Rethinking Pilates for Runners, Pain, and Performance with Juan Nieto

Nic is joined by Juan Nieto, a physical therapist, Polestar educator, founder of the Reformer Flow Collective and co-creator of Runty.Juan brings a completely different perspective to Pilates, movement, and coaching. Rather than focusing on perfect technique or choosing the “right” exercises, he challenges the idea that there even is a single correct way to move. Instead, he shares why expanding movement options, building awareness, and increasing variability is what truly helps people move better, reduce pain, and build resilience.The conversation explores how Pilates can act as a foundation for everything else, from running to strength training, and why it should be seen as part of a bigger movement ecosystem rather than a standalone solution.Juan shares why group classes can be more powerful than privates, how play and task-based learning can transform the way people move, and why teachers need to shift from instructing to creating environments where real learning can happen.Timestamps00:00 Intro to Juan00:37 Why Pilates should be seen as a starting point, not the end goal04:58 The challenge of getting runners into Pilates08:16 Using Pilates as effective cross-training11:30 Juan’s journey into movement and physical therapy12:27 Moving away from hands-on treatment to building client independence14:30 The opportunity for Pilates teachers in modern rehab20:33 Understanding pain, beliefs, and the nervous system23:01 Assessing movement through tasks and tendencies25:45 Why group classes can be more powerful than privates29:03 Building agency and independence in your clients31:57 Why Pilates teachers need to stop over-cueing35:03 Using play and games to improve movement and learning37:44 The Reformer Flow Collective and creative teaching45:41 Quick-fire questions49:31 Where to connect with JuanThanks so much to Juan for coming on the podcast. Please make sure to subscribe and rate the show 5 stars if you’ve been loving it, it helps the show more than you know.Connect with Nic:Beyond the Reformer InstagramSoul Pilates InstagramSoul Pilates EducationNic’s InstagramJoin Soul at HomeBook a Pilates ClassSign up to Our NewsletterConnect with JuanJuan Nieto InstagramEmail: [email protected] Flow CollectivePolestar Pilates Spain