

Pilates Elephants
Raphael Bender
We get to grips with new research, teaching strategies, and social issues around Pilates and Pilates teaching. This is 100% authentic, unscripted, real talk about everything Pilates.
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 7, 2025 • 42min
339. Is Pilates Education Increasing Our Risk Of Injury?
Resources:Strength training reduces injury risk substantially here and here and hereResistance training itself is a very safe activity here and hereFoot pronation increases risk of shin splints here, but has no effect on overall injury risk here and there is minimal evidence that any biomechanical variable predicts running injuries hereKnee valgus does not predict future ACL injury hereMentioned in this episode:Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studioGet 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studioThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy

Nov 27, 2025 • 15min
338. The 3 Skills That Differentiate Average Pilates Instructors From Superstars
What to look for when coaching your team - or critiquing your own classes.Mentioned in this episode:Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studioGet 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studioThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy

Nov 23, 2025 • 40min
337. What are lunges for?
The humble lunge - there's a LOT more there than meets the eye. We go there - biomechanics, cueing, how to layer it and why most instructors don't get the full value from it.Mentioned in this episode:Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studioGet 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studioThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy

Nov 20, 2025 • 59min
336. How Build A Studio That Attracts VIP Clients with Patricia Robinson
In this episode Patricia Robinson from Pilates Vita, London, breaks down how she built a boutique, premium-priced Pilates studio serving VIP clients in Kensington.Find Patricia here:https://www.pilatesvita.com/Mentioned in this episode:Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studioGet 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studioThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy

Nov 16, 2025 • 1h 2min
335. How Ana is making €100k+ teaching Pilates in a Tiny Dutch Town
The story of how Ana Maria Borrero went from from €17/hr employee to nearly €10k/month in revenue with 6 reformers, 20 classes, and a waitlist in a small Dutch town.Find Ana here:https://movewithana.nl/ https://www.instagram.com/movewithanapilates/Mentioned in this episode:Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studioGet 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studioThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy

Nov 9, 2025 • 1h 8min
334. Leaving Classpass with Sari Sadhati
Many studio owners have a love/hate relationship with Classpass - Sari and I have an honest conversation about the pros and cons, and why (and how) her studios are leaving Classpass.Mentioned in this episode:Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studioGet 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studioThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy

Nov 2, 2025 • 44min
333. What To Cue (It's Not What You Think)
There IS a right thing to cue in each exercise in Pilates. Here's how to know what it is.Bonus - There is no consistent pattern of muscle activation in the prone hip extension test. Except that gluteus maximus is consistently the last muscle to activate - hereMentioned in this episode:Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studioGet 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studioThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy

Oct 26, 2025 • 1h 34min
332. You're using layers wrong, with Heath Lander and Raphael Bender
Many instructors use layers, but most miss the most powerful part of this amazing programming tool.Mentioned in this episode:Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studioGet 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studioThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy

Oct 19, 2025 • 53min
331. 100 First Visits/Month With $0 Ads - Cassie & Henry from Sunny Space studio
Cassie and Henry from Sunny Space Studio share how they grew their reformer studio in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, to $65k a month within a year - without spending a dollar on ads. They break down how they attract over 100 first visits per month through exceptional client experience, brand consistency, and word of mouth. Plus how they train loyal clients into instructors, create SOPs that scale, and keep classes sold out with clear standards and warm service. This episode is a playbook for studio owners doing $10k+ who want to grow fast, without chaos or burnout.Check out Sunny Space here: https://www.sunnyspacestudio.ca/And on IG: https://www.instagram.com/sunnyspace.studioThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy

Oct 12, 2025 • 1h 12min
330. How this husband & wife team built 2 thriving studios in 1 year - Laura & Sam from Form & Flow UK
Laura and Sam from Form & Flow Pilates share how they grew from one to two thriving studios in a year. They reveal the systems, standards, and teamwork that made it possible—and how they balance marriage, business, and growth without burnout.Find Laura and Sam's studios here: https://formandflow.co.uk/ Connect with me on Instagram: @the_raphaelbenderDownload a free course guide:Pilates CertificationStudio MastermindTeaching Mastery ProgramMentioned in this episode:Get 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studioGet 1:1 coaching with me to grow your studioThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy


