Ep25: Laura Fitzpatrick, Sanctuary on Peninsula

Welcome to the Pilates Diaries Podcast.

Laura Fitzpatrick moved to Australia from the United States in her early twenties after a science degree, completed a Diploma of Education and taught high school science, specialising in chemistry. She first tried Pilates while pregnant with her first child, on a friend’s suggestion, and kept practising through years of running, gym training and injuries.

Laura tells Bruce how classes with teachers including Melanie Smith deepened her interest, and how she resigned from school teaching to complete her Pilates training with Tensegrity, taking close to a year on the coursework. She now teaches at Sanctuary on Peninsula in Mount Eliza and talks about receiving the Pilates Journal New Instructor of the Year award, attending the Pilates Journal Expo in Sydney, her hopes to offer affordable community mat classes, and the advice she would give new instructors.

Find Laura Fitzpatrick
Sanctuary on Peninsula, Mount Eliza

Timestamps
00:00 Acknowledgement of Country
00:15 Welcome to The Pilates Diaries
00:37 Meet Laura Fitzpatrick
30:21 A word about Trimio
31:25 What Pilates has changed in body, mind and spirit
53:19 Thank you, Laura

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Bruce Hildebrand: In the spirit of respect, The Pilates Diaries Podcast acknowledges the people and elders of the Bunurong people, members of the Kulin Nation, who have traditional connections and responsibilities for the land on which this podcast is produced. This is the Pilates Diaries podcast, stories of the impact of Pilates from the people who live it. I’m Bruce Hildebrand, 20-odd years of teaching, a few studios along the way, a lot of questions I still haven’t answered, and no doubt more on the way. Let’s get into today’s episode. Today on The Pilates Diaries podcast, I’m delighted to introduce a fresh and inspiring voice in our Pilates community, Laura Fitzpatrick. Laura’s Pilates journey began back in 2008 when she first tried Pilates while pregnant with her first child. What started as a gentle way to move through pregnancy soon became a lifelong practice, one that supported her through two more pregnancies, years of running and gym training, and more than a few injuries along the way. After nearly two decades teaching high school science, Laura followed her curiosity from the classroom to the studio, bringing with her a rare mix of clear communication, rigorous thinking, and genuine care. In 2024, Laura completed her comprehensive diploma with Tensegrity Training, mentored by Melanie Smith at Sanctuary on Peninsula. Since then, she’s shared her expertise with a wide range of clients in studio settings, physiotherapy clinics, and even back in the school environment, teaching Pilates to students. Recognized as the Pilates Journal New Instructor of the Year 2024, and a guest at the Pilates Journal Expo 2025, Laura’s continuing education focuses on hips with planned deep dives into knee rehab, scoliosis, and hypermobility. She’s also a proud PAA member with a special passion for joint function and pain. Away from the studio, Laura volunteers as a scout leader, and in youth ministry enjoys swimming and playing piano, and credits her husband’s unwavering support for helping her pursue a purpose-filled career. Please join me in welcoming Laura Fitzpatrick to The Pilates Diaries podcast. Welcome, Laura.

Laura Fitzpatrick: Thank you, Bruce. It is a pleasure to be here with you.

Bruce Hildebrand: Great to have you on the show. Thanks so much for your time. Laura, we’ll start by taking a look back. Can you tell me about life before Pilates? What were your pursuits? Where did you see yourself heading at the time? And in hindsight, what do you now see that were some little threads that might have led you to discover Pilates?

Laura Fitzpatrick: So before I ever really knew anything about Pilates, I was a high school teacher, and I did enjoy a pretty active lifestyle. I liked lots of different types of exercise. I liked running and swimming and hiking and, um, going to the gym, doing group fitness things, but also just working out on my own. And I was pretty happy with that. I didn’t really have any kind of mingling ambitions at that stage to really try anything different. But I think in terms of maybe what led me to discover Pilates later on, um, just being kind of open-minded about trying new things, and probably the fact that then Pilates kind of stepped into the mainstream in the last 20 years or so. Um, it probably was inevitable that I was gonna get around to trying it eventually, I’d say.

Bruce Hildebrand: Tell us about your high school time. Which subjects were your main focus? Was it around the phys ed related things, or were there other parts that maybe… Often I speak to people who have an engineering background, for example, that the logic and the precision of Pilates really speaks to that.

Laura Fitzpatrick: Mm. Yeah. Well, I wish I could say that I had the phys ed training, but I didn’t. I was probably more chemistry, so general science and specializing a bit more in the chemistry subjects. I did like the physics and I liked the biology, but that wasn’t what my background was in, in terms of my university study. But I think the, the scientific principles and that wanting to learn about the why and the how and being curious, I think those things maybe steered me towards just trying different things, but also curious about Pilates when I did finally get around to hearing about it and giving it a try.

Bruce Hildebrand: Uh, can you tell us the story of when you first arrived at Pilates? What was your experience and what were some of your first impressions?

Laura Fitzpatrick: Yep. So when I first heard about Pilates, I was pregnant with my first child, and I was struggling a lot with morning sickness. I had low blood pressure, low iron. I was just generally feeling pretty badly. And a friend of mine was pregnant at the same time, and she recommended trying Pilates as it was more pregnancy friendly, and I was struggling to maintain my kind of high intensity fitness regime that I was enjoying before that. Um, yeah, so she told me where that she was doing her classes, and I thought I’d go along and give it a try.

