The Pilates Lounge

What would you be willing to risk to give your community something truly valuable?
In this episode, host Katie Crane gets real about what it actually takes to build a Pilates studio that honours the full method. From a very public business attack to losing 40% of her clients, to finally opening the last room of her dream studio — Katie shares an honest, behind-the-scenes look at the risks she took and why she would do it all again.
In This Episode, We Discuss
Why Katie relocated her Darwin studio in March 2025 — and what it really cost her
The public media attack that dragged her business name through the dirt
Losing 40% of her client base during the relocation and how she rebuilt
The opening of her new wall tower room and why it brought her to tears
Why teaching reformer-only Pilates is doing your clients a disservice
The neuroscience behind movement: "Neurons that fire together, wire together"
Why functional, upright movement matters more than perfecting supine exercises
How the reformer boom will eventually burst — and who will be left standing
What it truly means to invest in Pilates as a complete system
Key Takeaways
✨ The reformer is a tool, not the whole system
The reformer is one piece of the Pilates apparatus. When clients only ever use one tool, they miss the full benefit of the Pilates method.
✨ Functional movement means upright movement
Neurons that fire together wire together. If your clients only ever practice lying down, they only get better at lying down. The goal is to help people move well in real life.
✨ Business risk is part of serving your community
Katie spent over $100,000 more than planned on the relocation. She lost clients. She rebuilt her brand. And she says it was worth it.
✨ The reformer bubble will burst
The ones that survive will be the ones that truly understand and apply the full Pilates method.
About Katie Crane
Katie Crane is the founder of The Pilates Lounge in Darwin, Australia, and host of The Pilates Lounge Podcast. With over 20 years of experience teaching Pilates, Katie is passionate about evidence-informed practice, the full Pilates apparatus, and supporting movement professionals to serve their communities with integrity.
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Continue the Conversation in The Pilates Muse
Join the conversation here: https://www.thepilatesprofessional.com.au/the-pilates-muse-publication
About The Pilates Lounge
The Pilates Lounge is a space for Pilates professionals, movement educators, and curious learners to explore meaningful conversations around movement, teaching, health, and the evolving Pilates industry

What if cueing the body wasn't about telling muscles what to do — but helping clients feel how their body already knows how to move?
In this solo episode of The Pilates Lounge Podcast, Katie explores how Pilates teachers can cue muscles without directly asking clients to "switch on," "activate," or "engage" specific muscles.
Drawing from her own teaching experience, Katie shares how her cueing language has evolved over the years and why functional movement should reflect how the body naturally works in everyday life. Using simple examples like picking up a coffee cup or walking, she explains why constantly cueing muscle contraction may sometimes interrupt natural coordination rather than improve it.
This episode invites Pilates professionals to think deeper about body awareness, joint placement, integrated movement, and how to use language, touch, imagery, props, and the environment to help clients connect with their body in a more natural and functional way.
In This Episode, We Discuss:
Why Katie no longer relies heavily on cues like "switch on your core"
How teaching language naturally evolves over time
Why Pilates cueing should support real-life function
The difference between muscle activation and body awareness
Why actively cueing muscles can sometimes interrupt natural movement
How to help clients understand where their body is in space
The role of joint placement in supporting better movement
How to cue the core without directly saying "engage your core"
How to help clients feel hamstring connection through the heel
Why the body works as an integrated system, not isolated muscles
How props, touch, equipment, and imagery can improve client awareness
Why curiosity and feedback are essential for Pilates teachers
Key Takeaways
✨ Pilates cueing does not always need to focus on individual muscle activation
✨ The body naturally coordinates movement without conscious muscle commands
✨ Functional teaching should reflect how clients move in everyday life
✨ Joint placement and body awareness can help muscles work more naturally
✨ Imagery, touch, props, and the environment can support deeper client understanding
✨ Teaching language will continue to evolve as your experience and knowledge grow
✨ There is no perfect way to teach — only the best way you can teach with what you know today
About Katie Crane
Katie Crane is the host of The Pilates Lounge Podcast and founder of The Pilates Professional. With decades of experience in the Pilates industry, Katie supports Pilates teachers and movement professionals in deepening their understanding of the body, refining their teaching approach, and developing more thoughtful, functional, and client-centered practices.
