What Makes a Great Pilates Teacher, Studio and Training with Courtney Miller

WEBVTT
00:01:55.140 --> 00:01:57.460
If you can't do it right, you shouldn't do it at all, basically.
00:01:57.540 --> 00:01:58.980
I don't need to stop these people.
00:01:59.140 --> 00:01:59.780
They're fine.
00:01:59.939 --> 00:02:01.219
They're having a blast.
00:02:01.460 --> 00:02:05.380
Adding athleticism into your reformer work doesn't necessarily mean it's advanced.
00:02:05.460 --> 00:02:08.580
Teachers were coming out of programs without any teaching experience at all.
00:02:08.740 --> 00:02:11.539
The framework does not ask for any teaching at all.
00:02:11.780 --> 00:02:13.219
You're gonna saturate some of it.
00:02:13.379 --> 00:02:14.980
Give yourself permission to be a rookie.
00:02:15.140 --> 00:02:20.980
Open something that's so unique to you that saturation isn't gonna matter because it's your thing.
00:02:28.420 --> 00:02:30.900
Courtney, welcome to Beyond the Reformer.
00:02:30.980 --> 00:02:33.300
It is an absolute honor to have you here today.
00:02:33.620 --> 00:02:34.500
Thank you so much.
00:02:34.580 --> 00:02:35.620
I'm excited to be here.
00:02:35.699 --> 00:02:37.060
I've been following your pod.
00:02:37.379 --> 00:02:38.580
You have amazing content.
00:02:38.740 --> 00:02:41.460
I love your conversation, so I'm so excited to be a part of them.
00:02:41.699 --> 00:02:44.580
Well, I have been asking you for a while, but your schedule is busy.
00:02:44.659 --> 00:02:49.300
As always, all of our schedules are busy, not helped by the fact we're on opposite sides of the globe.
00:02:49.460 --> 00:02:57.060
And I'm really excited today to really look at your career today, where you are today, and where you see us going.
00:02:57.139 --> 00:02:59.219
Because I think you've got such a unique perspective.
00:02:59.300 --> 00:03:01.699
And I just wanted to dive straight in with you, Courtney.
00:03:01.860 --> 00:03:04.100
You've been teaching for 20 years, am I right?
00:03:04.259 --> 00:03:04.579
Ish?
00:03:05.379 --> 00:03:05.860
Longer.
00:03:06.340 --> 00:03:06.660
Longer.
00:03:07.139 --> 00:03:10.900
Yeah, I did my math certification in 2001.
00:03:11.139 --> 00:03:11.460
Okay.
00:03:11.939 --> 00:03:16.100
I keep wanting to say 2021 because that feels like a really long time ago, but it wasn't.
00:03:16.340 --> 00:03:17.780
It was definitely 2001.
00:03:18.020 --> 00:03:25.620
We were watching Back to the Future with the kids, and my husband made me realize that if we went back to 1955 equivalent today, that's 1996.
00:03:25.939 --> 00:03:28.740
And I thought, oh my goodness, so much time has gone past.
00:03:28.900 --> 00:03:32.500
But you've been teaching a long time and your work's evolved over that time.
00:03:32.579 --> 00:03:38.579
And I'm really excited today and interested to kind of hear where has that evolution come from and where is it going?
00:03:38.740 --> 00:03:48.819
But I just wondered, just to start our conversation off today, when you looked at the teacher that you were then and how you started and where you are now, what do you feel is different in you as a teacher?
00:03:49.379 --> 00:04:00.340
I think I'm a lot better at what I do, and not because of the experience that I've had necessarily, but more because of the person that I've become over the last 20-something years.
00:04:00.500 --> 00:04:07.780
So when I started getting into taking workshops and courses, I actually started with personal training and then went into yoga.
00:04:08.019 --> 00:04:09.459
I was very young when I was doing it.
00:04:09.540 --> 00:04:14.980
I wasn't quite sure what I wanted to do with my occupation, but I knew I loved movement and I liked working with people.
00:04:15.220 --> 00:04:17.780
And I was also interested in health and nutrition.
00:04:17.860 --> 00:04:19.459
So this all kind of made sense.
00:04:19.699 --> 00:04:25.540
But at the same time, there were a lot of insecurities, as there should be at like, you know, an 18 and 19-year-old girl.
00:04:25.780 --> 00:04:34.019
So, you know, when I was taking these courses, there was just a lot of, I you know, I hate to use the whole imposter syndrome because I was just young.
00:04:34.180 --> 00:04:37.780
Like I really didn't know who I was and where I wanted to go.
00:04:37.939 --> 00:04:51.699
But what's happened is over years of just growing up and having, you know, amazing friends and a wonderful community and doing the work and being in a profession that I truly love, I have grown as an individual.
00:04:51.939 --> 00:04:56.180
And this has shifted my ability to teach in such a profound way.
00:04:56.500 --> 00:04:58.740
And I didn't even know it at the time.
00:04:58.899 --> 00:05:01.780
I actually only know it now because I look back at it.
00:05:01.939 --> 00:05:07.139
I look back and I know for many years I was teaching from a place of insecurity.
00:05:07.459 --> 00:05:13.620
Going back to, you know, young Courtney, I was, I was hyper-focused on perfectionism.
00:05:13.780 --> 00:05:18.980
And at the time I would say I was judgmental of myself and hyper-critical of myself.
00:05:19.060 --> 00:05:27.780
And this came across in my teaching in a way that I was, instead of being able to connect with other people, I was actually just trying to perform.
00:05:28.259 --> 00:05:30.660
And I felt like I was letting myself down.
00:05:30.819 --> 00:05:32.259
I felt like I was letting others down.
00:05:32.340 --> 00:05:36.019
I felt like I was reaching to a standard that was impossible to reach.
00:05:36.259 --> 00:05:47.540
And what happened is over several years, and again, just growing as an individual, instead of the goal for perfectionism, I started to shift my focus to curiosity.
00:05:47.860 --> 00:05:53.139
And that profoundly changed the way that I connect with people and the way that I show up in my classes.
00:05:53.300 --> 00:05:59.780
So really, like it is a very complex answer because it's not just been my exposure in the industry.
00:05:59.939 --> 00:06:12.020
It hasn't just been all the hats that I've worn in my business, but it's been this more like personal growth journey where I've been able to show up with curiosity, with compassion, with kindness for myself.
00:06:12.180 --> 00:06:15.620
And then that has allowed me to be vulnerable and connect with other people.
00:06:15.860 --> 00:06:18.900
And now when I teach, it's truly joyous.
00:06:18.980 --> 00:06:20.900
You know, I have so much fun when I'm teaching.
00:06:20.980 --> 00:06:22.740
I absolutely love teaching.
00:06:22.980 --> 00:06:26.500
And it's such like an exchange of energy, you know.
00:06:26.660 --> 00:06:32.740
Like there were times in my career where I absolutely felt burnout and wondered, you know, what am I doing?
00:06:32.900 --> 00:06:34.020
Should I continue doing this?
00:06:34.180 --> 00:06:35.780
Should I change career paths?
00:06:36.020 --> 00:06:50.180
And since I have altered the way that I show up in the way that we are clients and I are working together, that this class is just this beautiful, almost just dance of energy back and forth and connections.
00:06:50.420 --> 00:06:53.540
I feel so, so full after teaching.
00:06:53.700 --> 00:06:55.780
I feel so satisfied after teaching.
00:06:55.939 --> 00:07:00.340
After a day of teaching, I don't feel tired anymore or like I've given too much.
00:07:00.420 --> 00:07:03.460
I actually feel filled up, like I've received a lot.
00:07:03.620 --> 00:07:05.700
And it's such a powerful answer, though, Corney.
00:07:05.780 --> 00:07:12.420
And I appreciate you sharing that because the energy of our work is such a we are fundamentally our business's energy.
00:07:12.500 --> 00:07:13.300
That is what we are.
00:07:13.379 --> 00:07:15.780
And the way that we show up is so important.
00:07:16.259 --> 00:07:18.500
I also feel the same, like a day of teaching.
00:07:18.580 --> 00:07:23.460
My husband said, I've never known anyone go to work and come back more energized, but it's only in my days teaching.
00:07:23.620 --> 00:07:25.460
My days in the office is not like that.
00:07:25.700 --> 00:07:26.819
And there is something about that.
00:07:26.900 --> 00:07:40.580
And I'm curious to understand the journey that you went on because I hear from a lot of teachers out there, you know, not just new teachers, that element of feeling the need to perform, feeling an expectation that's on them that maybe isn't on them.
00:07:40.660 --> 00:07:43.780
That's what I'm often saying to me, who's making this expectation on you?
00:07:43.939 --> 00:07:53.060
But I'm curious to understand that journey, what you had to do, or was there a moment that helped you sort of switch things to get you to that place where you are today?
00:07:53.140 --> 00:07:55.620
Because I'm sure people listening, that's what they want.
00:07:55.700 --> 00:07:57.300
That's why we get into this career.
00:07:57.540 --> 00:08:00.500
Yeah, it certainly wasn't an overnight switch that was flipped.
00:08:00.660 --> 00:08:04.259
I think surrounding yourself with incredible people is a huge part of it.
00:08:04.420 --> 00:08:08.740
And so when I got into my Pilates journey, it was extremely isolating.
00:08:08.900 --> 00:08:10.660
And it that wasn't anybody's fault.
00:08:10.819 --> 00:08:15.939
So I lived about two and a half hours away from the certification center where I did my training.
00:08:16.100 --> 00:08:25.300
And so I would drive in, I would, you know, spend weekends, I would drive two and a half hours just to take a, you know, four-hour course and then drive all the way back home.
00:08:25.379 --> 00:08:29.220
And in my hometown, there wasn't anybody who was doing what I was doing.
00:08:29.379 --> 00:08:31.860
So, you know, there was this idea of isolation.
00:08:31.939 --> 00:08:34.980
And in isolation, you you kind of get stuck in your own head.
00:08:35.139 --> 00:08:37.460
And that can go two ways for me, anyways.
00:08:37.620 --> 00:08:46.419
I can either like hype myself up and do incredible things that I look back at now and I'm like, wow, I can't believe that I did that.
00:08:46.740 --> 00:08:48.740
Or I can just talk myself out of it.
00:08:48.819 --> 00:08:56.340
I can be, you know, hyper-critical and get into that perfectionism, procrastination paralysis, right?
00:08:56.419 --> 00:09:10.179
And so when I got out of that isolation, when I, when I started teaching more and connecting with teachers and attending um, because at the time, if you wanted to get your continuing educations, there was one way to do it.
00:09:10.259 --> 00:09:12.259
And that was to go to a conference, right?
00:09:12.340 --> 00:09:15.220
So attending conference, connecting to other people.
00:09:15.379 --> 00:09:22.179
As I started to do that, I did start to realize that I had more alike with all these other teachers than I had dissimilar, right?
00:09:22.259 --> 00:09:26.019
And so that sense of community and unity was really helpful to me.
00:09:26.259 --> 00:09:29.700
A big part of my career was my connection with Pilates anytime.
00:09:30.019 --> 00:09:36.419
So those people, particularly Christy Cooper, are just extraordinary at raising people up.
00:09:36.580 --> 00:09:52.019
I mean, their entire platform is just to share, share Pilates, but also provide a platform for teachers to be able to reach, you know, a broader audience so more people can be helped and healed and their lives can be elevated through what we do.
00:09:52.179 --> 00:10:03.539
And so when I got onto Pilates Anytime, not only was it like this validating support that I got from their team and from Christy particularly, but I started to get feedback from my classes.
00:10:03.860 --> 00:10:10.100
And not all of it was, you know, 100%, but a lot of it that was coming in was I love the way that you're teaching.
00:10:10.179 --> 00:10:12.019
I I didn't even know you could do this.
00:10:12.179 --> 00:10:13.620
I've never thought of something that way.
00:10:13.700 --> 00:10:15.620
Or this is really similar to what I'm doing.
00:10:15.700 --> 00:10:22.500
And to see you do it on this platform is giving me, you know, the validation to continue to teach the way that I'm teaching.
00:10:22.659 --> 00:10:33.940
And so it was sort of through those connections with others that I started to feel like, okay, well, what I'm doing is is helping people and it's making me happy and it's making other people happy.