Bruce Hildebrand: What was it in particular that, that she sold you on? Was it just the high intensity side of it, or was there other bits that she’d explained?

Laura Fitzpatrick: I think it was just this is appropriate for, for someone who was pregnant. Um, you know, I was going to the gym. I was trying to do, like, aerobics classes, um, spin classes. Uh, my heart rate was getting all over the place. I was not feeling well doing these things. Um, and she was… I think she was recommended Pilates for pregnancy as well, and she said it was making her feel really good, and I thought, “Yep, I, I wanna feel good. I wanna, um, do something that’s gonna make my body feel hopefully better.” And so I was pretty open-minded to, to trying something different. And so yeah, so I went along and signed myself up for some Pilates.

Bruce Hildebrand: And was that here in Australia, or were you in North America still at the time?

Laura Fitzpatrick: That was here in Australia. So I came to Australia in my early 20s, pretty much as soon as I finished my undergrad science degree in America, and then I came here, did my diploma of education, and started teaching here.

Bruce Hildebrand: Seems a natural affinity that your teaching skills in the high school setting is an easy carryover to teaching Pilates.

Laura Fitzpatrick: Definitely. I like to use my skill where they say you’ve got your eyes in the back of your head. You can see what everyone’s doing all the time. Um, yeah, and also just being used to kind of talking a lot and hearing your own voice. I think there were lots of those skills that carried over, which I’m very grateful for actually. Yeah.

Bruce Hildebrand: So you stepped into your first class. I’m always curious to ask the question of what was your first impressions? What was the teacher like? How did it come across? Was there an inkling right away that it was gonna be something for you, or, or was there a bit of a raised eyebrow, “What the hell am I in for?”

Laura Fitzpatrick: Yeah. I think both eyebrows might have been raised, actually, initially. So I think trying something new when you’re, I don’t know, midway through a pregnancy and your whole body is already changing quite a bit, and then my Pilates instructor, I wish I had a clearer memory, but I think I already had some of that baby fog brain possibly happening then. Um, but to, to get that connection in with your body, that kind of deeper connection, um, I found that really challenging because my body was already changing so much, and then I had to connect and control these really subtle movements, and it was just definitely not something I was really used to. So I, I did find that challenging and, um, yeah, maybe a little confusing at the start as well.

Bruce Hildebrand: It’s a fairly common sentiment from lots of people with their first impressions. That’s why I love to ask the question.

Laura Fitzpatrick: Yep.

Bruce Hildebrand: And, uh, your husband, he was surprised you were taking it up. Were there other people in your life, uh, who were perhaps raising eyebrows as well, and were curious on what this new thing was you were, uh, taking up?

Laura Fitzpatrick: Yeah, probably. I think maybe they thought, oh, this, this Pilates, this must be a pregnancy thing. Maybe I think they just thought, well, she’s, she’s doing this because she’s, she’s pregnant and she needs to, um, to do something different. And I don’t think anyone else probably really knew, uh, people in my life probably didn’t really know what Pilates was, and to be honest, I feel like sometimes I’m still explaining to people what, what it really is. But yeah, initially I think I was… I felt like I was kind of heading into the unknown, but I, I definitely kept, like I, I wanted to keep going ’cause it was definitely something different and, you know, I wanted to maintain my health and some of my fitness through the, through the pregnancy and all that. So yeah, I was, I was curious definitely from the start.

Bruce Hildebrand: Certainly one of the intentions of the Pilates Diaries podcast is to find a way to synthesize that description of, uh, the experience of Pilates. The mindfulness I often find is the thing that’s takes a bit of traversing to go from this place of perhaps not knowing your body so well into a place where that becomes the primary focus in the practice of Pilates.

Laura Fitzpatrick: Yeah, I would definitely agree with that.

Bruce Hildebrand: Laura, what was your experience of when you first noticed that Pilates was starting to have an impact? It was obviously a time of change, like you mentioned, in the pregnancy. When did you start to notice that things were perhaps connecting or clicking for you with your understanding of the practice?

Laura Fitzpatrick: Yeah, so I think it was pretty subtle initially. I don’t think I really noticed the impact until I realized that I was telling so many other people about it. Um, I’m a Christian, and I used to joke that I was feeling like I was sharing the gospel. Mm. When people would tell me about their aches and pains, I would say, “Oh, well have you heard the good news of Pilates?” And then I would try to convert them. And I was joking about the religious aspect, but I was pretty serious about telling people about how, how good it was, and I really believed it was for everyone, and I still believe it has something to offer every person. So yeah, it was sneaky. Mm. I didn’t realize, I think, that I was getting hooked until I was just kind of going around every – “Oh, well have you tried Pilates yet? And have, have you tried this? And let me tell you how good this is.” I was like a salesperson.

Bruce Hildebrand: It’s a fairly early indication that you were, uh, destined to pursue it further in the, in the taking up of the teaching and so forth that you’re now moving into.

Laura Fitzpatrick: Yeah, I think that was sneaky too. I don’t think I had any idea that that was creeping up on me either until it sort of similar, you know, just kind of blindsided me eventually. But yeah, definitely was, was trying to get as many people to come along and try it as I could.

Bruce Hildebrand: Maybe you should’ve been in sales rather than school teaching.

Laura Fitzpatrick: Yeah. Yeah, per – maybe. I don’t know. I don’t think so, actually. I just like teaching.

