Taking Risks in Business

What would you be willing to risk to give your community something truly valuable?

In this episode, host Katie Crane gets real about what it actually takes to build a Pilates studio that honours the full method. From a very public business attack to losing 40% of her clients, to finally opening the last room of her dream studio — Katie shares an honest, behind-the-scenes look at the risks she took and why she would do it all again.

In This Episode, We Discuss

• Why Katie relocated her Darwin studio in March 2025 — and what it really cost her
• The public media attack that dragged her business name through the dirt
• Losing 40% of her client base during the relocation and how she rebuilt
• The opening of her new wall tower room and why it brought her to tears
• Why teaching reformer-only Pilates is doing your clients a disservice
• The neuroscience behind movement: "Neurons that fire together, wire together"
• Why functional, upright movement matters more than perfecting supine exercises
• How the reformer boom will eventually burst — and who will be left standing
• What it truly means to invest in Pilates as a complete system

Key Takeaways

✨ The reformer is a tool, not the whole system

The reformer is one piece of the Pilates apparatus. When clients only ever use one tool, they miss the full benefit of the Pilates method.

✨ Functional movement means upright movement

Neurons that fire together wire together. If your clients only ever practice lying down, they only get better at lying down. The goal is to help people move well in real life.

✨ Business risk is part of serving your community

Katie spent over $100,000 more than planned on the relocation. She lost clients. She rebuilt her brand. And she says it was worth it.

✨ The reformer bubble will burst

The ones that survive will be the ones that truly understand and apply the full Pilates method.

About Katie Crane

Katie Crane is the founder of The Pilates Lounge in Darwin, Australia, and host of The Pilates Lounge Podcast. With over 20 years of experience teaching Pilates, Katie is passionate about evidence-informed practice, the full Pilates apparatus, and supporting movement professionals to serve their communities with integrity.

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The Pilates Lounge is a space for Pilates professionals, movement educators, and curious learners to explore meaningful conversations around movement, teaching, health, and the evolving Pilates industry