Moving Conversations

Facing Fear- Working with Challenging Clients

05 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Fear is a common emotion in many clients and especially in those who are dealing with pain. As an instructor, learning to create trust, manage expecta...

AI meets Pilates and Fitness, What Now?

28 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is entering all of our lives. What impact is it having in the movement space? Pros and cons, human versus machine, scienc...

Fitness Fads and Fundamentals

21 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Brian just returned from a major fitness industry trade show and it got us thinking about fitness fads that come and go and fitness fundamentals that ...

Keys to Connect Mind and Body

14 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Last episode we learned about mirror neurons and the vagus nerve and other ways the brain and body connect with Anne C. Bishop, a neuroscientist and P...

How the Brain influences Movement with Anne C Bishop

07 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Anne C Bishop, creator of Brain Body Connect has spent over two decades deciphering the connection between neurology and teaching movement. In this ep...

To Correct or Not to Correct, That is the Question

31 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

As movement teachers, our role is to tell clients what to do, how to move and (ideally) how to move better. This often involves correcting their movem...

Perfect Synergy- Combining Pilates and Personal Training

24 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The fitness world contains a wide variety of modalities and techniques. Nora and Brian discuss the roles Pilates and Personal Training play in a well ...

Designing Specialized Reformer and Group Classes

17 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Following up on our inspiring conversation with Elizabeth Larkam, we discuss ways to design Reformer classes for special populations. Putting a couple...

Intelligent Reformer Class Programming with Elizabeth Larkam

10 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

S3-37 Intelligent Reformer Class Programming with Elizabeth Larkam Elizabeth Larkam has been teaching and evolving Pilates for 40 years. She develope...

Intelligent Reformer Class Programming with Elizabeth Larkam

10 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Elizabeth Larkam has been teaching and evolving Pilates for 40 years. She developed the original group Reformer program when Balanced Body’s Pilates...

Madeline Black- Assessment, Analysis, Fascia and Movement

03 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Today we are joined by Madeline Black, a Pilates teacher and educator with over 40 years experience changing lives through movement. Madeline has dedi...

The Olympics!!!

24 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Winter Olympics are just over and Brian and Nora reflect on the highs, lows, injuries, inspiration and magic of watching the best athletes in the ...

Thoracolumbar Fascia and Low Back Pain

17 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Back pain has many causes and many solutions. Today Brian and Nora talk about the role of the thoracolumbar fascia in coordinating the action of the s...

What do I do about Stenosis?

10 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the vertebral spaces the nerves travel through. Stenosis is a common concern for older adults and one that can be qu...

Working with Kids

03 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Following up on our conversation with Matt McCulloch about kids and sports, we wanted to talk about strategies and training approaches to help kids be...

Kids and Sports with Matt McCulloch

27 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Matt McCulloch, the owner of Kinected Studio in New York joins us today to discuss the benefits and pitfalls of youth sports and how we can use our tr...

Building (or Rebuilding) your Fitness Foundation

20 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Continuing with our January theme of creating your vision for health and vitality, the focus of today’s episode is strategies for creating a strong ...

Begin with the Destination in Mind

13 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Lindy Royer, PT, Pilates instructor, educator and coach extraordinaire joins us today to drill down on how and why to create inspiring goals for the c...

New Year, New Opportunities!

06 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

As the first episode of the New Year, Brian and Nora discuss strategies for creating change. Whether you’ve identified imbalances to work on, discom...

Connecting Mind, Body and Movement with Tom McCook

30 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tom McCook joins us once again for an in depth discussion on how to improve movement patterns through education, connection and awareness. Tom’s wid...

Embodied Empowerment with Tom McCook!

23 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode we revisit our first interview with Tom McCook from Center of Balance for an inspiring discussion on creating change through engaging ...

Working with Osteoporosis

16 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Working with a client with osteoporosis and managing their expectations can be challenging as a Pilates instructor or personal trainer. Client’s are...

Osteoporosis and Exercise

09 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Today we are lookinga back and repeating a hot topic we discussed back in May. We are wading into a very controversial topic, osteoporosis, where guid...

Pilates for Kids with Melissa McNamara

02 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Melissa McNamara is a Stott Pilates instructor trainer with a passion for working with kids of all ages. Join us for a fascinating discussion about ho...