Bruce Hildebrand: Uh, we can often talk about all the sunshine and oranges to do with Pilates, but was there parts of the experience at this early stage that you didn’t like or you didn’t want to accept, or the parts of Pilates that you found most challenging in the pursuit of wanting to improve?

Laura Fitzpatrick: Yeah, I think there were lots of things that I found challenging in my Pilates practice, and I think w – being a motivated person who always wants to improve, um, I, I wouldn’t say I liked the challenge because, you know, every class you’d go back, you’re, you’re being progressed, you know, bit by bit. And so the challenge is just nev – you never felt like you actually really finished and got that satisfaction of, “Oh, I’ve perfected this,” because there was always the next thing to work on. Um, one thing I sort of discovered was, um, having a mild scoliosis. I didn’t realize I had a scoliosis until I was really into my Pilates, and of course, that made a lot of things really challenging. Um, yeah, so I think what we talked about before, that kind of connecting in deeper with your own body and finding the connections in there, um, was definitely a challenge. And, you know, coming from running and, and more, I guess, like, sort of high impact, fast-paced exercise, that slow burn of Pilates, I found that challenging, too. And the fact that it was like this continual practice that, you know, you just had to keep coming back to. It took actually a long time to get my head around that and, and really enjoy that versus, you know, just going out and smashing out a run and then, you know, ticking the box that you finished and repeating that over and over again. Yeah, it was, it was a different, it was a different way of thinking, and that took a while, I think, to really accept and then eventually en – enjoy.

Bruce Hildebrand: The tangibility of sporting participation, for example, that has much more succinct guidelines and boundaries, for example, the size of a court or a field, a certain timeframe of which it’s played, a certain scoring system and so forth, all absent from Pilates of course, in the pursuit of the practice of it. That’s why you’re never gonna see the Pilates Olympics. Uh, such a subjective practice.

Laura Fitzpatrick: Yeah, definitely. And, and the mindfulness, too, I think was another part of it that I probably… I didn’t really find that with a lot of the other exercises I was doing either. Um, yeah, so different for sure.

Bruce Hildebrand: I would be a seconder of that idea as well. The mindfulness was a significant shift for me having come from a athletic, sporting background, uh, through my childhood and university days as well. Uh, that was one of the more significant shifts for me in, in what this Pilates thing’s all about.

Laura Fitzpatrick: Yeah, it definitely is.

Bruce Hildebrand: Laura, can you share with us some of the people who you met along the way that helped shape your Pilates experience and where you were heading with it?

Laura Fitzpatrick: Yeah, definitely. So I had some great instructors who really got me thinking about Pilates on that deeper level. So Kimi Broadbent was someone I started doing classes with, and she really loves to explain that why behind the movements and the exercises. And she really got me thinking about all those kinds of things on that deeper level. And I still do classes with her now actually, and I’m still learning from her, and I really love how she integrates biomechanic principles into her sessions. So she, she really likes to, you know, quite explicitly talk about what the body’s doing in that way. Um, and then after I met Kimi, I met Melanie Smith and started doing classes with her. And then, you know, they have that saying, the rest is history. But she really motivated me, and she challenged me, and she really kept me coming back for more. She’s someone who really helped me appreciate the fact that Pilates has this level of intelligence to the practice, and to really think about those movements on that deeper level. Um, I think, you know, coming back to that whole being a science teacher and having that curiosity about learning and understanding, you know, why things work the way they do, Mel was… Well, she is, she’s amazing at using imagery and sort of all those different tactile and verbal cues to make those deeper connections possible. And yeah, so I think she was just really hugely influential for me to, to really wanna deep dive into what was really going on in those Pilates classes. So I really, yeah, probably took a turn there to, um… Wouldn’t say, you know, I was, like, addicted to Pilates, but I was really thinking, you know, this, this is something I have to do. Like, there was no way I was gonna stop doing Pilates. I was, I was in, I was in for life.

Bruce Hildebrand: Two wonderfully experienced mentors that you’ve had along the way there. For those who haven’t reached out to Kimi and, and Mel in the Pilates industry, I highly encourage you to reach out to them and connect with them professionally. Both two wonderful people that I’m fortunate to know as well. You mentioned about getting hooked on Pilates, Laura. Can you reflect on the specific time when you knew that you were starting to get hooked?

Laura Fitzpatrick: Well, apart from telling everyone I knew about, like, how great Pilates was and, and trying to recruit them, I, I guess one of the things I would say even, even then was that I kind of felt like Pilates was the glue that was keeping my body together, because I was still trying to do my high impact running and the gym classes. But I suppose more than just being that glue that was keeping me together, um, it just became really important to me because it made me feel good in my body. Um, it, it enabled me to keep doing those things that I wanted to do. Yeah, so I, I was hooked.

Bruce Hildebrand: And then with further practice, you fell more deeply in love with Pilates, and sometimes blind love, as it may be in personal relationships for various listeners as well. But perhaps there was a few things as well, uh, with Pilates that were maybe a bit off color or were rubbing you up the wrong way with, with your experience of it. Was there anything that you kind of turned your nose up at with Pilates in those early stages, Laura?

