Pilates Elephants

TW: This episode contains content about substance abuse and addiction. We acknowledge that this may be difficult and encourage you to care for your safety and well-being by talking to your healthcare professional if any of the issues in this show have affected you. This is the inspiring story of how Pilates helped Rebecca Solberg overcome addiction and find connection, meaning and peace.Pilates is not a substitute for working with a mental health professional. But it can sure be an amazing complement.Connect with me on Instagram: @the_raphaelbenderDownload a free course guide:Pilates CertificationVisualized AnatomyBecome a Breathe Education Mentor Affiliate: Program infoMentioned 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

Do you struggle with limiting beliefs around selling? Do you feel “icky”? Do you think your product is Pilates?If so, listen to this episode to get your mind right and learn how to sell your sessions more easily, and without any of the baggage.Connect with me on Instagram: @the_raphaelbenderDownload a free course guide:Pilates CertificationVisualized AnatomyBecome a Breathe Education Mentor Affiliate: Program infoMentioned 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

Seeking unity and advocating for change are often in tension with each other. How do we navigate the Pilates industry of the 21st Century for maximum unity and respect whilst also encouraging evidence-based practice and updated narratives?Resources mentioned in the episode: Purchase Raph’s book for only USD $4.99 hereBook a time to talk with Ralph hereStop Posting Workout Videos carousel hereStop Posting Workout Videos whiteboard hereAre Ab Curls Safe in Pregnancy? hereRISE Pilates here--------------------------------About Amy Hedger:Amy is the founder of A.FORM Pilates with over 5 years of experience instructing in various cities such as Melbourne and London. She believes there is no right ‘form’ of Pilates but what works best for the individual. Furthering her skill set in completing her Diploma in Clinical and Rehabilitation Pilates with Breathe Education, Amy coaches all levels of capabilities offering expert knowledge. She constantly strives to make her clients the strongest and most resilient they can be, both mentally and physically.How to Connect with Amy:Find Amy Hedger on Instagram and LinkedIn Find Amy online HERE About Raphael Bender:Raph believes everyone deserves the opportunity to transform into a better version of themselves. His main strength as a teacher and movement professional is the ability to distill complex research findings into a simple, science-based approach to help people move fearlessly, thoughtlessly, and painlessly. He LOVES running, weights, cycling, and Contrology.Raph holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Exercise Physiology (Rehabilitation), a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise and Sports Science, Diploma of Pilates Movement Therapy, and STOTT PILATES full certification.How to Connect with Raphael:Find Breathe Education on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Youtube, and TwitterFind Raphael Bender on Instagram here: @the_raphaelbenderDISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast.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

If you’ve struggled to maintain your passion and excitement for teaching, and particularly if you’ve struggled with imposter syndrome this episode is for you. We talk candidly about how Natalie:Found her tribeRealized what her product is (it’s not Pilates)Discovered what it means to her to teach wellNatalie is a breast cancer survivor and is currently using Pilates to rehabilitate after a double mastectomy. We discuss her rehab journey so far and what she’s learning.--------------------------------About Natalie Wilson:Born and raised in Hawaii, Natalie’s foundation in movement comes from years of training in the native dances of Hawaii and Tahiti.  After college, Natalie pursued a career in social work and mental health.  She discovered Pilates after the birth of her second child and loved how the practice gave her renewed strength, energy, and focus. Desiring a career shift, Natalie enrolled in a comprehensive Pilates training program, graduating in early 2017.  In addition, Natalie received her National Pilates Certification in 2020 and her Pilates Certification from Breathe Education in February 2022.  She currently teaches at Vitality Pilates as well as the Multiple Sclerosis Center at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, Washington, where she lives with her husband, two kids, and too many houseplants.  How to Connect with Natalie:Find Natalie on InstagramAbout Raphael Bender:Raph believes everyone deserves the opportunity to transform into a better version of themselves. His main strength as a teacher and movement professional is the ability to distill complex research findings into a simple, science-based approach to help people move fearlessly, thoughtlessly, and painlessly. He LOVES running, weights, cycling, and Contrology.Raph holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Exercise Physiology (Rehabilitation), a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise and Sports Science, Diploma of Pilates Movement Therapy, and STOTT PILATES full certification.How to Connect with Raphael:Find Breathe Education on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Youtube, and TwitterFind Raphael Bender on Instagram here: @the_raphaelbenderPurchase Raph's new book:Strengthen The Person Not Just The Body Part hereDISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: AdBarker - https://adbarker.com/privacy

