"I'm about as alpha male as it gets. I come from 30 years in special forces. It doesn't come much better than that. And I now teach Pilates and I absolutely see the benefits."
In this episode, Nic is joined by Tim Gough, co-owner and instructor at Vagabond Pilates in Dorset, and a 30-year veteran of the Royal Marines and Special Boat Service. Tim shares how his wife Millie's own Pilates journey through cancer recovery pulled him into the method during deployment, and how that eventually led him to leave the military and co-found a full-equipment Pilates studio with Millie and Molly.
They explore why Pilates is still seen as a female-dominated space, what needs to change in how it's marketed and taught to get more men in the door, and the surprising overlap between special forces mindset and the discipline of a Pilates practice. Tim also opens up about the challenges of studio ownership, adjusting to life after the military, and what he's learned about teaching, mentorship and building a team since joining Vagabond as an instructor.
Timestamps
00:00 Tim's first podcast and his path into Pilates 01:43 How his wife Millie's Pilates journey began 03:53 Teaching Pilates to his unit during deployment 07:11 The mission to get more men into Pilates 13:52 Running a men-only class at Vagabond 16:53 Making the studio feel welcoming for everyone 20:44 Thirty years in special forces, then Pilates 23:20 Why one session isn't enough 30:18 Clients who say Pilates changed their life 31:09 Why nobody notices your struggle in class 34:34 Meeting high-performing clients where they are 38:17 How Vagabond Pilates started 40:40 Interviewing to become an instructor 43:49 Adjusting to life after the military 44:29 Working with his wife and an all-female team 49:11 Mentorship and keeping good teachers 51:50 A look inside the Vagabond studio 54:03 Quickfire questions 59:15 Where to find Tim and Vagabond Pilates
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Ready to take your Pilates teaching to the next level? Applications are now open for Soul Pilates Education's 2027 Teacher Training programs in Bristol! Choose between our 12-month Comprehensive Training (Jan 2027) or our 7-month Reformer Training (Mar 2027). Learn to teach with real depth, adapt movement, and gain full confidence with clients. Limited places available.
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