Pilates and Dance with Kelly Leonardi

25 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Kelly Leonardi, a Pilates instructor, educator and professional ballerina joins us today to talk about the intersection of Pilates and dance which hav...

The Sacroiliac Joint - Strategies for Success

18 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The sacroiliac or SI joint connects the ilium to the sacrum and the lower body to the spine. When it is hyper mobile it can cause discomfort in the lo...

Footwear Controversies

11 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Barefoot? Arch support? Anti-pronation? Zero drop? Fitness footwear is often chosen based on dogma, the latest fashion or internet influencers and may...

Creating a Vision when Movement is Your Calling

04 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Today we are going in a slightly different direction. It has been 20 years since Al and I started the Balanced Body Education department and I am refl...

Breath! With Brian and Nora

28 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Breathing well is the foundation of health but getting clients to breathe better can be a challenge. In this episode, Brian and Nora discuss strategie...

Breath! With Helen Vanderburg

21 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Breathing is a hot topic and we wanted to start the conversation with Helen Vanderburg, a world champion synchronized swimmer, gym owner, internationa...

Upper Body Training- Two Perspectives, Two Environments

14 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Let’s talk about upper body training. Pilates and personal training principles are quite similar when discussing the lower body or the core but when...

Creating Change- Cueing with Purpose

07 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Cueing is an essential skill for teaching movement, changing movement patterns and empowering our clients to take charge of their health and wellbeing...

The Power of Imagery with Eric Franklin

30 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Today we are joined by Eric Franklin, creator of the Franklin Method which brings imagery in all its forms into teaching and improving movement. Learn...

Connecting Mind, Body and Movement with Tom McCook

23 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tom McCook joins us once again for an in depth discussion on how to improve movement patterns through education, connection and awareness. Tom’s wid...

Movement Analysis

16 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Brian and I have spoken at length(!) about posture, alignment, balance, mobility, strength and coordination but we haven’t put it in the context of ...

What is Neutral Lumbopelvic Position? It Depends…

09 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Lumbopelvic positioning or “neutral spine” has spawned more conversations and controversies in the Pilates world than perhaps any other single top...

Creating Balance through Asymmetrical Moves

02 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Bodies are rarely symmetrical in terms of strength, mobility or coordination and sometimes asymmetries are the root of injuries, pain or poor performa...

Balancing the Back Body

26 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We talked about the glutes two weeks ago but what about the rest of the back body? Today we dive into how posture is influenced by joint structure, mo...

Pregnancy! With Jennifer Gianni

19 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Jennifer Gianni, author of “A Movement Educator’s Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth” joins us today to bring her 30+ years of experience working...

The Glutes- Hero or Villain?

12 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are stronger glutes the answer to your prayers or causing your low back and hip pain? It depends…The glutes play an essential role in low back and h...

Movement Pro’s Role in Rehabilitation

05 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Movement professionals are a valuable part of the rehabilitation team and in this episode we discuss where, when and how they are most useful. Whether...

Muscles in Motion, Strategies for Strength

29 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode we review concentric, eccentric and isometric muscle activation and how each one can be used to effectively increase strength. Learn s...

Myths and Controversies- The Iliotibial Band!

22 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Rolling out the iliotibial or IT band has more conflicting advice than almost any other single topic in fitness. To roll, or not to roll, how often to...

A Hip Case Study: Assessment and Insights

15 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Brian brings us an interesting client who came in preparing to get a hip replacement. Follow along as Brian lays out his assessment, movement drills a...

Proprioception: Creating the Mind-Body Connection

08 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Proprioception or understanding where your body is and what it’s doing is the first step in improving movement, decreasing pain and empowering clien...

Tension headaches- Mobility and Posture to the rescue!

01 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tension headaches are a common concern for many. Optimizing posture, decreasing neck and shoulder tension and balancing the muscles around the neck an...

Amy Boone Thompson leads IDEA

24 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Amy Boone Thompson is the owner and CEO of IDEA, this country’s largest organization for fitness professionals. In this conversation we discuss curr...

Movement for Hypermobility

17 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Mobility is a popular topic in fitness at the moment but what happens when a person has too much mobility? Hypermobility spectrum disorder and Ehlers-...

Patience! Working with Complex Cases

10 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If you work with clients with complex conditions including chronic pain, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue or long covid, you know progress can be slow an...

Re-Visiting Active Aging with Erika Quest

03 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Cue up the "Wayback Machine" as we go back to last year and revisit an amazing interview we had with Erika Quest. Erika is a Pilates teacher and found...

