"I would rather be effective than sexy."
In this episode, we are joined by Lindsey Hammond, Pilates studio owner, educator, and author of Teach Pilates Like It Matters. Lindsey has been running her first studio for 18 years and now trains teachers through her own education programme, which she is also licensing to studios.
Together, Nic and Lindsey explore the gap between being qualified on paper and actually being ready to teach real clients. They unpack why teacher training covers the what of teaching but not always the how, why the idea of a teacher "it factor" is a myth, and how intentional repetition is what builds real confidence, charisma, and skill.
They also get practical, from planning three classes a week instead of twenty and cutting your cueing down to what really matters, to trauma-informed teaching, tactile cueing and consent, and what studio owners are really looking for when you walk into an audition.
Timestamps
00:00 Intro to Lindsey Hammond and Teach Pilates Like It Matters
00:54 What makes a Pilates teacher ready
01:18 The gap in Pilates teacher training
02:39 Why Lindsey created a bridge training for new teachers
04:55 From client to teacher: what makes a great Pilates teacher
06:56 How to fast-track becoming a great teacher
08:38 The myth of the Pilates teacher "it factor"
10:57 Cognitive load and teaching apparatus-based Pilates
14:55 Why repetition helps clients progress
15:40 Secondary cues: same exercise, different class
17:56 Inside Lindsey's onboarding programme for new teachers
20:16 The audition question that reveals everything
23:31 What's inside Teach Pilates Like It Matters
25:08 Trauma-informed Pilates teaching
29:22 When cueing goes wrong
31:39 Tactile cueing and consent
33:48 Why you need to take private sessions to teach them
36:29 How to plan three classes a week instead of twenty
38:48 Building your classes in "paragraphs"
40:49 Depth vs trends in Pilates
42:01 How to make your cueing more effective
45:44 Why your repetition needs to be intentional
48:09 Quick-fire questions
49:49 The cueing habit Lindsey wants teachers to stop
53:05 What studio owners look for in auditions
55:55 Where to find Lindsey
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Connect with Nic:
Beyond the Reformer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_reformer_pod/
Soul Pilates Education: https://www.instagram.com/soul_pilates_education/
Sign up to Our Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/2bff55298739/beyond-the-reformer
Connect with Lindsey: https://www.instagram.com/lindseydhammond/
Ready to take your Pilates teaching to the next level? Applications are now open for Soul Pilates Education's 2027 Teacher Training programs in Bristol! Choose between our 12-month Comprehensive Training (Jan 2027) or our 7-month Reformer Training (Mar 2027). Learn to teach with real depth, adapt movement, and gain full confidence with clients. Limited places available.
Become a Certified Pilates Teacher in 2027
Ready to take your Pilates teaching to the next level? Applications are now open for Soul Pilates Education's 2027 Teacher Training programs in Bristol! Choose between our 12-month Comprehensive Training (Jan 2027) or our 7-month Reformer Training (Mar 2027). Learn to teach with real depth, adapt movement, and gain full confidence with clients. Limited places available.
Become a Certified Pilates Teacher in 2027