Laura Fitzpatrick: Um, I think I struggled with some of those challenges, like what we kind of touched on before, the fact that, you know, I had that scoliosis, and also probably the fact that I kept injuring myself, probably mainly just from running. So I had lots of issues with my knee. I was damaging the cartilage and tearing the meniscus, and then I re – realized I had hypermobility and instability. Um, and then I had plantar fasciitis and tore a calf muscle, and down the track I started having issues with some wry neck, and I, I was finding that actually made it hard to progress with the, the Pilates stuff, because I just kept getting these roadblocks along the way. And, you know, I wanted to go into Pilates and feel the flow and feel really good, but I had these little hurdles or these, these things I felt like were limiting me from, from doing really well with the Pilates. And it definitely didn’t stop me from going, ’cause I felt like I needed it, but they were challenges. And, you know, you, you wanna get through a class and just feel like you can do everything in that class really well, and I knew I couldn’t because of these injuries and things. So I think that was probably the biggest challenge in that regard, in terms of feeling frustrated. So even though I was enjoying it, there were these little frustrations involved as well.

Bruce Hildebrand: Funny you should mention. I was teaching a class earlier today and the client said to me, “You seem to have a really good knack at highlighting all the things that I – “… can’t tend to do that well.” And I said, “Well, I’m here to give you your biggest bang for your buck, so-” “… let’s take a look at these things, shall we?”

Laura Fitzpatrick: Yeah, that definitely happens in, in Pilates classes. I would agree with that too.

Bruce Hildebrand: I shared a class with a long-term colleague many moons ago, and, uh, we agreed that if you wanna keep moving the same way that you always have, then probably a detailed Pilates class isn’t the place for you. You can go to a standard exercise session that you’re gonna just repeat your previous movement patterns, rather than actually getting under the hood and, and, uh, looking at how your movement patterns might be, uh, improved.

Laura Fitzpatrick: Mm. Yep. I can relate to that too. I have had other clients as well who are runners, and keep injuring themselves and keep coming back to Pilates, and I think, “Oh, I can relate to you. That was me.” You know, you just keep re-injuring yourself and you keep coming back to Pilates, and you get, you know, you get back on track, and you go back and you do the injury again. And anyway, that’s, it’s, it takes a while, I think, to figure out maybe there’s kinder ways of moving your body. But I mean, and you can relate. You were a runner too. It takes a while to, to give up that, that other habit.

Bruce Hildebrand: That’s part of the, uh, the experience of having many clients in the older body age group and, uh, the attention to detail and the willingness to listen because the aches and pains are showing up more readily as a problem.

Laura Fitzpatrick: Mm. Yep, too true.

Bruce Hildebrand: Uh, Laura, it’s often at this stage that you’ve been in the game long enough to be getting a good feel of what Pilates entails, and you get a picture of actually being on the court and in the game. You were beginning to sense a little at the time you, you’d have to perhaps turn a bit more inwardly to do a dive into this Pilates journey. Uh, obviously as we know from the prelude leading into some achievements with your teaching and your national qualifications with Pilates. Tell us about that point in time where you had to reflect inwardly and, and decide that that was where you wanted to go with things.

Laura Fitzpatrick: Yeah, so the, the first little seed that was actually planted in my brain about maybe this was something I was gonna pursue mo- more deeply, um, I was attending a Pilates class in America actually. It was a small group studio style class, but the way the session was being run, everyone was doing the same exercises at the same time. And in that class I was watching a younger woman next to me. She’s doing a movement and, um, I wish I could remember exactly what she was doing, but I wasn’t an instructor then. I was just, you know, kinda just watching things and doing things, and she was doing something with her, with her upper body. And I just remember thinking in that moment, I wanted to give her a tip for how to correct her shoulder movements so that she could move with more control. And I was watching the instructor, and he never corrected her. And obviously now that I’m an instructor I can appreciate that he ha – would’ve had his reasons for that. Um, but at the time I was just thinking, “Oh, this is interesting. I actually have some knowledge about this movement, and I wanna share that with this person.” And I, I didn’t. It was totally not appropriate for me to, to go and, and try and teach her a movement. But at the same time of my life, I was also starting to feel a, a bit less satisfied in my teaching job at school. I think, you know, for many years I was kinda teaching really similar curriculum, and I was just starting to wonder if there was something else I could teach or something else I wanted to do. And that little seed was there in my mind, and I remember just chatting to Mel after one of our classes, and it was the first time I’d ever even said the words out loud. I was asking her if she thought maybe I could be a Pilates teacher, and she was pretty encouraging and, and excited and, and I felt like, okay, this is actually something I think I could do, but also that maybe I actually want to do. And, um, yeah, and, and Mel was such a positive person encouraging me. It was almost like an instant mentorship. Like, she just kind of took me under her wing and, and really, yeah, helped guide me in that direction. And, um, yeah, almost it was like you don’t – didn’t look back. It was just this onward and upward kind of feeling. And, yeah, I decided to take that leap.

Bruce Hildebrand: Was it an exciting time or a nervous time? Or were you a bit uncertain, or it felt exactly on the right path for you?

Laura Fitzpatrick: It felt like the path I wanted to take, so I, I felt really motivated. But I was also really nervous because it was gonna mean a, a career change. I didn’t think I could do teaching school, which is really time demanding. I didn’t think I could do that and have my family and do the Pilates course and also teach Pilates. I just didn’t think I could juggle all of that. So for me, it meant I was gonna resign from my high school career and take a leap into doing something different. And it did feel a bit like taking a leap when you do something that… It is actually pretty different, but exciting, and I think it was a, a point in my life where I was just feeling kind of ready to do something different. So it was a little scary, but exciting at the same time

Bruce Hildebrand: Thanks for sharing. Can you expand, Laura, on what has been the path for you since this time?

