Learn why despite all the noise around the topic in the Pilates realm, you don’t have to worry about pelvic instability for yourself, and you don’t need to worry about it for your clients — including your prenatal clients. Encouraging cultural change in the fitness community is a passion of ours, and on the podcast this week, we’re spreading the truth and busting the myth of pelvic instability. Connect with me on Instagram : @the_raphaelbender Download a free course guide: Pilates Certification ...
Aug 08, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 47
In today's episode of Pilates Elephants , we talk to Laura Saggers, owner of Rise Pilates, about her journey through learning how owning a Pilates studio can be done successfully. She shares her experience of pivoting when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, how she adapted her studio to run online classes, and the key lessons she learned in the process. We also discuss the importance of knowing when and what to outsource as a studio owner, how to avoid burning out, and how to empower the awesome people ...
Aug 01, 2021•1 hr 47 min•Season 1Ep. 46
In this show, Raph speaks to Lars, a prolific advocate of evidence-based practice, critical thinking, and a passionate educator. We discuss several topics related to evidence-based practice and how to evaluate the research and dissect what it all means. We’re excited to share Lars’ words of wisdom about how to reflect on your own critical thinking and health literacy. Resources mentioned in the episode: Read Raph's book: Strengthen the Person, Not Just the Body Part here Connect with me on Insta...
Jul 25, 2021•1 hr 18 min•Season 1Ep. 45
This week Pilates expert, and passionate advocate of fearless movement, Raphael Bender, is in the hot seat. Answering listeners’ Pilates questions surrounding confident movement practice. Raph discusses exercising with osteoarthritis, teaching form without undermining body confidence, and explains how slow and fast-twitch muscles work. Connect with me on Instagram : @the_raphaelbender Download a free course guide: Pilates Certification Visualized Anatomy Become a Breathe Education Mentor Affilia...
Jul 18, 2021•53 min•Season 1Ep. 44
Whether you are just starting Pilates training or are an experienced instructor, the question “Where should I be feeling it?” comes up a lot. And that makes sense! How you move and where you feel the impact of an exercise can seem like a powerful indicator of doing something right, or wrong. But should you tell clients where they should be feeling their movement? And what works better, internal or external cueing? We discuss the science around how best to facilitate motor learning in your client...
Jul 11, 2021•1 hr 11 min•Season 1Ep. 43
Hey US friends and Elephants listeners, We are expanding our Pilates training into the US and I'd really like to talk with you to understand the US Pilates industry better. I'd like to hear your story, your experience as an instructor or studio owner in the US, and your thoughts on Pilates certification - the good, the bad and the ugly. Book a time to Zoom with me here: https://breatheedu.as.me/raphael Raphael This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: AdBarker - https://...
Jul 09, 2021•1 min
We’re discussing all the empowering ways that we can facilitate an awesome movement experience for clients with arthritis. There is no doubt that some Pilates instructors are fearful about working with clients who have arthritis — but we want to de-threaten that situation and empower teachers. So, in this episode of Pilates Elephants , we refresh and update your knowledge of joint health to allow you to view exercise and arthritis through a more positive lens and answer the question, “ Is Pilate...
Jul 04, 2021•1 hr 17 min•Season 1Ep. 42
Renowned women's health physiotherapist Sarah Haag joins us on the show for an in-depth discussion on P ilates and pregnancy , exercise, and continence issues. She shares her wisdom on what you should and shouldn’t do — exercise-wise — with your prenatal and postpartum client. Pregnant people aren’t delicate flowers. We want to empower clients in the perinatal period, be honest about their needs, and let you know how you can support them as an exercise professional. -----------------------------...
Jun 27, 2021•1 hr 34 min•Season 1Ep. 41
This is a topic that is very close to my heart (and Lesley Logan is brilliant in this conversation!) — Pilates instructor pay rates. We are going to unpack the questions, hang-ups, and ethical conundrums around what to charge as a Pilates instructor. There has been a deluge of questions on this theme, and our expert guest Lesley Logan dives in to answer them and give us her insights into why we undervalue ourselves as a profession. Get your brain moving as we think about how much to charge, how ...
Jun 20, 2021•1 hr 33 min•Season 1Ep. 40
Let’s start with some of the elephants in the room — Pilates won’t make you taller or make you look like a dancer. Nor does Pilates hold a magical cure for back pain. But there are heaps of things that Pilates is awesome for, including movement meditation and finding that flow state that helps you wind down by being completely present at the moment. Plus, your body always feels great after. Find out what our guest, internationally renowned Pilates expert, John Garey loves about Pilates. --------...
