logo
episode-header-image
Oct 2024
20m 51s

Finding Fun in Foundations

Olivia Bioni
About this episode

Today's episode looks at the foundation of Pilates: introducing clients to the equipment, to basic exercises, to shapes of the spine, and the language of Pilates. We spend the majority of our time teaching beginners, and it's important to find fun in the fundamentals to keep boredom and burnout at bay. We explore strategies to keep the fundamentals fresh for your clients and for yourself, like looking at Pilates like a beginner, making non-negotiable time for yourself to do Pilates and take classes, trying little twists on familiar exercises, and changing up the order of exercises to find fun in the Pilates basics. Tune in!

I want to hear from you! Share your thoughts and follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook @pilatesteachersmanual. Full show notes, episode transcription, and chapter markers can be found on the podcast website here: http://bit.ly/pilatesteachersmanual. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast for updates, and rate and review wherever you listen!  Episodes now available on YouTube: *https://bit.ly/YouTubePTM*

Email pilatesteachersmanual@oliviabioni.com with your feedback.   

Support the podcast:    

Visit https://links.oliviabioni.com/affiliates to take advantage of some sweet savings!

Episode Music:

Tracks: Tobu - Good Times, Tobu & Itro - Sunburst 
Tobu Official YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tobuofficial
Itro Official YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/officialitro
Released by NCS 
https://www.youtube.com/NoCopyrightSounds

Support the show

Up next
Aug 15
Names Make Group Classes Feel Personal
Today's episode shares effective strategies for making group classes feel personal through using your clients' names before, during, and after class. We look at what you can do to learn names and why it's important to make an effort to build community in your classes. Tune in!I w ... Show More
17m 4s
Jul 18
Special Guest - Keisha Brown
The wonderful Keisha Brown joins me on the show today! Keisha is a Master Trainer for Club Pilates, and a Pilates teacher at several Club Pilates studios in Chicago. She shares her journey from watching Mari Winsor DVDs in the early 2000s to healing her body through movement, and ... Show More
44m 17s
Jun 27
Movement Diversity Makes Better Pilates Teachers
Are you a Pilates teacher feeling confident in your craft? This episode is for you! We're diving into why exploring movement outside of Pilates can make you an even better instructor and enrich your personal life.Discover how trying new forms of movement can deepen your understan ... Show More
12m 25s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 2023
Why Every Pilates Exercise Is A Core Exercise
Pilates is all about the core, but what does that really mean? Today we dive into Pilates as a system that moves the spine in all directions and works all major muscle groups to near fatigue. We explore Pilates exercises as full body movements that rely on core strength to happen ... Show More
19m 59s
Oct 2024
Your Pilates Reading List
Today's episode explores some of my favorite Pilates books for learning about Joe, the history of Pilates, anatomy, exercise variations, and sharing Pilates with kids! These are books that guided my Pilates practice, and I hope you'll enjoy them too. Tune in! I want to ... Show More
17m 38s
May 2024
A Closer Look At Footwork
This episode is a deep dive into all things footwork. Curious about the why behind the what of one the most common reformer Pilates exercises? Learn what muscles are working, different ways to perform the exercise, and why it's a great addition to any Pilates program when you tun ... Show More
26m 15s
Oct 2024
VIDEO 🧘‍♀️ Core Engagement with Planks #YogaWorkshop
Watch on Spotify or YouTube!  In this new series Yoga Foundations, I teach live in-studio & virtual classes on topics every new yoga student needs to build their lifelong practice!  Namaste💫  Thanks for listening!!! Be the ☀️ All the (FREE) Intro Series Episodes in one place! Ch ... Show More
1h 3m
Apr 2025
Shapes Of The Spine - Lateral Flexion
Today's episode kicks off a mini series diving into the different shapes the spine makes in Pilates, exploring the planes of movement, the muscles involved in making the shape, and where we see this movement in our Pilates exercises. The star of the show today is lateral fle ... Show More
21m 56s
Mar 2025
What Makes Mat Pilates So Difficult?
In this episode, I share my first experience with mat Pilates and explain what makes mat Pilates exercises so challenging. I discuss the physical and mental blocks  that can make mat Pilates difficult, as well as how load (usually body weight and gravity in mat Pilates) can raise ... Show More
21m 59s
Aug 2024
Pilates Is A Brain Game And A Body Game
Pilates is great for strengthening your body, but it is also great for your brain. Whether you're looking for a complex exercise to stop your mind from wandering, or you like to think about movements as you do them, there is a cerebral nature to Pilates that overthinkers and inte ... Show More
17m 51s
Jul 2024
Knowing When To Level Up
How do you know when it's time to try something harder in your Pilates practice? Some Pilates studios level their classes, but what is the right time to try the next level? Do you have to level up? In this episode, we talk about what determines a class's level of challenge, inclu ... Show More
23m 50s
Jun 4
Easy, Evidence-Based Hacks for Fitness | Marielle Segarra
Including: “exercise snacking,” prioritizing play, and overcoming “revenge bedtime procrastination.” Marielle Segarra is a reporter and the host of NPR's Life Kit, the award-winning podcast and radio show that shares trustworthy, nonjudgmental tips that help listeners navigate th ... Show More
59m 6s
Jan 2025
Ep. 204: So You Want to Start a Podcast? Lessons from Seven Years of 'Podding Around
Ever thought about starting a podcast or taking the plunge on a new creative project? In this episode of Awesome with Alison, Alison and Eric share their hard-earned wisdom from seven years of podcasting. From balancing energy dynamics and crafting engaging segments to mastering ... Show More
30m 41s