Laura Fitzpatrick: Yeah. So once I kind of felt secure in that I had Mel’s support, you know, she offered to be a mentor, she offered to guide me through the training and the practice teaching, then I, yeah, I found a great course. So Mel helped guide me towards the Tensegrity course, and it just seemed like it was gonna be a really good fit for me. And because I was able to resign from my job and focus on the Pilates full time, yeah, it just took off from there. So I just deep dived into that course, and I spent as many hours as I could in the studio observing, doing my coursework, and then eventually doing all my practice teaching. And, um, yeah, that, that was, that was the path. And then, uh, it took me nearly a year to finish the coursework, and then I started picking up some little hours working in Mel’s studio, and then just, yeah, the offers started coming in from other places and started working quite a bit

Bruce Hildebrand: Been rewarding so far? Can you share with us, uh, finding your way through the industry? You’ve probably chatted to lots of other teachers who’ve done lots of different styles or types or demands of, of coursework over the time you’ve been connected with the, the Pilates industry and the Pilates network. Did you feel like you overcooked it with the course you chose, or you could’ve got there a bit sooner?

Laura Fitzpatrick: No, I think one year was probably a good amount of time to really deep dive. Um, but then, you know, after that year I really wanted to start putting it into practice. So I really liked just immersing myself and feeling like I could learn and learn and learn and ask questions and get feedback and, you know, play around with ideas. But then I was really keen to actually just, you know, let’s see if I can do this. Let’s go out there and to the real world and see if I can actually teach people and and be successful at doing that. So I think, yeah, you’re right. You know, I’ve met lots of other teachers and, you know, discussed other courses and other approaches, but I, I was really happy with, um, the one that I chose, and it just was a really good fit for me. And, um, I really liked the instructors and the places that I did all my practice hours, they were all really encouraging and it was really good to do practice hours in different studios at different places, and practice teaching with different types of clients and with different types of instructors. Um, yeah, it was just a really great time of learning and I wish I could keep doing little bits and pieces of that along the way with the teaching.

Bruce Hildebrand: You speak of all the key elements that I see as a fortunate long-term educator of Pilates, see that it’s, uh, crucial that these variety of elements are all part of this early deep dive for you with your teaching. I think without those key elements that you’ve mentioned around support and, and heavy duty content learning of course, but also an opportunity for the apprenticeship style of learning and traversing that time, particularly with surrounding yourself with some great mentors that you obviously took the time to seek out and align with based on the authentic feel of, of the, uh, congruency of where you s – saw yourself going. I applaud you for seeking those things out and no doubt it’s contributed to the stage you’re at now relatively early in your teaching. That gives you a real confidence to move forward with your, uh, profession

Laura Fitzpatrick: Yeah, and it’s really motivated me to, like you said, keep those relationships open. But I still do my personal practice with a variety of teachers and, you know, I get to learn a lot just from that. But also I’m sure you would agree, you know, you go in and you do your, your class with a teacher, and you get to watch them teach at the same time, so I’m kind of sneakily watching them teach their other clients, and I’m really enjoying that while I’m still getting the amazing instruction for myself and, and getting to, um… And build up the relationship, too, with those other teachers. Yeah.

Bruce Hildebrand: I love to reflect on the historical nature of how Joseph Pilates first delivered what he did, from my understanding from the various readings that I’ve done, and it was exactly that. Hang around for a long time and you’ll gather a lot and learn a lot, and a bit of osmosis going on.

Laura Fitzpatrick: Yep, that sounds good to me. I can keep doing that.

Bruce Hildebrand: Hang on to that one for me. I wanna step away from the conversation for a moment, and then we’ll be straight back in. A quick word about Trimio and full disclosure first. Trimio is the startup I co-founded, so of course, I’m biased about what it can do for the industry. Here’s the problem it exists for. Every studio I’ve ever walked into has hours that sit empty. The space is ready, the equipment’s all there, the lights are on, and nobody’s booked. And across town, there’s a teacher who’s fully trained, fully insured, and can’t get enough hours to make the week add up. And somewhere between them is a client who’d love a Pilates teacher ten minutes from home, not 40. Trimio puts these three in the same place. Studios list the hours they’re not using, teachers hire them by the hour and run their own sessions, and clients get their favourite teacher closer to home at a time that suits. If any of those is you, have a look at trimio.app. And we’re back with Laura. and even in your spirit, as Joseph Pilates liked to put it, that are now second nature to you in the way that you do Pilates, and you’ve even managed to carry over in your day-to-day life, that you thought perhaps, uh, or imagined that were never even gonna be possible, either in the way that you started doing Pilates or couldn’t have imagined that’s where you’re gonna be heading with your new career?

Laura Fitzpatrick: Hmm. I suppose in my own body, that sensation of the contrology, so finding those deeper connections in my own body to incorporate those concepts of strength, stability, the breathwork, the flow. Um, no, I wouldn’t say I’ve, like, come close to mastering those things, but just having that sense of what it means to feel those connections in myself. Um, you know, I don’t think I fully understand exactly how that’s supposed to feel, but I think I appreciate firstly that that’s gonna feel different in every person’s body, but then being able to experience it in my own body, um, it’s just this feeling of strength that comes from deep within. And yeah, I think that’s, that’s a big change that’s happened in myself. In terms of, you know, bringing that into teaching or a professional realm, I guess just bringing my personality into, into my teaching and really feeling comfortable just being myself and being really genuine and building up those genuine connections with clients. I think at the start you kind of feel like there’s this perfect s – instructor or a perfect way to, um, convey, uh, the method. And, uh, what I’m starting to realize, for myself anyway, is it, it’s not a perfection thing, it’s, it’s just being true to yourself and then finding the connections with people, um, through the method in that just, that personal honesty and connection that way.

