Episode Details

"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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Connect with Nic:

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Connect with Tim:

• Tim Gough LinkedIn 
• Tim Gough Instagram 
• Vagabond Pilates Website
  
  

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