00:10:34.100 --> 00:10:35.700
I'm going to continue to pursue it.
00:10:35.860 --> 00:10:43.300
So really like just coming out of my shell, connecting with other people, and then starting to get that feedback was a huge turning point as well.
00:10:43.539 --> 00:10:44.659
And I think that's so important.
00:10:44.740 --> 00:10:48.259
And I think this job, even to this day, can still feel a little isolating.
00:10:48.340 --> 00:10:54.100
You know, it's it might be you in a room full of people, but it can just be you, especially if you're teaching on your own or in a home studio.
00:10:54.340 --> 00:11:05.620
I often encourage my students to align to a studio that maybe has, you know, good team morale and they do team trainings and they have mentoring, even if they're only doing a few hours there.
00:11:05.779 --> 00:11:12.580
Just because it for that reason, I think it can be really good to surround yourself with the right kind of people and to not feel on your own.
00:11:12.659 --> 00:11:13.379
And I love the idea.
00:11:13.460 --> 00:11:20.820
I think again, sometimes people aren't really aware of all the continuing education opportunities that we have, the conferences, the courses.
00:11:20.980 --> 00:11:25.220
They're just, you know, that the begin the first certification is just the start, isn't it?
00:11:25.300 --> 00:11:27.300
It's just your entry point, really.
00:11:27.460 --> 00:11:38.980
And I'm curious, Courtney, how you went from that math certification to bringing more of that creativity and your method together and how that came about and where you got the confidence for that.
00:11:39.460 --> 00:11:44.899
Well, I took my math certification prior to doing math, I had my personal training certification.
00:11:45.060 --> 00:11:49.139
I was working in a gym as a personal trainer and I did a yoga certification.
00:11:49.220 --> 00:11:50.820
So I was teaching yoga as well.
00:11:51.060 --> 00:11:57.700
So when I did my mat, it made sense to start to connect some of these dots together.
00:11:58.019 --> 00:12:01.700
And there was not a Pilates studio in my town for me to work in.
00:12:01.779 --> 00:12:09.620
So I started working in gyms and I had to pitch this concept of a Pilates class to a gym owner, and they were like, What are you talking about?
00:12:09.860 --> 00:12:15.940
I mean, I remember at this moment where I had, I don't know, had to had, I mean, you know, when you remember something and it seems so much bigger.
00:12:16.100 --> 00:12:23.539
So maybe there's only five people in the class, but in my mind, there was like 25 people and I was trying to teach them rolling like a ball.
00:12:23.700 --> 00:12:25.539
And it was just insanity, right?
00:12:25.620 --> 00:12:30.820
Like, because I did my training and there were so many rules and regulations.
00:12:30.899 --> 00:12:32.180
Like I came out of my training.
00:12:32.340 --> 00:12:34.659
If you can't do it right, you shouldn't do it at all, basically.
00:12:34.740 --> 00:12:36.259
It was it was this harsh line.
00:12:36.340 --> 00:12:42.019
And so rolling like a ball, if you roll too far and you roll onto your neck and you're not breathing properly, you're doing it wrong.
00:12:42.100 --> 00:12:47.300
And I remember looking around the room and thinking, like, this is such a momentum-based dynamic movement.
00:12:47.379 --> 00:12:49.139
I can't even stop these people.
00:12:49.300 --> 00:12:51.700
They're just all rolling around everywhere.
00:12:51.940 --> 00:12:59.139
And I laughed because that was a very critical moment in my career because I was like, I don't need to stop these people.
00:12:59.300 --> 00:13:00.100
They're fine.
00:13:00.259 --> 00:13:01.779
They're having a blast.
00:13:01.940 --> 00:13:04.899
Like, Lord, they're laughing, they're trying their best.
00:13:05.060 --> 00:13:06.259
We're all having a good time.
00:13:06.420 --> 00:13:12.420
And it was that epiphany that I was like, we have to expose people to this work if they're gonna continue to evolve on it.
00:13:12.659 --> 00:13:16.580
They're not gonna go from where they are now to advance clients in the work.
00:13:16.740 --> 00:13:19.940
So that kind of lit like a light in my head, an idea.
00:13:20.019 --> 00:13:25.539
I'm like, okay, how can we, how can we make this exercise more palatable?
00:13:25.700 --> 00:13:27.060
How can we digress a little bit?
00:13:27.139 --> 00:13:34.500
And so I started to do more preparatory moves and fusing moves that they already knew from the gym so that some of these concepts made sense.
00:13:34.659 --> 00:13:49.379
And that unlocked, you know, a much bigger path for me when I started to do all of my apparatus courses and looking at, okay, what are these other modalities that I've been working with and teaching that I could pull from?
00:13:49.700 --> 00:13:53.379
And at the end of the day, it wasn't just about helping my clients.
00:13:53.539 --> 00:13:55.220
I'm a curious and creative person.
00:13:55.379 --> 00:14:03.139
And so it was really exciting to be able to develop some of these new flows, these new sequences and these new exercises.
00:14:03.379 --> 00:14:10.340
I will say though, my creativity has always been rooted in this concept of how can we solve problems?
00:14:10.500 --> 00:14:15.379
Like in that Matt gym class where people were rolling around like crazy.
00:14:15.860 --> 00:14:18.580
It was like little Mexican, what are the little Mexican jumping beans?
00:14:18.659 --> 00:14:21.139
Like it was just like, I was like, what's happening?
00:14:21.779 --> 00:14:26.580
The idea was I need to come up with solutions to solve a problem.
00:14:26.740 --> 00:14:28.180
And I continue to do that.
00:14:28.259 --> 00:14:30.899
And that's where a lot of my creative juice comes from.
00:14:31.060 --> 00:14:34.100
So if somebody were to ask me, well, why are you doing this exercise?
00:14:34.259 --> 00:14:38.500
Which I do get asked a lot, especially on platforms like Instagram, like, what's the purpose of this?
00:14:38.740 --> 00:14:43.220
I can tell you exactly what the purpose is and why I'm doing it and where I want to go with it.
00:14:43.379 --> 00:14:48.340
So it really came from my background and other modalities, my curiosity.
00:14:48.500 --> 00:14:54.180
And I like was working real time with clients as a full-time job right from the beginning.
00:14:54.420 --> 00:14:59.860
You know, I didn't dip a toe in, I dove straight into teaching Pilates.
00:15:00.019 --> 00:15:03.779
And so I was doing it 20 to 35 hours a week.
00:15:04.019 --> 00:15:06.500
And the formula just sort of evolved.
00:15:06.659 --> 00:15:16.100
And then when others caught wind that I had this unique approach, the demand for me to share that with other teachers started to grow.
00:15:16.259 --> 00:15:20.340
And that's when I started traveling to teach my workshops.
00:15:20.580 --> 00:15:22.659
And that was an incredible part of my life.
00:15:22.820 --> 00:15:25.139
So I didn't work for any organization.
00:15:25.379 --> 00:15:28.340
I didn't represent anybody other than myself.
00:15:28.659 --> 00:15:32.259
My courses were not counted as CECs.
00:15:32.340 --> 00:15:37.460
I did at some point work with the PMA to get my course accredited through their system.
00:15:38.100 --> 00:15:40.180
But uh people just wanted to learn.
00:15:40.340 --> 00:15:42.420
They didn't care about the CEC component.
00:15:42.580 --> 00:15:43.539
They wanted to learn.
00:15:43.620 --> 00:15:49.700
And I also think, too, that my voice has always been pretty authentic in this industry.
00:15:49.860 --> 00:15:52.340
Like, you know, what is the problem?
00:15:52.500 --> 00:15:53.379
How can we solve it?
00:15:53.539 --> 00:15:54.820
What are we trying to do?
00:15:55.060 --> 00:15:56.500
And we would get together.
00:15:56.659 --> 00:16:05.700
I would have these workshops where they were anywhere from two to four days, and we would have anywhere from 15 to 40 people in the courses.
00:16:05.860 --> 00:16:10.980
And I would just start to teach this formula, this fusion formula that I evolved over the years.
00:16:11.300 --> 00:16:12.659
And it's super cool.
00:16:12.820 --> 00:16:19.460
And what's really cool now is I see a lot of how that work has influenced and shaped some of modern Pilates today.
00:16:19.539 --> 00:16:22.580
And I think that's that's such a cool thing.
00:16:23.300 --> 00:16:25.139
And you do see more of that today.
00:16:25.220 --> 00:16:32.980
And I'm I'm curious to explore that with you, Courtney, because you're really known, as you said, for creative athletic programming.
00:16:33.620 --> 00:16:41.539
But what I see, and I've done lots of your classes, is you can see it underpinned with what I feel is Pilates, but you've fused in some other things.
00:16:41.620 --> 00:16:47.060
But underneath it, what you absolutely see is, as you said, is the everything has a purpose.
00:16:47.139 --> 00:16:48.899
It's not just there for a performance.
00:16:49.060 --> 00:16:54.019
It's interesting that you reflected earlier on that you that felt like a lot of pressure in your early days.
00:16:54.259 --> 00:17:03.220
What I get as every now and again I run an episode where I've usually because I've been left on a solo episode last minute, I say, Hey, send me your Pilates dilemmas.
00:17:03.379 --> 00:17:04.500
And you know what I always get?
00:17:04.579 --> 00:17:15.940
I nearly always get a question that it's around a studio has gone down a very athletic programming, and I'm struggling because I feel that the clients aren't ready for it.
00:17:16.099 --> 00:17:37.059
And I wondered if you have come up against that in your studios, in other teachers that you've had, because what I do see is sometimes this drive towards the creative athletic, but isn't necessarily underpinned with the knowledge that you had, for example, as the personal trainer, as the Pilates teacher who kind of blended them together.
00:17:37.299 --> 00:17:43.139
Do you see that being a challenge from a teaching perspective and from the how you meet your clients with it?
00:17:44.339 --> 00:17:50.099
Well, first of all, I want to say that adding athleticism into your reformer work doesn't necessarily mean it's advanced.
00:17:50.180 --> 00:17:52.659
I mean, a lot of the traditional work is far more advanced.
00:17:52.819 --> 00:17:59.779
It requires far more coordination skills and flexibility and endurance and body awareness and all of those things.
00:17:59.940 --> 00:18:03.539
So you can make an advanced class and not have it be overly complex.
00:18:03.700 --> 00:18:08.740
So I would wonder in the studios that these individuals are working, have they missed that mark?
00:18:08.980 --> 00:18:15.619
Because when I program things, there is, it's not just a backbone in what I believe to be the principles of Pilates.
00:18:16.180 --> 00:18:21.379
You know, I was very interested early on in pursuing physical therapy, becoming a physical therapist.
00:18:21.460 --> 00:18:22.740
And I didn't go down that path.
00:18:22.899 --> 00:18:24.019
Maybe one day I will.
00:18:24.180 --> 00:18:28.980
But the idea of alignment and biomechanics is just fascinating to me.
00:18:29.059 --> 00:18:39.220
So I've done my own, you know, research and I try to create movements that have strong foundations, that have, you know, purposeful outcomes.
00:18:39.379 --> 00:18:45.379
And I I also am aware because I teach in a group environment, that there's a risk versus reward factor.
00:18:45.539 --> 00:18:48.819
And so when I work with my team, we talk about this a lot.
00:18:49.059 --> 00:18:51.619
And the reward is the essence.
00:18:51.700 --> 00:18:53.460
Like, why are you doing the exercise?
00:18:53.619 --> 00:19:03.460
And the risk is any risk that may, you know, come in between this client actually assimilating, absorbing and gaining the benefit from the exercise.
00:19:03.620 --> 00:19:07.620
And in a group performer environment, the massive risk is falling, right?
00:19:07.779 --> 00:19:16.180
And so when I look at some of these studios that are claiming to have these creative and athletic formulas, which again is a huge, you know, I I love that.
00:19:16.259 --> 00:19:17.700
That's that's my wheelhouse.
00:19:17.860 --> 00:19:34.339
But I see that there's a high level of risk in these exercises, I wonder if the programming has really been thought out because we can have these athletic layers built in without having high complexity, without having bizarre coordination, without having risk of falling.
