The Journey of Becoming: Why Your Voice Is the Missing Piece in the Pilates Industry

The Pilates world is different. It’s rooted in care, in service, in soul.

We don’t just teach exercises—we help people reconnect with themselves. We guide, we witness, we hold space. Most of us came into this work because we wanted to uplift others, to support healing through movement, to be a quiet but helpful presence in someone else’s life.

We are a good industry.
And yet—too often, the good ones don’t thrive. Not because we’re not skilled or passionate, but because we’ve been taught to follow carefully, obediently—and hope that being “good” will be enough.

So how do we rise?

How do we stay true to our values and still build something bold and fulfilling? How do we lead with kindness and grace, but still grow in a world that often rewards volume over depth?

That was the question I brought into a recent seminar—a conversation between a marketing expert and a yoga master, who spoke about business in the most soulful way I’ve ever heard.

And what they said hit me hard:

Just because you follow someone else’s steps doesn’t mean you’ll arrive at their destination.

At first glance, copying what worked for someone else seems like the safest path. Use their pricing, mimic their cues, post like they do. And when that doesn’t work, we assume we did it wrong—when in truth, we simply aren't them.

The Illusion of the Shortcut

We often look to mentors or programs thinking they’ll give us a fast track to success. But mentorship isn’t about skipping the journey. It’s about making the journey your own.

A true mentor doesn’t hand you a map. They help you build your compass.

All the tools and techniques in the world won’t bring your work to life unless they’re integrated with your voice, your intuition, your lived experience, and your genius.

My Turning Point

For years, I tried to model exactly what my teachers showed me. I taught with discipline, followed the rules, and ticked all the boxes. And to be fair—I built a solid career.

But it wasn’t until I stopped mimicking and started integrating that everything changed. When I allowed myself to step fully into my own way of teaching—when I dared to infuse myself into my work—that’s when it truly came alive.

And it wasn’t just my own growth that changed. That’s when I started helping others do the same: to find their voice, their own rhythm, their truth.

Yes, it’s a scary step. Letting go of the "right" way can feel like walking into the unknown. But it’s also the most liberating, creative, and powerful thing you can do. And you don’t have to do it alone.

A New Era for Pilates Teachers

This is what I hope for our generation of teachers:
That we stop being replicas.
That we stop thinking confidence will come from collecting more certifications.
That we stop waiting for permission to teach in a way that feels true to us.

We have the freedom right now to create a new kind of leadership in Pilates—one where we’re not boxed in by rigid systems or expectations. One where we’re free in our teaching, our bodies, our creativity, and our business.

This isn’t just about refining your technique. It’s about reclaiming your voice. Building something that feels alive, aligned, and meaningful.

I’m not here to lead from above. I’m walking this path too. Choosing presence over perfection. Choosing integration over imitation. Choosing to create something that feels like home.

If You Needed a Sign—This Is It

Don’t wait until you feel “ready.”
Don’t make yourself smaller to fit someone else’s idea of success.
And please—don’t let your unique brilliance get buried in the name of being “correct.”

You’ve followed long enough. Now it’s time to lead. With soul. With strength. With sovereignty.

Let your Pilates speak from your truth. Let it reflect you.

Because the future of this method?
It doesn’t belong to the loudest. It belongs to the most real.

And we need you to be exactly that.

A Summer Invitation to Grow

If this message resonates with you—if you’ve been feeling the pull to grow, to teach more authentically, and to build something that truly reflects who you are—know that you don’t have to figure it all out alone. Inside the IVA Pilates Inner Circle, we’re spending this summer reconnecting with our voice, our vision, and our purpose. It’s not a program—it’s a community. A space where Pilates teachers come together to grow in skill, confidence, and soul. If you’ve been curious about joining, we’re opening the doors for a special Summer Camp trial—a free way to explore what’s possible when you’re supported, seen, and surrounded by others walking a similar path.

👉 Join the Summer Camp Trial Here

We’d love to have you with us.

‍