In this episode, Katie shares a personal and practical reflection on cueing, teaching evolution, and how Pilates professionals can better guide clients toward movement that feels natural, integrated, and empowering.
Resources Mentioned
Functional movement cueing
Body awareness in Pilates
Joint placement and movement support
Core connection through imagery
Hamstring connection through the back body line
Pilates teaching language and client feedback
Listen & Subscribe
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow Pilates teacher or movement professional who wants to refine their cueing and teach with more clarity.
Because sometimes the most powerful cue is not telling the body what to do — but helping the client feel what is already happening.
Continue the Conversation in The Pilates Muse
If this conversation sparked something for you — professionally or personally — explore The Pilates Muse, where Katie shares deeper reflections on movement, teaching philosophy, body awareness, and the evolution of Pilates as a therapeutic practice.
➡️ https://www.thepilatesprofessional.com.au/the-pilates-muse-publication
🎥 Prefer to watch?
Episodes of The Pilates Lounge Podcast are also available on YouTube.
About The Pilates Lounge
The Pilates Lounge Podcast is where intelligent movement meets real-world practice.
Hosted by Katie Crane, the podcast explores the deeper layers of Pilates — from chronic pain and nervous system regulation to business leadership, teaching philosophy, and the evolving role of movement professionals in modern healthcare.
Each episode supports Pilates educators to think deeper, teach smarter, and serve their communities with integrity.

*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-WEB:e6c8a22c-ae5b-4f02-a3c2-d2e5e6a26fe1-3" data-turn-id-container= "request-WEB:e6c8a22c-ae5b-4f02-a3c2-d2e5e6a26fe1-3" data-testid= "conversation-turn-8" data-scroll-anchor="false" data-turn= "assistant"> What can 37 years of teaching Pilates teach us about aging well?
In this episode of The Pilates Lounge Podcast, Katie Crane is joined by Lynda Lippin, a Pilates educator, studio owner, and movement expert with nearly four decades of experience helping people move with greater strength, confidence, and ease. From working with high-profile clients to teaching everyday movers, Lynda has spent her career exploring how intelligent movement can support long-term health and vitality.
Together, Katie and Lynda discuss the realities of aging, the importance of maintaining strength and mobility, and why Pilates remains one of the most effective tools for preserving independence, resilience, and quality of life. They also explore how movement habits evolve over time and what both practitioners and teachers should understand about supporting the aging body.
In This Episode, You'll Learn:
Why strength training becomes increasingly important as we age
How Pilates supports balance, mobility, and long-term independence
Common misconceptions about aging and physical decline
The role of movement in reducing pain and improving function
How Pilates can be adapted for different ages and abilities
Lessons Lynda has learned from 37 years of teaching and observing bodies in motion
About Lynda Lippin
Lynda Lippin is a highly respected Pilates educator with more than 37 years of experience helping clients move better, feel stronger, and reduce pain. She has worked with notable clients including Donna Karan, Laurie Anderson, and Joe Walsh, and has received industry recognition including Best of Philly® Pilates Studio and SpaFinder Reader's Choice: Best Pilates in the World. Lynda is also the host of The Pilates Goddess Podcast and currently serves as a Master Teacher at Bombshell Pilates.
Connect with Lynda
🌐 Website: https://lyndalippin.com 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/lyndalippin 📘 Facebook: https://facebook.com/lyndalippinpilates 💼 LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/lyndalippin
Resources Mentioned
Introduction to Osteoporosis & Pilates https://1fdhsaoyfu574rryf0ya.memberships.msgsndr.com/offers/59e0caf0-0f24-449a-87cd-7f3fc4098e07
Pilates Teacher Mastermind® Video Library https://lyndalippin.com/everything
Listen & Subscribe
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow movement professional or Pilates teacher who would love this conversation.