Jun 06, 2021•48 min•Season 1Ep. 38
In this show, we look at Pilates for spondylolisthesis and the related condition spondylolysis, explore how the conditions present, the differences between them, and how we, as Pilates instructors can help people who have them. The Pilates ‘elephant in the room’ in this discussion is the myth that spondylolisthesis and spondylolysis always correlate directly with pain. Pilates teachers are often anxious that there are specific exercises that they should or shouldn’t be recommending to clients wi...
May 30, 2021•1 hr 14 min•Season 1Ep. 37
On the show today we’re focusing on Pilates breathing, whether a ‘correct’ breathing pattern is really a thing, and if we should be cueing it if it is. Joseph Pilates wrote a book before his death called Your Health, and we read through some of the wackier passages about forced exhalation and examine how his ideas fit with what needs to happen biomechanically when we breathe. We also discuss the effect that Pilates breathing cues have on motor learning, and give a comprehensive example of when i...
May 23, 2021•1 hr 36 min•Season 1Ep. 36
Renowned Physiotherapist Antony Lo Joins Us On This Episode Of Pilates Elephants To Dive Into Postpartum Pilates And How He Helps Movement Professionals Understand The Research And Practical Principles Of Working With Postpartum Women So They Can Confidently Support Their Clients. We Zoom In On The Importance Of Mindset And How We Can Give Students The Information That They Need, And Empower Them To Make Decisions For Themselves. Our Discussion Also Covers Antony’s Experience With Diastasis Rect...
May 16, 2021•1 hr 25 min•Season 1Ep. 35
In this episode, we’re talking about the question of ‘no pain no gain’ and whether the old saying is true. Is it really important to get sore during and after your workout to have an effective workout? And if you don't suffer from Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) was your exercise even worth doing? We discuss strength training and muscle damage, and why DOMS isn’t muscle damage but is related to that damage. I (Raph) also look at the evidence into why it’s essential to ensure that you have e...
May 09, 2021•1 hr 20 min•Season 1Ep. 34
If you’re a Pilates teacher who is anxious about teaching a move before you have perfected it then you’re in the right place. In this episode of Pilates Elephants, we’re busting the myth that Pilates instructors have to be amazing at every single move before they even think about teaching it to their clients. We discuss why students are looking for an instructor to inspire and empower them to grow, rather than a picture-perfect Pilates machine. Great teachers don’t have to do the thing perfectly...
May 02, 2021•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 33
Greg Lehman…On Becoming a Movement Optimist Join the conversation on Movement Optimism as Physiotherapist and strength and conditioning expert, Greg Lehman chats to Raphael Bender about Movement Optimism and the idea that everything is biomedically driven. We discuss why he prefers a comprehensive capacity approach in addition to looking to specific evidence-based research when helping clients prevent pain and injury. Greg also dives into the idea of muscle ‘dysfunction’ as a cause of pain, and ...
Apr 25, 2021•1 hr 21 min•Season 1Ep. 32
The idea of using Pilates for athletes to improve performance is pretty common, but the question is, can Pilates help improve athletic performance and reduce injury or is that just another one of those Pilates myths that we’re committed to busting? Well, yes, and also no. Listen in to find out which, and how. And what exercises. What You Will Learn: Whether Pilates helps improve athletic performance and reduce injury The three mistaken beliefs around improving athletic performance with Pilates a...
Apr 18, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 31
There is a particular group of people in the Pilates social media realm who get their kicks undermining those of us who put ourselves out there to enhance and improve our practice. In this episode of Pilates Elephants, we call out the cyber bullies and internet trolls and discuss why the self-proclaimed Pilates Police are obsessed with tearing others in the movement community down, instead of helping others build themselves and their skills up. What You Will Learn: Why it is so critical that we ...
Apr 11, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 30
Shoulder stability – sounds like something you want more of, right? In the Pilates world we have a lot of rules around how the shoulders are supposed to sit, and how they’re supposed to move. From “shoulders down your back”, to increasing activation of the “good” scapular muscles (lower trapezius and serratus anterior), to avoiding winging and anterior tipping of the scapulae. But is shoulder stability even a thing, or did we just make it up? TLDR – probably not a thing. Warning: This is probabl...
Apr 04, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 29
In this episode Raph interviews two of the world's most prolific and preeminent researchers on how to teach movements skills. Dr Rebecca Lewthwaite Dr. Rebecca Lewthwaite received her PhD in kinesiology (what in Australia we call exercise science or human movement) from UCLA. She is Director of Research and Education in Physical Therapy and Director of Rehabilitation Outcomes Management at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center in Los Angeles, and an adjunct faculty member in biokinesi...