00:19:34.500 --> 00:19:36.579
And I think that that needs to be discussed.
00:19:36.660 --> 00:19:49.059
And if I worked with an organization that was pushing me to do things that I felt were not sound for the clients or not something that was actually possible for me to teach safely in my class, I would challenge that.
00:19:49.220 --> 00:19:56.339
I would actually love, you know, an instructor to challenge me on my programming because that tells me they're using their critical thinking skills.
00:19:56.500 --> 00:19:57.779
And that is so important for me.
00:19:57.860 --> 00:20:10.099
It's one of the reasons why at Pilates Republic we don't have leveled classes, one, two, three, or even necessarily beginner, intermediate, or advanced, because I want my teachers to be able to teach the people who are in the room.
00:20:10.259 --> 00:20:13.140
So I know it's a long answer, but it's multi-layered.
00:20:13.220 --> 00:20:14.900
So what kind of direction are they getting?
00:20:15.059 --> 00:20:16.180
I would question that.
00:20:16.339 --> 00:20:22.819
And then you could also go so far to say, what kind of support and training is this studio owner providing to their staff?
00:20:22.900 --> 00:20:34.900
If a staff member is coming to them and saying, I'm not comfortable with this formula, with this format, these exercises, then it's really their employer's role to support them, give them the training and give them the tools.
00:20:35.059 --> 00:20:40.019
At my studios, we go through a lengthy onboarding before you even start working with me.
00:20:40.180 --> 00:20:42.579
And then we do twice a month workshops.
00:20:42.740 --> 00:20:55.860
And I also have a team of senior teachers who are mentors who audit and do one-on-one sessions with teachers regularly because of the reason we talked about earlier that this this profession can feel very isolating.
00:20:55.940 --> 00:21:00.900
So we have to work hard to stay connected and continue to work on those relationships.
00:21:01.059 --> 00:21:12.740
But I think that's an easy solve for that particular person, is question, you know, the exercise choices and the support that I'm getting and what is the outcome that this studio owner is looking for.
00:21:13.059 --> 00:21:16.339
And I appreciate you giving that because I think I hear it a lot.
00:21:16.500 --> 00:21:29.299
And I know that there'll be other people who will really value that idea and understanding is it the methodology that needs looking at, perhaps in that studio, or is it the your knowledge of the methodology, or is it just the support that you need?
00:21:29.460 --> 00:21:39.460
So I think I think it makes sense because I wondered if you're seeing, Courtney, that real drive at the moment in the Pilates world to make everything more creative, more athletic.
00:21:39.779 --> 00:21:45.220
And if that's a good thing, do I mean it's like you said, it's your thing, but that's what that's what I would say.
00:21:45.380 --> 00:21:52.180
Most studios opening are going more that route than maybe more of the not necessarily classical but traditional route.
00:21:52.259 --> 00:21:53.059
Is that what you're seeing?
00:21:53.140 --> 00:22:00.099
I always think in America, you guys have been ahead of the curve in terms of these booms for you know longer than us here in the UK and in Europe.
00:22:00.900 --> 00:22:03.539
I mean, I would I would respectfully disagree.
00:22:03.700 --> 00:22:05.140
I think Australia is ahead of it.
00:22:05.220 --> 00:22:08.420
I think if you want to look at where the Pilates world is going, look at Australia.
00:22:08.660 --> 00:22:14.819
But, you know, I believe that two things can be true at the same time, that there's two truths and sometimes more.
00:22:14.980 --> 00:22:19.380
And in this situation, I think that the athletic approach is a great approach.
00:22:19.460 --> 00:22:24.420
It's going to attract a certain clientele and it's going to achieve certain benefits.
00:22:24.500 --> 00:22:32.180
And I think the traditional approach is equally good and it's going to attract a certain clientele and it's going to yield certain benefits.
00:22:32.339 --> 00:22:34.019
And at my studios, we do both.
00:22:34.180 --> 00:22:36.019
So I don't think you have to choose.
00:22:36.180 --> 00:22:38.819
I, as a client, I don't think you should choose.
00:22:38.900 --> 00:23:00.420
I actually think you should be doing a variety of exercises, including Pilates and other modalities, which is why at my studios, my fat my five um class formats, they actually embody the different modalities that I studied and that I do, which includes fitness and strength training and traditional reformer and yoga and bar and like hit like cardiovascular training.
00:23:00.579 --> 00:23:03.940
So I wanted to build all of that in under one roof.
00:23:04.099 --> 00:23:10.980
But I think if you are in an area where you don't have that available, you should be visiting different studios to get those different things.
00:23:11.140 --> 00:23:16.180
And that might be the answer right there, you know, in just that not one thing is the right answer.
00:23:16.420 --> 00:23:17.460
And I think that's the thing.
00:23:17.539 --> 00:23:23.860
And, you know, I get like lots of comments where people say, You're very open to different styles, Nick.
00:23:24.019 --> 00:23:26.339
And I'm like, why wouldn't I be?
00:23:26.579 --> 00:23:29.059
I love going to studios like yours.
00:23:29.380 --> 00:23:34.900
I I have spent the last year, a bit more than a year now, doing strength training quite seriously.
00:23:35.059 --> 00:23:36.579
I absolutely love it, Courtney.
00:23:36.740 --> 00:23:40.500
And I'm like, I now see more why we could fuse it in.
00:23:40.660 --> 00:23:45.140
I sort of find it interesting in the gym when I'm doing like cable pulls, how it doesn't get any heavier.
00:23:45.220 --> 00:23:47.539
But of course, on the reformer, it gets heavier when you pull.
00:23:47.620 --> 00:23:48.740
And I think, oh, that's interesting.
00:23:48.819 --> 00:23:50.579
And I, you know, I start to understand it more.
00:23:50.660 --> 00:23:56.339
And I think fundamentally, I don't have an issue when things are taught well and for a purpose, and I Actually, I love that you shared that.
00:23:56.579 --> 00:24:00.339
I even in my trainings will say, you know, training the traditional exercises.
00:24:00.500 --> 00:24:01.620
What's the purpose of this?
00:24:01.860 --> 00:24:07.620
It surprises me in interviews how many people qualify don't know the purpose of one of the traditional exercises.
00:24:07.700 --> 00:24:14.579
And I think I recently got asked to write an article, which was quite a you know, big subject about what really is Pilates.
00:24:14.900 --> 00:24:24.019
And my outcome really was it's the ethos that underpins it, which is it was it was designed for a purpose to help someone understand something in their body.
00:24:24.180 --> 00:24:25.940
That's kind of where I got to with it.
00:24:26.099 --> 00:24:31.779
And I actually love that, you know, the way that you shared your methodology is bringing it back to that.
00:24:31.940 --> 00:24:35.220
And so it still can sit within that remit a little bit.
00:24:35.299 --> 00:24:36.420
And I just think it's really interesting.
00:24:36.500 --> 00:24:46.019
I just think it's interesting seeing the the boom that we are going in in different, you know, different countries are kind of getting there and just where that's going.
00:24:46.099 --> 00:24:49.220
And then of course, then you get the pushback of, oh, well, no, that isn't Pilates.
00:24:49.779 --> 00:24:51.700
I just think it's an interesting subject.
00:24:52.019 --> 00:24:56.500
I am not the right person to have the conversation of classical versus contemporary.
00:24:56.740 --> 00:25:02.500
So, you know, there's plenty of people who are who are gonna be a better guest on your show to have that discussion.
00:25:02.660 --> 00:25:05.460
I'm a contemporary teacher, but I also love classical.
00:25:05.620 --> 00:25:08.900
I do take classical sessions with local people here.
00:25:09.220 --> 00:25:14.900
So I, you know, again, I not choosing one lane because I think they're both really great.
00:25:15.059 --> 00:25:18.819
And I think generally speaking, nobody's asking us to choose a lane.
00:25:18.900 --> 00:25:24.980
The conversation is a little bit different, is it if if you're teaching it this way, is it still Pilates kind of thing?
00:25:25.059 --> 00:25:27.220
And I I understand that that's a bigger conversation.
00:25:27.380 --> 00:25:41.059
But I do want to say I think it's kind of funny because the way that we teach, anyways, at least at Pilates Republic, is more similar to the classical approach than a lot of the athletic fusion stuff.
00:25:41.140 --> 00:25:47.779
And it's funny because people will either, you know, land on my Instagram or come across my videos on Pilates anytime.
00:25:47.940 --> 00:25:50.099
And again, most of the comments I get are positive.
00:25:50.259 --> 00:25:54.579
I get a lot of support, but we all have people who want to share their opinion.
00:25:54.740 --> 00:25:58.339
And, you know, it's not always great, nice to hear.
00:25:58.900 --> 00:26:11.940
But I think that there's this like sensitivity around like pulling so far away from the method that it's either dangerous for the clients or it's not effective.
00:26:12.180 --> 00:26:17.140
And I can tell you for certain, our classes at Pledge Republic are not any of those things.
00:26:17.220 --> 00:26:19.299
You know, we use heavy resistance.
00:26:19.620 --> 00:26:24.180
We do not incorporate a lot of pulses and a lot of holds.
00:26:24.420 --> 00:26:28.420
And we also don't incorporate, you know, a lot of additional props.
00:26:28.579 --> 00:26:31.620
When I designed my reformer, it's called the Rebel Reformer.
00:26:31.779 --> 00:26:38.579
I designed it specifically so we could be on the machine using the bells and whistles of the machines and not pulling other things in.
00:26:38.819 --> 00:26:41.220
And again, I have no problems with those other things.
00:26:41.380 --> 00:26:47.779
If you see my classes on Pilates anytime, I'm pulling in all kinds of stuff, weights and resistance bands, and I'm having fun with it.
00:26:47.940 --> 00:26:56.019
But I do, you know, I kind of get a chuckle because these people who are making these comments have never even come into the studio and taken classes with us, you know?
00:26:56.099 --> 00:27:02.259
And I've certainly taken other classes that are much less like Pilates that have that like.
00:27:02.500 --> 00:27:04.420
Well, I've done, listen, I've done lots of your classes.
00:27:04.500 --> 00:27:07.380
You were my like COVID, my COVID teacher.
00:27:07.539 --> 00:27:08.740
I loved your classes.
00:27:08.900 --> 00:27:12.500
When I I basically where I am now recording this, I'm in one of my studios.
00:27:12.579 --> 00:27:13.860
I had a seven-week-old baby.
00:27:13.940 --> 00:27:18.420
We opened a studio, it was mental, and two days later, COVID happened and everything closed.
00:27:18.579 --> 00:27:23.860
But it meant that I kind of had this studio space, and my landlord was, I think, probably helped by the fact I had a small baby.
00:27:23.940 --> 00:27:26.339
My landlord was like, should we just pretend you didn't move in?
00:27:26.420 --> 00:27:27.539
So that's what saved me.
00:27:27.620 --> 00:27:39.539
But it meant I had this space, and I remember going in, Courtney, and we had, you know, I sort of had no time because I had small babies, but I had time in a sense, and I remember thinking, I'm just going to explore different teachers.
00:27:39.700 --> 00:27:41.620
And I loved your classes, by the way.
00:27:41.700 --> 00:27:42.819
I absolutely loved them.
00:27:43.059 --> 00:27:52.019
I loved that, you know, they were playful and fun, and but they some if I'm honest, sometimes I do classes and they're and I think that this comes from in my personal experiences.
00:27:52.339 --> 00:27:54.900
They're sort of athletic because you can't do them.
00:27:55.140 --> 00:28:04.420
And then just think, and it's I have a lot, I've had a lot of chronic pain in my life, and sometimes I think you're just pushing me, and it's just hard for the sake of being hard or light or heavy for the sake of being heavy or light.
00:28:04.579 --> 00:28:06.819
And I didn't feel like that, any of that from your classes.
00:28:07.059 --> 00:28:08.900
Really honestly, I felt I enjoyed it.
00:28:08.980 --> 00:28:09.380
It was fun.
00:28:09.460 --> 00:28:12.180
I did your whole heart series and played with the different ones.
00:28:12.259 --> 00:28:16.660
And I remember then when we reopened our studios, actually, I was really inspired by it.
