Beyond the Reformer

"I'm about as alpha male as it gets. I come from 30 years in special forces. It doesn't come much better than that. And I now teach Pilates and I absolutely see the benefits."
In this episode, Nic is joined by Tim Gough, co-owner and instructor at Vagabond Pilates in Dorset, and a 30-year veteran of the Royal Marines and Special Boat Service. Tim shares how his wife Millie's own Pilates journey through cancer recovery pulled him into the method during deployment, and how that eventually led him to leave the military and co-found a full-equipment Pilates studio with Millie and Molly.
They explore why Pilates is still seen as a female-dominated space, what needs to change in how it's marketed and taught to get more men in the door, and the surprising overlap between special forces mindset and the discipline of a Pilates practice. Tim also opens up about the challenges of studio ownership, adjusting to life after the military, and what he's learned about teaching, mentorship and building a team since joining Vagabond as an instructor.
Timestamps 
00:00 Tim's first podcast and his path into Pilates
 01:43 How his wife Millie's Pilates journey began
 03:53 Teaching Pilates to his unit during deployment
 07:11 The mission to get more men into Pilates
 13:52 Running a men-only class at Vagabond
 16:53 Making the studio feel welcoming for everyone
 20:44 Thirty years in special forces, then Pilates
 23:20 Why one session isn't enough
 30:18 Clients who say Pilates changed their life
 31:09 Why nobody notices your struggle in class
 34:34 Meeting high-performing clients where they are
 38:17 How Vagabond Pilates started
 40:40 Interviewing to become an instructor
 43:49 Adjusting to life after the military
 44:29 Working with his wife and an all-female team
 49:11 Mentorship and keeping good teachers
 51:50 A look inside the Vagabond studio
 54:03 Quickfire questions
 59:15 Where to find Tim and Vagabond Pilates
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"The second guessing is you're trying to be like somebody else and you can never be like somebody else. You can only be like you are."
In this episode, Nic swaps the usual guest chair for an Agony Aunt session, answering real Pilates dilemmas sent in by listeners.
She unpacks what's really behind imposter syndrome, why tactile cueing feels so nerve-wracking for so many teachers, and how to bring your full, authentic personality into the studio without oversharing, including a candid take on teaching as a neurodivergent instructor.
She also gets into the harder judgment calls: balancing what a client wants against what they need, what to do when a studio's direction stops matching your values, and the real story behind opening (and choosing not to keep opening) studios, and what that taught her about staying true to the Soul ethos as things grow.
Timestamps
00:02 Intro to this week's Agony Aunt format
02:19 Dilemma one: will I ever feel good enough?
07:50 Dilemma two: tactile cueing, confidence and authenticity
16:55 Giving clients what they want vs what they need
19:59 Dilemma three: when your values don't match your studio
29:00 Dilemma four: growing without losing yourself
40:49 Closing thoughts and what's next
If you're enjoying the podcast, make sure you're following along so you don't miss future episodes. And feel free to share this one with someone you think would take something from it.
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"You're in the service business, you're not in the teaching business."
In this episode, we are joined by Phil M Jones, bestselling author of the Exactly What to Say book series (over 1 million copies sold) and one of the world's most in-demand communication and sales experts, having delivered over 3,500 presentations across 50+ countries.
They explore why personality can't be taught but connection can, and what that means for Pilates teachers who think they're "not chatty people." Phil breaks down why the question "how are you" is a connection killer, and gives a simple alternative that opens up real conversation with clients instead.
They unpack why the first and last five minutes of class matter more than the workout itself, why some of the most technically excellent private session teachers still lose clients, and how to build a pre-brief and debrief into every one-on-one so people actually come back.
They also go deep on the business side of Pilates studios, from why membership models built on spreadsheets fail, to how studio owners can build retention and referrals by making long-term clients feel like they belong.
Timestamps
00:00 Intro to Phil M Jones
03:47 Can personality be taught? What actually makes a great teacher
06:52 Why you're in the "helping business," not the teaching business
11:08 Ban the question "how are you"
19:03 You are the brand: why the first 15 minutes before class matter
24:33 Why 6 technically great private sessions still lost a client
40:37 The three keys to reconnect with clients on the way out
48:35 Building memberships around real people, not spreadsheets
If you're enjoying the podcast, make sure you're following along so you don't miss future episodes. And feel free to share this one with someone you think would take something from it.
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Exactly What to Say
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"We have so much more in common than we have in differences, despite what Instagram might make you think." - Nic
This week's episode is a little different. Instead of one guest, Nic is looking back at 11 conversations from the podcast's first year - not ranked as a "best of," but chosen as the moments that made her stop, think, and question.
Across the past year, Beyond the Reformer has brought together voices from every corner of the Pilates world - different schools, different methods, different opinions on what Pilates should even be. In this episode, Nic weaves together the conversations that stuck with her most, and finds a common thread running underneath all the differences: everyone featured is ultimately driven by the same thing - helping people feel stronger, move with more confidence, and understand their bodies a little better. It's part reflection on the show's first year, part reminder that the Pilates community has more in common than social media sometimes suggests.
If you've enjoyed the podcast, the smallest things really do help us grow - subscribe on YouTube, follow on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and come find us on Instagram. Every like, comment, and share helps more people discover these conversations.
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Guests Featured In This Episode
Ava Rodriguez, Tracy Ward, Shelly Power, Kath P, Alan Herdman, Yvette McGaffin, Lesley Logan, Juan Nieto, Brent Anderson, Tracy M. and Rael.
Guest Episodes:
Ava Rodriguez Episode 1

