The Pilates Journal Podcast

What does it take to thrive in a growing Pilates industry without losing what matters most?

In this episode of The Pilates Journal Podcast, host CJ Zarb sits down with Courtney Miller, international Pilates educator and Founder/CEO of Pilates Republic, for an honest conversation about teaching with confidence, building a distinctive studio brand and staying connected in an increasingly noisy industry.

Courtney reflects on more than two decades in movement and Pilates, including the shift from trying to deliver the "perfect" class to teaching with curiosity, empathy and genuine responsiveness. They discuss instructor burnout, the power of silence and feedback in class, why authenticity matters more than imitation, and how to grow a Pilates business without compromising quality or the people who make it work.

The conversation also explores the story behind Pilates Republic's HEART class framework, the role of fusion and strength training, and why human connection remains essential as AI and new technologies reshape the industry. Whether you're a Pilates instructor, educator, studio owner or aspiring founder, this episode offers perspective on teaching more authentically and growing with purpose.

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Subscribe to The Pilates Journal Podcast for conversations with the educators, studio owners, founders and industry leaders helping shape the future of Pilates. For more industry insight, visit The Pilates Journal and subscribe for free: https://www.pilatesrepublic.com/

Find more about Pilates Republic: https://www.pilatesrepublic.com/

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Learn more about The Pilates Journal and subscribe for FREE, click here: https://pilatesjournal.com/

Attend our next event, click here: https://www.pilatesjournalexpo.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_pilates_journal/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepilatesjournal

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thepilatesjournal

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-pilates-journal/

00:00 Welcome: CJ Zarb and Courtney Miller

01:49 How the Pilates industry has changed

06:11 Why human connection matters to clients

07:37 Teaching beyond perfectionism

10:46 The power of pausing and listening

14:54 Responsive teaching and instructor confidence

17:41 Instructor burnout and vulnerability

22:39 Is the Pilates boom an opportunity or a threat?

23:23 Creativity, quality and sustainable studio growth

28:24 Copycat culture and authentic Pilates brands

30:13 The story behind Pilates Republic and HEART

34:13 Fusion classes, retention and revenue streams

37:44 Pilates, strength training and the Rebel Reformer

39:44 Hiring and leading a multi-studio team

43:49 What the Pilates industry must never lose

46:32 Why in-person Pilates education matters

47:12 Final reflections

47:49 Outro

How do you scale a Pilates brand across countries without losing the experience that made it successful?

In this episode of The Pilates Journal Podcast, host CJ Zarb sits down with Michael Ramsey, co-founder and CEO of Strong Pilates, to unpack the systems, people and consumer insights behind the brand's growth to more than 120 studios across 15 countries and over 50,000 members worldwide.

Michael explains why the jump from zero to 20 locations can be the hardest stage, why unit economics and pre-sales matter more than hype, and how Strong approaches franchisee selection, instructor education and culture at scale. He also shares the personal injury that led him to Pilates, why Strong's member data is showing a growing appetite for strength training, how consumer expectations have shifted from aesthetics toward capability and results, and where he sees hybrid training and innovation taking the industry next.

For studio owners, instructors and Pilates professionals thinking about growth, differentiation or the future of the category, this conversation is packed with practical lessons on building a brand that can evolve without losing sight of the client.

____________________________________________________________________________________

Subscribe to The Pilates Journal Podcast for conversations with the educators, studio owners, founders and industry leaders helping shape the future of Pilates. For more industry insight, visit The Pilates Journal and subscribe for free.

Find more about Strong Pilates: https://strongpilates.co/

____________________________________________________________________________________

Learn more about The Pilates Journal and subscribe for FREE, click here: https://pilatesjournal.com/

Attend our next event, click here: https://www.pilatesjournalexpo.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_pilates_journal/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepilatesjournal

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thepilatesjournal

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-pilates-journal/

0:00 Introduction: Scaling Strong Pilates

1:16 How Difficult Is It to Scale a Pilates Business?

4:07 Building Instructors Instead of Chasing "Superstars"

5:26 Why 0 to 20 Locations Is the Hardest Stage

8:08 Pre-Sales: The Most Important Part of a Studio Launch

9:58 Evolving Marketing, Community & "Offline Leads"

11:31 Franchisee Selection and Keeping the Consumer First

14:18 How to Protect Culture Across Locations

18:26 The Injury That Led Michael to Pilates

23:39 Strength Overtakes Pilates in Member Preference

25:16 Defining Strength Training in a Reformer World

27:08 From Aesthetics to Capability and Results

29:37 Is the Pilates Market Actually Saturated?

