Calm seated twist highlighting focused breath work and easy embodied awareness on the mat. Embodiment is something teachers talk about often, yet it fades once you start teaching full schedules and taking on clients. When you are learning as a teacher you get plenty of natural practice. You move, you repeat, and you spend time in your own body. The shift happens later. Once clients fill your week your attention shifts to them and your own practice slips into the background. E

Athens at dusk reflecting the mix of nostalgia, change, and purpose in teaching. Back in Greece for the first weekend of the Apparatus course, and Athens pulled something out of me I wasn’t expecting. It felt familiar, but it also reminded me how much life has shifted. We had a good time here, but it was a contained life. Quiet. Focused. Different from Scotland, where things feel wider and more connected. You only notice the contrast when you return. Travel itself is its own

Eyes closed to sharpen awareness, training movement through sound, breath, and pressure. Echolocation is a way of sensing space through sound. An animal sends out a sound, waits for the echo, then uses the returning sound to judge distance, size, and movement. Bats use it at night. Dolphins use it in water. It is a precise navigation tool. You will not make clicking sounds on the Reformer, but you can use the principle. When you close your eyes, your hearing sharpens. Your bo

A detailed fascia network showing the connective tissue’s layered fibres and living structure. At a recent event, a professional made a comment that stuck with me: “How can they really test fascia when people are still alive?”  It was one of those remarks that stays in your head. So I decided to look and see what’s actually possible. Before getting into the science, let’s take a step back and explain what fascia is for anyone unsure. Fascia is a continuous web of connective t

A humanoid robot assists a focused Pilates client guiding movement on a Reformer machine. As headlines shout about robots taking jobs and AI replacing humans, it is worth taking a breath and looking at where Pilates teachers stand in all of this. The good news is that we are safe. Our work depends on what AI still cannot understand, human connection. When I was in China last week, I saw incredible advances in AI. Robots were taking orders in restaurants, scanning faces for pa

Forearm muscles engaged during a Reformer pull, highlighting the connection between grip and core strength. Grip strength is often overlooked, but it tells us a lot about how the body is functioning as a whole. It reflects not only the strength of the forearms and hands but also the efficiency of the nervous system, muscle coordination, and even cardiovascular health. Research consistently links grip strength with longevity. Lower grip strength has been associated with reduce

Detailed session notes reflect mindful teaching, ensuring every Pilates class remains purposeful and fresh. Teaching one-to-one Pilates sessions demands constant focus. When you work with the same client twice a week, the routine can easily become repetitive for both teacher and client. The challenge is to keep your teaching sharp, your mind alert, and your client inspired. Here are some ways to stay fresh and focused in your teaching. 1. Revisit the Basics Regularly: Even ex

A Pilates practitioner performs controlled leg springs on the Cadillac, focusing on pelvic stability. I spent the weekend with a group of...

A Pilates teacher demonstrates resilience in practice, using mindful control on the Reformer. Neuroscientists are now showing us what...

A Pilates teacher guides precise Reformer leg work, focusing on control, strength, and alignment. One of the most overlooked ways to...

Cadillac arm springs thigh stretch into swan, opening hips and organising shoulders with breath. Big backbends look glorious. They sell...

Michael guides a teacher through the Teaser, emphasising precision and flow in the movement. Today is the last day of our summer school...

Welcome to Movement Monday! Today, we're diving into a beloved piece of Pilates equipment: the Cadillac. Our focus will be on the Roll...