Over the past 30 years, our team has had the opportunity to contribute to conversations on Pilates education, studio leadership, movement, mentorship, and the evolving landscape of the wellness industry.
This collection of podcast interviews offers thoughtful discussions for instructors, studio owners, and movement professionals seeking insight, perspective, and practical experience from inside the profession.
LATEST EPISODE
The Pilate Boom: What we’re getting wrong and how to fix it with Carla Ricalis
In this episode, Studio³ owner and director, Carla Ricalis, speaks with Pilates Unscripted host, Adriana Rotella, on the past, present and future of Pilates.
In this episode we cover:
- Carla’s three pillars for running a successful Pilates studio.
- How the Pilates landscape has changed – and what the boom of reformer-based “fitness Pilates” studios actually means for the industry.
- The difference between client-centric and exercise-centric teaching, and why it matters for your clients’ results and long-term retention.
- Why quality over quantity has always been at the heart of Pilates – and what gets lost when that principle is ignored.
- The importance of continuing education and what Carla would say to instructors who want to go deeper with their practice.
- How Carla has built a culture at Studio³ that keeps both instructors and clients engaged, connected and coming back.
- Instructor burnout – what it really looks like and how thoughtful scheduling and studio culture can prevent it.
EPISODE 3
Building a Pilates Instructor Culture Through Systems and Trust
In this third and final part of our conversation with professional Pilates instructor Carla Ricalis, we explore how systems transform not just the running of a Pilates studio, but the experience of instructors and clients alike.
Carla and David share candid lessons from failures, the importance of trust and accountability, and how structure creates more freedom for instructors to thrive.
If you’re a Pilates studio owner looking to strengthen your instructor team and scale with confidence, this episode will give you practical strategies and a fresh perspective.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
- Why systems are essential for both efficiency and freedom in a Pilates studio.
- How to build a trust-based instructor culture without micromanaging.
- Lessons learned from failures in instructor development during COVID.
- The power of structured mentoring and in-house workshops for professional growth.
- How tiered pricing and incentives can align instructors, clients, and studio success.
EPISODE 2
Improving your Pilates Studio Business Model
Independent Pilates studios face unique pressures today.
On one side are the big-box gyms with their high-volume reformer classes. On the other, medical rehab models, as part of the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff.
In between, studio owners are asking: how do we stand apart while staying true to our unique heart and part of Pilates?
In this second conversation with Carla Ricalis, Co-Founder and Director of Studio³ in Toronto, we explore the realities of running a Pilates studio in a shifting marketplace.
EPISODE 1
Finding the Words: How to Differentiate your Pilates Studio
The word Pilates means different things to different people. For some, it’s a crowded studio of reformers moving in sync-like choreography. For others, it’s something quieter, more precise, and deeply personal. That divide creates both opportunity and confusion for those prospective Pilates clients so important to Pilates studio owners everywhere.
In this episode, David Gunther is joined by Carla Ricalis, Co-founder and Director of Studio³ in Toronto. Carla’s Pilates journey spans decades and continents, from her early certification with Moira Stott in the 1990’s, to launching training centres across North America and Europe, to running her own thriving, fully equipped Pilates studio.
Together, David and Carla explore:
- Why the language we use to describe Pilates matters more than ever
- The differences between boutique studios and big-box franchises
- Whether terms like clinical, personalised, or fully equipped capture the value of small studios
- How instructors can communicate their difference without losing the heart of Pilates