Core with Shawna Beardsley | A Pilates Podcast

apprentice teaching, W-2 versus 1099 and more

This episode is for new Pilates teachers entering into the industry. Be sure to educate yourself on how you’re getting paid and if you’re getting paid properly!

drive and yap

Pilates on tour recap

Spiritual Health — The Missing Link

I truly believe that spiritual health is the missing link for most people when it comes to real fulfillment and happiness.
We live in a world that is obsessed with physical health—how we look, how we perform, what we weigh, what we eat. And don’t get me wrong… I’m in the fitness industry. I love Pilates. I love taking care of the body.
But I think we’ve over-identified with it.
We’ve become so connected to our body… that we’ve actually lost connection with something deeper.

Strong for Life: How I Train in My 30s vs. My Teens

In this episode, Shawna dives into the evolution of her fitness journey—from overtraining and burnout in her teens and 20s to a more intentional, balanced approach in her 30s. She shares how shifting her mindset from “more is better” to “train for life” has changed not only her body, but her energy, recovery, and overall quality of life.
This episode is all about sustainability, longevity, and redefining what it means to be strong—not just now, but for the long run.

The Mental Game: You Don’t Have to Believe Every Thought You Think

Your thoughts feel real—but that doesn’t mean they’re true.
In this episode, I’m diving deeper into the mental patterns that shape how we show up—people-pleasing, overthinking, and the daily discipline of letting go. But we’re also going beyond just internal work.
Because growth isn’t just about what’s happening in your head—it’s also about who you surround yourself with.
I’ll share why I intentionally choose people who challenge me, why I refuse to have “yes people” in my life, and how honest, sometimes uncomfortable feedback has been one of the biggest drivers of my growth—in business, relationships, and within myself.
If you want to evolve, you can’t stay comfortable.
And that includes your environment.

What Do You Do to Feel Your Best?

What does it actually take to feel your best—not just look your best? In this episode, Shawna breaks down the three pillars she believes create a full, grounded, energized life: physical health, mental health, and the often-missing piece—spiritual health.

Advanced Beginner: Why Your First Two Years of Teaching Pilates Are Just the Beginning

You finished your 450-hour comprehensive Pilates teacher training… now what?
In this episode, we break down what it really means to be an advanced beginner in your first 1–2 years after certification. That comprehensive training laid the foundation — but mastery comes from repetition, mentorship, continuing education, and putting in the reps.
We’ll talk about how to embrace the uncomfortable growth phase, why confidence comes after competence, and how workshops, conferences, and real client experience shape you into a powerful, adaptable instructor.
If you’re a newly certified teacher (or mentoring one), this episode is your permission to be in process.

You Loved Pilates—So Why Did You Stop Practicing?

You didn’t become a Pilates instructor because you wanted a job—you became one because you loved Pilates. You loved how it made you feel, how it challenged you, how it connected you to your body. You practiced constantly, often daily, before teacher training ever began.
And then something shifted.
In this episode, I’m talking about a pattern I see every single year—and one I personally lived. When I first started teacher training and then began teaching, I dropped off my own personal practice hard. And looking back, that was the biggest bottleneck in my teaching.
Personal practice isn’t optional. It’s not extra credit. It’s skill development. When instructors stop practicing Pilates, they stop growing as teachers. They lose sensation, clarity, language, and connection to the method—and that always shows up in the way they teach.
We’ll talk about why this happens, why the excuses feel valid (especially after long teaching days), and how to realistically rebuild a consistent personal practice—even when you’re tired, busy, and tempted to just go home and turn on Netflix.

Clear Is Kind: The Art of Direct Conversations in Pilates & Leadership

As a Pilates studio owner, teacher trainer, and employer, you end up wearing a lot of hats—and one of the most important (and uncomfortable) ones is learning how to have direct conversations. In this episode, I talk about why clear, honest communication matters so much in a Pilates studio setting, especially when you’re leading a team, hosting a teacher training program, or giving and receiving feedback.
We’ll dive into texting vs. phone calls vs. in-person conversations, why in-person is always best, and why a quick phone call can clear the air faster than a dozen messages ever could. I also share how I’ve learned to ask for conversations early—before resentment builds—and how direct communication creates trust, stronger relationships, and better teaching environments.
Whether you’re a studio owner, manager, or Pilates instructor, this episode is all about learning how to give feedback clearly, receive feedback without defensiveness, and grow as a professional and as a person.