Episode #552: Fletcher Pilates Around the Globe-Kyria Sabin on Education, Expansion, and Community Impact

Kyria Sabin began her journey with Pilates in 1991 while living in Los Angeles and working as an art gallery director. Teaching Pilates was never part of her original path. However, her lifelong interest in fitness led her to eventually catch the bug for Pilates. After attending a workshop with renowned Pilates "Elder" Ron Fletcher, he encouraged her to teach the method, though she initially resisted. Despite her intentions to head to law school, Kyria’s passion for Pilates ultimately changed her trajectory, shaping her future as a leading educator in the field.

Pete and Kyria continue on to discuss the origins of Fletcher Pilates, the evolution of teacher training, and what sets Pilates apart as a transformative practice with remarkable return on time invested. She opens up about the rigors of Pilates instructor certification, the expansion of Fletcher Pilates’ international licensing program, and how the method’s focus on quality movement has led to life-changing results for clients of all ages.

On international expansion Sabin states, "After we developed the program, we had people coming in from Asia, Europe, South America . . . all wanting to study his [Ron's] lineage of the work. We quickly realized is that we could reach many more people if we sent teachers to those countries."

Key themes discussed

• Growth and evolution of Pilates as a fitness modality.
• History and legacy of Fletcher Pilates.
• Intensive process of Pilates instructor certification.
• International expansion through licensing and teacher training.
• Impact of group classes and mass-market Pilates studios.
• Value of in-person Pilates versus online instruction.
• Pilates benefits for diverse age groups and populations.

A few key takeaways: 

1. Pilates as a Transformational Practice: Sabin’s experience highlights how Pilates isn’t just about exercise—it's about quality movement, efficiency, and transformative change in both mind and body. She shares her experiences being a client to realizing the profound physical benefits, describing it as a return on time investment with fantastic results.

2. Rigorous Teacher Training and Legacy: Unlike quick certifications in other fitness fields, becoming a Fletcher Pilates instructor is a comprehensive process that can take up to two years. Sabin emphasizes that students must first experience the work deeply themselves before teaching, underscoring the importance of depth and mastery in the method.

3. Pilates’ Global Reach: The growth of Fletcher Pilates worldwide happened both organically and intentionally. Demand from students in Asia, Europe, and South America led to a licensing model, making it possible for people to access quality teaching without always having to travel extensively. This preserves the lineage while also expanding its reach.

4. Pilates for All Ages and Backgrounds: Kyria advocates for Pilates as a lifelong practice accessible to everyone from young people to seniors. She's seen significant improvements in posture, strength, and balance at all ages, and challenges the notion that older adults are limited to just "maintenance." 

5. Personal Touch Still Matters: With the continued emergence of online and at-home Pilates offerings, Kyria remains firm on the value of in-person training, especially at the start of someone’s practice. She believes the energy, supervision, and personal connection play a significant role in a student’s success and safety, calling remote work more supplemental than foundational.

Resources: 

• Kyria Sabin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyria-sabin-3b92b97 
• Fletcher Pilates: https://www.fletcherpilates.com 
• Prospect Wizard: https://www.theprospectwizard.com 
• Promotion Vault: http://www.promotionvault.com
• HigherDose: http://www.higherdose.com