Teaching Pilates becomes a whole different experience when clients bring pain, injuries, and complex diagnoses into the room, and this episode shows how to handle those moments with confidence rather than fear.

In this episode of Beyond the Reformer, Nic is joined by physiotherapist, Pilates teacher, and author Samantha Wood for a deep and practical conversation about teaching Pilates in rehabilitation settings.

Together, they explore what it really means to support clients living with pain, injuries, chronic conditions, and complex movement histories, without stepping outside the scope of a Pilates teacher.

Samantha breaks down common misconceptions around rehab-informed teaching, the role of research in Pilates, the growing evidence supporting Pilates within medical and rehabilitation settings, and how teachers can collaborate more effectively with physiotherapists, osteopaths, and doctors.

Timestamps

00:00 Introducing Samantha Wood

01:41 How Pilates teachers can approach pain and injury with confidence

04:07 Samantha’s journey into physiotherapy and discovering Pilates

06:26 Why Pilates fits so well into rehabilitation work

08:04 Teaching, writing, and expanding education for Pilates professionals

20:12 Why research matters in Pilates and what the evidence shows

25:49 The future of Pilates within medical and healthcare systems

32:31 Practical approaches to client assessment

35:45 Adapting sessions for chronic pain and long-term conditions

38:18 Using Pilates to support autoimmune disorders

39:59 Collaborating effectively with medical professionals

44:03 Why continued education is essential for Pilates teachers

54:50 Understanding pain and how to talk about it with clients

58:16 Connecting with Samantha

If this episode resonated with you, make sure you are subscribed to Beyond the Reformer on your favourite podcast platform.

Share the episode with another Pilates teacher who works with injuries, and leave a rating or review to help these conversations reach more teachers around the world.

Connect with Nic:

• Beyond the Reformer Instagram
• Soul Pilates Instagram
• Soul Pilates Education
• Nic’s Instagram
• Join Soul at Home
• Book a Pilates Class

Connect with Samantha:

• Samantha Wood Physiotherapy Website
• Samantha Wood Physiotherapy Instagram
• Samantha Wood Physiotherapy YouTube

Interested in joining the February Reformer+ Teacher Training intake? Find all the details and book a call here.

Thinking about investing in Pilates equipment? Balanced Body are offering our listeners a special discount! Simply fill in the form here and mention Soul Pilates when you order.

To receive 10% off SPINEFITTER by SISSEL, click this link and use the code BEYOND at checkout. As an affiliate, I’ll receive a small commission which helps support the podcast.