00:28:16.819 --> 00:28:18.180
I thought, you know what?
00:28:18.339 --> 00:28:22.579
I feel like our classes, when we come back, they could just have a bit more lightness to them.
00:28:22.660 --> 00:28:24.019
We don't need to be so serious.
00:28:24.180 --> 00:28:26.980
My first studio is quite a rehab-heavy studio.
00:28:27.140 --> 00:28:30.579
We do a lot of private works there, and this studio was my second studio.
00:28:30.740 --> 00:28:49.299
And I did just think, you know, and actually, I'm in the process at the moment of looking at some new class formats and thinking, you know, a bit like yourself, my class formats have been really formed out of my own personal journey of, you know, initially quite a lot of burnout and how the restorative nature of Pilates really calmed my nervous system.
00:28:49.460 --> 00:28:52.099
And we've just launched uh an unravel class.
00:28:52.180 --> 00:28:56.819
It's almost like a yin yoga type reformer class, which people are really, I know you have something similar actually, don't you?
00:28:56.900 --> 00:28:57.299
I think.
00:28:57.460 --> 00:28:59.299
And now we're actually looking at a strength format.
00:28:59.380 --> 00:29:00.420
So I totally understand that.
00:29:00.500 --> 00:29:03.539
And I think I'm I'm, you know, I'm not here to also have the argument.
00:29:03.700 --> 00:29:06.500
People get very cross about the classical versus contemporary.
00:29:06.660 --> 00:29:09.860
I just think done well or movement is good.
00:29:10.019 --> 00:29:11.140
That's my personal view.
00:29:11.299 --> 00:29:12.740
And I think that's what I have always seen.
00:29:12.819 --> 00:29:18.099
When I was in LA recently, I was trying to work out if I could come to your studios, but it was a bit far away for me.
00:29:18.259 --> 00:29:19.380
But I just think it's interesting.
00:29:19.460 --> 00:29:22.660
And I'm interested, Courtney, to talk about your studios.
00:29:22.819 --> 00:29:26.339
When did they come along in your journey of being a teacher?
00:29:26.740 --> 00:29:28.180
Well, you mentioned COVID.
00:29:28.420 --> 00:29:30.660
We opened right before COVID.
00:29:30.819 --> 00:29:36.180
So I, if we rewind, I did my math certification in 2001.
00:29:36.339 --> 00:29:37.220
I had my hustle.
00:29:37.299 --> 00:29:38.339
I was teaching in gyms.
00:29:38.420 --> 00:29:45.220
I had some epiphanies that I'm gonna need to adapt this work a little bit in order to work with this population.
00:29:45.539 --> 00:29:47.940
I continue to take my courses through STOT.
00:29:48.420 --> 00:29:54.259
I started with the reformer and then I did the full comprehensive course.
00:29:54.420 --> 00:29:59.700
And I joke because I really only did everything because I was terrified of testing out.
00:29:59.860 --> 00:30:01.460
I knew I was gonna fail the test.
00:30:01.620 --> 00:30:05.380
I don't test well, I get too anxious, I put too much pressure on myself.
00:30:05.539 --> 00:30:12.579
And so STOT had this thing where if I took another program within six months of my previous program, I could prolong the test.
00:30:12.740 --> 00:30:18.180
So, like four years later, I took every workshop, everything they could offer.
00:30:18.259 --> 00:30:22.420
And then there was like nothing less left, and they're like, Courtney, you have to test out.
00:30:22.819 --> 00:30:32.259
And so I had all of these tools in my toolbox, but not necessarily the experience and the confidence to use them.
00:30:32.500 --> 00:30:34.339
So I just started teaching.
00:30:34.500 --> 00:30:37.460
I started, uh, I had moved a couple of times within this journey.
00:30:37.539 --> 00:30:39.140
And so I started teaching at studios.
00:30:39.700 --> 00:30:43.140
And who you're working with is so important.
00:30:43.299 --> 00:30:48.259
I've had in uh owners that have been very supportive, and I've had owners that have been the complete opposite.
00:30:48.420 --> 00:31:01.220
So if you're a newer teacher and you are starting to build the confidence and get your experience, who you're working for and who you're working with should be a really important decision that you make because that can shape what type of teacher you grow into.
00:31:01.620 --> 00:31:03.539
And then things changed in life.
00:31:03.620 --> 00:31:08.660
And like I said, I ended up teaching these courses and I was traveling the world and I would do that forever.
00:31:08.740 --> 00:31:09.940
I mean, it was so much fun.
00:31:10.019 --> 00:31:15.140
I got to connect with the most amazing people and just have all these adventures.
00:31:15.299 --> 00:31:18.740
And I continued to do that until my son was two.
00:31:19.140 --> 00:31:23.539
So it things shifted a little bit when I had to, you know, fly him all around the world.
00:31:23.620 --> 00:31:30.740
I remember we were coming back from like Abu Dhabi, and my son was maybe around one, 14 months.
00:31:30.980 --> 00:31:34.579
And and somebody had said, like, oh, is this, you know, is this his first flight?
00:31:34.740 --> 00:31:36.900
And I was like, no, he's been like on 50.
00:31:36.980 --> 00:31:38.900
Like we go everywhere together.
00:31:39.220 --> 00:31:40.740
And and it was great.
00:31:40.900 --> 00:31:46.500
I mean, I'm sure he has the immune system as an of an as an army tank because he's literally traveled the world.
00:31:46.819 --> 00:31:55.620
But it, you know, there came a point where I needed a little bit more connection into my community, consistency in my routine, and I wanted to build something locally.
00:31:55.779 --> 00:32:00.740
So when he was around two, is when I opened the first Pilates Republic location.
00:32:00.900 --> 00:32:16.180
And that had its own journey as well, deciding where I was gonna open and building out my own equipment and finding and training my team and figuring out how to run a business as a new mom all before COVID hit.
00:32:16.339 --> 00:32:19.700
So we were open, we were open longer than you.
00:32:19.860 --> 00:32:23.860
So we technically opened in September 2018.
00:32:24.099 --> 00:32:27.460
Except again, here's like Courtney being a big scaredy cat.
00:32:27.700 --> 00:32:36.339
I didn't charge anything for at least the first like three weeks because I thought if I don't charge anything and I just offer free Pilates, then nobody can be disappointed.
00:32:36.579 --> 00:32:39.460
And so officially we opened in October.
00:32:39.620 --> 00:32:42.740
And so we were open, you know, maybe a year and a half before COVID hit.
00:32:42.900 --> 00:32:46.180
And we certainly had a roller coaster ride just like everybody else.
00:32:46.259 --> 00:32:52.500
But during that time, similar to your story, Nick, I had a, you know, a really great landlord experience.
00:32:52.740 --> 00:32:55.539
And it allowed me to move one of my locations.
00:32:55.700 --> 00:33:03.140
And we, meaning my son and I, moved into a space where the studio was below and we lived above during COVID.
00:33:03.220 --> 00:33:06.900
And we had these big uh roll-up garage doors, and it was awesome.
00:33:07.059 --> 00:33:08.579
Like that was so cool.
00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:15.620
And then during that time, I was able to expand to another location, and we've just been on this path of slowly growing.
00:33:15.779 --> 00:33:23.220
I I only want to grow as quickly as I have incredible people who can, you know, teach at the studios.
00:33:23.380 --> 00:33:31.620
I only want to grow into certain areas that I know are gonna meet the brand standards, and I'm not in a rush to do it.
00:33:31.779 --> 00:33:38.259
I've been involved with other organizations whose priorities are to grow very quickly and I've seen what can happen.
00:33:38.339 --> 00:33:45.860
And so I'm much more aware and I would even say protective of my own brand and how we're growing and scaling.
00:33:46.019 --> 00:33:48.259
I've got four studios open right now.
00:33:48.500 --> 00:33:54.259
I've got one that will open in the next three months, and I've got about three more in this area that I'll be opening.
00:33:54.579 --> 00:34:02.259
So when, you know, it's all said and done, we'll probably end up around 10 locations and about 10 years to get there.
00:34:02.740 --> 00:34:14.259
And I I I think that's I always think that's a sensible methodology, isn't it, to take your time because the qu having the quality and the right team that are there, that's so important.
00:34:14.420 --> 00:34:22.019
I'm curious to understand what your process is around how you find those people, how you train those people, how you can trust those people.
00:34:22.099 --> 00:34:24.179
You know, 10 locations is a lot.
00:34:24.579 --> 00:34:26.179
It is, and we're not there yet.
00:34:26.420 --> 00:34:31.539
I will say, like, I've learned, you asked me in the beginning of this conversation, you know, how I've changed.
00:34:31.699 --> 00:34:38.980
I've learned a lot about myself because I've put myself in a lot of uncomfortable situations and I continue to do that.
00:34:39.059 --> 00:34:45.779
And so I learn from my mistakes, yes, but I also learn who I am, what's important to me, what drives me.
00:34:45.940 --> 00:34:49.619
And I'm a huge proponent of this concept of, you know, fear and love.
00:34:49.699 --> 00:34:54.420
Like if I'm afraid of losing something, then that thing's really, really important to me.
00:34:54.500 --> 00:34:57.219
And I need to work on protecting that, right?
00:34:57.460 --> 00:35:04.739
And then as far as love goes, the decisions that I make for my business are based on just truly positivity.
00:35:04.900 --> 00:35:07.860
It's not out of scarcity, it's not out of competition.
00:35:07.940 --> 00:35:14.179
It's just what is it, you know, that's important to me that I want to bring to this industry, to my community.
00:35:14.500 --> 00:35:20.420
But as far as our growth goes, I will say personally, I kind of have two speeds.
00:35:20.579 --> 00:35:26.019
I either have this like fired up entrepreneur, like, let's go.
00:35:26.179 --> 00:35:27.539
We, you know, I'm so excited.
00:35:27.619 --> 00:35:33.860
I like literally can't sleep at night, or I get into the, you know, uh procrastination.
00:35:34.019 --> 00:35:39.219
So I, you know, I just want to say for those people who are out there who are growing their businesses, it isn't a linear path.
00:35:39.380 --> 00:35:42.819
I'm not taking 10 steps every day to get to my goals.
00:35:42.980 --> 00:35:48.500
Sometimes I sprint and then other times, you know, I do nothing for what feels like a year.
00:35:48.819 --> 00:35:53.539
But as far as the training goes, I believe in finding exceptional people.
00:35:53.860 --> 00:36:02.900
Because my background is Pilates education, it is far less important to me what certification you come to me if you want to work for Pilates Republic.
00:36:03.059 --> 00:36:14.740
It is so much more important that you're excited about the brand, that you are excited about getting into this industry, that you've got goals and aspirations and you want to work with us to get there.
00:36:14.980 --> 00:36:19.619
Somebody who has those kinds of qualities, I can train them how to teach Pilates.
00:36:19.940 --> 00:36:23.940
And the majority of the people who work at my studios are graduates of my program.
00:36:24.099 --> 00:36:26.579
And it has been extremely successful.
00:36:26.900 --> 00:36:32.740
Because I opened my first location in 2018 and I was there teaching a lot.
00:36:33.059 --> 00:36:39.380
I have developed really great relationships with like this core group of clients who are now like my spies.
00:36:40.019 --> 00:36:43.300
I have the I don't ask them to spy, but they do.
00:36:43.460 --> 00:36:50.900
So they'll go take classes and then they'll text me and they'll be like, Courtney, I took so-and-so's class and it was so good, you know?
00:36:50.980 --> 00:36:52.980
And they and they used to be surprised.
00:36:53.059 --> 00:36:58.659
They used to be like, it was it was so good, and she's new on the schedule and she's and I'm like, of course she's good.
00:36:58.740 --> 00:37:08.340
We wouldn't put her on the schedule if she's good, but you know, we've built that trust with our clients now that they know if someone's gone through our training and we put them on the schedule, yeah, you're gonna have the best Pilates class of your life.
00:37:08.500 --> 00:37:10.340
Like it's it's gonna be amazing.
00:37:10.500 --> 00:37:15.300
And so fine-tuning that training and it's not just initial training, as you know.
00:37:15.460 --> 00:37:19.619
I and I love that you said you shared that, even your onboarding process and the ongoing training.