Boney Problems

27 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Fractures, bone spurs and malformations all affect how our body moves and influences alignment, joint structure and myofascial balance. Starting with ...

Bone Basics

20 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Since we are on the topic of bones with osteoporosis, we decided to do a deep dive into the structure, development and function of various bones and j...

Working with Osteoporosis

13 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Working with a client with osteoporosis and managing their expectations can be challenging as a Pilates instructor or personal trainer. Client’s are...

Osteoporosis and Exercise

06 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Today Brian and Nora wade into a very controversial topic, osteoporosis, where guidelines for exercise tend to be vague at best. Today we touch on wha...

Step on It! Common Conditions of the Ankle and Foot

29 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s episode, we take a look at ankle sprains, tendinitis and plantar fasciitis, three of the most common issues in the ankle and foot. We’l...

Step on It! Balancing the Ankle

22 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Continuing our adventures with the lower leg, we move onto the ankle, that magical connection between the mobility of the foot and the power of the le...

Step on It! Introducing the Foot

15 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The foot is the foundation of any upright movement pattern from walking to running to dancing. In this episode we are starting another short series fo...

Training with Hormones in Mind

08 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Hormones affect physiology which changes the body’s reactions to exercise. Building on the last session with Irene McCormick, Brian and Nora discuss...

Moving Through Menopause with Irene McCormick

01 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

S2.44 Irene McCormick joins us today for a deep dive into training women in perimenopause and menopause. She has developed a fitness and wellness prog...

All about the Labrum(s)

25 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The labrum deepens the socket of both the hip and the shoulder helping to create stability and integrity of the joints. Damage can occur from overuse ...

GLP-1, Aging and Sarcopenia (Sarco what?)

18 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Loss of muscle mass or sarcopenia occurs with both aging and rapid weight loss with the use of GLP-1 medications or other weight loss methods. Sarcope...

GLP-1 Updated!

11 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It’s been a year since our first episode on the new generation of weight loss drugs and we thought it was time for an update. According to some esti...

Social Media intro with Madeleine McCormack

04 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join us for an enlightening session on how to connect to and expand your community through thoughtful branding and social media. Madeleine McCormack i...

Abductors for Stability and Balance

25 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Last week we discussed the adductors, so today we want to talk about their partner in hip stability, balance and support, the abductors. These two par...

Adding Fun to the Adductors!

18 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s episode we discuss case studies involving the low back and the strategies and challenges we ran into. Join us for an engaging conversatio...

Getting Back into Action: Case Studies

11 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s episode we discuss case studies involving the low back and the strategies and challenges we ran into. Join us for an engaging conversatio...

Getting BACK into Action: Making Progress

04 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Many people with low back pain limit their movement in various ways to decrease pain and the likelihood of reinjury. We have spent several episodes on...

Pilates for Kids with Melissa McNamara!

28 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Melissa McNamara is a Stott Pilates instructor trainer with a passion for working with kids of all ages. Join us for a fascinating discussion about ho...

Getting BACK into Action: Neutral Spine

21 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Neutral spine is a much discussed and argued about concept in personal training, Pilates and in physical therapy. In this episode Nora and Brian discu...

Getting BACK into Action; Mobility

14 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

With low back pain the first step is to create awareness of where the low back is and what position is most comfortable. The next step is to teach sta...

Getting BACK into Action; Building your Core Foundation

07 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Where do you start if you or a client have back pain? In the next episodes in the series, Brian and Nora discuss strategies for taking a client from t...

“Revisited” - Embodied Empowerment with Tom McCook!

30 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The “wayback machine” has been fired up again. This time we revisit our interview with Tom McCook from Center of Balance for an inspiring discussi...

“Revisited” - Fitness, Pilates and Business with Nico Gonzalez!

24 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We have hit the “wayback machine” and went back to our outstanding interview with Nico Gonzalez, business owner, fitness expert, educator and inno...

Getting BACK into Action: Discs!

17 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Disc injuries are a common cause of low back pain and one that can be well managed through movement. In part 3 of our low back series we discuss the a...

Getting BACK into Action: Arthritis, Stenosis and More

10 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In part 2 we explore common issues of the bones that can cause low back pain. Osteoarthritis, aka DJD or degenerative joint disease, stenosis, spondyl...

