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As Season Two comes to a close and we say good-bye 2020, we wanted to share four of our outstanding podcast and radio show interviews. We begin with John Steel, author of the hotly debated book, Caged Lion...

Paige Dent, a third generation classical Pilates instructor began her love of movement as a young competitive all-around gymnast where she learned hard work and discipline. Later, when she discovered the Pilates method, she delighted in knowing it was a natural evolution of her gymnastics training. In 2005, after experiencing what she now describes as, “Pilates lite,"  Paige took the next step and  became certified with Power Pilates in  Atlanta, Georgia. A move to England offered Paige the chance to take her classical Pilates education and mix in what she was learning from her husband, Alex, an Osteomyologist. Together they were inspired to create  comprehensive health program designed to encourage their clients to take control of their long-term health through movement, clinical therapies, detoxification and lifestyle strategies. As classical Pilates was a large component of their program, Paige grew more and more frustrated because the apparatus she had at the time, would not accommodate the classical repertoire. Then three years ago, Paige became an online student of mine and she warned me it might be frustrating to teach her because her equipment wasn’t meant for the original Pilates method. We both concluded after a number of challenging lessons it was time to sell her equipment and purchase new from the leader of classical apparatus, Gratz Industries, Inc. Paige is here to share her incredible journey of reconnecting to the original exercises and sheer delight at being able to express her God given talents. Originally aired: August 16, 2019

My guest today is Tracy Belcher, the founder and managing editor of the popular Pilates blog and brand, Pilatay. Tracy is a classical Pilates instructor, Franklin Method teacher and former marketing and communications professional. And though Tracy is completely obsessed with classical Pilates, she says it has a public relations problem - actually two. Problem #1 - An awareness issue: People do not understand what classical Pilates is and what makes it different from its contemporary sister. Problem #2 - An image issue: There is a perception of elitism and exclusivity. As Tracy explains, “This generation of Pilates teachers and students don’t care about past drama, it’s a turn off. We just want to learn the work.”

What Olympic sport asks of its athlete to have 3 distinct qualities: the carriage of royalty, the freedom of a lap dancer and the delicate hands of a lady or gentleman? If you guessed Dressage horseback riding, you’re absolutely right. In today's episode, Allison Mathy, a 2008 USDF Gold medalist trains horses and riders at Lyric Dressage, her facility located in Petaluma, CA. But Allison is also a Pilates devotee and you'll learn just how many similarities there are between classical Dressage and classical Pilates. 

What is it like to be at the helm of the most recognized classical Pilates apparatus manufacturer in the world? In this episode, David Rosencrans, co-owner of Gratz Industries shares his thoughts about his role and his company's role in the classical Pilates industry. 

In today's episode, a Pilates mystery will finally be revealed! It all began when my guest, Nora Gomez-Dears was in Bob Leinken’s certification program, The Pilates Standard. A culminating requisite was to research a part of the Pilates history. Bob mandated that all of his graduates dig deep into the life of Joseph Pilates or the apparatus he invented and share those results with the other students. Nora chose the Jump Board, an added accessory to the Reformer. Looking to find out how the Jump board came to be, she learned it wasn’t even in existence when Joe was alive. In fact, Nora discovered there was more than one story of its invention.

Simona Cipriani and Joe Muscolino are a wife and husband powerhouse. They impart Pilates information from two different perspectives. Simona is a Second Generation instructor from the Romana Kryzanowska lineage and Joe is a chiropractor who specializes in manual and movement therapies. In this episode, Simona and Joe share their love of movement and how they utilize the healing power of the Pilates method to address various pathological conditions.

In today’s episode, we take a look at what it’s like to be a studio owner and mother and all of the expectations that accompany these 2 huge responsibilities. Our guest is Sasha Koziak, a Second generation Pilates instructor who was certified in 1996 by Romana Kryzanowska. Four years later, certificate in hand, Sasha opened her own studio and quickly developed a following. Between running a successful studio and raising her two boys, Sasha felt happy and fulfilled. But as the months turned into years, she struggled with handling it all. She tried to remain positive and energetic both at work and at home, but by year eleven, she finally accepted she had hit a wall. Something had to give...

Our guest, John Steel, author of the recently published book, Caged Lion shares pieces of his story and the unique relationship he had with Joe Pilates. For Joe, his Contrology method would solve every physical and mental ailment to anyone who practiced it. For John, it was a time in his life when he needed something to help anchor him and so Contrology found its way into his life. John takes us back to the 1960’s when he first met Joe and Clara. Part biographical, part historical and even part controversial - this book has it all. 

What does push pull mean? Can push and pull be done at the same time? Can anyone experience it? Pilates instructor and studio owner, Glenn Wilkinson shares his thoughts and ideas about this critical concept in the Pilates method. 

Today’s episode is filled with historical information surrounding the years Joe Pilates was interned on the Isle of Man. Our guest, Jonathan Grubb who lives on the Isle of Man, discovered the teachings of Joseph Pilates in 2013 and soon after, learned that his great-grandfather was interned on the Isle of Man at the very same time as Joseph Pilates and in the same sub camp inside Camp Knockaloe. Though there is no proof,  it’s believed that his great grandfather was actually one of those internees that Joe instructed.This is a fascinating interview with someone who has spent the last seven years researching not only the connection between his great-grandfather and Joe Pilates, but on how other fitness pioneers of the early 1900’s influenced Joe and his exercise method.