TW: This episode contains content about disordered eating & body dysmorphia. We acknowledge that this may be difficult and encourage you to care for your safety and well-being by talking to your healthcare professional if any of the issues in this show have affected you. Diet culture has infiltrated Pilates and is evident in many of the usual practices many of us do, like cueing, marketing our services and even encouraging our clients.Jade and Raph try hard to disagree but basically fail; they talk about:What are diet culture and fatphobiaWhy fitness is a better measure of health than body shape or fatnessWhy fitness (or Pilates) challenges can be problematic, and how to reframe your fitness challenge so it’s body neutralWhy we don’t need to focus on working individual body parts, how it can be problematic, and what to do instead to motivate your clientsHow to change your language to be more body neutralWhy Pilates instructors shouldn’t be giving dietary adviceThe many incredible benefits of exercise that aren’t related to how you lookAnd moreResources mentioned in this episode:Tally Rye book Train Happy here  Meet physical activity guidelines and halve your chance of dying of any cause in the next 10 years hereMeeting physical activity guidelines reduces your risk of diabetes 39% and cardiovascular disease 60% hereFitness is vastly more important than fatness for heart health hereFitness is more important than body mass index for predicting someone’s risk of dying at any age hereRun app link hereWendy Suzuki TED talk: The Brain-changing benefits of exercise hereFearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fat Phobia hereThe Beauty Myth: How Images of Beauty Are Used Against Women here--------------------------------About Jade Ritchi:Jade Ritchi is an Australian Pilates Instructor living in Los Angeles and is a current Breathe Education Diploma of Clinical Pilates student. Jade worked as a hairdresser for the majority of her career, but she has always had a passion for exercise and loves making people feel good. She described herself as a feminist, movement optimist and coffee snob.Jade has struggled with disordered eating for more than half her entire life and is passionate about making people aware of the perils of diet culture. How to Connect with Jade:Find Jade on Instagram and TiktokAbout Raphael Bender:Raph believes everyone deserves the opportunity to transform into a better version of themselves. His main strength as a teacher and movement professional is the ability to distill complex research findings into a simple, science-based approach to help people move fearlessly, thoughtlessly, and painlessly. He LOVES running, weights, cycling, and Contrology.Raph holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Exercise Physiology (Rehabilitation), a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise and Sports Science, Diploma of Pilates Movement Therapy, and STOTT PILATES full certification.How to Connect with Raphael:Find Breathe Education on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Youtube, and TwitterFind Raphael Bender on Instagram here: @the_raphaelbenderPurchase Raph's new book:Strengthen The Person Not Just The Body Part hereDISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast.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

John and Raphael talk through the ups and downs of creating your own thing:How John transitioned from representing the STOTT PILATES brand to representing his own brandThe expectation of creating your own business vs the reality of itWork/life balanceImposter syndrome and how to deal with itFinding your tribeThe drawbacks of starting your own businessThe benefits of starting your own businessHow to deal with hatersHow to decide if creating your own thing is right for you--------------------------------About John Garey:John Garey is a renowned Pilates Instructor and Fitness Expert. He is the creator of John Garey TV, an online, Pilates video on demand service.  John earned his Master of Science in Physical Education from New York University.He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through National Strength and Conditioning Association and also a Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher.  John has starred in over 1000 Pilates and Fitness videos. He is an International Pilates and Fitness Presenter and has contributed to and appeared in many international publications, including Pilates Style Magazine, Men's Fitness, Shape, and GQ.How to Connect with John:Find John online here and hereFind John on Instagram, Facebook, and YoutubeAbout Raphael Bender:Raph believes everyone deserves the opportunity to transform into a better version of themselves. His main strength as a teacher and movement professional is the ability to distill complex research findings into a simple, science-based approach to help people move fearlessly, thoughtlessly, and painlessly. He LOVES running, weights, cycling, and Contrology.Raph holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Exercise Physiology (Rehabilitation), a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise and Sports Science, Diploma of Pilates Movement Therapy, and STOTT PILATES full certification.How to Connect with Raphael:Find Breathe Education on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YoutubeFind Raphael Bender on Instagram here: @the_raphaelbenderDISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast.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

What does it mean to be evidence-based, and how can you transition into using a more evidence-based approach?Adam and Raph discuss:Their own experiences of growing beyond their original certificationsHow to avoid the chasm of nihilism - that feeling of WTF do I do, if I’m not cueing muscles or alignment?How to let yourself be wrong, or not to know the answersHow to give yourself permission to try new ways of teachingHow to experiment with new ideasHow to implement new ways of teaching with your regular clients--------------------------------About Adam McAtee:Adam McAtee is an instructor here at Breathe Education. He has over 12 years of Pilates experience and a degree in Exercise Science. He is currently studying physical therapy (physiotherapy) in California.As a trainer, Adam is big on encouraging students to become critical thinkers so they can be excellent instructors. He is passionate about staying up-to-date on the latest evidence-based practice, and imparting it to his students. It’s an honor for him to be a mentor in the lives of others who are pursuing a career in Pilates. Adam likes to keep himself busy with his personal movement practice, traveling, scuba diving, and being with his partner, daughter, and pets (two dogs and a bird). His favorite quote (which you will likely hear in his classes) is, “nothing will work unless you do,” by Maya Angelou. How to Connect with Adam:Find Adam McAtee on Instagram hereFind Adam McAtee online hereAbout Raphael Bender:Raph believes everyone deserves the opportunity to transform into a better version of themselves. His main strength as a teacher and movement professional is the ability to distill complex research findings into a simple, science-based approach to help people move fearlessly, thoughtlessly, and painlessly. He LOVES running, weights, cycling, and Contrology.Raph holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Exercise Physiology (Rehabilitation), a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise and Sports Science, Diploma of Pilates Movement Therapy, and STOTT PILATES full certification.How to Connect with Raphael:Find Breathe Education on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Youtube, and TwitterFind Raphael Bender on Instagram here: @the_raphaelbenderDISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast.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