Getting Back into Action: Non-specific Low Back Pain

03 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This is part 1 of a multipart series focusing, once again, on low back health. Using Brian’s wonderful book “Back Exercise: Stabilize, Mobilize an...

Unraveling Sciatica

26 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Sciatica, or pain along the pathway of the sciatic nerve, has many causes and many potential solutions. Come with us on a journey to understand what c...

Let's Talk About Hamstrings

19 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Tight? Weak? Painful? The hamstrings are critical to just about anything we do from running to standing to picking up a child. Brian and Nora discuss ...

Training the Sacroiliac Joint

12 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Tips and tricks for balancing and aligning the SI joint are the topic of this episode. Based on Brian and I’s experience working with many clients w...

The Sacroilliac Joint

05 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Sacroiliac Joint!The sacroiliac or SI joint is literally central to our bodies ability to move with ease. It is where force is transferred from th...

Progressive Upper Body Exercise

29 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Taking the concepts from the last three weeks, we provide a road map for creating upper body mobility, stability, strength and balance. The three-dime...

Do We Really Want Scapular Stability?

22 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Part three of the shoulder series focuses on redefining scapular stability to reflect advances in our understanding of the shoulder in functional move...

Fascia Revisited; Training Fascia

15 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Building on the previous two podcasts, we’ll review the current thinking about important principles in training the myofascial system to improve mov...

Fascia Revisited; Thoracolumbar Fascia

08 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today we’ll take a deep dive into the thoracolumbar fascia and how it connects, integrates and moves the body. The importance of myofascial connecti...

Fascia Revistied; Fascia Basics

01 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Fascia BasicsFascia is a buzz word in fitness for good reason. Fascia science is full of game changing concepts that take fitness training to a whole ...

The Rotator Cuff and It’s Allies

24 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Continuing with the shoulder series, Brian and Nora take a deep dive into the glenohumeral joint, where the arm meets the scapula. Anatomy, common pat...

Introducing the Shoulder

17 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Shoulders cause no end of trouble and in this episode, Brian and Nora discuss common imbalances and how to address them by working with the movement p...

Embodied Empowerment with Tom McCook!

09 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Tom McCook from Center of Balance joins us for an inspiring discussion on creating change through engaging clients in the process, focusing on functio...

Patellar Tracking, PFS and Chondromalasia Patella

03 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How the patella moves when the quadriceps contract has a strong influence on knee efficiency, knee pain and general wear and tear. In our fourth knee ...

What about the Meniscus?

27 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In our third session on the knee, we discuss the meniscus, what it is, what it does and how to move to keep the meniscus healthy by maintaining streng...

Improving Knee Stability

20 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Knee injuries are very common. Maintaining strong, stable knees can minimize knee pain and help prevent injuries. Nora and Brian discuss several pract...

Fitness, Pilates and Business with Nico Gonzalez!

13 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Nico Gonzalez is a business owner, fitness expert, educator and innovator in the Pilates and fitness community. This session focuses on the intersecti...

Deep Dive: Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injuries

06 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

ACL injuries are common! In this Deep Dive episode Brian and Nora discuss what ACL injuries are, A bit about prevention and strategies for managing pa...

Training for Longevity, Building Resilience

30 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Longevity is a hot topic these days and learning to be resilient is a critical skill if you want to live better for longer. Being resilient means havi...

Scoliosis with Karena Thek!

23 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Karena Thek, the creator of Scolio-Pilates, joins us today to talk about scoliosis, what it is and her approach to working with it in the Pilates envi...

The Kinetic Chain and Posture

16 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Take a journey with us through a definition of the kinetic chain and how each of the joints and myofascial groups within each chain affects posture. B...

Posture! What does it tell us?

09 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A few weeks ago we talked about the value of assessment. Today we take a deep dive into the role of postural assessment in our movement toolbox. How t...

Growing Up: Becoming the Teacher you Aspire to Be

02 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

At the start of our second season, we wanted to discuss how we became the teachers we are and hope to inspire you to pursue your highest goals with pa...

Exercise Creation, Modification and Progression

25 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

With a million creative exercise variations showing up on social media, how do you decide which ones may be useful to you or your clients? Brian and N...

Back Advice from Chrissy Romani-Ruby, PT, ATC

18 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Chrissy Romani-Ruby is a physical therapist, athletic trainer, Pilates instructor and educator. Her passion for movement as a healing modality informs...