The rise of the chair is changing Pilates, and this conversation shows why it matters. If you are a studio owner, Pilates teacher, or simply curious about where the industry is headed after the reformer boom, this episode gives you a fresh look at equipment, community, and what it means to stay true to your practice.

Kristina introduces a wide-ranging interview with Rohanna, who brings a grounded perspective from running a studio through the social media-driven shift in Pilates aesthetics. They explore why the chair is getting renewed attention, how equipment-based training can return to Joseph Pilates' original system, and why individualizing movement matters more than following a one-size-fits-all class plan.

Dawn adds the bigger-picture lens, connecting the conversation to the roots of Pilates and the way the method was originally built around choosing the right apparatus for the person in front of you. Together, the discussion contrasts today’s reformer-heavy trends with a more thoughtful, equipment-led approach that puts the client first.

You’ll hear about:

• Why the split pedal chair is making a comeback
• How equipment studios differ from reformer-only spaces
• What it looks like to build a business that stays aligned with your values
• Why social media trends can pull studios off course
• How experienced teachers adapt movement to the individual, not the class template

This episode is especially relevant if you are thinking about opening a studio, expanding your training, or re-evaluating how you teach. It’s a timely reminder that the most forward-thinking approach in Pilates may also be the most traditional.

Visit Rohanna's studio: https://www.kineticore.co.uk/

Is Pilates resistance training?

The latest American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) guidance has reignited the conversation around what counts as resistance training, highlighting that effective resistance training doesn't necessarily require traditional gym equipment. In this episode of Pilates 101, Dawn and Kristina are joined by top athlete and coach James Thie to explore where Pilates fits within the wider conversation around strength and resistance training.

James finished fourth at the World Indoor Championships, represented Wales at two Commonwealth Games and went on to become a multiple World Masters champion. As a coach, he has taken athletes to GB international level and was named British Milers Club Coach of the Year. He also found himself holding the shoes worn to break the two-hour marathon world record at the London Marathon this year.

Together, they explore what Pilates can offer athletes, why movement quality matters, and how Pilates can complement traditional resistance training. The conversation covers progressive overload, strength and conditioning, athletic performance, longevity and the importance of finding sustainable ways to build and maintain strength.

You'll discover:

• How Pilates can provide meaningful resistance training and complement other forms of strength training
• What the latest ACSM guidance tells us about effective resistance training
• Why movement quality matters for athletes and active people
• How progressive overload can be applied within Pilates and broader training programmes
• The role of strength and conditioning in supporting performance, longevity and injury prevention
• Where Pilates fits within a well-rounded approach to fitness and athletic training

Whether you're a Pilates teacher, fitness professional, athlete or simply interested in staying strong and active as you age, this episode offers a fresh perspective on the evolving relationship between Pilates, resistance training and performance.

Read the full ACSM guidance: ACSM 2026 Resistance Training Guideline

This special episode of Pilates 101 Podcast comes from our brand new Founder's Coffee Morning (FCM) exclusively for our APPI Member's. The FCM is a chance for our members to speak directly to our founder's Elisa Withers & Glenn Withers.

Some of the topics discussed in the first FCM were:

• What extra steps you can take to make your clients feel welcome
• Purchasing the right reformer
• Should you record your own classes
• Balancing life & work