31:50 Innovation Without Losing the Core Product

33:58 Where Strong Pilates Is Headed Next

35:01 The Next Five Years of Pilates

37:34 The Lesson for Every Growing Studio Owner

38:53 Outro

In this episode of The Pilates Journal Podcast, host CJ Zarb speaks with Andrea Speir, Pilates innovator, fitness leader and co-founder of Speir Pilates, about what it takes to build a modern Pilates brand in an industry that continues to evolve.

Andrea shares her perspective on why a strong brand needs to extend far beyond the physical studio, how digital discovery and changing consumer behavior are reshaping the way Pilates businesses reach clients, and why studio owners need a clear north star before expanding into new offerings. The conversation explores community, programming, teacher development, personal branding, continuing education and the growing demand for deeper Pilates knowledge.

Andrea also reflects on the challenges of scaling a studio, why owners can limit their own growth by trying to do everything themselves, the return toward classical Pilates and comprehensive education, and how studios can respond to trends like strength training without losing sight of what makes their brand unique.

In this conversation: • Why every Pilates business needs a clear north star. • How AI and digital discovery are changing Pilates marketing. • Why launching an app is not essential for every studio. • The importance of consistent programming across an entire teaching team. • Why the industry is seeing a return to classical Pilates and deeper education. • How community can become one of a studio's greatest competitive advantages. • Whether a successful Pilates brand needs a personal brand behind it. • Why studio owners trying to do everything themselves can limit growth. • How strength training can complement Pilates without replacing the method. • What Andrea learned from growing and scaling multiple studio locations.

Subscribe to The Pilates Journal Podcast for conversations with the educators, studio owners, founders and industry leaders helping shape the future of Pilates. For more industry insight, visit The Pilates Journal and subscribe for free.

Find more about Andrea Speir and Speir Pilates: https://www.speirpilates.com/

____________________________________________________________________________________

Learn more about The Pilates Journal and subscribe for FREE, click here: https://pilatesjournal.com/

Attend our next event, click here: https://www.pilatesjournalexpo.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_pilates_journal/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepilatesjournal

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thepilatesjournal

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-pilates-journal/

0:00 Introduction 0:38 What Building a Pilates Brand Means Today 2:43 The Digital Footprint Studios Need 8:56 Where the Pilates Industry Is Heading 9:59 Why Studio Programming Must Be Cohesive 14:34 The Return to Classical Pilates 15:43 Meeting Modern Client Expectations 16:53 Community as a Competitive Advantage 20:35 Should Your Studio Serve Everyone? 24:50 Do You Need a Personal Brand? 26:57 The Biggest Growth Mistake Studio Owners Make 31:03 When Should You Create Teacher Training? 34:31 What the Best Pilates Studios Do Well 36:52 Strength Training and the Modern Pilates Studio 38:40 What Andrea Would Do Differently 41:31 Andrea's Pilates Journal Expo Workshops 43:54 Outro

In this episode of The Pilates Journal Podcast, host CJ Zarb speaks with Maria Leone, creator of the Bodyline Method and a decades-long figure in the Pilates industry, about the qualities that help instructors and studio owners remain relevant, effective and fulfilled over time.

Maria shares her perspective on why the Pilates industry has always been fragmented, what separates a good instructor from a truly great one, and why talent alone is not enough. The conversation explores client connection, business boundaries, adaptability, continuing education, mentorship and the deep foundation required to teach with confidence across changing trends.

Maria also reflects on building Bodyline without investors, pivoting when Pilates fell out of fashion, preparing for the uncertainty of COVID, and why movement has remained both her profession and a source of personal strength.

In this conversation:

• The reality behind the "flexible" Pilates career • Whether great teaching can be fully taught • Why talented instructors burn out or leave • How adaptability supports career longevity • The importance of a strong method and educational foundation • Why mentorship and proximity to experienced teachers matter • Maria's wish for clearer lanes across the Pilates industry

Subscribe to The Pilates Journal Podcast for conversations with the educators, studio owners, founders and industry leaders helping shape the future of Pilates. For more industry insight, visit The Pilates Journal and subscribe for free.