Ava Rodriguez Episode 2
Tracy Ward
Shelly Power
Kath Pentecost
Alan Herdman
Yvette McGaffin
Lesley Logan
Juan Nieto 
Brent Anderson Part 1
Brent Anderson Part 2
Tracy Mallett
Rael Isacowitz Part 1
Rael Isacowitz Part 2

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"Just because you've got your 600 hour certificate doesn't mean you know it all. This is your beginning. This is just truly your beginning."
In this episode, Nic is joined by Anita Horry, a second-generation Pilates master teacher, founder of the Anita Horry Academy, and internationally respected educator and business mentor based in Spain. With over 20 years in the industry, Anita has trained and mentored teachers across the globe and is actively involved in raising Pilates education standards through her work with the PMA and ITAP.
Together they explore what it really takes to become an exceptional Pilates teacher, and why finishing a qualification is just the start of the journey. They get into the gap between what teacher training programs deliver and what the real world of teaching actually demands, from learning to read bodies effectively to the crucial role of mentorship and supervised teaching hours.
They also take an honest look at the state of the industry right now, including the explosion of reformer studios, underqualified teachers being pushed onto studio floors too soon, and investors entering the space without understanding the method. And for anyone running or thinking of opening a studio, Anita brings her accountancy background to the table with a grounded conversation on fixed costs, cash flow, VAT thresholds, and why being a great teacher does not automatically make you a great business owner.
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction to Anita Horry
 01:33 What makes an exceptional Pilates teacher
 02:37 Why your qualification is just the beginning
 03:15 The state of teacher training right now
 04:45 Early gratification and the push to earn too soon
 06:14 How Pilates changed Anita's life
 13:39 Anita's training journey and lineage
 21:27 Classical versus contemporary and what we should actually call Pilates
 28:59 Investors, oversaturation, and studios without substance
 34:53 The real numbers behind running a viable studio
 45:17 Educational standards, PMA, and ITAP accreditation
 55:30 Log book hours, supervised teaching, and why they matter
 58:16 Quick-fire questions
If you're enjoying the podcast, make sure you're following along so you don't miss future episodes. And feel free to share this one with someone you think would take something from it.
Connect with Nic:
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Connect with Anita:
Anita Horry Academy Website
Anita Horry Academy Youtube
Anita Horry Academy Instagram
Anita Horry Academy Facebook

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Sign up below to hear more about our Pilates Teacher Training Courses and to get priority access when our next course opens here.