00:37:19.780 --> 00:37:20.900
It's so important.
00:37:21.059 --> 00:37:23.539
And I think it is often missing.
00:37:23.699 --> 00:37:38.340
It's something that I talk about a lot on the podcast, is I think as studio owners, we have to do a better job of not poo-pooing the trainings that are out there, but saying it's all right, you've done your training, you've got a certificate, come in now and let's look after you and let's support you.
00:37:38.500 --> 00:37:41.780
So it sounds like that's a big part of how you run your studios.
00:37:42.019 --> 00:37:44.179
Well, you talk to a lot of instructors.
00:37:44.260 --> 00:37:48.019
And so when you talk to instructors, I'm sure you hear the same things that I was hearing.
00:37:48.179 --> 00:37:50.340
Instructors felt under-supported.
00:37:50.500 --> 00:37:54.740
They felt isolated, they felt like they didn't have opportunities for growth.
00:37:54.980 --> 00:37:59.380
They felt like the culture, the community in their working environment didn't meet their expectations.
00:37:59.539 --> 00:38:05.139
Like I heard the same stories that you did of people coming in, talking to me, wanting to interview to work for my business.
00:38:05.300 --> 00:38:08.019
I also heard the same things when I traveled globally.
00:38:08.099 --> 00:38:14.500
So when I traveled to teach my workshops, ideally, like the perfect scenario is I would stay with you in your home.
00:38:14.659 --> 00:38:18.740
You're my host, I would stay with you, and then I would teach four days in your studio.
00:38:18.820 --> 00:38:29.460
And I loved that because that opportunity to be with you in your home, eating dinner with your family, gave me so much exposure and feedback of what you're experiencing, what you're experiencing.
00:38:29.539 --> 00:38:33.380
And I started to see there is a very common thread going through this industry.
00:38:33.619 --> 00:38:40.340
And so when I built Pilates Republic, it certainly isn't perfect, but I was aware that I wanted to fill some of these gaps.
00:38:40.579 --> 00:38:49.860
And so, you know, when we we're doing a better job now than we were when we first opened, but it's like we're almost making these things mandatory for our teachers.
00:38:49.940 --> 00:38:54.659
And at the end of the day, it is creating more satisfaction in their workplace.
00:38:54.900 --> 00:39:05.780
So what I mean by that is I would maybe earlier in in my um in having the studio, I would mention, oh, I'll be in the studio at this time or teaching this class.
00:39:05.940 --> 00:39:12.579
If you want to take a class, come on in and take a class with me and and we'll get, we'll hang out, we'll get some time together.
00:39:12.820 --> 00:39:21.780
And, you know, it's hard, I think, for people sometimes to understand that making those steps will lead to satisfaction in their job.
00:39:21.940 --> 00:39:32.659
And so what we shifted a little bit was instead of it being an option, it's we have these meetings and they're twice a month, and you have to come to one of them.
00:39:32.980 --> 00:39:36.019
And it's your responsibility to come to one of them.
00:39:36.099 --> 00:39:38.980
It's also your responsibility to take classes regularly.
00:39:39.219 --> 00:39:50.260
And what started to happen is when I when I created more accountability for my team to show up to some of these training dates, everybody became more connected.
00:39:50.420 --> 00:39:52.740
Everyone felt like they were getting more from their job.
00:39:52.980 --> 00:40:02.659
So I suppose what I'm trying to say is from an employer's perspective, offering these things is one thing, but like holding your team accountable to actually doing them is another.
00:40:02.820 --> 00:40:07.619
And that isn't you micromanaging, and it isn't you be coming down on them and being a harsh employer.
00:40:07.780 --> 00:40:15.780
It's saying, like, I have the experience to know that if you go months without taking this workshop, you're gonna feel isolated and dissatisfied and burnt out.
00:40:15.940 --> 00:40:17.300
So you gotta come.
00:40:17.860 --> 00:40:23.460
And I definitely think this is something studio owners listening here over and over again is exactly that.
00:40:23.539 --> 00:40:29.860
I know the amount of times I've put trainings on, and it's the people who come are the teachers who A, are actually doing really well.
00:40:30.019 --> 00:40:34.099
They love their job, they're but they're the people who always come, and that's your point, actually.
00:40:34.340 --> 00:40:37.619
And the people who don't are, well, a mix of people.
00:40:37.699 --> 00:40:42.980
Sometimes they're the people who are, you know, now doing a few hours of Pilates teaching a week alongside their other job.
00:40:43.139 --> 00:40:50.500
And and whilst I absolutely respect that they're like, I have a full-time job, I'm doing three hours, and you know, this is my side hustle.
00:40:50.579 --> 00:41:00.260
But to your point, you're not gonna enjoy it as much, you're not gonna get as much out of it, you're not gonna feel as fulfilled, and therefore your classes are probably not as busy.
00:41:00.420 --> 00:41:08.579
Because I think it's there's something, and we talked right at the beginning of our conversation about this is a business of energy, and you have to, the energy that you show up with is really important.
00:41:08.740 --> 00:41:10.019
So I think that's really interesting.
00:41:10.179 --> 00:41:16.659
I wonder, Courtney, what's driving you to multiple studios and what's how do you find locations?
00:41:16.820 --> 00:41:18.659
How do you decide where you're gonna put a studio?
00:41:18.740 --> 00:41:20.260
Because I think that's hard.
00:41:20.820 --> 00:41:28.179
Well, I am excited to open multiple studios because I have this incredible team that I trust wholeheartedly.
00:41:28.420 --> 00:41:31.699
And they are looking for more employment opportunities.
00:41:32.019 --> 00:41:43.780
And we have figured out this formula through our training, through our support, through our hiring where we can scale and continue to offer amazing Pilates classes to our community.
00:41:43.860 --> 00:41:45.539
So why would we stop at one?
00:41:45.780 --> 00:41:48.420
As I grow, again, I'm an owner operator.
00:41:48.500 --> 00:41:50.740
So I'm involved in all aspects of my business.
00:41:50.820 --> 00:41:57.780
So it isn't like, you know, I'm an investor who's throwing this money and saying, let's open 17 stores in the next six months.
00:41:58.019 --> 00:42:01.940
So I'm growing with my team, and that is an exciting thing to me.
00:42:02.019 --> 00:42:08.980
As I continue in my profession, I'm learning new things, I'm wearing new hats, I'm developing new skills.
00:42:09.059 --> 00:42:14.500
And as we continue to scale, that is, those are all growth opportunities for me as a professional in the industry.
00:42:14.740 --> 00:42:21.059
When I'm looking for locations, I wish I could say I have some sophisticated method that's gonna excite everybody.
00:42:21.380 --> 00:42:22.420
It it isn't.
00:42:22.500 --> 00:42:25.619
So, first of all, my first location was really close to where I lived.
00:42:25.699 --> 00:42:27.300
So that was, you know, yeah.
00:42:27.380 --> 00:42:28.500
So I had to do that.
00:42:28.659 --> 00:42:31.059
And then I looked at where my clients are coming from.
00:42:31.219 --> 00:42:32.659
And so that made sense to me.
00:42:32.740 --> 00:42:38.420
And I have opened a variety of different locations, meaning some have been first generation spaces.
00:42:38.500 --> 00:42:40.820
So they're new construction, they were nothing before.
00:42:40.980 --> 00:42:42.980
Others are second generation spaces.
00:42:43.139 --> 00:42:53.619
One of my stores used to be a liquor store, and I was certain that when we were tearing down the drywall, that I was gonna find like stacks of money in the walls because there was some shady things happening.
00:42:53.699 --> 00:43:02.579
There was this whole back room, and anyways, so I actually prefer second generation spaces because the build-out is a bit quicker.
00:43:02.820 --> 00:43:08.980
But as I was expanding, I was building out it would have been my third location, and it was just taking forever.
00:43:09.139 --> 00:43:12.500
It was taking like anything that could go wrong was gonna go wrong.
00:43:12.659 --> 00:43:14.420
It ended up costing so much more money.
00:43:14.500 --> 00:43:15.860
It was just such a huge headache.
00:43:15.940 --> 00:43:16.659
It's a great store.
00:43:16.740 --> 00:43:18.179
I'm glad we stuck it through.
00:43:18.420 --> 00:43:25.460
But during that process, I opened a location in between where that store was going to be and where I currently had a location.
00:43:25.539 --> 00:43:26.820
So that made sense, right?
00:43:26.980 --> 00:43:33.539
And that allowed me to open that other location with like 60% occupancy because the clients were using it.
00:43:33.699 --> 00:43:38.900
So I look for this ability for my clients to visit multiple studios.
00:43:39.139 --> 00:43:41.460
So they're actually quite close together then, relatively.
00:43:41.780 --> 00:43:45.059
Yeah, I mean, well, I'm in Southern California, so everyone's driving.
00:43:45.139 --> 00:43:45.460
Yeah.
00:43:45.780 --> 00:43:51.460
And each one is roughly seven to nine miles away from the other.
00:43:51.780 --> 00:43:53.699
And people have asked me, well, how long is that?
00:43:53.860 --> 00:43:55.619
I'm like, there's no way I could tell you.
00:43:55.699 --> 00:43:56.980
Like it depends on traffic.
00:43:57.139 --> 00:44:03.300
But sometimes I can zip from studio to studio in, you know, seven minutes, and other times it's much longer.
00:44:03.460 --> 00:44:05.460
But they are relatively close to each other.
00:44:05.539 --> 00:44:14.260
And this allows for client utilization to be at multiple locations and allows for my staff to sort of have their hubs where they work.
00:44:14.500 --> 00:44:21.059
So as I look to expand, I'm looking for a similar situation in other areas.
00:44:21.219 --> 00:44:31.219
So a cluster of, you know, three or four studios where clients would use those locations and a group of teachers could kind of call that their hub.
00:44:31.460 --> 00:44:37.940
So and I also look for, you know, a synergy in the other businesses that are around.
00:44:38.179 --> 00:44:46.420
So, you know, I'm certain that these high-end grocery stores like Whole Foods are doing far more detailed graphic, demographic research than I'm doing.
00:44:46.500 --> 00:44:48.900
So if it's good enough for them, it's good enough for me.
00:44:49.219 --> 00:44:50.579
That's a good tip, actually.
00:44:50.740 --> 00:44:51.539
It's a good tip.
00:44:51.860 --> 00:44:58.500
Corney, I'd love to talk to you about your teacher training programs and just the various hats that you wear now.
00:44:58.579 --> 00:45:04.659
Because, like you said, you know, you're a teacher yourself, you're a presenter, you're an educator, you're a studio owner.
00:45:04.900 --> 00:45:09.139
What are you seeing that is needed from a Pilates teacher these days?
00:45:09.300 --> 00:45:13.780
What is what are they looking to kind of get out of a program to help them in this world?
00:45:14.099 --> 00:45:17.219
Well, I'll start by talking about our program just briefly.
00:45:17.380 --> 00:45:23.059
As I mentioned in the beginning of the pod, I did a yoga certification and a personal training before doing the Pilates.
00:45:23.460 --> 00:45:31.219
And the Pilates certification that I took, do you remember it is, I believe it's 500 hours, the comprehensive start, but then you have all your add-ons.
00:45:31.300 --> 00:45:34.820
And it was really challenging for me to complete.
00:45:34.980 --> 00:45:36.820
It was challenging because it was really expensive.
00:45:36.980 --> 00:45:40.900
It was challenging because I didn't actually have anywhere to stay in that town.
00:45:40.980 --> 00:45:44.260
So I had to just commute and the amount of time it took.
00:45:44.420 --> 00:45:54.579
And then when I completed the course, this is me personally, I was so overwhelmed with the knowledge that I had that it was really hard for me to go out in the world and apply it because I felt really.
00:45:55.780 --> 00:46:03.219
So when I developed the Pilates Republic teacher training, I developed it more similarly to the yoga 200-hour course.
00:46:03.460 --> 00:46:17.380
And so instead of providing all information that you will ever need to know in your entire career right now before you even start teaching, the idea is I'm going to give you a really good head start on teaching group reformer classes.
00:46:17.539 --> 00:46:22.340
So you can do this post-course and feel really, really confident about your skills.
