Maria is a Pilates coach now based in Barcelona Spain. She had her years of studio ownership in New York City and all the "success" attached to that. She decided to be true to her self and follow what makes her happy and she has done just that. Today's conversation was a history lesson on the life and times of her mentor, Kathy Grant. The story of Kathy's activism, her discipline and her demand that you be 100% present when you are in her presence, all challenge me to be a better person... not just a better Pilates coach. Enjoy the conversation.

Gloria is a strong leader in the Pilates global community. She is a business owner, a great thinker and a great mover. Our Conversation was filled with golden nuggets of wisdom. We discussed training the movement, not the muscle. She cited Michelangelo and Ferrari, she is Italian after all. As Pilates coaches we need to be continually crafting our touch and visual cues. Gloria is a student and a teacher. What was the line that impacted me the most? "There are good teachers that know 5 exercises and bad teachers that know 200 exercises."

https://studiopilatessarzana.it/it/

Brenda is a Pilates Instructor and Somatic Sex Educator. As a Pilates Instructor, she kept noticing the reoccurring theme of women that could not connect with their pelvic floor. This lack of connection was impacting them not only in the pilates studio, but in other areas of their lives. Brenda pursued further education in this area and has conducted several workshops to help women heal, find pleasure and connect. There is a lot of work that can be done with men too and todays special conversation covered a lot of topics which benefit not only women, but men. We approached the topic of sex and Pilates as coaches to sharpen our cues, and our ability to recognize when to shift our focus to this area.

Kevin is a Pilates Coach, a leader and a business owner in the Michigan area. As a black business owner affected by the quarantine, we discussed with full candor the struggles we go through and the courage it takes to ask for help. Kevin shared his life experiences that resonated with the George Floyd case and we talked about tangible ways the world can support people of colour. The Pilates Community is our sphere of influence. Kevin has tied on his cape and together we are crusading to ensure there is a seat for us at the Table and all of us can eat together at one big table of unity, trust, confidence and of course, love. Enjoy this tear-jerking conversation.

Misty Cauthen is a passionate human being and our conversations centered around themes of mentoring, not playing well with others and crucial mistakes that some business owners made in March that are going to hurt them for the rest of the year. She speaks encouragement to boutique owners and appeals to micro business owners to think big while paying attention to the small things.

https://www.dragonflypilates.com/

My reflections on the Floyd Murder, the Kaepernick catalyst, and Black Lives Matter and what we can actually do to have an impact. 

Andrew and I didn’t just talk business. We got real as men. Andrew and wife/ business partner Naomi @naomiistalteri have a new baby!!! How do you handle all of the responsibilities when you have all these hats to wear? You trade them in for capes! #dadcapeon

We talked about life after quarantine for his business, and his philosophy of using High Octane Training & therapy as a launch pad for other fitness professionals' personal businesses. His I-help-you-you-help-me approach to entrepreneurship is what brings some of the best personal trainers, and therapists around to his doors. 

www.highoctanetraining.ca

Enjoy the Conversation

Brooke Siler is a pioneer and a trail blazer in the Pilates community. She was first introduced to the work in the 1990's and learned from Romana even before her Romana had formalized teacher training. She just "nestled into" Romana and learned all she could. I call it going to G.O.A.T. mountain (Greatest of all time) when you carve time out of your schedule to meet with who you regard as the best in the thing you want to want to learn. Brooke spent 10 years on G.O.A.T. Mountain with Romana and then went on to open Re:AB studio, and positively impact the fitness world with teacher training and best selling books. She now lives in the UK and continues to preserve her love for the work. Today we talked about the landscape of Pilates in the 90's, her passions outside of Pilates. I had to stand down on one of my previous comments about calling Joseph Pilates Mr. Pilates... he hated that. Now I know. I asked her who is her favourite client to train and what teacher training she now recommends. We laughed about about her 600 square foot NYC apartment back in the day that had no furniture, just pilates equipment, and how she had to explain to people is for exercise! 

https://www.facebook.com/bsilerpilates/

Lesley Logan is an entrepreneurial spirit with a passion for people succeeding in life doing things the love...I share that passion and it totally oozed out of this core conversation. We talked about what I called the “over / under” dilemma. We dove deep on our “why” and how that should be our all-consuming fire. Lesley explained how it’s not a question of our resources but rather our resourcefulness that makes the difference in our endeavours. Enjoy the conversation!