Bruce Hildebrand: It’s a common, uh, fallacy I think, and understandable ’cause I can certainly reflect on it for myself, is, uh, wanting to get it right and wanting to perfect a move like you suggest, and wanting to be giving the perfect set of cues. But I think the more you delve into it, the more you realize, yes, there are some key objectives with any given exercise, and some key principles to align with. But the, uh, the delivery of that can come in many shapes and forms and perhaps even transpires into confusion sometimes in a consumer, uh, receiving Pilates that, uh, comes in many different dialects, but hopefully is aiming for the same objective of great health and fitness.

Laura Fitzpatrick: Yeah, definitely. I think, I think there, for me anyway, being kind of new and at the beginning of my journey as a instructor, the confusion’s definitely there. I think when you’re, when you’re walking in as a new instructor and you’re thinking, “Okay, I’ve got, got all these great cues and I’ve got all this information I want to convey,” and you can overload a new client and confuse them pretty quickly and pretty easily. So yeah, that’s another… uh, that’s probably a more nuanced kind of connection with a client is figuring out, okay, what’s kind of… what, what level can they, can they intake this information and, and feel it, and, and build that connection before I add another layer of complexity into what they’re already thinking and feeling?

Bruce Hildebrand: So great. So great to hear of the, uh, the obvious layers that you need to bring together as you make your way and progress with Pilates.

Laura Fitzpatrick: That’s what it’s all about.

Bruce Hildebrand: You talk about being a new instructor, Laura. Can you, uh, expand a little on that in terms of the recognition you received last year for the industry award for, uh, 2024 New Instructor of the Year?

Laura Fitzpatrick: Yes. So I found out at the end of last year I was nominated for the New Instructor of the Year, and then at the start of this year I received an email that I had been awarded that distinction, and yeah, that was, uh, really exciting and some… It really, uh, it really made me feel a lot more, I guess, certain in myself. Like, you know, there were lots of times along, along the, um, the start of the teaching pathway that I was thinking, “Am I actually really doing this job? Like, am I really a Pilates teacher? Is this actually what I’m doing now?” Uh, uh, um, and I think, yeah, it was, it was really lovely to be acknowledged and to win that award, ’cause then I felt like, “Oh, okay, well, this, this is real. I, I really am a Pilates instructor, and this really is who I am.” And, um, and I was invited to the Pilates Journal Expo in Sydney, and that was another just really eye-opening experience, going up there and just seeing this, what, to me, what seemed like a huge Pilates community that was out there that I hadn’t experienced before. And yeah, that was exciting. It was r – actually a little overwhelming at the start, but by the end of that long weekend I was really enjoying myself, and just talking to lots of different people that are in all different aspects of the industry, um, it’s pretty motivating actually to think you’re a part of something really big and really multifaceted. You know, these people are all reaching the community in all these really different ways, and, you know, a lot of them are approaching the method in different ways too, and so that was just really interesting. Um, and it’s kind of exciting to think, “Okay, well, this will keep me going.” You know, like, there’s a, there’s a lot more out there for, for me to kinda learn about and see and get involved in and try. And so yeah, it was, it was a really great experience, and I’m really thankful for the, the people that nominated me for that award. So thank you. If they’re listening, I really appreciate it.

Bruce Hildebrand: I’m sure they’ll be, uh, appreciating that shout-out. You talk about the expansion of the awareness of the Pilates industry, Laura, and it’s very easy, I think, to get, uh, in our own little pocket of the community and, and get busy with what we’re up to and, and have a great connection. And the learning, I think, and this is why I was curious to have you on the, on the podcast for this episode, is to hear this new perspective – As you’re relatively new-ish as a teacher, that, uh, there is a hell of a lot of an, an amazing journey to explore into and, and find yourself in amongst. Can you speak about that for a moment?

Laura Fitzpatrick: Yeah, definitely. Um, so I think firstly just finding that confidence to feel encouraged, I think, to explore these different avenues that Pilates is sort of being pursued at the moment. You know, Pilates is, is kind of moving in lots of different directions, and that was interesting to see. And I also had … I hadn’t done a lot of the classical Pilates either. There was a little bit of that, and there was a lot of contemporary, and there was a lot of, you know, kind of more fitness. And, and I think just having that, again, that open mind, that curiosity, that trying to figure out, you know, what is it about these different elements, these different threads that are bringing these people in? Like, everyone’s getting something. These people all have lots of clients. They’re really successful with their different businesses and their different approaches. Um, so yeah, what is it? What is the, the threads and, um … And then, yeah, to, to get to go and experience a little bit of that was really cool. Um, and I think that curiosity, I suppose, is still at the front of my mind. And I think, I mean, we’ve got the Pilates Association, you know, we’ve got ways to connect through some of these different groups of, you know, Pilates practitioners. And the idea that there’s a community out there, that was a really great feeling. You know, feeling, oh, I’m, I’m actually a part of this much bigger community of people, and they’re really great people. You know, they’re really friendly. They’re really happy to share ideas. They’re really, you know, easy to talk to about these things. Um, yeah, it was, it was a great experience. I’d never experienced a, a conference or a expo like that ever in my life, so that was, that was really, really cool. Yeah, I think, um, you know, if, if there was ever any doubt about, ooh, am, what am I doing with this job, it was, it was probably gone after that. I think I just really felt like I was on a, on a path going in a, in the right direction for me

Bruce Hildebrand: So a big shout-out to the various expo and conference organizations that are putting these sort of events together. It really does connect and gel the community together. And for those who are listening, uh, highly recommend you reach out to organizations like the Pilates Association Australia, and also CJ Zarb, who is the creator of The Pilates Journal, as you mentioned, Laura, with those, uh, industry awards that she’s created, and also, uh, the Pilates Expo, which is a creation from some colleagues up in Sydney related to Pilates Reformers Australia, and many oth- many others as well in different pockets of the Pilates community and industry.