00:46:22.500 --> 00:46:30.500
And then you can come back to me or you can go to other schools and continue learning and building based on like truly what your passion is.
00:46:30.659 --> 00:46:34.260
But how do you know what your passion is until you at least start teaching?
00:46:34.420 --> 00:46:34.659
Right.
00:46:34.820 --> 00:46:38.980
So like somebody could go into the course thinking that they love the athletic approach.
00:46:39.059 --> 00:46:47.219
And then they go through the programming, they decide working with special populations is far more, you know, satisfying for them and they want to take more courses on that.
00:46:47.380 --> 00:46:52.420
So my approach was, you know, we start somewhere and you start teaching.
00:46:52.579 --> 00:46:54.340
My course has since shifted a little bit.
00:46:54.420 --> 00:46:58.500
It's now 250 hours, but it's the same sort of mentality.
00:46:58.740 --> 00:47:08.340
With that said, I think that you should, you know, be in a program or work with studios that are going to continue to offer you education and tools to grow and develop.
00:47:08.579 --> 00:47:13.940
I think it would be a very disappointing profession if you took your course and you were done.
00:47:14.099 --> 00:47:14.500
That's it.
00:47:14.659 --> 00:47:15.219
I did the thing.
00:47:15.300 --> 00:47:18.260
I checked off the box and I'm complete.
00:47:18.500 --> 00:47:20.659
I think we need to approach this in more of a way.
00:47:20.820 --> 00:47:21.940
I've got to start somewhere.
00:47:22.099 --> 00:47:24.019
I'm going to go out there in the world and work.
00:47:24.179 --> 00:47:30.659
And whether it be every year or every five years or every 20 years, there's like a shedding of your skin.
00:47:30.740 --> 00:47:32.740
There's like a reinventing of yourself.
00:47:32.820 --> 00:47:37.300
And I think a lot of times that has to do with like what is happening in your own personal life.
00:47:37.539 --> 00:47:43.380
You know, when I was wanting to get pregnant, I was probably a lot more interested in the prenatal population.
00:47:43.619 --> 00:47:48.420
Now that I've had a baby, I feel much more passionate about those postnatal people.
00:47:48.500 --> 00:47:49.300
I'm so sorry.
00:47:49.460 --> 00:47:50.820
They were so neglected.
00:47:50.980 --> 00:47:54.900
We all thought that the cute little mamas with the bellies needed all the love and support.
00:47:55.059 --> 00:47:55.699
They're fine.
00:47:55.860 --> 00:47:57.380
You know who needs the love and support?
00:47:57.539 --> 00:48:05.539
It's the moms who like aren't sleeping and their hair is falling out and they're like freaking out and they can't actually get to the studio because of the demands of being a mom.
00:48:05.780 --> 00:48:12.900
So, like, you know, my own personal life has shifted where my passions are and and and the type of population that I want to work with.
00:48:13.059 --> 00:48:15.139
So I think approaching it in that way.
00:48:15.380 --> 00:48:22.659
And if you approach something in the way that you're totally okay with changing it in the future, that takes so much pressure off.
00:48:22.820 --> 00:48:25.699
Like that right there, it's like that takes so much pressure off.
00:48:25.780 --> 00:48:30.980
Like I am open to evolution, adaptation, and I'm just along for the ride.
00:48:31.139 --> 00:48:32.019
You know, that mentality.
00:48:32.260 --> 00:48:34.019
And I think it's really interesting that you shared that.
00:48:34.179 --> 00:48:38.420
I am when I started my teacher training program myself, I had a knee.
00:48:38.579 --> 00:48:40.420
I needed comprehensively trained instructors.
00:48:40.500 --> 00:48:42.340
That's what I needed in for one of my studios.
00:48:42.420 --> 00:48:46.019
So I wrote a year-long comprehensive program.
00:48:46.179 --> 00:48:47.539
And it's been amazing, Courtney.
00:48:47.699 --> 00:48:52.420
Like I would say, the majority of people who've come through it work for us, they are exceptional teachers.
00:48:52.579 --> 00:49:03.380
But to your point, and I really hear it, sometimes what happens is people are almost stalled by the amount of knowledge that they've got, and they don't really know how to necessarily put it into practice.
00:49:03.619 --> 00:49:06.420
So I kept being asked, would I would I write a reformer training?
00:49:06.579 --> 00:49:08.900
And I thought, okay, how can I do it and do it well?
00:49:09.059 --> 00:49:12.260
And I took a very similar approach to what you're talking about.
00:49:12.420 --> 00:49:20.900
And it was interesting to run the course, you know, half as long, and then get to the end of it and think, I mean, there's just so much more I could teach them.
00:49:20.980 --> 00:49:22.579
How are they ever going to get there?
00:49:22.740 --> 00:49:32.740
And we recently just did the first lot of them did their exams, and they were exceptional for that reason where it met them, I think, a bit cleaner with where they were at.
00:49:32.900 --> 00:49:37.460
Now, some people, don't get me wrong, have come into the comprehensive pretty green and have thrived.
00:49:37.619 --> 00:49:39.780
But many people realize this is a lot.
00:49:39.940 --> 00:49:42.980
And I think it's great that you've shared that yours was a lot.
00:49:43.219 --> 00:49:48.019
And you know, you kept you kept doing the courses just to kind of delay the test out because it is a lot.
00:49:48.099 --> 00:49:54.820
And I think it's a nice point to think about just get yourself going and figure out who you are, is a really nice tip.
00:49:54.980 --> 00:50:03.380
And then I really I think you did Stot and I did Polestar, and they're both very big on this learning journey never ends.
00:50:03.460 --> 00:50:06.179
So it's kind of we're taught that from day one.
00:50:06.340 --> 00:50:11.219
And I think some of the new courses that have, you know, because anyone can create a course now, they're not sharing that.
00:50:11.300 --> 00:50:18.900
And I think new teachers are feeling a little bit like, well, I I've got my certificate now, and it's like, no, no, no, this is this is day one.
00:50:19.139 --> 00:50:34.260
And I wondered what you see as a studio owner or even in your trainings, that you see as those gaps that people typically have, not because a course was not good enough, but just because what are the gaps that newly qualified teachers have versus where you need them to be in the studio?
00:50:34.420 --> 00:50:37.539
Like you said, you have a long onboarding process, fundamentally, right?
00:50:37.619 --> 00:50:39.940
That's to cover some of those gaps initially.
00:50:40.179 --> 00:50:40.579
Yeah.
00:50:40.820 --> 00:50:45.380
Well, I want to rewind and I want to say uh something to your point earlier.
00:50:45.460 --> 00:50:57.300
So when I did my STOT training, I was under the impression I was informed that in order for my training to stay current, I had to do these continuing education courses.
00:50:57.619 --> 00:51:01.139
And as a teacher, it was really hard for me to do.
00:51:01.300 --> 00:51:03.219
I didn't have the money to do it.
00:51:03.460 --> 00:51:08.179
I had to sometimes fly somewhere because that's where it was offered.
00:51:08.420 --> 00:51:11.619
And it created, you know, oftentimes a lot of stress.
00:51:11.860 --> 00:51:12.820
How am I gonna do this?
00:51:12.900 --> 00:51:15.619
And the fear that I'm gonna lose my certification if I don't do it.
00:51:15.780 --> 00:51:16.900
I had the same, I had to do that.
00:51:17.059 --> 00:51:29.380
But I do, I want to say, looking back on that, that was a really good thing for me because I I probably would have gotten complacent, you know, and it forced me to do these continued education courses.
00:51:29.539 --> 00:51:33.139
And, you know, yeah, it stressed me out, but I figured it out and I did it.
00:51:33.300 --> 00:51:35.380
So if I could do it, you guys can do it.
00:51:35.460 --> 00:51:38.179
Because I, you know, I was a hot mess in my 20s.
00:51:38.420 --> 00:51:40.420
So you, you guys are fine.
00:51:40.579 --> 00:51:41.300
And you are right.
00:51:41.380 --> 00:51:53.539
Like I think of all that, you know, sometimes I hear myself saying something and and all of that knowledge, you know, yes, knowledge from clients and working with the years, but I often remember, oh, it was I did a course and it was specifically on feet, or I did a course, it was specifically on this.
00:51:53.619 --> 00:51:56.820
And it's what makes this work really interesting, I think.
00:51:57.059 --> 00:51:58.740
I love that we never know it all.
00:51:59.139 --> 00:52:02.980
I love the humbling experience of every training I've ever been on, actually.
00:52:03.219 --> 00:52:03.940
Yeah, yeah.
00:52:04.099 --> 00:52:09.699
And being forced to continue to evolve and learn, like I was forced, you had to do it.
00:52:09.780 --> 00:52:13.940
I was afraid I was gonna lose my cer my certification, and then I would lose my livelihood.
00:52:14.019 --> 00:52:15.460
And so I just did it.
00:52:15.539 --> 00:52:23.219
And it actually, I think, developed really healthy skills for me as a professional to just prioritize continuing education.
00:52:23.539 --> 00:52:31.860
And as a newer teacher, constantly having to go back to my school to take these courses and these like check-ins was really, really healthy.
00:52:32.019 --> 00:52:34.340
When I say constantly, I think we had to do it every two years.
00:52:34.500 --> 00:52:36.659
So it wasn't, you know, insane.
00:52:36.900 --> 00:52:44.019
But when I look at trainings now, courses now, it's a lot of like you do your training, see ya.
00:52:44.340 --> 00:52:44.740
Bye.
00:52:45.300 --> 00:52:46.099
You did it.
00:52:46.340 --> 00:52:48.500
And I think that might be part of the problem.
00:52:48.659 --> 00:52:50.340
I don't know, because I don't know.
00:52:50.500 --> 00:52:54.099
Are they requiring these continuing education credits anymore?
00:52:54.340 --> 00:52:57.219
Are people doing them instead of doing them in person?
00:52:57.380 --> 00:52:59.380
Are they just watching things online?
00:52:59.940 --> 00:53:03.380
Because I do think that can contribute to part of the gaps, right?
00:53:03.539 --> 00:53:08.099
Like I would fly my ass to San Diego to take a course with John Gary.
00:53:08.340 --> 00:53:09.219
Like, he's the go.
00:53:09.539 --> 00:53:24.900
Like the the fact that, like, you know, 20-something-year-old Courtney would do that, like that's so valuable to me as a teacher, as a new teacher, having these mentors and people in person that I'm working with and talking to and having conversations with.
00:53:25.059 --> 00:53:28.740
And, you know, like I'll never forget that.
00:53:28.900 --> 00:53:39.780
And so if you're in a training or you've completed a training and it's been a long period of time before you since you've connected with, you know, some of your educators, it might be time to circle back on that.
00:53:39.860 --> 00:53:52.980
And I don't know if I love the idea of this like pressure, because it did at some point feel a little bit like it was all about the monetization, like, you know, you gotta pay for these CECs, Courtney, otherwise we're gonna take your certificate back.
00:53:53.139 --> 00:54:00.420
But there is a certain value to holding teachers accountable to that continuing education cycle.
00:54:00.659 --> 00:54:01.780
I think it's good for everybody.
00:54:01.940 --> 00:54:06.260
And I've definitely sat with that as a, I'm sure you have as a teacher training provider now.
00:54:06.340 --> 00:54:09.860
It's like, well, you know, how do we then offer something like that?
00:54:10.099 --> 00:54:14.340
Or at least I try at the moment because we're not at a place to be able to offer them so much.
00:54:14.420 --> 00:54:23.219
There's not loads, but to encourage them to go and do, you know, other trainings with other providers and ex I often just share the experience that you've shared.
00:54:23.300 --> 00:54:26.740
Because I had a very similar story to say, it's invaluable.
00:54:26.980 --> 00:54:33.860
Go to London, go and do it's one day, once a year, once every two years, you learn so much from them.
00:54:34.099 --> 00:54:35.699
And do you remember being like scared?
00:54:35.780 --> 00:54:37.139
It's like your first day at school.
00:54:37.300 --> 00:54:38.820
You're like, are these people gonna judge me?
00:54:38.900 --> 00:54:42.179
And then you'll be like, your best outfit, like you wear your best outfit.
