
Holly Swanson
The Pilates Career Center, Breath Mechanics & Posture, virtual follow-up
Read Holly's bio
Holly Swanson began teaching Pilates in 2002 and has owned and operated Core Chicago Pilates through a recession, a pandemic, and every industry trend in between. Along the way, she learned the side of this career that no certification program covers: lease agreements, payroll, management, hiring, work-life balance, and the hard conversations.
Since then, she's expanded Core Chicago to several locations, co-founded The LAB, a 500-hour teacher training program, and co-founded a practice that combines physical therapy and Pilates. Most recently, she co-founded Operating Well, which turns the systems her studios run on into tools for other boutique fitness owners. She shares the real numbers, real struggles, and real discoveries of studio ownership so that teachers and studio owners can learn and grow from her experience.

Dr. Morgan Rodriguez
PT, DPT, FAAOMPT. Neck and shoulder workshop
Read Morgan's bio
Dr. Morgan Rodriguez, PT, DPT, FAAOMPT, is the founder of OPAL Movement Therapy, a performance-focused physical therapy practice dedicated to helping proactive adults move better so they can train hard and age strong. As a fellowship-trained orthopedic physical therapist and movement educator, Morgan combines biomechanics, anatomy, strength training, and clinical reasoning to help people better understand their bodies and move with greater confidence.
Morgan regularly teaches workshops and webinars for fitness and Pilates communities, translating physical therapy and movement science into practical strategies that instructors and clients can immediately apply. Her approach goes beyond treating pain to helping people develop the movement awareness, strength, and skills needed to stay active for life.

Madeleine Conti
Mat Pilates Fusion

Erin Schirack
Beat-Driven Musicality, virtual programming follow-up
12-hr Signature Group Fitness Pilates Teacher Training
Erin Schirack · Teacher training ticket
Pilates Mat Class
Networking Lunch
Mat Pilates Fusion (Pilates + Kettlebells)
Mat Pilates Fusion (Pilates + Kettlebells)
Workshop · Madeleine Conti
How to Reduce Neck & Shoulder Pain in Pilates
How to Reduce Neck & Shoulder Pain in Pilates
Workshop · Morgan Rodriguez
STRENGTH Collective Happy Hour + Vendor Village
12-hr Signature Group Fitness Pilates Teacher Training
Erin Schirack · Teacher training ticket
Beyond the Inhale/Exhale: Breath Mechanics & Posture
Beyond the Inhale/Exhale: Breath Mechanics & Posture
Workshop · Holly Swanson
Pilates Mat Class: Putting It All Together
Professional Panel
Shelsea Sanchez, Beyond the Studio. More panelists to be announced.
Business + Anatomy
Holly Swanson
Programming
Erin Schirack
The Pilates Career CenterHolly Swanson · Day 1 · 2 hours
Your certification taught you to teach but it didn't teach you what to expect at an audition, how to negotiate your pay, and what numbers you should track for yourself. Let's spend 2 hours working through the business side that will take you from a job as a Pilates teacher to having a full career in Pilates.
We'll work through a workbook meant to clarify who your ideal client is, your personal brand voice and mission, strategies to finding and negotiating jobs, and numbers to track once you have that job. We'll end with a Q+A to talk about your big dreams, ideas you have and how you're going to get there.
Mat Pilates Fusion (Pilates + Kettlebells)Madeleine Conti · Day 1 · 2 hours
Explore how Pilates principles extend beyond traditional mat work in this three-part fusion workshop. Maddie blends Pilates, strength, core control, mobility, and functional movement to expand your movement and teaching toolkit.
- Part 1: Kettlebell Foundations. Build foundational kettlebell skills through a Pilates-informed approach to alignment, control, and strength.
- Part 2: Bridging + Core. Explore bridging variations and integrated core work to develop strength, stability, and trunk-to-hip connection.
- Part 3: Standing + Animal Flow. Take movement off the mat with standing sequences and Animal Flow-inspired work that challenges mobility, coordination, balance, and whole-body control.
Participants will leave with new movement options and practical concepts they can immediately incorporate into their own practice or teaching.
How to Reduce Neck & Shoulder Pain in PilatesMorgan Rodriguez · Day 1 · 2 hours
Neck and shoulder discomfort are among the most common complaints in Pilates settings, often limiting client progress and confidence. This workshop equips Pilates instructors with a practical, movement-based framework to identify and address the underlying causes of these issues during class.
Participants will learn how limitations in thoracic mobility, shoulder mechanics, and cervical muscle balance contribute to compensatory patterns and overuse. The session emphasizes real-time coaching strategies, helping instructors assess movement and apply targeted cueing, regressions, and progressions within common Pilates exercises.
Attendees will leave with immediately applicable tools to improve client comfort, movement quality, and overall session effectiveness.
Beyond the Inhale/Exhale: Breath Mechanics & PostureHolly Swanson · Day 2 · 90 minutes
Beat-Driven MusicalityErin Schirack · Day 2 · 90 minutes
Beat-Driven Musicality for Pilates Instructors explores intentional use of rhythm, tempo, and musical structure. This course trains instructors to use music as an integrated coaching tool rather than background ambiance, enhancing clarity, confidence, motor learning, and group cohesion while maintaining Pilates principles of control, precision, breath, and flow.
Participants explore how beat-driven music influences movement quality, nervous system response, class pacing, and instructor cueing, while learning how to safely and intelligently apply musical structure across Mat-based Pilates programming. The training balances theory, practical application, and teaching methodology.
YOGA+
Yoga education alongside strength, recovery, and nutrition.
WMN+ / MN+
Women's and men's health across training, recovery, and nutrition.
LIFE+
Longevity, nutrition, strength, coaching and mental health.
CNXCN+
Connection and conversation for fitness professionals.
