Welcome to The Pilates Exchange! In this episode, we explore the fascinating science behind building new exercise habits and adopting a healthier lifestyle. We’ll break down the psychology of habit formation, discuss the role of dopamine in motivation, and share practical strategies to help you create lasting changes in your fitness routine. Whether you’re starting your movement journey or looking to support your clients as a teacher, this episode is packed with actionable insights to inspire consistency and growth.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

1. The Habit Loop:
   • Understand the Cue-Routine-Reward framework for building and sustaining habits.
   • How to identify and leverage cues to create a fitness routine.
2. The Role of Dopamine in Motivation:
   • Why dopamine is the brain's motivation molecule and how it drives habit formation.
   • Strategies to use dopamine to reinforce exercise habits.
3. Practical Habit-Building Strategies:
   • Starting small with achievable goals.
   • Using habit stacking to integrate new behaviors into your daily routine.
   • Tracking progress and celebrating small wins to maintain momentum.

Actionable Takeaways:

• Use habit stacking: Link new habits to existing routines, like rolling out your mat right after brewing your morning coffee.
• Celebrate small wins: Acknowledge and reward progress, even if it’s as simple as attending your first class.
• Focus on consistency over perfection: Showing up regularly, even for short workouts, builds lasting habits.

Resources Mentioned in the Episode:

The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg

Atomic Habits by James Clear

The Brain That Changes Itself by Norman Doidge

Huberman Lab Podcast (Episode 21: Dopamine & Motivation)

Harvard Health Blog: How to Build Healthy Habits in the New Year

Perfitly You Inspire Membership: Perfitly You Membership - Performance Fit Pilates - Hannah Teutscher

In this final episode of the year, host Hannah Teutscher dives into the art of setting meaningful New Year’s resolutions—both personal and professional—to support your growth as a Pilates instructor and beyond. From exploring new movement modalities to honing your time management skills, Hannah encourages a mindset of curiosity and steady improvement. Whether it’s trying a fresh workout approach like yoga, barre, or Feldenkrais, or investing in continuing education (without feeling pressured), she offers practical tips for making your goals achievable and sustainable.

Hannah also addresses the importance of maintaining boundaries, refining teaching techniques, and setting business objectives that ensure long-term success. By choosing one easy resolution and one that challenges you, you’ll start the new year with clear direction, renewed energy, and a deeper commitment to both your clients and yourself.

Key Takeaways:

• Embrace a Beginner’s Mindset: Experiment with new movement forms to broaden your perspective and enhance your teaching.
• Set Achievable Goals: Integrate your resolutions into daily life—start small and don’t overwhelm yourself.
• Continuing Education as Enrichment: View workshops, online courses, reading, and podcasts as ways to fuel curiosity and refine your craft, rather than as duties.
• Time Management & Boundaries: Protect your schedule, stay efficient with class planning, and be realistic about what you can accomplish.
• Business Foundations Matter: Understand your numbers, maintain profitability, and grow your Pilates practice sustainably.

Next Steps for Listeners:

1. Choose Your Goals: Select one straightforward resolution (e.g., reading a recommended book) and one challenging goal (e.g., mastering an advanced exercise or taking a business course).
2. Make It Sustainable: Schedule and integrate your chosen goals into your routine to ensure steady progress.
3. Reach Out for Resources: Contact Hannah if you need guidance or access to her reading list, education recommendations, or other helpful tools.

Join the Community:
Hannah wishes you a happy and successful start to the new year! Share your resolutions, ask questions, and stay connected for more insights and inspiration in the coming months.

In this episode, Hannah tackles a complex issue often debated in the Pilates world: whether instructors must personally perform every exercise they teach. Drawing on over 25 years of teaching experience, Hannah emphasizes that effective instruction isn’t defined by physical demonstrations alone. Instead, it hinges on understanding your clients’ diverse learning styles, confidently cueing, and creating a safe environment—especially for advanced exercises.

Ultimately, Hannah reassures instructors that what truly matters is the quality of the learning experience they create, not whether they can personally execute every challenging exercise.

Key Takeaways:

• Client-Centered Teaching: Success lies in adapting to various learning styles and abilities rather than relying solely on demonstrations.
• Clear, Effective Cueing: Verbal guidance, tactile feedback, and careful observation can replace physical demos and help clients feel and understand each exercise.
• Safe Environments for Advanced Moves: Introduce challenging exercises gradually, breaking them down into manageable steps while ensuring clients’ comfort and confidence.
• Redefining Instructor Identity: Your teaching skills aren’t diminished by not performing every exercise. Your value as an instructor comes from empowering clients to move safely and effectively.

In this episode of The Pilates Exchange, Hannah dives into the debate between being a Pilates instructor or teacher—and why the title doesn’t matter as much as how you connect with your clients. What truly counts is your ability to understand their needs, inspire movement, and help them apply Pilates to their daily lives.

Hannah shares insights on adapting your teaching style, creating an empowering learning experience, and making Pilates accessible to a wider audience. Whether you’re guiding structured classes or focusing on deeper principles, the key is to meet clients where they are and help them move with confidence and joy.

