Evidence-Based Pilates

Every major muscle a Pilates instructor needs to know.

In one place. For free.

I created this Muscles Guide to be the reference I never had when I started teaching.

Comment MUSCLE and I will send you the free download.

Someone asked me a really important question the other day.

After I questioned the accuracy of some biomechanical information being shared by a well-known Pilates instructor, they pushed back with something worth addressing directly. If you cannot trust your training from a master instructor, who can you trust?

It is a fair question. And the honest answer might be uncomfortable.

A Pilates certification teaches you how to teach Pilates. That is exactly what it is designed to do, and there is nothing wrong with that. But it does not automatically qualify someone to teach anatomy, biomechanics, physiology, or strength training with authority.

Those are separate disciplines. They require separate education.

The problem is that this distinction is not always respected. Pilates educators, including well-credentialed ones, regularly teach topics they do not have formal training in. The information sounds confident. The credentials on the bio look impressive. But the reasoning underneath is sometimes flawed, and the misinformation spreads quickly through an industry full of instructors genuinely trying to learn.

So who do you trust?

Big Pilates brands do not always handle this well. But there are independent instructors who have gone further, pursuing additional credentials in exercise science, physical therapy, biomechanics, and related fields. Those are the people worth seeking out.

As a Doctor of Physical Therapy and exercise scientist, I am one of them. But you do not have to learn from me. Find the people whose depth of knowledge you respect and whose approach inspires you. That is the standard worth holding.

If you are curious about what we offer at Evidence-Based Pilates, comment READY and I will send you a 2-week free trial of the Anatomy & Biomechanics Club.

No contracts. Cancel anytime.

FYI…Pilates is NOT having a crisis.

We’re having our moment, but it has been difficult for some conservative Pilates instructors to adapt to the changes in the industry. 

Those who adapt survive, and you’ll do well to spend more time investing in your skills than trying to gain the hypothetical approval of Joseph Pilates. 

Trust me, change will continue to occur, and you won’t regret investing in YOU along the way.

For a trusted source of science-based Pilates education, Evidence-Based Pilates is your answer. 

Comment READY for a 2-week free trial to the Anatomy & Biomechanics Club.

Here’s a simple way to spice up you Mat classes. 

👉 Start by doing The Side Kick.

👉 Add a big circle (hip circumduction)

👉 Use the big circle as a fan kick to go from laying on your side to laying supine.

👉 Add a Teaser when you’re supine.
👉 Incorporate any Teaser variations to give your class the challenge they signed up for. 

Best of all…
You get to do both sides in a single class (e.g., you do it twice). 

If access to hundreds of classes and tons of creative combos like this, the Pilates Club is for you, and you can get a 2-week free trial to try it risk free. 

Each of our classes has downloadable programs, and we have an entire Combos Library to spice up your programming. 

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg!


With your free trial, you get access to all this:
✅ Workshop Library (24+ Workshops)
✅ Pilates Class Library (Mat, Reformer, Tower, Chair & Barrels)
✅ Virtual Pilates Studio (Live classes)
✅ Downloadable Programs
✅ Research Reviews
✅ Rehab Exercise Library (400+ Exercises)
✅ Programming Combos
✅ Full Class Summaries
✅ Concept Tutorials
✅ Personalized mentorship from me

No contracts. Cancel anytime. 

Comment READY for a 2-week free trial!

Sometimes the coffee hits the spot and it’s on like Donkey Kong! 😂

That first time is something…😂😂😂

After 16 years of teaching Pilates, I’ve learned countless lessons. ��Not the least of which is that every approach to Pilates is beneficial for our clients and the diversity in our industry is a strength. ��Yes, it’s imperfect, but the abundance of options available attracts different types of people with varying interests which leads to increased participation. ��It’s an incredible time to be a Pilates instructor, and if you’re looking for a trusted source of science-based education, the Anatomy & Biomechanics Club is here to support you. ��Comment READY for a 2-week free trial.

DOLPHIN PUSH-UPS��Adding Dolphin Push-Ups to your reformer classes is a simple and effective way to add upper body strengthening. ��This exercise is usually done on the mat, but the mat limits the potential range of motion because you’ll eventually hit your head on it. ��But that’s not the case on the reformer.��My favorite time to add this to class is at the end of the Up Stretch, but that’s just one of many ways. ��If you’re looking for awesome workouts and fun ways to spice up your programming, the Pilates Club is for you. ��…and you can try it for FREE.��We have hundreds of classes with downloadable programs. ��But that’s just the beginning.��With your FREE trial, you’ll get full access to all this:��✅ Workshop Library (24+ Workshops)
✅ Pilates Class Library (Mat, Reformer, Tower, Chair & Barrels)
✅ Virtual Pilates Studio (Live classes)
✅ Downloadable Programs
✅ Research Reviews
✅ Rehab Exercise Library (400+ Exercises)
✅ Programming Combos
✅ Full Class Summaries
✅ Concept Tutorials
✅ Personalized mentorship from me
No contracts. Cancel anytime.

Comment READY for a 2-week free trial.

I’ve done this too many times 😂😂😂

Do your clients have a difficult time activating the right muscles?

It’s probably an exercise problem, not an activation problem.

Although there’s value in being able to consciously activate muscles, if we have to ask a muscle to work during an exercise, it’s probably because the exercise doesn’t provide enough stimulation.

For example, in Knee Stretches, it’s common to be told to press from the hip extensors (i.e., glutes and hamstrings), but in other exercises like Single Leg Bridges, we don’t have to ask the glutes to work.

They don’t have a choice.

What’s the difference?

The load provided by the springs in Knee Stretches is more aligned with the quads than the glutes; that’s why we don’t have to ask the quads to turn on.

However, Single Leg Bridges are aligned to stimulate hip extension, and therefore, the glutes work.

Don’t get me wrong, there’s a time and place for conscious muscle contractions.

There’s value there, but most of the time, the issue lies in understanding the biomechanics of the exercises we’re choosing.

When we understand the biomechanics of the Pilates exercises we already know, everything changes.

I mean EVERYTHING.

You go from teaching choreography to understanding human movement.

…and that’s what we do in the Anatomy & Biomechanics Club.

Comment READY for a 2-week free trial.