Find more about Maria Leone here: https://www.bodylinela.com/maria-leone

____________________________________________________________________________________

Learn more about The Pilates Journal and subscribe for FREE, click here: https://pilatesjournal.com/

Attend our next event, click here: https://www.pilatesjournalexpo.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_pilates_journal/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepilatesjournal

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thepilatesjournal

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-pilates-journal/

0:00 Meet Maria Leone

0:54 A Life Built Around Movement

2:08 Has Pilates Always Been Fragmented?

3:51 The Industry Shift Maria Saw Coming

5:00 The Reality of a Pilates Career

6:42 What Makes a Great Instructor?

8:42 Can Great Teaching Be Taught?

9:36 Why Talented Instructors Leave

10:46 What Clients Really Need

12:36 Adaptability Behind a Lasting Studio

14:10 Building Bodyline Without Investors

15:22 Preparing for the Worst and Pivoting

17:25 Movement as a Higher Calling

19:24 Building an Inclusive Studio Community

21:28 The Foundations of Career Longevity

23:27 Strength, Trends and a Teacher's Toolkit

26:03 Why Apprenticeship and Mentorship Matter

28:54 Why Instructors Struggle to Grow Alone

30:51 Pilates Needs Clearer Lanes

32:28 Closing Thoughts

Welcome to the first episode of The Pilates Journal Podcast, hosted by CJ Zarb, founder of The Pilates Journal.

In this launch conversation, CJ sits down with Tracey Mallett, a globally recognized Pilates educator, creator, and decades-long voice in the Pilates industry, to explore one of the most important topics shaping the future of the method: Pilates education.

As Pilates continues to grow, so does the need for thoughtful conversations about instructor training, mentorship, apprenticeship, continuing education, and the real-world skills teachers need inside today's studios. Tracey shares her perspective on where the industry is thriving, where gaps still exist, and how instructors can continue to grow beyond certification.

Together, CJ and Tracey discuss the pressure instructors feel to constantly create something new, the importance of embodied learning, why repetition and progressions matter, how educators can better support the next generation, and why collaboration matters more than comparison.

This episode also sets the tone for The Pilates Journal Podcast: honest, thoughtful conversations with the educators, studio owners, founders, and industry leaders helping shape the future of Pilates.

Tracey will also be joining The Pilates Journal Expo in Miami this September, where she will be presenting workshops and taking part in industry conversations designed to support teachers, studio owners, and the wider Pilates community.

Topics include:

• Pilates education and certification.
• Mentorship and apprenticeship.
• The gap between training and teaching.
• How instructors can build confidence.
• The role of continuing education.
• Creativity, repetition, and progressions.
• Collaboration within the Pilates industry.
• The future of Pilates teaching.

Find more about Tracey Mallett here: https://www.instagram.com/traceymallett/

____________________________________________________________________________________

Learn more about The Pilates Journal and subscribe for FREE, click here: https://pilatesjournal.com/

Attend our next event, click here: https://www.pilatesjournalexpo.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_pilates_journal/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepilatesjournal

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thepilatesjournal

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-pilates-journal/

0:00 Welcome to The Pilates Journal Podcast 1:32 Is Pilates education keeping up with the industry? 4:34 Why new teachers struggle to choose the right course 5:09 The gap between learning exercises and learning to teach 6:26 What happened to apprenticeship and mentorship? 8:17 What instructors are still missing after certification 9:16 Why embodied practice makes better teachers 12:43 Why the industry's growth is a positive opportunity 14:04 Creating a safe space for instructors to ask questions 15:18 What a better model of Pilates education needs now 17:23 Teaching groups with multiple pathologies and needs 18:17 What Tracey has had to unlearn in her own teaching 18:36 Why instructors do not need to over-create every class 20:48 Teaching with intent instead of chasing pressure 21:48 How the role of Pilates instructors is changing 23:35 Building a more united Pilates community 24:49 How education programs can seek deeper support 26:46 Returning to lineage without losing modern creativity 27:31 What Tracey would change about the industry 29:37 CJ on how The Pilates Journal supports the industry 31:37 Do not chase trends, create your own 32:18 Tracey Mallett at The Pilates Journal Expo in Miami 33:12 Closing