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Beyond the Reformer · May 4 · 53 min

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. Timestamps 00:00 Intro to Juan 00:37 Why Pilates should be seen as a starting point, not the end goal 04:58 The challenge of getting runners into Pilates 08:16 Using Pilates as effective cross-training 11:30 Juan’s journey into movement and physical therapy 12:27 Moving away from hands-on treatment to building client independence 14:30 The opportunity for Pilates teachers in modern rehab 20:33 Understanding pain, beliefs, and the nervous system 23:01 Assessing movement through tasks and tendencies 25:45 Why group classes can be more powerful than privates 29:03 Building agency and independence in your clients 31:57 Why Pilates teachers need to stop over-cueing 35:03 Using play and games to improve movement and learning 37:44 The Reformer Flow Collective and creative teaching 45:41 Quick-fire questions 49:31 Where to connect with Juan Thanks 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 Instagram Soul Pilates Instagram Soul Pilates Education Nic’s Instagram Join Soul at Home Book a Pilates Class Sign up to Our Newsletter Connect with Juan Juan Nieto Instagram Email: juan@postpilates.es Reformer Flow Collective Polestar Pilates Spain

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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.


Timestamps

00:00 Intro to Juan

00:37 Why Pilates should be seen as a starting point, not the end goal

04:58 The challenge of getting runners into Pilates

08:16 Using Pilates as effective cross-training

11:30 Juan’s journey into movement and physical therapy

12:27 Moving away from hands-on treatment to building client independence

14:30 The opportunity for Pilates teachers in modern rehab

20:33 Understanding pain, beliefs, and the nervous system

23:01 Assessing movement through tasks and tendencies

25:45 Why group classes can be more powerful than privates

29:03 Building agency and independence in your clients

31:57 Why Pilates teachers need to stop over-cueing

35:03 Using play and games to improve movement and learning

37:44 The Reformer Flow Collective and creative teaching

45:41 Quick-fire questions

49:31 Where to connect with Juan


Thanks 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:

Connect with Juan


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