Lesser-Known Pilates Apparatus: Moving Beyond the Reformer

Joy talks with Kathi Ross-Nash, creator of the Red Thread Method, founder of the KRN Education and the Pilates Advanced Professional Teacher Training (PPATT) program, celebrated author, and globally renowned classical Pilates teacher, about utilizing lesser-known specialized Pilates apparatus and props to deepen the work beyond the familiar Pilates Reformer and Mat work. Kathi shares how a systematic approach to the Pilates method reveals the biomechanical purpose behind every piece of equipment, from its dimensions and proportions to its role in supporting progressive skill-building. She explores how the flow and transitions between Pilates apparatus should be customized to the individual body in front of you, and why effective Pilates education cannot thrive in an environment of fear or criticism. Hear how her close mentorship with Pilates Elder Jay Grimes continues to influence her teaching today, and how reconnecting with her own practice taught her self-love and deep appreciation for the movement. With profound insight, historical reverence, and practical wisdom, Kathi reminds us that when you truly understand the classical Pilates method, the work becomes critical, transformative, and life-changing for both the teacher and the client. This episode is powered by Balanced Body®.