Building a Reformer Pilates Studio on Your Own Terms with Kia

"Pilates isn't about that for me, you know? It's about really going deep, connecting these people."In this episode, we are joined by Kia, a classically trained Pilates teacher based in Los Angeles who built her entire studio out of a backyard gazebo during COVID, and has kept it that way ever since. Three reformers, a Cadillac, a tower, a wonder chair, and a waitlist - entirely by choice.They explore what it actually looks like to build a Pilates career rooted in passion rather than pressure, from how a single mat class on a hotel trip changed the direction of Kia's life, to why she completed a 650-hour classical training program and still goes back to those books today. They talk honestly about what new teachers struggle with most, why doing your own Pilates practice every single day is non-negotiable, and how to find your own voice in a method that has no single rulebook.They also get into the harder stuff - the moment at the Pilates Expo where Kia sat alone and questioned whether everything she had built was enough, the industry's money-driven boom and what it is doing to teaching standards, and why she started the Pilates Roundtable to fix the teacher loneliness nobody talks about. Plus Kia shares how she blends sound healing into her sessions, her post-client reset ritual, and why she thinks Joseph Pilates would have changed his own method a hundred times over by now.Timestamps00:31 How COVID accidentally created the studio02:23 Why Pilates felt different from anything else07:47 A 650-hour classical training program09:57 Why teachers must keep doing their own Pilates13:03 Safety, social media, and different training backgrounds14:50 What new teachers struggle with most17:32 Learning more from clients than from any course26:23 The 74% studio boom and what it means29:27 When investors and money drive the industry35:59 Blending sound healing into Pilates sessions40:01 Advice for teachers chasing trends43:40 How to find your own voice as a teacher45:25 Would Joseph Pilates have evolved the method?50:46 Why continuous learning makes better teachersIf 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:Beyond the Reformer InstagramSoul Pilates InstagramSoul Pilates EducationNic's InstagramJoin Soul at HomeBook a Pilates ClassSign up to Our NewsletterConnect with Kia:Kia’s InstagramKia’s WebsiteSign up below to hear more about our Pilates Teacher Training Courses and to get priority access when our next course opens - https://mailchi.mp/ba9c00dd1d0b/56swq8a1k9Sign up below to hear more about our Pilates Teacher Training Courses and to get priority access when our next course opens here.