Because movement truly is medicine.
Continue the Conversation in The Pilates Muse
If this conversation sparked something for you — professionally or personally — explore The Pilates Muse, where Katie shares deeper reflections on movement, pain, teaching philosophy, and the evolution of Pilates as a therapeutic practice.
➡️ https://www.thepilatesprofessional.com.au/the-pilates-muse-publication
🎥 Prefer to watch?
Episodes of The Pilates Lounge Podcast are also available on YouTube.
About The Pilates Lounge
The Pilates Lounge Podcast is where intelligent movement meets real-world practice.
Hosted by Katie Crane, the podcast explores the deeper layers of Pilates — from chronic pain and nervous system regulation to business leadership, teaching philosophy, and the evolving role of movement professionals in modern healthcare.
Each episode supports Pilates educators to think deeper, teach smarter, and serve their communities with integrity.

What if pain wasn't just about tissue damage — but about the brain's relationship with movement?
In this episode of The Pilates Lounge Podcast, Katie sits down with chiropractor, educator, and author Dr. Cuan Wayne Coetzee to explore the fascinating connection between movement, neuroplasticity, chronic pain, and healing. Known online for his creative "movement snacks" and Neural Re-Education (NRE) approach, Dr. Coetzee shares how introducing novel movement patterns can help the brain relearn safe, pain-free movement.
Together, they unpack the role of movement in pain management, the psychology behind chronic pain, why consistency matters more than perfection, and how Pilates professionals can integrate neuro-based thinking into their teaching and client care.
This conversation bridges chiropractic, Pilates, pain neuroscience, movement variability, and brain health — offering practical insights for movement practitioners and anyone curious about how the body and brain work together.
In This Episode, We Discuss:
Why "movement is medicine" goes beyond exercise
How chronic pain becomes a learned movement pattern
The concept of Neural Re-Education (NRE)
What "novel movement" means and why the brain craves it
How Pilates supports neuroplasticity and pain recovery
The relationship between movement, fear, and pain
Why safe movement experiences matter for healing
How manual therapy affects the nervous system
The role of prediction error and dopamine in pain-free movement
Precision vs variability in Pilates and movement teaching
Why consistency is more important than perfection
The connection between movement, mood, and mental health
Supplements Dr. Coetzee recommends for musculoskeletal health
The importance of education, accountability, and hope in recovery
How practitioners can better support clients with chronic pain
Key Takeaways
✨ Pain is real — but not always proportional to tissue damage
✨ The brain can "learn" pain patterns over time
✨ Novel movement creates new neurological input and opportunity for change
✨ Pilates practitioners are already working neurologically, whether they realize it or not
✨ Movement variability and curiosity can help retrain the nervous system
✨ Education and empowerment are essential in long-term healing
✨ Healing often requires consistency, patience, and safe exploration
About Dr. Cuan Wayne Coetzee
Dr. Cuan Wayne Coetzee is a Chiropractor based in London and Kent, specializing in evidence-based pain management and movement rehabilitation. He is the founder of Neural Re-Education (NRE) and author of the book Why Movement Is Medicine. Through his innovative approach combining chiropractic care, movement therapy, and neuroscience, Dr. Coetzee helps people better understand pain and reconnect with confident, functional movement.
Connect with Dr. Cuan Wayne Coetzee
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/movemeduk
Website: https://movemed.co.uk
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@movemeduk
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/movemeduk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/movemeduk
Resources Mentioned
Why Movement Is Medicine by Dr. Cuan Wayne Coetzee
Neural Re-Education (NRE)
Pain neuroscience education
Neuroplasticity & movement learning
Listen & Subscribe
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow movement professional or Pilates teacher who would love this conversation.
Because movement truly is medicine.
