Pilates Students' Manual
Helping you get the most out of your Pilates classes! If you love Pilates, or are just curious about it, this podcast is for you! I'm Olivia, and every week I'll will be diving into the who, what, where, when, and why of Pilates in an engaging and enthusiastic way for new and experienced Pilates students alike. Let's learn something new!
Episodes
79 episodes
You Are Invited To Try Pilates In 2025
Whether you're starting a new Pilates practice for yourself or encouraging a friend to take a Pilates class with you in the new year, you are invited to try Pilates in 2025! Tune in to learn more about the benefits of doing Pilates with friends...
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14:36
How Adaptable Is Pilates?
There are many reasons why you might need to adapt Pilates exercises: structural limitations, recommendations from your doctor or surgeon, or personal preference. Regardless of why you might need to tweak an exercise to work better with your bo...
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Season 7
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Episode 8
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17:28
Your Pilates Reading List
Today's episode explores some of my favorite Pilates books for learning about Joe, the history of Pilates, anatomy, exercise variations, and sharing Pilates with kids! These are books that guided my Pilates practice, and I hope you'll enjoy the...
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17:38
Pilates Is A Brain Game And A Body Game
Pilates is great for strengthening your body, but it is also great for your brain. Whether you're looking for a complex exercise to stop your mind from wandering, or you like to think about movements as you do them, there is a cerebral nature t...
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Season 7
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Episode 6
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17:51
Knowing When To Level Up
How do you know when it's time to try something harder in your Pilates practice? Some Pilates studios level their classes, but what is the right time to try the next level? Do you have to level up? In this episode, we talk about what determines...
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Season 7
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Episode 5
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23:50
A Closer Look At Footwork
This episode is a deep dive into all things footwork. Curious about the why behind the what of one the most common reformer Pilates exercises? Learn what muscles are working, different ways to perform the exercise, and why it's a great addition...
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26:15
The Power Of Patience
There are benefits to doing Pilates in the short, mid, and long term, and the longer you consistently do Pilates, the more benefits you can gain. I've done Pilates for several years myself, and I work with clients who've done Pilates from...
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20:16
What Is March Matness?
You may have seen a recent influx of people posting Pilates mat exercise on social media in March. Tune in to today's episode to learn about the inception of March Matness, what is is, how you can get involved, and why seeing lots of people sha...
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Season 7
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Episode 2
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18:42
What Is The Goal Of Pilates?
What is the purpose of doing Pilates? You may already have your own answer to this question, but there's lots of ways to answer it and lots of different lenses to look through. Tune in to hear about Joseph Pilates' goal of doing Pilates as well...
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Season 7
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Episode 1
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15:10
2023 Wrap Up
As 2023 draws to a close, we look back on this year's episodes, look forward to 2024, and reflect on the incredible milestones met this year. Tune in! I want to hear from you! Share your thoughts and follow the podcast on Instagram...
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Season 6
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Episode 11
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12:10
Normal Human Variability
It is normal for human bodies to be a little bit different, from the shape of our bones, to how tall we are, to how flexible we are. We can work to improve our strength, flexibility, and coordination doing Pilates, but we are all starting at di...
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Season 6
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Episode 10
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22:03
Decoding Pilates Jargon
When you look up the description of a Pilates class, you may seem some unfamiliar terms. Classes may be listed as mat or equipment, classical or contemporary, athletic, therapeutic, or somatic, and/or leveled 1, 2, 3 or beginner, intermediate, ...
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Season 6
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Episode 9
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22:08
Mat vs. Reformer Pilates
Some Pilates classes use different pieces of Pilates equipment and two common formats are mat and reformer Pilates. Spoiler: they're both Pilates, but what does each type of class entail, and which one is a better fit for you? Let's find out!
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Season 6
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Episode 8
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19:14
Why Props Are Your Friend
Props like the magic circle, resistance band, yoga block, stability ball, etc. can provide support and challenge to us as we practice Pilates. They can can help us fill the gap between where we are and where we want to go, and push us farther w...
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Season 6
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Episode 7
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20:05
Pilates Class Tips
Over the years of teaching and taking classes, I've amassed some good advice and best practice for you in your Pilates class. Today I share my top tips for you to help make your Pilates class experience more comfortable and more successful. Fro...
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Season 6
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Episode 6
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18:36
Why Every Pilates Exercise Is A Core Exercise
Pilates is all about the core, but what does that really mean? Today we dive into Pilates as a system that moves the spine in all directions and works all major muscle groups to near fatigue. We explore Pilates exercises as full body movements ...
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Season 6
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Episode 5
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19:59
How Often Should You Do Pilates?
How many times a week should you do Pilates? Is once a week enough? Is every day too much? Tune in to hear what I recommend as a Pilates teacher and what the American College of Sports Medicine's physical activity guidelines have to say about t...
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Season 6
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Episode 4
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16:35
Why You Should Give Pilates A Second Chance
If you tried Pilates and didn't fall in love with it immediately, this episode is for you! Today we explore why you may have not continued Pilates after your first class, and some encouragement to give Pilates a second chance. I share some pers...
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Season 6
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Episode 3
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19:45
What Is A Pilates Body?
Have you heard the phrases "a more toned look" or "long and lean muscles" in Pilates marketing? They're talking about the "Pilates body," a mythical aesthetic favored by the post-promoting algorithms on social media. You might think that doing ...
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Season 6
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Episode 2
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19:41
Does Adding Springs Make Pilates Exercises Harder?
Have you ever done an exercise in your Pilates and thought about adding a spring to make the exercise a bit harder? Today we deep dive into how the springs on Pilates apparatus support and challenge us, the limitations of adding springs and all...
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Season 6
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Episode 1
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22:40
Season 5 Wrap Up
Today we're wrapping up 2022 and Season 5 of Pilates Students' Manual! I share some exciting news, the season stats, and a look forward to what's coming up in 2023! Check out the show notes for this season's stats and learn more about my upcomi...
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Season 5
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Episode 11
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8:01
Is It Still Working If I Don't Feel It?
Have you ever done an exercise in Pilates class and not felt it the way you thought you should, then thought you might be doing it wrong? I've been there, and I'm here to tell you feeling it is not a reliable indicator of success in Pilates. Tu...
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Season 5
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Episode 10
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21:11
Keeping Your Pilates Practice Fresh
When I first fell in love with Pilates, I wanted to do it all the time. As I continued my practice over the months and years, my enthusiasm for my practice has not always been consistent. This episode includes some strategies for keeping your P...
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Season 5
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Episode 9
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20:34
The Pilates Elders - Who Are They?
Today we introduce the Pilates Elders, the first generation of Pilates teachers and students of Joseph Pilates himself. I share mini bios of the Elders, what I know about them from reading biographies, taking classes with second generation teac...
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Season 5
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Episode 8
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20:56