Fibromyalgia - Teaching with Carla Mullins

On The Pilates Lounge Podcast, Katie Crane speaks with Carla Mullins, founder of Body Organics Education and a leading voice in working with complex conditions in movement practice.

Carla brings both clinical insight and lived understanding to a deeply honest conversation about fibromyalgia — a condition marked by chronic pain, fatigue, nervous system sensitivity, and years of medical dismissal.

We Explore:

• What fibromyalgia actually is — and why diagnosis is often delayed for years

• Medical gaslighting and the emotional cost of not being believed

• Primary vs secondary fibromyalgia and common comorbidities

• Why fatigue is not "just tiredness" — and why it must guide programming

• How nervous system dysregulation drives pain, flare-ups, and overwhelm

• Why listening is one of the most powerful tools a Pilates teacher has

This Episode Is For:

• Pilates teachers working with fibromyalgia or chronic pain clients

• Movement professionals supporting fatigue-prone, nervous-system-sensitive bodies

• Teachers navigating pain, pacing, and long-term client relationships

• Practitioners ready to move beyond load, reps, and repertoire

A Moment That Landed:

"Let's not worry about the why. Let's ask how this impacts your life — and what helps you function better."

Fibromyalgia cannot be understood through muscles, joints, or pathology alone.
This conversation reinforces why Pilates teachers must expand their lens to include fatigue management, nervous system regulation, safety, trust, and lived experience.

When movement is rushed, over-prescribed, or poorly paced, we risk reinforcing fear and deconditioning. When it's intelligent, collaborative, and respectful, Pilates becomes a long-term ally — not another failed intervention.

👉 Your Next Step:

If this episode resonated, consider this:

➡️ Reflect on one client whose fatigue or pain may be asking for pacing, not progressions
➡️ Review how session length, environment, and sensory load show up in your studio
➡️ Ask better questions — not to fix, but to understand

Continue the Conversation in The Pilates Muse

If you're craving deeper reflections, intelligent conversation, and writing that challenges how we think about Pilates, pain, and professional practice:

✨ Explore The Pilates Muse — a publication for Pilates teachers who want to think beyond cues and exercises
➡️ https://www.thepilatesprofessional.com.au/the-pilates-muse-publication

🎥 Prefer to watch?
This episode is also available on YouTube — experience the full conversation in a different way:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGs4C3-8NIw2BQZ1QTHZetg

This is where philosophy meets practice.

About The Pilates Lounge

The Pilates Lounge Podcast is where intelligent movement meets real-world practice. Hosted by Katie Crane, each episode supports Pilates teachers and movement professionals to think deeper, teach smarter, and build sustainable careers grounded in integrity, autonomy, and whole-person health.