Mar 28, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 28
We were all taught “headrest down when your hips are higher than your head” and most of us have followed this rule without thinking. But is it actually dangerous to leave your headrest up during shoulder bridge, or short spine? When you think about it, in rollover on the mat, your neck is much more flexed than in shoulder bridge on the reformer, even with the headrest up. We have a double standard about loading joints at end range – in the hips it’s good (e.g., lunges, front splits & side sp...
Mar 21, 2021•1 hr 25 min•Season 1Ep. 27
Osteoporosis is a common condition in the Pilates studio. We look at what osteoporosis is, the anatomy and physiology of bone, and how to use exercise to increase bone density. Plus contraindications for people with osteoporosis, based on the current ACSM guidelines. Resources mentioned in the episode: Tame the beast video here High intensity resistance and impact training is safe and effective for increasing bone density here and here and here Strength correlates very closely with bone density ...
Mar 14, 2021•1 hr 15 min•Season 1Ep. 26
Many of the daily frustrations we face in the workplace can actually be solved easily. All you need to do is have a radically candid conversation with the person concerned. Radical candour is a way to have respectful, caring and completely honest conversations about important but awkward topics. In this episode we have fun role-playing several common situations at work including: How to bring up the topic of money in a job interview How to ask for a raise How to talk with a colleague who leaves ...
Mar 07, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 25
We regularly shine a light on Elephants in the room related to technique, cueing, teaching and so forth. In this episode, John Howard Steel is about to upend many things you thought you know about the history of Pilates. John learned Pilates directly from Joseph Pilates. He practiced at Joe’s gym on Eighth Avenue from 1963 until Joe’s death in 1967. After Joe died, John was instrumental in the continuation of Contrology; along with two others he formed a committee that kept the gym going and sup...
Feb 28, 2021•1 hr 45 min•Season 1Ep. 24
Is it ok to lock your joints? Should we give corrective exercises or special cues to people who are hypermobile? Listen in to find out! Resources mentioned in the episode: World Health Organisation (WHO) physical activity guidelines here If you follow the WHO guidelines you reduce your chance of dying of any cause in the next 10 years by almost half here Beighton test here Hypermobile people have more gastrointestinal issues here Hypermobile people have low blood pressure here Hypermobile women ...
Feb 21, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 23
Many of us feel a pressure to be a "proper" Pilates instructor - whatever the heck that is. Here are our thoughts on why - and how, you can be yourself. Resources mentioned in the episode: Hip displasia here Claudia being herself on Instagram here Spotlight effect here Masterclasses here Michael Wilkinson 78 year old Pilates instructor here FeeFee's Rockn'Roll Cocktail Bar here Learning is more effective when we copy people who are similar to us here Connect with me on Instagram : @the_raphaelbe...
Feb 14, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 22
Stretching is good for you, right? Many of us feel we "should" stretch more, whether it's to prevent injury, as a warmup, to recover quicker, to feel less stiff, or just because it's somehow virtuous to stretch. Let's see what science has to say. Resources mentioned in the episode: Gene Kelly and Jerry mouse here 6RM squat elicits the same activation in the core muscles as a full plank to failure with 20% bodyweight on the lower back here Strength training is as effective as stretching for incre...
Feb 07, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 21
We have to co-exist with others who hold different views. If you're a listener of this podcast, many of those people will be in senior positions in the industry. Are more experienced practitioners in fact more knowledgeable? And, how can you navigate relationships, and conversations with those who hold different views? Resources mentioned in the episode: Physicians who have been in practice longer have less factual knowledge and are less likely to adhere to guidelines here 0.5% increase in patie...
Jan 31, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 20
We mention the Diploma in passing a fair bit - it's what we do in our day jobs when we're not recording podcast episodes. Learn more about the Diploma here Connect With Us On Instagram Cloe @cloebunterpilates Raphael @the_raphaelbender Come Study With Us Our training is 100% online - you can study from anywhere in the world Certificate IV in Pilates Matwork and Reformer here Diploma of Clinical Pilates here This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: AdBarker - https://adb...
Jan 27, 2021•36 min
"Don't just treat the site of the pain, treat the root cause". You've probably heard or seen this. On the surface, it sounds attractive - what could be more valuable than treating the cause, rather than the symptom? However on closer inspection it turns out that there are gaping chasms of faulty assumptions underpinning this idea. PLUS: Will strength training make me stiff? Pain links A tailored exercise program to correct movement control impairment is no better than general exercise for people...
Jan 24, 2021•1 hr 18 min•Season 1Ep. 19