I’m so excited to share with you a very special guest. Her name is Mary Bowen and she is the eldest of the Pilates Elders still going strong after 61 years of practicing and teaching Pilates. When Mary was 29 years old, she discovered Joseph Pilates while scanning a NYC newspaper and saw an article about him. He was being interviewed about his exercise studio and his Contrology method. What caught Mary’s eye was the accompanying photo of a man of medium height, barelegged, bare chested in tight shorts, canvas shoes, and a lion-like mane of white hair. Something else kept Mary’s attention. “I base my whole method on the baby and the cat, Joe said.” Mary had no baby and no cat, but her intuition told her to go meet him. That was 61 years ago. Mary doesn't hold back and shares stories of her experiences with Joe and Clara...It's a delightful interview, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

I’d like to begin with a little story. The pelvic girdle is similar to a lead actor in a play. The lead actor sets the tone and calls the shots. But there is also the supporting cast, and just like with the supporting cast, in the body, there are the hands, arms, shoulders, head, the feet, shins, and thighs. But they don’t move correctly until they get their cue from the lead actor, or from what is our topic for today, the pelvic girdle. Joining me in the studio is my guest is Mercy Sidbury and she’ll explain about the anatomy of the pelvic girdle.Original air date: May 13, 2018

Reiner Grootenhuis was born in Berlin and his journey to finding his life’s work started as a 12-year-old racing cyclist, training 5 days a week, resting on Saturday and racing on Sunday. Reiner explored other sports as well, such as rowing and weightlifting, but all of these activities took a toll on his body and his physical pain was constant. There was something missing in his overall body conditioning and after much research he discovered autogenic training, a little known relaxation and mediation practice which helped to soften his overtrained muscles. By sixteen, Reiner began studies in the martial arts of Tai Chi Chuan and Kung Fu and graduated to teaching self-defense to women and children. Then in 1992 while watching television, Reiner saw an advertisement for the Pilates method and he filed the ad away knowing one day he’d try out Pilates. It was 2005 when Reiner finally decided to explore Pilates and bought a Pilates DVD to help him learn on his own. He took to the work immediately and was hooked. Reiner recognized that his previous trainings had prepared him for a career in Pilates and in 2010 he  sought out a Pilates certification program called Body Arts Science International, also known as BASI. The following year, Reiner completed BASI’s certification for mat and equipment. There is much more to Reiner's story, tune in to this episode to learn more!Original air date: January 5, 2020

In this episode, you’ll learn about a unique approach to teaching the Pilates method. Owner of Pilates & Arts Studio, Tannis Kobrinsky, shares her passion for Pilates and visual art and how she combines both to an appreciative community in Echo Park, Los Angeles. Tannis Kobrinsky’s studio is experiencing first hand the COVID-19 crisis, and by featuring her story perhaps listeners will be moved to help support her.Original air date: December 8, 2019

Ballet is a unique blend of both artistry and athleticism. The dancer’s ability to have complete control over his or her body requires profound balance, coordination, strength and flexibility. My guest today is former professional ballerina, Susannah Cotrone and her love of ballet began at the tender age of three. By the time Susannah discovered Pilates, she’d already been dancing for eleven years. Still, thinking ballet was the only path to gaining more strength, the revolutionary approach to body conditioning Pilates offered Susannah, came as a complete surprise and she’s been practicing it ever since. In this episode, Susannah talks about her discovery and fascination with Pilates and how the method assists the ballet dancer.

Having props available for a home practice is even more important now than ever. Today's episode is all about home props, where to buy them, how to use them and where to store them. Original air date: 

Alex Dent is an Osteomyologist who treats the skeletal and muscular systems with chiropractic and acupuncture. He uses his knowledge of biology and of the endocrine system to give comprehensive treatments to his patients. Alex trained as an Osteopath from 1997-2002 at the British School of Osteopathy in London. He advocates for clean living through a healthy diet that includes fermented foods which help to maintain a healthy gut, and for overall health of the entire body, corrective exercises and stretches. In this episode, Alex discusses the "Forward Head posture" epidemic.Original air date: 

In 2011, Alisa Wyatt along with her husband, Jack Coble recognized a need to help preserve the original technique of Joseph Pilates and launched Pilatesology. They've dedicated themselves to documenting instructors and travel the world filming them in their own studios and present those videos to you. In this episode, you'll also learn about Alisa and her own Pilates journey.Original air date: January 4, 2018

How Pilates information is delivered has exploded, and one of the main reasons is the online subscription based websites offering access to an array of teachers and their knowledge. One of the most popular websites is Pilates Anytime. It offers over 3000 videos, taught by 120 teachers who either lecture and/or demonstrate numerous Pilates techniques. At the helm of this 10-year old company is Co-founder, Kristi Cooper who is our guest today. Original air date: September 15, 2019