Laura Fitzpatrick: Mm. And I’m gonna, I’m gonna shout out yourself too, Bruce, because I think even just these podcasts, I know I really enjoy just listening to so many different people that come from so many different backgrounds to teach Pilates and, and bring those experiences with them into their teaching. Um, I just find it really interesting, but also, i – a little inspiring. Um, yeah, so shout out to you for podcasting and, and all the other Pilates podcasters out there too.

Bruce Hildebrand: Thanks, Laura. Much appreciated. So huge congratulations again for winning the New Instructor of the Year last year and, um, and forging ahead. It’s a great acknowledgement for all your hard work. Well done.

Laura Fitzpatrick: Thank you so much, Bruce.

Bruce Hildebrand: Uh, Laura, where do you now sit with your Pilates? Uh, what does the future hold for you now with Pilates well and truly embedded in your life, obviously, and what plans have you in store with your Pilates involvement?

Laura Fitzpatrick: Well, so for now, I’m just, I’m, I feel very new. I feel like I just wanna keep teaching and learning and learning through teaching and meeting lots of clients. You know, keep my personal practice going. Um, but also participating in more workshops and professional development as well. And then just taking advantage of any opportunities, for example, like this podcast with you. I think, you know, when, when opportunities come your way, it’s, it’s important to… Uh, for me anyway, I like to try new things and so I think down the track, I probably would like to expand into that a little bit more, find more ways to connect in with that wider Pilates community. Um, but just in terms of community in general, something I think I’d like to offer down the track would be something like a group mat class in a community type setting. Just because I think there is a demand out there for this intelligent Pilates that we’ve been talking about, this mindful body connection. But not everyone is financially able to pay for the small group style sessions that we know are so effective with people. Yeah, so I just really like this idea of being able to offer something a bit more affordable to the wider community, and I think that might be something else I would be interested in looking at doing down the track

Bruce Hildebrand: I think it probably speaks of why the, the boom of large group classes that certainly emerge with fitness has, uh, spread like wildfire and created the volume that it has. Obviously it comes at the cost of the nuances and the closer attention to detail that my interpretation is Pilates was designed for in the first place. But there’s no question that it, it’s obviously filled a gap not only in the cost-effectiveness, but also the convenience, uh, that ultimately I think fills a gap of what was unattractive about the original YMCA, going to the gym perhaps in a bit of an archaic community type building, uh, rather to a nicely dressed up studio commercial space that, uh, finds that nuance where it’s a bit more attractive and a bit perhaps cleaner and perhaps newer on this fancy reformer machine as well.

Laura Fitzpatrick: Mm. Yeah, and it’s been interesting now going back to America for holidays and, and trying Pilates at different places there. A couple years ago I was able to go back to, um, Manhattan and, and try doing some more traditional Pilates style classes there, and very interesting. Like you said, you know, you’ve got these re – some really beautiful boutique studios and, and they’re great, and then you’ve got these really just kind of industrial bare bones still… You know, they’re still doing that kind of smaller group, you know, really kind of intelligent Pilates, but they’ve wiped away the aesthetic and, um, yeah, and they’re still really effective as well. So it is interesting to see the different styles that are out there. But yeah, I think for me, like I, I do think those small groups are really effective, but I think there, there is a demand out there to do that more intelligent movement, n – and also I think maybe some people might be intimidated in those smaller groups with all that attention. I think some people sometimes like to blend in a little more. So yeah, I mean, there’s a lot of interpretations and iterations of Pilates out there and I, I think it’s just part of what makes it such a, such a cool industry to be a part of really.

Bruce Hildebrand: You’re always I think gonna come up across the conversation that there’s pros and cons to the whole thing. I think the resounding overarching message for me is if you’re looking for something more with your Pilates, keep looking because, uh, you’re likely to find, uh, the best fit for yourself in the direction that you find most authentic for yourself.

Laura Fitzpatrick: Absolutely.

Bruce Hildebrand: And Laura, where do you now sit with your Pilates? Where do you see it fits into the future and, and with your involvement?

Laura Fitzpatrick: Well, I think I’m happy just to expand my, my teaching and just kind of grow the, you know, the clientele that I have, and, uh, you know, see how many clients I can juggle in a week. I think at the moment I’ve kind of playing around with that concept of seeing how many, how many hours can I work in a week, and what kind of hours can I do? How do I wanna spread that through that’s really gonna be sustainable for me? And then, you know, being a member of the PAA, you know, there’s, there is that expectation that you keep up with your personal learning and development. And then so for now I think that’s, that’s my short term. I don’t know that I’m really looking at like a really big long, long term goal or anything like that yet. Um, I’m just really enjoying where I’m at at the moment, and yeah, I s – I do feel like I’m probably at the, the start of my Pilates journey, and, um, yeah, I’m kind of excited just to keep taking the opportunities as they come.