Key Takeaways:

1. Titles Are Secondary: Whether you call yourself a teacher, instructor, or coach, your focus should be on client connection and movement.
2. Client-Centered Approach: Adapt sessions to meet individual needs and goals.
3. Empower Through Movement: Help clients relate Pilates to their everyday lives for greater impact.
4. Accessible Communication: Use language and materials that make Pilates inviting for beginners.
5. Inspire Action: Focus on encouraging more people to move, not impressing other professionals.

Hannah’s Message:
It’s not about what you call yourself—it’s about the experience you create for your clients. Tune in to discover how to build stronger connections, inspire movement, and elevate your teaching practice.

Listen now!

Links:

• Free Creativity Challenge for Pilates Teachers: Free Creativity Challenge
• Free Ebook – 100 Pilates Class Themes: 100 Pilates Class Themes
• Free Ebook – Top Teaching Tips: Top Teaching Tips
• Free Creativity Masterclass: Creativity Mini-Workshop

In this inspiring episode of The Pilates Exchange, host Hannah shares the pivotal moments in her journey of starting and scaling a Pilates and wellness studio from scratch. If you’re an entrepreneur in the wellness industry or dream of building a Pilates studio, this episode dives into practical tips for success, overcoming early challenges, and creating a unique and profitable wellness business.

Hannah’s experience demonstrates the importance of intuition, adaptability, and understanding your market as you grow your business. From learning Pilates in a second language to doubling her studio’s space, Hannah's story is full of insights for those looking to follow a similar path.

Key Takeaways

• Follow Your Intuition: Trust your instincts and make decisions based on your unique goals and values. Hannah’s initial decision to open her studio was rooted in intuition, and she trusted herself even without a formal business plan (at first).
• Treat Your Business Like a Business: Set clear business goals, track profitability, and understand your financials. Hannah emphasizes the importance of treating your Pilates studio as a serious business venture from day one, making sure it supports both her team and personal goals.
• Invest in Client Experience and Learning: Continuous learning, from mastering email marketing to honing client experience, has been crucial to Hannah's growth. She highlights the importance of staying curious and expanding your skills.
• Create a Niche and Build Community: Find your unique strengths and build a community around your wellness philosophy. Hannah has focused on client experience and creating a studio atmosphere that reflects her values, attracting a dedicated client base.
• Pricing Strategy and Business Setup: Rather than mirroring competitor pricing, Hannah recommends setting prices based on factors unique to your business, such as location, client demand, and overhead costs.
• Embrace Growth with Systems and Scaling: As her business grew, Hannah learned the value of strong systems for managing clients and improving efficiency. She discusses the benefits of investing in tools for online registration, email templates, and scheduling to save time and reduce stress.
• Hire and Expand Mindfully: Hannah shares her experience of bringing on additional instructors as the studio expanded, finding the right balance between business growth and team dynamics.

Next Steps for Aspiring Studio Owners

• Streamline Client Communication: Hannah plans to create FAQ templates and emails to improve client interactions and save time.
• Monitor Profitability Regularly: Reviewing and analyzing key financial metrics can ensure long-term success.
• Consider Borrowing to Expand: If you’re ready to grow, think about options like small loans or grants for initial investment in space and equipment.

This episode is a masterclass in running a wellness business, balancing personal vision with strategic growth, and building a sustainable Pilates studio. Perfect for wellness practitioners, Pilates instructors, or anyone interested in the business side of wellness!

Links:

• Free Creativity Challenge for Pilates Teachers: Free Creativity Challenge
• Free Ebook – 100 Pilates Class Themes: 100 Pilates Class Themes
• Free Ebook – Top Teaching Tips: Top Teaching Tips
• Free Creativity Masterclass: Creativity Mini-Workshop
• Read about Train the Trainers:

In this episode of The Pilates Exchange, Hannah sits down with Sandra Connery, former biomechanist turned tech founder and mindset coach, to explore the critical role of mindset in the wellness business world. Sandra, co-founder of Hey Marvelous software and host of the Wellness Creator Podcast, dives into her experiences coaching women in the wellness and fitness industry, unpacking the hidden challenges and fears they face.

Together, Sandy and Hannah shed light on how self-doubt, fear of judgment, and limiting beliefs can hold women back from reaching their true potential in business.

They discuss the power of having a selective, engaged audience over trying to please everyone, emphasizing that it’s okay—and even beneficial—to let go of clients who don’t value your work. The conversation also takes a practical turn as they tackle pricing fears, with Sandy offering advice on overcoming judgment and pricing assertively to align with the value provided.

Sandy and Hannah wrap up with reflections on the importance of embracing failure, cultivating community, and breaking through societal conditioning that discourages risk-taking. Listen in for valuable insights on building resilience, finding your niche, and staying true to your purpose in business.

Key Takeaways:

• Mindset in Business: Recognize and challenge limiting beliefs to foster business growth.
• Selective Audience: Focusing on engaged clients rather than trying to appeal to everyone.
• Pricing Confidence: Embrace your worth and let go of pricing fears.
• Embracing Failure: See failure as a growth opportunity and lean into learning.
• Community Support: Cultivate a supportive network to navigate feedback and challenges.

