The Truth About Pilates Cueing Nobody Talks About with Shelly Power

"We're not gonna cue muscles to cue a movement."In this episode, Nic is joined by Shelly Power, Director of Curriculum for Polestar Pilates and one of the most respected educators in the industry. Shelly has been teaching Pilates since 1992, has led teacher trainings since 2000, and has examined and mentored Pilates teachers all over the world, including Nic herself.They explore why great teaching has no finish line, and why the best Pilates instructors stay curious long after they're certified. Shelly breaks down why cueing individual muscles ("tighten your core," "shoulders down") often works against the body instead of for it, and shares the story of a professional ballet soloist whose chronic knee pain disappeared the moment her cueing changed.They also get into the current state of the Pilates industry: the "trickle down" effect that turns founders' teaching into rigid dogma a few generations later, the pressure of the online "Pilates police," and why rushing to defend a method matters far less than actually helping the person in front of you.Timestamps00:00 Intro to Shelly Power04:17 The "trickle down theory" of Pilates dogma13:31 Teaching without shame: the "climb a tree" story17:05 Nic's exam story and what it means to be an empowering teacher29:57 Belief over anatomy: the ballet soloist's knee pain48:55 Why we need to stop cueing muscles to cue a movement1:17:56 Curiosity, beginner's mind, and Shelly's closing adviceIf 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 Shelly:Shelly’s Instagram Shelly’s LinkTreePolestar Pilates WebsiteInterested in joining the September Teacher Training intake? Find all the details and book a call here.