certified fitness instructor.

Olga opened her first business “Designing Moves” in 1986. She taught body conditioning classes, movement classes to aspiring young actors and worked freelance as dance coach at McDonald School of Performing Arts as well as managing the corporate gymnasium at “Carlton United”.

Over the years Olga trained in a number of Pilates studios however it wasn’t until she experienced the essence of the Authentic Pilates Method with Cynthia Lochard that she was truly inspired. Impressed by the authenticity, quality and integrity of the NY Pilates method, Olga became a certified instructor of “The NY Pilates Method” and “Romana’s Pilates”.

Olga is founder and manager of the Authentic Pilates Studio, Lilyfield NSW and is Principal Trainer of Authentic Pilates Education International Teacher Training Program. Olga has presented a number of workshops and training seminars nationally, NZ and London. She presents ongoing continuing Education seminars and invites International guests to present at the APEI Pilates Conference in Sydney NSW.

Olga was PAA Vice President from 2010 to 2015 and is currently on the board of the PTA (Pilates Teachers Association UK).

In this interview I had the absolute pleasure of interviewing Kerrie Murphy from Infinity Pilates studio in Balaclava, Melbourne.

Kerrie has owned and operated her Pilates studio for 21 years now. When you look at statistics related to business success, it is no mean feat to be running a thriving business for that long, in any industry. In this interview we discuss the many changes she’s seen in the industry in that time - from the explosion of Clinical Pilates, to the current Reformer studio model in the market of late. 

In this interview we discuss:

How Kerrie found Pilates while training as a dancer

Her early education in Pilates, including her time spent apprenticing in the UK

The birth of her Pilates studio and how she started small and grew over time

The long term relationships she has with her clients, some as many as 25 years in the making

The people that have been influential in shaping her as a teacher.

Her approach to melding together the scientific application of body movement with a deep intuitive sense of the body.

Moments when Kerrie felt burnt out and isolated in her business life

How she views the current state of the Pilates industry and how we need to remember our value as instructors and business owners. 

And so much more!

Tom Myers Author of Anatomy Chains.

Dr Robert Schleip : Leading fascial researcher

John Sharkey :Clinical Anatomist.

Dr Emily Splichal:  Podiatrist and Movement specialist.

Podcast: Liberated Body: Brooke Thomas

And you can find Kerrie here:

Infinity Pilates 

Email: [email protected]

Socials: @infinitypilatesmelbourne

More about Kerrie:

Kerrie is the owner and principal trainer of Infinity Pilates Studio, Balaclava Melbourne.

A life-long to dance, especially to perform classical ballet, underpins an even greater

fascination for Kerrie Murphy—the mystery and magic of human movement.

Dancing from the age of eleven and helping to teach discipline since she was 15, Kerrie

completed her year 12 in Canberra. She went on to gain a Bachelor of Arts in Dance from

the University of Western Sydney, where she was first exposed to Pilates.

The degree gave her the impetus to return to Canberra where she danced professionally

with the Canberra Dance Theatre for three years. She also worked with the Australian

Institute of Sport, instructing gymnasts aiming for the Sydney 2000 Olympics and also taught

ballet at local ballet studios.

A two-year stint in the UK in the mid-1990s gave her the chance to explore Pilates further.

She completed a two-year apprenticeship with a Highgate, London studio led by Heather

Sampson, before returning to Melbourne in 1996 to a combination of performance, ballet

teaching and Pilates instruction.

Pilates gradually absorbed her other activities leading to an official course with the Australian

Pilates Method Association, followed by a two-year course with Body Arts and Science

International with Rael Isacowitz.

Kerrie now holds the highest levels of certified Pilates qualifications available in Australia. It

includes the Advanced Diploma in Pilates Practice through Sydney’s Pilates International

Training Centre with Sally Anderson.

After the highly competitive dance world, she loves the balance and absence of judgement

Pilates brings. And an environment in which both client and instructor continually learn and

grow.

Travelling to NYC 2007 Kerrie began further training with Deborah Lesson who worked with

Elder Carola Trier and Blossom Leilani Crawford who worked with Pilates Elder Kathy

Standford Grant. Over the years their mentoring continues to inspire and shape Kerrie’s

teaching and practice.

The interest in human movement inspired Kerrie to dig deeper into the human form.

Training with Dr Robert Schleip in Fascial Fitness 2014. Later training with clinical anatomist

John Sharkey who shared his knowledge on Bio tensegrity.

Drawing inspiration from the full integrated system of the natural world that works collectively

to keep life in motion shines the light on the true value and purpose of the Pilates Method.

Heading into 21 years operation at Infinity, Kerrie still strongly believes, more certainly than

ever that the Pilates Method gives you the space to explore the full purpose and potential of

your body. This gift means you can live a full and meaningful life.