The Story Behind Pilates Anytime and the Future of Online Pilates with Kristi Cooper

Pilates as we know it today would not exist without Kristi Cooper and the bold decision she made in 2009 to put the method online before anyone believed it would work.While in LA, Nic got the chance to visit Kristi Cooper in her gorgeous house in Santa Barbara to discuss the story behind Pilates Anytime and the evolution of online Pilates education.In 2008, at a time when YouTube videos were limited to ten minutes and Pilates was still seen as exclusive and studio based, she was asked a simple question: why not put Pilates online?They dive into Kristi’s early journey with Pilates at just 13 years old, her training with Rael Isacowitz, and her passion for preserving the lineage of the method through the Pilates Legacy Project.The conversation explores classical versus contemporary Pilates, inclusivity across styles, the rise of athletic reformer trends, and the balance between staying true to the method while responding to modern data and member demand.Timestamps00:00 Intro to Kristi01:03 The original idea behind putting Pilates online05:04 Kristi’s introduction to Pilates at 13 and how it changed her life07:00 Training with Rael Isacowitz and stepping into teacher training09:52 Launching Pilates Anytime in 200912:50 The Pilates Legacy Project and preserving the history of the method19:05 Inclusivity across classical and contemporary styles and managing industry competition23:54 Responding to trends while protecting the integrity of Pilates25:29 Building community through workshops, emails and connection26:34 Creating new content while managing a vast online library28:20 The depth of Pilates education and the challenges facing modern teachers29:09 Observation, mentorship and what makes a great Pilates instructor31:03 How teachers are selected for Pilates Anytime36:23 The educational role of online platforms in an unregulated industry40:38 The future of online Pilates42:24 Quickfire questionsIf you want to keep hearing conversations from amazing people within the industry, then please make sure to follow the podcast, rate it five stars and share it on Instagram.Connect with Nic:Beyond the Reformer InstagramSoul Pilates InstagramSoul Pilates EducationNic’s InstagramJoin Soul at HomeBook a Pilates ClassConnect with Kristi:Pilates Anytime WebsitePilates Anytime InstagramKristi’s InstagramSign up below to hear more about our Pilates Teacher Training Courses and to get priority access when our next course opens here.