00:54:42.500 --> 00:54:46.740
The overthinking of the outfits is insane when it's essentially leggings and a top.
00:54:46.900 --> 00:54:47.380
Yeah.
00:54:47.619 --> 00:54:56.019
So, okay, so as far as gaps go, I think that continued education, not just watching a video and doing credits, but in person with your mentors is really important.
00:54:56.260 --> 00:55:02.579
The other big gap that I identified was that teachers were coming out of programs without any teaching experience at all.
00:55:02.659 --> 00:55:04.340
And that was really tough for me.
00:55:04.420 --> 00:55:07.380
So that's where my anxiety came from.
00:55:07.619 --> 00:55:31.539
I expected myself to be able to perform at this professional level because I had all these knowledge, but what I was missing was the very long road and path from being able to teach a great class to my education, which is just like trial and error, which is just like experience and exposure, which is just like failing and doing it wrong and sounding like an idiot and getting better from it.
00:55:31.619 --> 00:55:31.780
Right.
00:55:31.940 --> 00:55:41.380
And so in our course at Pilates Republic, almost from day one, not day one exactly, because that's scary, but day two, we start doing teaching drills.
00:55:41.460 --> 00:55:44.179
And the idea is like, this is a safe space.
00:55:44.340 --> 00:55:46.179
Let's just get our wiggles out.
00:55:46.340 --> 00:55:50.900
Let's just say weird things and understand that it's totally fine when you do.
00:55:51.139 --> 00:55:53.380
The clients aren't listening to everything you say, anyways.
00:55:53.460 --> 00:55:55.300
I say that a lot to my newer teachers.
00:55:55.380 --> 00:56:01.940
Like, if you're feeling insecure about what you're saying, rest assured that they're at best listening to 50% of what you're saying.
00:56:02.019 --> 00:56:06.019
So if you accidentally say elbow instead of knee, they probably didn't hear it.
00:56:06.260 --> 00:56:15.219
But so we start to get them teaching right away in a really safe environment with a group of peers that they know and they feel comfortable with, with teachers that are there to support them.
00:56:15.460 --> 00:56:23.780
And so by the time they're done the program, they actually one of their evaluation protocols is to teach a 45-minute class.
00:56:23.940 --> 00:56:26.420
And so at the end of the program, they teach a class.
00:56:26.500 --> 00:56:29.860
And that class is not going to be the best class they've ever taught in their life.
00:56:30.019 --> 00:56:32.980
And that's not my expectation as their educator either.
00:56:33.219 --> 00:56:41.619
But I need them to be comfortable enough to start this journey by the time they're done, the lecture hours of my course.
00:56:41.780 --> 00:56:47.219
And if they're too afraid to get up there and just even take that first step, we need to do a little more work together.
00:56:47.460 --> 00:56:48.420
I was reflecting on that.
00:56:48.500 --> 00:56:49.219
We're we're the same.
00:56:49.300 --> 00:56:51.139
We, for me, it's such an important part.
00:56:51.219 --> 00:56:53.460
Let's get them teaching in a safe space together.
00:56:53.699 --> 00:56:55.219
This, I say this is not an exam.
00:56:55.300 --> 00:56:57.780
No one's expecting us to be able to do it perfectly.
00:56:57.940 --> 00:57:00.820
On the comprehensive course, it's a longer course, but it's six weekends.
00:57:00.900 --> 00:57:02.980
And I just this weekend did weekend four.
00:57:03.059 --> 00:57:07.619
I did weekend one, and my colleague did weekend, the the ones in between, and I came back at weekend four.
00:57:07.780 --> 00:57:11.139
Courtney, the quality of the teaching blew me away.
00:57:11.380 --> 00:57:14.740
In my comprehensive, I didn't, I didn't do any teaching.
00:57:14.900 --> 00:57:19.380
I then had months at the end of my course where I still didn't do any teaching because I was absolutely panicked.
00:57:19.460 --> 00:57:23.460
I thought, how can I, you know, so much knowledge, so in-depth, how can I do it?
00:57:23.619 --> 00:57:30.740
And what I see is I'm I'm in the process actually of turning my reformer and math courses into the accreditation.
00:57:30.820 --> 00:57:34.820
I found a way to bring my methodology within the framework we have in the UK.
00:57:35.059 --> 00:57:35.699
Fine.
00:57:36.420 --> 00:57:40.179
The framework does not ask for any teaching at all.
00:57:40.420 --> 00:57:48.900
It just asks for a video at the end, but that doesn't ask for any hours of observation, any hours of practice teaching, any hours of supervised teaching, any mentorship hours.
00:57:48.980 --> 00:57:50.579
Like it doesn't ask for any of those.
00:57:50.740 --> 00:57:52.340
And I can bring them in and that's fine.
00:57:52.420 --> 00:57:59.059
But I think it's really interesting and it I've really reflected on exactly what you've just said that that must be terrifying.
00:57:59.300 --> 00:58:08.099
If I go back to what you said at the beginning of our conversation about that performance, imposter syndrome, anxiety, I can't imagine having anything other than that.
00:58:08.340 --> 00:58:18.099
If I had managed to put a video together fine, and I've done enough practice to do that, but that's quite a stage scenario as a test out to then be being paid.
00:58:18.260 --> 00:58:24.099
And one of my students said, I always think it's quite funny, she said, you know, the Pilates resting face just looks miserable.
00:58:24.340 --> 00:58:29.139
Like your clients look like they're having the worst time because they're so concentrating.
00:58:29.300 --> 00:58:35.619
And if you're nervous and your anxiety and you think they all hate me anyway, and I don't even know why I'm here, like that is a lot.
00:58:35.780 --> 00:58:45.059
So I think like you, I think it's really important to look at teacher trainings that get you teaching practiced in the training, because otherwise it's a lot.
00:58:45.300 --> 00:58:45.460
Yeah.
00:58:45.619 --> 00:58:50.019
One of my very first jobs, I'm Canadian, so I worked at a coffee shop called Tim Hortons.
00:58:50.260 --> 00:58:52.740
All my fellow Canadians will know exactly what that's about.
00:58:52.900 --> 00:58:57.539
But I remember standing behind this counter, and there's always a huge lineup out the door.
00:58:57.619 --> 00:59:02.420
So there's so much pressure to like just make the coffee right and do it fast.
00:59:02.659 --> 00:59:04.740
And I like I couldn't.
00:59:04.820 --> 00:59:10.179
Like it people would say words to me and it just wasn't even, it just did not go into my brain.
00:59:10.260 --> 00:59:14.980
Like your order, you would tell me what you want, and then I would like turn around and make it, and then I would forget.
00:59:15.139 --> 00:59:15.380
Right.
00:59:15.539 --> 00:59:18.420
And so this was maybe my first day or two on the job.
00:59:18.659 --> 00:59:24.019
By maybe my fifth day on the job, I could look down a line of people and say, what do you want?
00:59:24.099 --> 00:59:24.420
What do you want?
00:59:24.500 --> 00:59:24.900
What do you want?
00:59:24.980 --> 00:59:25.300
What do you want?
00:59:25.460 --> 00:59:27.380
Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, make it done.
00:59:27.460 --> 00:59:33.860
And the only way that I could go from where I was to where I needed to be was just doing it.
00:59:34.019 --> 00:59:38.579
And so when I talk to my teachers who are in our teacher training course, you have to do it.
00:59:38.820 --> 00:59:44.740
Thinking about it, writing it, learning it, watching it are pieces of the puzzle.
00:59:44.820 --> 00:59:55.059
But if you're gonna be able to physically like have the neuromuscular coordination to stand up, say the things, look around the room, you have to do it, however uncomfortable it is.
00:59:55.219 --> 00:59:57.139
And I know how uncomfortable it can be.
00:59:57.300 --> 00:59:59.380
So we do, we have them do it.
00:59:59.460 --> 01:00:00.900
And that's I I say the same thing.
01:00:00.980 --> 01:00:09.219
When I come in to the teacher training after another facilitator has managed the group for a few weekends, I am so impressed.
01:00:09.380 --> 01:00:10.340
It is incredible.
01:00:10.420 --> 01:00:13.619
And I often let them know like this is extraordinary.
01:00:13.780 --> 01:00:18.019
Like this growth that I've seen is, you should be so proud of it.
01:00:18.099 --> 01:00:20.420
And it's because they're actually doing it.
01:00:20.659 --> 01:00:26.420
I also want to say, in order to put yourself in that position, you have to be compassionate.
01:00:26.500 --> 01:00:34.500
And, you know, going full circle to what we talked about, how I've grown as a teacher, like I've always had compassion for other people, but not always for myself.
01:00:34.659 --> 01:00:40.179
And so having compassion for yourself in the teacher training program is vital.
01:00:40.340 --> 01:00:45.219
Like you're not gonna survive it unless you're talking to yourself like your five-year-old self inside.
01:00:45.300 --> 01:00:46.740
Like, you can do this, Courtney.
01:00:46.900 --> 01:00:47.539
I got you.
01:00:47.699 --> 01:00:48.260
It's okay.
01:00:48.420 --> 01:00:52.179
Like, don't be afraid if you make a mistake, because you are gonna make mistakes.
01:00:52.260 --> 01:01:10.420
And if you roll into that teacher training room thinking that you're gonna be the badass professional that you are in your former career and you're gonna walk into this new one with that same site type of confidence and ability, you're gonna be disappointed because there's a learning curve that needs to happen and you're gonna suck during some of it.
01:01:10.659 --> 01:01:11.539
You were absolutely right.
01:01:11.699 --> 01:01:19.539
I said at the weekend, I actually was on a course recently at completely not Pilates related, and they said, at the beginning, they said, give yourself permission to be a rookie.
01:01:19.699 --> 01:01:21.300
And you just felt all this weight come off you.
01:01:21.460 --> 01:01:22.500
So I thought, I'll play with this.
01:01:22.579 --> 01:01:27.300
And I said it, you know, because everyone just before they did their teaching practice in front of everyone, I was like, this isn't your exam.
01:01:27.380 --> 01:01:30.179
This is weekend four of a six of a 12-month course.
01:01:30.340 --> 01:01:31.940
Just give yourself permission to be a rookie.
01:01:32.019 --> 01:01:35.860
And you could literally just physically see the relief in all of them.
01:01:35.940 --> 01:01:36.659
They're like, yeah.
01:01:36.820 --> 01:01:38.900
Was that because we're here to learn?
01:01:39.059 --> 01:01:41.219
Like, we're not here, this isn't the test out.
01:01:41.300 --> 01:01:42.500
We're here to learn.
01:01:42.740 --> 01:01:46.019
And I think that's so, you know, so great to be able to share that.
01:01:46.260 --> 01:01:48.019
Courtney, I've absolutely latting to you.
01:01:48.099 --> 01:01:49.940
I just, you know, you've been in this industry a long time.
01:01:50.019 --> 01:01:52.099
You've worn many, many hats.
01:01:52.659 --> 01:01:57.219
What are you seeing in the Pilates industry right now that really excites you in the big wider world of Pilates?
01:01:57.460 --> 01:01:59.940
And is there anything that you're seeing that's worrying you in any way?
01:02:00.260 --> 01:02:10.260
I'm excited about I'm excited and I'm terrified both, because I can have both about technology and AI integration and all that kind of stuff.
01:02:10.420 --> 01:02:19.219
So I think that as Pilates owners, some of the challenges in managing and running the operations of your business can now be, you know, taken off your plate through AI.
01:02:19.300 --> 01:02:20.179
And that's really exciting.
01:02:20.260 --> 01:02:26.019
So a studio owner can do more of what they love to do and more of where they add value into their business, right?
01:02:26.179 --> 01:02:32.980
Instead of answering all the client emails or SMS messages, they can have an AI do that and they can focus on client interaction and teaching.
01:02:33.059 --> 01:02:34.579
So I think that's really exciting.
01:02:34.820 --> 01:02:50.260
I think like technology as a whole, like how how things are evolving as far as like the equipment goes, you know, these conferences where there's all these different types of reformers and types of spring loading and the way that it can be very precisely measured.
01:02:50.420 --> 01:02:51.380
I think it's so interesting.