Join us for an inspiring episode packed with actionable insights for movement teachers and wellness professionals ready to break barriers and thrive.

Links:

• Website: heymarvelous.com
• YouTube: Hey Marvelous
• Free Ebook – 100 Pilates Class Themes: 100 Pilates Class Themes
• Free Ebook – Top Teaching Tips: Top Teaching Tips
• Free Creativity Masterclass: Creativity Mini-Workshop
• Read about Train the Trainers: Train the Trainers - Performance Fit Pilates - Hannah Teutscher
• Connect with us at: hannah@pilates-studio-nuernberg.com
• Performance Fit Pilates: https://www.pilates-studio-nuernberg.com
• Performance Fit Pilates on Instagram: Instagram (@performance_fit_pilates)
• Performance Fit Pilates on YouTube: Performance Fit Pilates
• Hannah Teutscher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-teutscher/

Today’s guest, Dr. Laura Williams, firmly believes in never telling her patients “no” because she doesn’t want them to develop any type of fear of movement. Dr. Williams joins us to discuss pelvic floor health, maternal well-being, body changes for moms, pregnancy, and Pilates. All the essentials! As a Doctor of Physical Therapy, a Board-Certified Women's Health Clinical Specialist, and the founder of Hearth Healing, Dr. Williams provides fully virtual pre- and postnatal pelvic health coaching. Through Hearth Healing, she helps women manage issues like leakage, pain, and weakness throughout pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond, with customized at-home workouts—no childcare required! Laura is passionate about empowering women with labour and delivery preparation, birthing agency, and immediate postpartum recovery strategies. Tune in to hear Dr. Williams talk about her business, debunk pregnancy and movement myths, offer advice for emotional support postnatally, and share valuable insights for women’s health. Don’t miss this conversation filled with advice and inspiration!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Hannah gives a short bio on Dr. Williams and the topic of today’s episode.
• Dr. Williams gives listeners a personal and professional background.
• More about her business Hearth Healing.
• We do some pregnancy-related women’s health myth-busting.
• What research tells us about pregnancy and movement.
• We examine the gaps in information accessibility for women.
• Why Dr. Williams strives to never tell her patients “no.”
• The benefits of giving out hand-tailored programs to each individual patient.
• Dr. William breaks down her thoughts on the concept of training and cueing the pelvic floor.
• Her approach and perspective on when postnatal women are ready to start “working their core.”
• Tips for better supporting women emotionally in their postnatal season.
• The value of tuning into the subtle signals our bodies send as women.
• Knowing the boundaries of our abilities to help someone in that instance.
• Last words of advice to movement coaches and teachers regarding Pilates, movement, and pregnancy.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Dr. Laura Williams on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/yourhearthhealing/

Dr. Laura Williams on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-williams-57b06b264/

Dr. Laura Williams Email — laura@yourhearthhealing.com

Hearth Healing — https://www.yourhearthhealing.com/

Exercise to Address Leakage, Pain, and a Weak Core — https://www.loom.com/share/803ef42b559841c283e0e846e01f821b

Free Ebook – 100 Pilates Class Themes: performance-fit-online.com/100-pilates-class-themes

Free Ebook – Top Teaching Tips: performance-fit-online.com/top-teaching-tips

Free Creativity Masterclass: mailchi.mp/pilates-studio-nuernberg/creativity-masterclass

Train the Trainers: pilates-studio-nuernberg.com/train-the-trainers

Connect with Us: hannah@pilates-studio-nuernberg.com

Performance Fit Pilates: pilates-studio-nuernberg.com

Performance F

From every corner of the globe, bodies of all shapes and sizes are embracing Pilates. And just as diverse bodies practice it, diverse bodies should be teaching it, too. That’s the real superpower! This episode is dedicated to anyone considering whether or not to do a Pilates teacher training. Join Hannah as she debunks various reasons for not becoming a Pilates teacher and inspires listeners to pursue their passion for movement.

Key Points From This Episode:

• The topic of conversation for today’s episode!
• Hannah answers the question: Should I, or could I, become a Pilates teacher?
• She debunks some of the factors hindering people from becoming a Pilates teacher.
• Great teachers are made, not born!

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Free Ebook – 100 Pilates Class Themes: performance-fit-online.com/100-pilates-class-themes

Free Ebook – Top Teaching Tips: performance-fit-online.com/top-teaching-tips

Free Creativity Masterclass: mailchi.mp/pilates-studio-nuernberg/creativity-masterclass

Train the Trainers: pilates-studio-nuernberg.com/train-the-trainers

Connect with Us: hannah@pilates-studio-nuernberg.com

Performance Fit Pilates: pilates-studio-nuernberg.com

Performance Fit Pilates on Instagram: @performance_fit_pilates

Performance Fit Pilates on YouTube: @PerformanceFitPilates

Hannah Teutscher on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/hannah-teutscher