"From Pubs to Pilates:”  Why ‘Generation Active’ Are Turning Fitness into a Social Experience
Chris Onslow Chris Onslow

"From Pubs to Pilates:” Why ‘Generation Active’ Are Turning Fitness into a Social Experience

Recent research highlights a significant shift among younger people in the UK towards using gyms and fitness centres as social spaces, moving away from traditional places like pubs. This trend is driven by their preference for healthier lifestyles, a desire for alcohol-free social settings, and the appeal of tech-enabled, flexible fitness options​.

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Evolving Your Pilates Practice: Responding to 2024 Trends with Mbodies CPD Courses
Mbodies Pilates Instructor Training Chris Onslow Mbodies Pilates Instructor Training Chris Onslow

Evolving Your Pilates Practice: Responding to 2024 Trends with Mbodies CPD Courses

The 2024 HFA Global Report shows clear shifts in the Pilates industry, from saturated Matwork markets to rising demand for apparatus training, niche wellness expertise, and mental‑health‑focused movement. This article explores how Pilates instructors can respond to these trends and how Mbodies CPD courses provide accessible, flexible pathways to expand skills, diversify services, and stay competitive.

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Why are Pilates Instructors Choosing the Wunda Chair Over Cadillac/Tower Training ?
Mbodies Pilates Instructor Training Chris Onslow Mbodies Pilates Instructor Training Chris Onslow

Why are Pilates Instructors Choosing the Wunda Chair Over Cadillac/Tower Training ?

A growing number of Pilates instructors are choosing Wunda Chair training instead of the traditional Cadillac/Tower pathway. This article explores the reasons behind the shift — including affordability, space efficiency, versatility, functional‑fitness appeal, and rising studio demand — and explains why the Wunda Chair is becoming a strategic choice for instructors looking to expand their skills and stay competitive.

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Beyond the Mat: How Contemporary Pilates, Clinical Pilates and Fitness Pilates are Expanding into Unexpected Spaces
Chris Onslow Chris Onslow

Beyond the Mat: How Contemporary Pilates, Clinical Pilates and Fitness Pilates are Expanding into Unexpected Spaces

In 2024, we are witnessing Pilates’ transformation as it integrates into luxury amenities, corporate wellness programmes, and even unconventional spaces like spas and high-end residential complexes. This shift reflects the growing appeal of the practice, not only for fitness enthusiasts but for a broader market seeking wellness solutions.

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Align Pilates Launches New Classical Equipment Range
Chris Onslow Chris Onslow

Align Pilates Launches New Classical Equipment Range

For over a decade, Align Pilates has been known for manufacturing and supplying the best value, high-quality contemporary Pilates equipment. Now they are taking a bold step into the very tight-knit world of classical Pilates, with a full range of apparatus built to the original specifications of Joseph Pilates.

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Can Pilates or Self-Myofascial Release really help in chronic Pain Management in isolation or when combined ?
Mbodies Pilates Instructor Training Chris Onslow Mbodies Pilates Instructor Training Chris Onslow

Can Pilates or Self-Myofascial Release really help in chronic Pain Management in isolation or when combined ?

Chronic pain is complex, and effective management requires more than symptom suppression. This article explores how Pilates and Self‑Myofascial Release (SMR) each support pain reduction through strength, alignment, mobility, and mindful movement — and why combining them offers a powerful, holistic approach. It also highlights how Mbodies Training Academy equips instructors and physiotherapists with the skills to integrate both modalities into personalised pain‑management programmes.

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The ‘Pilates Method’
Chris Onslow Chris Onslow

The ‘Pilates Method’

The essence of the Pilates method lies in its focus on the key principles Joseph Pilates and his Elders emphasised: Centring, concentration, control, precision, breath, and flow, head, neck and pelvis placement.

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The Pilates Elders and Their Legacy
Chris Onslow Chris Onslow

The Pilates Elders and Their Legacy

The history of Pilates, from its inception by Joseph Pilates to its current status as a globally recognised fitness and rehabilitation method, is a tale of evolution, innovation, and often, contention.  Central to this narrative are the Pilates Elders, a group of Joseph Pilates’ direct disciples.