Continue the Conversation in The Pilates Muse
If this conversation sparked something for you — professionally or personally — explore The Pilates Muse, where Katie shares deeper reflections on movement, pain, teaching philosophy, and the evolution of Pilates as a therapeutic practice.
➡️ https://www.thepilatesprofessional.com.au/the-pilates-muse-publication
🎥 Prefer to watch?
Episodes of The Pilates Lounge Podcast are also available on YouTube.
About The Pilates Lounge
The Pilates Lounge Podcast is where intelligent movement meets real-world practice.
Hosted by Katie Crane, the podcast explores the deeper layers of Pilates — from chronic pain and nervous system regulation to business leadership, teaching philosophy, and the evolving role of movement professionals in modern healthcare.
Each episode supports Pilates educators to think deeper, teach smarter, and serve their communities with integrity.

What is fascia really — and why is it becoming one of the most important conversations in movement, rehabilitation, and Pilates education?
In this episode of The Pilates Lounge Podcast, Katie Crane sits down with physiotherapist, educator, and Fascial Manipulation practitioner Jack Williams to explore the science, structure, and function of fascia — and how understanding it can completely change the way we look at movement, pain, posture, aging, and performance.
Jack is the first and only Certified Fascial Manipulation practitioner and teacher in Australia, having completed the Fascial Manipulation Institute's intensive three-year international program under Professor Carla Stecco and Assistant Professor Antonio Stecco in Italy.
Together, Katie and Jack unpack:
what fascia actually is
how fascia influences movement and force transmission
why fascia may play a key role in pain and dysfunction
the relationship between fascia, posture, and aging
how old injuries can continue influencing the body years later
why movement educators should understand fascia beyond basic anatomy
and how Fascial Manipulation works clinically
This conversation bridges science and practical application in a way that Pilates teachers, physiotherapists, movement educators, and curious movement lovers will deeply appreciate.
In This Episode
What fascia is and why it has been misunderstood for decades
The difference between muscular, superficial, visceral, and neurovascular fascia
How fascia acts as both a force transmitter and sensory organ
Why healthy fascia requires movement and gliding
The role of hyaluronic acid in fascial health
What densifications are — and how they may contribute to pain
How fascia changes with age
The relationship between fascia, posture, and osteoarthritis
Why old injuries can continue affecting movement years later
Fascial Manipulation and restoring fascial mechanics
Why Pilates professionals should understand fascia more deeply
About Jack Williams
Jack Williams is a physiotherapist, strength and conditioning coach, and the first and only Certified Fascial Manipulation practitioner and teacher in Australia.
He is the co-director of MAD Physiotherapy in Melbourne and teaches within La Trobe University's physiotherapy programs. Jack regularly presents to professional organisations across Australia and internationally and delivers Fascial Manipulation workshops and courses nationwide.
Jack completed the Fascial Manipulation Institute's three-year international program under Professor Carla Stecco and Assistant Professor Antonio Stecco in Italy.
Connect with Jack Williams
🌐 Fascial Manipulation Courses https://www.melbourneathleticdevelopment.com.au/fascial-manipulation-courses/
🔗 LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-williams-571177266
Key Quote From This Episode
"Muscle is the output. Fascia is the sensory organ." — Jack Williams
Continue the Conversation in The Pilates Muse
If this conversation sparked something for you — professionally or personally — explore The Pilates Muse, where Katie shares deeper reflections on movement, pain, teaching philosophy, and the evolution of Pilates as a therapeutic practice.
➡️ https://www.thepilatesprofessional.com.au/the-pilates-muse-publication
🎥 Prefer to watch?
Episodes of The Pilates Lounge Podcast are also available on YouTube.
About The Pilates Lounge
The Pilates Lounge Podcast is where intelligent movement meets real-world practice.
Hosted by Katie Crane, the podcast explores the deeper layers of Pilates — from chronic pain and nervous system regulation to business leadership, teaching philosophy, and the evolving role of movement professionals in modern healthcare.
Each episode supports Pilates educators to think deeper, teach smarter, and serve their communities with integrity.