We’ve often talked about the influence of dance in Pilates, but the influence of bodybuilding is also important - in fact, it’s so pervasive it’s invisible.Many of the things we take for granted in Pilates in fact are just bodybuilding conventions, not facts of exercise science, and they certainly weren’t part of Joseph Pilates’ original vision.Things like:Isolating musclesThinking about aesthetics as the primary goal of exerciseWorking to fatigue and seeking the burnOvercomplicating our programmingAre all bodybuilding practices, not laws of physics.Resources mentioned in the episode:Strength is Specific book by Chris Beardsley herePumping Iron movie here Intrinsic motivation for exercise is healthier and more sustainable hereHip stance doesn’t affect quad recruitment in a squat hereFemales tend to select loads that are too light to stimulate strength gains here and here--------------------------------About Aden O'SullivanAden is the Co-owner of The Fit Space Australia. He is a strength & conditioning coach as well as a Master Trainer for KX Pilates. Aden has an impressive educational background, holding a Bachelor of Health Sciences (Human Movement) from the University of South Australia, and a Master’s of Exercise Science (Strength & Conditioning) from Edith Cowan University. He is also the former KX Pilates Senior State Training Manager of South Australia. He currently teaches group reformer classes and helps other trainers and studios via workshops. How to Connect with Aden:Find Aden on Instagram hereFind Aden online here and hereAbout Raphael Bender:Raph believes everyone deserves the opportunity to transform into a better version of themselves. His main strength as a teacher and movement professional is the ability to distill complex research findings into a simple, science-based approach to help people move fearlessly, thoughtlessly, and painlessly. He LOVES running, weights, cycling, and Contrology.Raph holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Exercise Physiology (Rehabilitation), a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise and Sports Science, Diploma of Pilates Movement Therapy, and STOTT PILATES full certification.How to Connect with Raphael:Find Breathe Education on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Youtube, and TwitterFind Raphael Bender on Instagram here: @the_raphaelbenderDISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast.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

Many people in the Pilates world, and in the movement world, in general, believe you should charge a “fair” price for your services, and that making too much money is a sign you’re doing something morally reprehensible, and that those ill-gotten profits must come at the expense of your poor clients.Quite the reverse is true in Dan’s case and, we argue, in just about all cases. Making lots of profit is not mutually exclusive with profoundly helping people. You can do both. Dan is living proof.In fact, Dan shares his formula for hitting 25% net profit on a $250k annual turnover. That’s AFTER he pays himself.If you have a Pilates studio, listening to this episode will teach you how to increase your profits by $50k THIS YEAR.Resources mentioned in the episode:How to generate more profit in your Pilates business by adding more reformers here--------------------------------------About Dan Baker:Dan Baker is a Breathe Education trainer and owner of “Pilates with Dan” in Canberra. He has 15 years of teaching experience under his belt and holds a Certification in Pilates Matwork and Reformer, a PITC Diploma, an Advanced Diploma of the Pilates Method, and a Bachelor of Science. In addition to Pilates, Dan is fond of running and swimming as parts of his personal movement practice. How to Connect with Dan:Find Dan on Instagram hereFind Dan on Facebook hereAbout Raphael Bender:Raph believes everyone deserves the opportunity to transform into a better version of themselves. His main strength as a teacher and movement professional is the ability to distill complex research findings into a simple, science-based approach to help people move fearlessly, thoughtlessly, and painlessly. He LOVES running, weights, cycling, and Contrology.Raph holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Exercise Physiology (Rehabilitation), a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise and Sports Science, Diploma of Pilates Movement Therapy, and STOTT PILATES full certification.How to Connect with Raphael:Find Breathe Education on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Youtube, and TwitterFind Raphael Bender on Instagram here: @the_raphaelbenderDISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast.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

Pilates as performance, or Pilates as practice?Inspirational teacher or aspirational teacher?Are we lesser descendants of our Pilates Ancestors?All this and more.--------------------------------------About Anula Maiberg:Anula doesn’t believe in sharing a list of her accomplishments. She finds the experience much too self-congratulating.How to Connect with Anula:Find Anula on Instagram hereFind Anula's class schedule here About Raphael Bender:Raph believes everyone deserves the opportunity to transform into a better version of themselves. His main strength as a teacher and movement professional is the ability to distill complex research findings into a simple, science-based approach to help people move fearlessly, thoughtlessly, and painlessly. He LOVES running, weights, cycling, and Contrology.Raph holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Exercise Physiology (Rehabilitation), a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise and Sports Science, Diploma of Pilates Movement Therapy, and STOTT PILATES full certification.Connect with me on Instagram: @the_raphaelbenderDownload a free course guide:Pilates CertificationVisualized AnatomyBecome a Breathe Education Mentor Affiliate: Program infoDISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast.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