Bruce Hildebrand: So great, and I think that’s a, a really great initiative that you’re taking to, to find a way for Pilates to fit with all the different aspects of your life, obviously with your kids and your, and your family, and finding a good blend with how that all fits together.

Laura Fitzpatrick: Yeah. That’s right. It’s, it’s a juggle, and, um, it has to be a sustainable one, so yeah, figuring that out and, um, looking for that, that balance.

Bruce Hildebrand: So great. Advice time, Laura. What do you wish you knew at the start of the journey that would have made the biggest difference, and will be great advice for someone who might be considering either starting Pilates or, or is facing some of the struggles that you did with your Pilates progress?

Laura Fitzpatrick: I think if you’re thinking about starting Pilates for the first time, I suppose my, my warning is that Pilates is a slow burn. So don’t be jumping in expecting a, something that’s gonna be like a fast-paced, quick turnaround sort of session. Uh, the slow burn, you know, you’ve, you’ve gotta, gotta be open-minded enough to take in little bits of information piece by piece and then, and then I suppose expand on those as you grow into the practice. Um, maybe another bit of advice would be to be, you know, if you feel confident enough, to be vocal with your instructor, so communicate how you’re feeling or ask questions. Of course, I’m gonna say to be curious, because that’s what I like to do. I like to ask lots of questions. And I do feel like there’s lots of instructors that probably enjoy being asked questions or having a student that, you know, wants to understand things on a deeper level. So yeah, uh, communication I think is really important. And probably to try different instructors. So, you know, you’ll find someone that you might really like, and you wanna stay with them for a while, but eventually I would say it’s a good thing to try maybe another perspective on the work, and you might find that a different approach will assist you in different ways. So yeah, just that I think that open-minded approach to the practice would be my, my main piece of advice.

Bruce Hildebrand: And branching on from that, for anyone considering Pilates instructor training, recommendations on that front since you’ve relatively recently come through that process for yourself?

Laura Fitzpatrick: Oh, yes, very recently. Um, so I think one thing that I’d like to share for those people would be to tell them that you will lose clients at the start, and that that’s okay. So no one really explained that to me, I suppose, that you’re gonna lose clients. You know, you’re, you’re building up your, your clientele from scratch a lot of the time, and not everyone’s gonna love Pilates right away. And, you know, you’re not gonna be confident that you’re a great Pilates teacher right away. But also, you know, it’s just, it’s not gonna be for everyone their very first time they try Pilates. They might have to come back and try again when they’re ready for it. So, you know, unlike when I was teaching high school and those first students I had that… Well, they were stuck with me for that whole year. They couldn’t leave . And I’m sure I didn’t nail it, but the same for Pilates. You know, I’m, I’m sure I didn’t nail it with every new client right from the start, and, and it’s absolutely fine if they wanna walk away and decide it’s not, not for them. You don’t want to cater to every single person in the world. You wanna cater to the people who are gonna gel with you and your personal approach to teaching that method. Um, and then another thing I wish I knew or was kind of discussed more was self-care. So I ended up with bursitis ’cause I was kneeling on the hardwood floors way too often. I didn’t realize I was doing it. And at the moment, I’m also struggling with a bulging disc in my neck, and so I think being careful in the studio, making sure I’m not overloading myself, or even just, you know, how I approach changing springs or moving equipment. Um, I guess that awareness of building those good habits right from the beginning, I think, would be just another little piece of re – of advice for someone who wants to start teaching Pilates. Just make sure you’re really looking after yourself as well.

Bruce Hildebrand: Such great advice, and, uh, the, uh, test of time has given you those experiences as much as it’s less likely or least desired to be up – Yeah … against those challenges.

Laura Fitzpatrick: Yeah.

Bruce Hildebrand: Uh, Laura, I can’t thank you enough for your time on the episode today. It’s been such wonderful, uh, chat to discuss through all your, uh, pathway through this stage of Pilates participation, and then progressing into teaching. So a huge welcome to the industry, and it’s a pleasure to have you here, and it’s so great to have you here. What’s the best way for podcast listeners to get in touch with you if they’re keen to reach out?

Laura Fitzpatrick: Oh, thanks, Bruce. Um, it’s been a pleasure to have this chat with you. The best way to get in touch with me is probably just an old-fashioned email address, just ljfitzpat@gmail.com, or, um, just the business website for the Mel’s business, which is Sanctuary on Peninsula, where I work in Mount Eliza, and that’s just sanctuaryonpeninsula.com.au.

Bruce Hildebrand: We’ll be sure to drop those in the show notes for sure, so if you’re, uh, keen to reach out and connect, chat further with Laura, then feel free. Thanks again, Laura. It’s been wonderful chatting. I really appreciate your time.

Laura Fitzpatrick: Thanks so much, Bruce. This has been great, and I really appreciate it too.

Bruce Hildebrand: Thank you, Laura, for opening up your Pilates diary with us. Before you go, one more mention of Trimio, my own startup, so you know where I stand. If you run a studio with downtime in the timetable, trimio.app/host. If you teach and want more hours in your week, trimio.app/offer. And if you’d just like your teacher closer to home, tell them about it, trimio.app. There’s a gap. Trimio’s built to close it. The Pilates Diaries podcast lives at thepilatesdiariespodcast.com. Follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen, so the next peek into a guest’s Pilates diary finds you. I’m Bruce Hildebrand. Thanks for listening.