01:02:51.539 --> 01:02:55.460
Like I love that little science, that science part of my brain is like, wow, that's so cool.
01:02:55.699 --> 01:02:57.139
So that excites me.
01:02:57.460 --> 01:03:05.460
What concerns me is in the same approach, I think technology pulls us away from human-to-human interaction and connection.
01:03:05.619 --> 01:03:09.219
And that is an important part of Pilates that we can never lose.
01:03:09.460 --> 01:03:22.340
And, you know, you and I talked about COVID and how it impacted our business, but we didn't talk about how it impacted people as a whole, which is when COVID hit, everybody just wanted to like be healthy, get outside, work out.
01:03:22.420 --> 01:03:28.820
And as soon as they could get back into the studio and see a face and talk to a real person, they were so excited to do it.
01:03:28.900 --> 01:03:32.019
And that's why we saw this huge boom in our industry because of it.
01:03:32.179 --> 01:03:41.780
So I think, you know, my excitement for how technology and AI is going to, you know, push us forward, a very, very exciting trajectory for our industry.
01:03:41.940 --> 01:03:46.260
But I think we have to be aware of how it could also create a lot of friction.
01:03:46.340 --> 01:03:50.900
And that is the loss of human-to-human interaction and connection.
01:03:51.139 --> 01:03:56.179
I think, you know, a lot of people ask me about saturation because this is something that we can't ignore.
01:03:56.340 --> 01:04:04.420
So when I opened in 2018, there were, you know, maybe four studios in my area, and now there's maybe 20, right?
01:04:04.579 --> 01:04:06.659
So saturation is a real thing.
01:04:06.900 --> 01:04:10.019
And people ask me if I'm afraid of saturation.
01:04:10.260 --> 01:04:17.380
And to that, I often say that fear is a really good indicator of something that you don't want to lose, something that's really important to you.
01:04:17.539 --> 01:04:20.980
So when I think of saturation, I don't want to lose my stores.
01:04:21.059 --> 01:04:22.579
Like I love what I'm doing.
01:04:22.740 --> 01:04:30.579
I started doing this, you know, over two decades ago and teaching and connecting with people and my staff.
01:04:30.740 --> 01:04:32.659
I mean, this is so important to me.
01:04:32.900 --> 01:04:39.780
And and it really just highlights that I will do what needs to be done to make sure that this is successful.
01:04:40.019 --> 01:04:41.940
And so I don't feel scared.
01:04:42.099 --> 01:04:43.699
I actually feel empowered.
01:04:43.780 --> 01:04:46.820
I want to look at my business and how can we stand out more?
01:04:46.980 --> 01:04:48.659
How can we add more value?
01:04:48.900 --> 01:04:51.860
How can we elevate in this competition?
01:04:52.099 --> 01:04:59.860
Because I know with total certainty, with complete confidence that what we're doing is extraordinary.
01:05:00.019 --> 01:05:02.500
You know, I've been in this industry for long enough.
01:05:02.659 --> 01:05:05.139
I know the quality of Pilates that we're teaching.
01:05:05.300 --> 01:05:08.900
I know that our instructors are the best instructors, you know, out there.
01:05:09.139 --> 01:05:16.659
I know that our studios are beautiful and creating these spaces for people to find strength and to find connection.
01:05:16.740 --> 01:05:21.059
So I'm not, you know, insecure about my brand or my business within the industry.
01:05:21.219 --> 01:05:25.780
And I look to ways when we see saturation, how can I just keep leveling up, right?
01:05:25.860 --> 01:05:27.059
How can I keep growing?
01:05:27.300 --> 01:05:34.500
When it comes to saturation, I do get concerned because at least what I see in my area is this like copycat culture.
01:05:34.659 --> 01:05:39.619
So it's people who are not necessarily starting a business because they're passionate about it.
01:05:39.699 --> 01:05:49.139
It's because they have observed somebody else do it and they assume that there's a profitability and then they want to replicate that so they can do the same thing, right?
01:05:49.300 --> 01:05:51.619
And to me, that's a bit of a problem.
01:05:51.780 --> 01:05:57.139
I think it's gonna be challenging for you to grow as a business owner if that's your objective.
01:05:57.460 --> 01:06:05.780
Because I have had to overcome so many things with my brand and my career, and I've been able to do so because I know my brand.
01:06:06.019 --> 01:06:10.340
I know my clients, I know exactly what I'm doing and why I'm doing it.
01:06:10.500 --> 01:06:20.179
And so if you're entering this business because you're looking at somebody else and you're saying, I'm gonna do what that person's doing, how are you going to be able to overcome some of those things?
01:06:20.420 --> 01:06:29.539
I also think that the world allows for all of us to be unique and creative and our own, right?
01:06:29.699 --> 01:06:36.019
And and in doing so, we we attract other people that that are looking for us.
01:06:36.179 --> 01:06:41.539
And so if you want to be a business owner and you want to open a Pilates studio, I think you absolutely should.
01:06:41.699 --> 01:06:48.260
I don't think that saturation should scare you, but I think you should look inside and say, what kind of business do I want to open?
01:06:48.420 --> 01:06:49.380
What's important to me?
01:06:49.539 --> 01:06:50.099
Who am I?
01:06:50.260 --> 01:06:51.460
What's my brand voice?
01:06:51.619 --> 01:06:52.500
What's my culture?
01:06:52.659 --> 01:07:00.179
And open something that's so unique to you that you're not saturation isn't gonna matter because it's your thing.
01:07:00.579 --> 01:07:01.380
You're absolutely right.
01:07:01.539 --> 01:07:03.860
My city is quite small, 500,000 people.
01:07:04.019 --> 01:07:05.699
You can't even do a marathon here.
01:07:05.780 --> 01:07:07.300
It's not big enough, okay?
01:07:07.619 --> 01:07:11.699
And I looked, I think there's about seven studios a year and a half ago.
01:07:11.780 --> 01:07:13.139
I think there's more than 30.
01:07:13.219 --> 01:07:18.420
I'm not exaggerating when I think every three or four weeks I hear of another one opening.
01:07:18.579 --> 01:07:21.940
But they all just seem to be quite cookie-cutters of the same sort of thing.
01:07:22.019 --> 01:07:23.300
And they they're not standing out.
01:07:23.380 --> 01:07:30.980
And I know how much work goes into opening a studio, fitting out a studio, the cost, the effort.
01:07:31.139 --> 01:07:34.980
And I do think people just look and think there's just profit to be made.
01:07:35.059 --> 01:07:35.699
And there is.
01:07:35.860 --> 01:07:37.699
There is, we're proof of it.
01:07:38.019 --> 01:07:41.539
But it's taken us a lot, we've we've had to work out a lot of things along the way.
01:07:41.699 --> 01:07:43.780
It's not an it's not an easy business model.
01:07:44.019 --> 01:07:45.699
No business is easy easy.
01:07:45.860 --> 01:07:49.380
And I think I worry for a lot of those studios opening, like how will they do?
01:07:49.460 --> 01:07:53.059
I saw a studio that's opened recently, it's actually a franchise studio, it's been open a few months.
01:07:53.219 --> 01:07:54.579
I went on and saw that three.
01:07:55.219 --> 01:07:58.260
out of 12 slots were booked and many of them only had one slot booked.
01:07:58.340 --> 01:07:59.619
You know, they're not going to last very long.
01:07:59.699 --> 01:08:00.579
And I actually know where it is.
01:08:00.659 --> 01:08:03.619
It's a space I looked at but I dismissed because the rent's too high.
01:08:03.860 --> 01:08:06.420
And you know, it's it is interesting as a piece.
01:08:06.500 --> 01:08:12.099
And I do think, but I think we all agree that it's so lovely to see Pilates being so mainstream.
01:08:12.420 --> 01:08:21.619
And I like the idea that you've got really is that as studio owners, think about what differentiates you so that you can stand out and that you can attract the people.
01:08:21.779 --> 01:08:25.460
Like the people who go to you will be different to the people who go to a different studio.
01:08:25.619 --> 01:08:28.340
You even said you go to different studios because they have a different ethos.
01:08:28.659 --> 01:08:29.859
And that's nice, isn't it?
01:08:29.939 --> 01:08:31.300
Because people will find that.
01:08:31.460 --> 01:08:45.460
And I love in my city, one of the other big studios, we're very different in our ethos is but we get on very well and we support each other really well actually because our clients are different and that works so brilliantly and I just kind of wish more people would do that really.
01:08:46.099 --> 01:08:48.579
Yeah I think that there's plenty of clients for everybody.
01:08:48.739 --> 01:09:02.899
I don't think we need to be in the race to the bottom, you know, who's going to undercut who I think that there's an opportunity for us to all act in a professional way where we offer something that's unique and we can all coexist together.
01:09:03.059 --> 01:09:06.579
I I truly do think that that is a is something that can happen.
01:09:06.819 --> 01:09:27.939
And I will say too from my experience when there have been sort of shady or unethical business practices like somebody opens a studio and it's real similar to one down the road, that usually doesn't pan out for that person because if you're going to start your business off making decisions like that, what kind of people are you going to attract?
01:09:28.099 --> 01:09:33.300
You know, like you end up kind of hearing down the road well maybe that person wasn't a very good operator.
01:09:33.460 --> 01:09:35.219
Maybe they didn't treat their clients very well.
01:09:35.300 --> 01:09:37.460
Maybe they didn't treat or pay their staff very well.
01:09:37.619 --> 01:09:49.219
Well it's not a big surprise because somebody who's going to totally rip off somebody else's brand and open up down the street from them is probably not going to make great business decisions moving forward, right?
01:09:49.300 --> 01:09:51.619
It's kind of a rocky foundation to start with.
01:09:51.859 --> 01:09:58.739
So if that's happening to you, you know, I what I've seen is those things kind of end up just resolving themselves.
01:09:59.139 --> 01:10:01.939
Well Courtney it's been an absolute joy to talk to you.
01:10:02.099 --> 01:10:04.579
It sounds like you've got big plans ahead as well.
01:10:04.659 --> 01:10:12.659
Is that what the focus of the next kind of 12 months is it for you is it the growth around studio locations or is there anything else from a growth perspective for you?
01:10:12.899 --> 01:10:19.939
Well I am poised to franchise Pilates Republic and I have a lot of interest in franchising and I think that would be so exciting.
01:10:20.179 --> 01:10:25.619
The idea of working with partners who are as excited about my brand as I am sounds extraordinary.
01:10:25.859 --> 01:10:48.339
Right now my bandwidth is going to be spent here on continuing to grow my corporate locations but in the near future you will see that I'm working with a select group of franchisees in in certain areas where I can work really closely with them personally and you'll see Pilates Republic growing in some other locations here in the US Well thank you so much for your time today and sharing so much of your story.
01:10:48.419 --> 01:10:49.139
I've really enjoyed it.
01:10:49.219 --> 01:10:50.179
I'm feeling really inspired.
01:10:50.259 --> 01:10:50.819
So thank you.
01:10:51.059 --> 01:10:51.939
This was really fun.
01:10:52.099 --> 01:10:53.219
I hope we can do it again.
01:10:53.379 --> 01:10:58.179
I always feel like like I'm not a you know an experienced podcast person.
01:10:58.739 --> 01:11:08.419
So anytime you want to have me on, I think I'm You know I heard the other day Courtney that Stephen Bartlett, you know Stephen Bartlett who does the tire of a CEO, you know those each of those podcasts takes five hours to record.
01:11:08.579 --> 01:11:12.979
They just keep going and then they clip it all together and I was like And they were like that's what you need to do.
01:11:13.059 --> 01:11:15.219
I was like I've got enough hours in the day for that.
01:11:15.299 --> 01:11:16.659
But you can see why can't you?
01:11:16.739 --> 01:11:18.259
Because I always think that you get to the end.
01:11:18.339 --> 01:11:21.539
So I'm definitely would love to have you on because I think there's so much more.
01:11:21.619 --> 01:11:22.979
We didn't even get to your equipment.
01:11:23.139 --> 01:11:27.139
There's so much more I want to be able to talk to you about but it's been so great to chat to you today.
01:11:27.379 --> 01:11:27.699
Thank you.
01:11:27.779 --> 01:11:28.979
You too this is super fun.