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Broaden my ‘Scope of Practice’: How Mbodies' Online Myofascial Release Course Transformed My Teaching. By Kelly McMahon
Mbodies Pilates Instructor Training Chris Onslow Mbodies Pilates Instructor Training Chris Onslow

Broaden my ‘Scope of Practice’: How Mbodies' Online Myofascial Release Course Transformed My Teaching. By Kelly McMahon

In this testimonial, InspireFit studio owner Kelly McMahon explains how Mbodies’ Myofascial Release course broadened her scope of practice, introduced new equipment like Body Working Balls, and enabled her to create fully booked specialist classes. The course’s practical structure, expert teaching, and immediate real‑world application transformed both her teaching and her business.

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Joseph Pilates and the Inception of Contrology
Chris Onslow Chris Onslow

Joseph Pilates and the Inception of Contrology

The story of Pilates, a method that has revolutionised the fitness and rehabilitation worlds in the past 25 years, begins with one man: Joseph Pilates. His life's work, initially termed "Contrology," reflects a profound understanding of the body and mind, an understanding that has cultivated a global movement.

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Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for Fitness and Movement Instructors: A Focus on Cancer Rehabilitation
Mbodies Pilates Instructor Training Chris Onslow Mbodies Pilates Instructor Training Chris Onslow

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for Fitness and Movement Instructors: A Focus on Cancer Rehabilitation

Cancer rehabilitation requires specialist knowledge, and CPD plays a vital role in preparing fitness, Pilates, yoga, and movement professionals to work safely with cancer patients and survivors. This article compares leading CPD options — including CanRehab, Mbodies’ Pink Ribbon Breast Cancer Post Rehab Course, and shorter introductory workshops — highlighting the depth, assessment standards, and practical tools each provides.

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Pilates Studios: Strategic Considerations for investors
Chris Onslow Chris Onslow

Pilates Studios: Strategic Considerations for investors

Marketing and Target Market: Tailoring Strategies to Studio Types

The marketing strategy and target demographic of a Pilates studio are deeply influenced by its foundational training philosophy. Each type of studio; Historical Classical, Classical, Contemporary, Fitness Pilates, and Fitness Reformer appeals to distinct segments of the fitness and wellness market. Understanding these nuances is crucial for effective marketing and communication, ensuring that studios attract and retain their ideal clientele.

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Pilates Studios: Strategic Considerations for investors
Chris Onslow Chris Onslow

Pilates Studios: Strategic Considerations for investors

Pilates Studio Types Based on Training Philosophies

The variety of Pilates training philosophies naturally leads to a variety of studio types, each catering to different aspects of the Pilates practice and appealing to distinct client demographics. Understanding these variations is crucial for studio owners and investors to position their studios effectively in the competitive fitness market.

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Official sounding Pilates Organisations are Confusing Students – is this their intention?
Mbodies Pilates Instructor Training Chris Onslow Mbodies Pilates Instructor Training Chris Onslow

Official sounding Pilates Organisations are Confusing Students – is this their intention?

A growing number of Pilates organisations are creating confusion by implying they set official national standards for instructor training — when in reality, only Level 3 Matwork is government‑regulated in the UK. This article breaks down how accreditation truly works, why insurance companies — not private associations — determine what’s recognised, and how instructors can choose training providers with confidence.

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Pilates Studios: Strategic Considerations: Influence of Instructor Background on Studio Style
Chris Onslow Chris Onslow

Pilates Studios: Strategic Considerations: Influence of Instructor Background on Studio Style

The style, atmosphere, and overall ethos of a Pilates studio can be significantly shaped by the training background of its instructors.  These professionals bring their unique perspectives, skills, and philosophies to their teaching, directly influencing the studio's character, the type of classes offered, and the clientele it attracts.  This interplay between instructor background and studio style underscores the importance of thoughtful recruitment and program development in creating a studio's identity.

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Political Movements within Pilates: The Rise of Fitness Reformer Classes
Chris Onslow Chris Onslow

Political Movements within Pilates: The Rise of Fitness Reformer Classes

The advent of Fitness Reformer classes marks an unwelcome but probably inevitable attempt by the fitness industry to harness the popularity of the name Pilates by using traditional Pilates Apparatus to deliver high-energy, fitness-style workouts with little or no lip service to the Pilates apparatus, specifically the Reformer.

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