Is your Pilates studio switching you from a 1099 independent contractor to a W-2 employee? Before you get offended, quit your job, or assume your studio owner is changing the rules for the wrong reasons, there's a bigger conversation we need to have.

In this episode of Chat EYT, Jessica Spillane tackles one of the most misunderstood and potentially contentious issues in the Pilates industry: the relationship between studio owners and teachers.

Drawing on real-world scenarios and her own experience as a studio owner, Jessica explores why the traditional independent contractor model may not fit the way many Pilates studios actually operate, the risks of worker misclassification, and why employment agreements and non-solicitation clauses can matter more than you think.

She also shares a personal story about a business partnership that took an unexpected turn, illustrating how quickly circumstances can change when the right protections aren't in place.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The key differences between 1099 contractors and W-2 employees in a Pilates studio.
• Why the way a studio operates can matter more than what a worker is called.
• The potential financial and legal consequences of worker misclassification.
• Non-solicitation agreements, client relationships, and protecting the business you've worked so hard to build.
• Why contracts aren't necessarily a sign of distrust—and how they can protect both teachers and owners.
• How better communication can prevent misunderstandings and unnecessary tension.

Plus, Jessica shares exciting updates on the EYT network, the upcoming Stream EYT class library, and the development of Get EYT booking software designed by teachers and studio owners, for teachers and studio owners.

Whether you're a Pilates instructor, an independent contractor, or a studio owner navigating growth and change, this is a conversation worth having.

Know someone in the Pilates industry who needs to hear this? Share this episode, leave a five-star rating, and help us grow the conversations that move our community forward.

As always, exhale.

What happens when physical therapists discover that Pilates can completely change the way they approach movement, pain, rehabilitation—and even their careers?

In this eye-opening episode of Chat EYT, host Jessica Spillane sits down with three physical therapists—Samantha McGuire, Bianca [Last Name], and Debbie Dieter—to unpack the powerful crossover between Pilates and physical therapy.

The conversation gets real about why these two worlds remain surprisingly disconnected, how insurance and declining reimbursement are impacting physical therapists, and why the future of care may be moving toward wellness, concierge medicine, cash-based services, and prevention.

And then there's Debbie's unforgettable patient story: a patient with severe stenosis went from 8/10 pain to ZERO after incorporating Pilates-based movements into his treatment. As Debbie says, “That doesn't happen” in the traditional PT world.

The panel also explores:

• Why Pilates can be a powerful clinical tool for physical therapists
• The missed opportunity when patients “graduate” from PT but aren't given a long-term wellness plan
• Why PT schools should introduce Pilates into their curriculum
• The growing shift from reactive healthcare to preventative wellness
• How cash-based Pilates could complement—not replace—traditional physical therapy
• The impact of insurance, reimbursement and private equity on the PT profession
• Why some physical therapists are moving toward concierge care and wellness
• How Pilates may help patients reconnect with their bodies after major trauma or injury
• Whether group-based rehabilitation could make PT more accessible and affordable
• And what the future of physical therapy might actually look like

This isn't just a conversation about Pilates.

It's a conversation about where healthcare is going—and whether we're finally ready to rethink how we help people stay well.

And, of course, the episode ends with everyone's favorite Pilates exercises—including the Double Leg Kick, Teaser and Short Spine—plus one final reminder from Jessica: when in doubt, exhale.

What if the thing holding your Pilates business back isn't your clients, your competition, or the economy… but your fear of being disliked?

In this deeply honest and fascinating episode of Chat EYT, Jessica Spillane sits down with licensed psychologist Dr. Nadine O'Reilly to explore the psychology behind some of the most common—and complicated—things happening inside Pilates studios.

Because Pilates studios aren't just places where people exercise.

They're places where people feel vulnerable. They move. They breathe. They slow down. They open up. And sometimes… they tell you things you never expected to hear.

Jessica and Nadine dive into why movement can unlock powerful emotions, why clients sometimes treat their instructors like therapists, and where a Pilates teacher's responsibility ends—and a mental health professional's begins.

But that's only half the conversation.

They also tackle one of the biggest challenges facing studio owners and teachers: fear.

Fear of raising prices.
Fear of difficult conversations.
Fear of disappointing clients.
Fear of losing people.
Fear of being judged.
And, perhaps most importantly, the fear of not being liked.

Nadine explains the concept of “money wounds” and the stories we inherit about what it means to charge for our work. Jessica explores why so many teachers and studio owners struggle to value what they actually provide.

And then comes one of the biggest mindset shifts of the episode:

Stop calling it a confrontation.

A price increase isn't a confrontation.
A difficult conversation isn't necessarily a confrontation.
Setting a boundary isn't an attack.

Sometimes it's simply a proposal.

The conversation gets even deeper as Jessica shares a real-life story about a client revealing a potentially dangerous situation at home—and the moment Jessica realized the situation was far beyond her role as a Pilates instructor.

Together, they explore:

• Why Pilates can become a “confessional booth”
• How movement can unlock unexpected emotions
• What teachers should—and shouldn't—ask when clients disclose personal trauma
• The importance of recognizing your professional boundaries
• Why being a good listener can actually leave you emotionally depleted
• What “transference of trauma” can feel like
• Why studio owners and teachers operate from fear
• The psychology behind money wounds and money scripts
• Why charging more isn't selfish
• How to stop making business decisions based on whether people like you
• How small, incremental “baby steps” can help you become more comfortable with hard conversations
• And why sometimes giving people what they need is more important than giving them what they want

This isn't just an episode for Pilates instructors.

It's for anyone who has ever struggled to set a boundary, charge what they're worth, have a difficult conversation, or cared a little too much about whether someone liked them.

And Jessica and Nadine may have opened the door to an entire series of conversations.

Because what happens when the person everyone confides in finally needs someone to talk to?

Listen, share this episode with someone who needs to hear it—and then tell us:

Are you making decisions based on what is right… or based on being liked?