When the Reformer Holds You, Freedom Begins

Heart of Motion

What happens when movement becomes more than just exercise? For Amy Rost, founder of Arc Pilates in Cochrane, Alberta, Pilates transformed from a desperate attempt to heal her broken, exhausted body into a lifeline that would ultimately change her career path and impact an entire community.
"The reformer and the spring could hold me and my stress, and I had the freedom to move," Amy shares, describing her first Pilates session. That profound experience led her from a corporate career in disability management to becoming a leading voice in Canadian Pilates. Working while raising four children—including twins—and navigating her oldest son's diagnosis with a rare degenerative neuromuscular disease, Amy discovered that maintaining her own strength through Pilates was essential for caring for others.
What makes Amy's approach special is her focus on accessibility and community over competition. Rather than getting caught in debates between classical and contemporary Pilates methods, she emphasizes their similarities: "Joe taught to the body in front of him, that's it." This inclusive philosophy extends to her creation of Pilates Fest North, born from her desire to bring Canadian Pilates teachers together regardless of lineage or approach. Despite launching during the pandemic, the conference has become a cherished gathering for the Canadian Pilates community.
Whether you're a Pilates practitioner, teacher, or simply curious about how movement can transform lives, Amy's story reminds us that the true power of Pilates lies not just in physical exercise but in its ability to support us through life's most demanding challenges. As she advises beginners: "Just start. Find a teacher who resonates with you, be open to the potential, and be patient—I promise it'll never be time that you regret investing in yourself."

About Amy Rost

Amy Rost is the visionary founder of ARC Pilates, located in Cochrane, Alberta, Canada. She pioneered Pilates Fest North and co-founded the University of Pilates and Pilates Mentors.

In 2016, Amy left her corporate career to become a Classical, Comprehensively Advanced, Trained and National Certified Pilates Teacher. Today, she is an internationally recognized educator and mentor in the Pilates community. In 2022, Amy expanded her expertise as a certified Life Coach through Jay Shetty’s certification program, enhancing her commitment to fostering community through movement, connection, and collaboration. Amy’s dedication to her practice and students and her impressive journey make her a visionary in the Pilates and w

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Heart of Motion Podcast host Susannah Steers is a Pilates & Integrated Movement Specialist and owner of Moving Spirit Pilates in North Vancouver, BC. She is passionate about movement, about connections and about life.
Through movement teaching, speaking, and facilitating workshops, she supports people in creating movement practices that promote fitness from the inside out. She loves building community, and participating in multi-disciplinary collaborations.

Along with her friend and colleague Gillian McCormick, Susannah also co-hosts The Small Conversations for a Better World podcast – an interview based podcast dedicated to promoting the kind of conversations about health that can spark positive change in individuals, families, communities and across the globe.
Social Media Links:
Moving Spirit Pilates Instagram
Moving Spirit Pilates Facebook
Susannah Steers Instagram

Chapters

1. Introduction to Amy Rost (00:00:00)

2. Discovering Pilates as Personal Medicine (00:06:05)

3. Movement as Support for Family Challenges (00:09:30)

4. Classical vs Contemporary Pilates Discussion (00:16:35)

5. Post-COVID Changes in Bodies and Movement (00:19:20)

6. Creating Pilates Fest North for Canadian Community (00:23:25)

7. Balancing Multiple Projects and Personal Movement (00:29:35)