From Student to Instructor: Carlos’ Pilates Journey at Elixr
Carlos first discovered Pilates over 15 years ago in Brazil. As a university student studying food science, he was drawn to the way Pilates blended movement with a scientific understanding of the body. Starting with mat Pilates in a traditional format using Joseph Pilates’ original exercises, he found that the method complemented his other training in weightlifting and swimming, helping to strengthen and stabilise his shoulders, legs, glutes, and core.
After moving to Australia, Carlos kept up with weight training and swimming until an overuse injury in his shoulder brought him back to Pilates. He began taking mat classes at Elixr with Katrina, and although he was initially intimidated by reformer Pilates, he soon embraced it. Carlos found group classes challenging at first, but with Katrina’s attentive teaching and welcoming style, he gained confidence and quickly progressed.
As Pilates took centre stage in his fitness routine, Carlos found he no longer needed high-impact workouts. Reformer Pilates offered all the challenge he needed—with focused, controlled movement that kept him grounded and injury-free. That shift made him consider something bigger: teaching.
Although he never saw himself as a “fitness person,” encouragement from the Elixr community—including instructors like Katrina, Rachel, and Juliet—planted the seed and he signed up for Elixr School of Pilates.
Training, Growth, and Gaining Confidence with Elixr School of Pilates
Carlos began with the fundamentals course, which covered Pilates theory—a section he was immediately comfortable with thanks to his academic background. He completed the reformer course first, followed by matwork, and praised instructors Katherine, Katrina, and Jenn for their detailed, hands-on teaching style.
Far from being just theoretical, the training involved real-time teaching practice. “We were constantly teaching each other, applying what we learned,” Carlos said. “It helped my own practice too.”
For Carlos, one of the most valuable parts of the training was gaining confidence—particularly as someone teaching in a second language. Learning the movement-based vocabulary of Pilates was a new experience, but one that proved essential to his growth as an instructor. He also learned how to teach people of all backgrounds—modifying exercises for pregnancy, injuries, or different levels of fitness.
Becoming an Elixr Instructor
After completing his reformer and matwork courses, Carlos stepped into a professional teaching role at Elixr. Support from Rachel during this transition was instrumental—she helped him focus on class flow, presentation, and structure, from using a microphone to managing the energy of a group. That final layer of mentoring helped him feel truly ready.
Today, Carlos thrives in his new role. What he loves most is teaching itself—helping people feel better in their bodies, understand movement, and support long-term health and quality of life. “Pilates isn’t just about fitness,” he says. “It’s about improving quality of life. It helps prevent injuries, strengthens your core and spine, and supports aging bodies. Being able to give people that knowledge and experience feels really meaningful.”
To stay inspired, Carlos still attends classes regularly, drawing cues and creative flow from other instructors. “Someone once said my classes were a mix of Katrina and Jenn—which I took as a big compliment.” He also experiments with class design, tests his own sequences, and continues to build his vocabulary and confidence in cueing.
From a curious student in Brazil to a confident instructor at Elixr, Carlos’s story is a testament to what’s possible through passion, community support, and a willingness to grow.
Make the leap, join Carlos and the Elixr team as a certified Pilates instructor.
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