What happens when NFL players trade the weight room for a reformer? Turns out… a lot more than stretching. On this episode of Pilates Style, Nikki Lal, founder of Fuerza Pilates, sits down with NFL veterans Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr for a funny, honest, and surprisingly technical conversation about how Pilates fits into elite athletic performance. Anthony opens up about his NFL career with the Minnesota Vikings and Dallas Cowboys and what training looks like now in retirement, while Eric reflects on entering his 12th NFL season after playing with the Vikings, Chargers, Cowboys, and 49ers. Both explain why Pilates became an important part of maintaining their bodies through years of football. They break down what professional athletes actually want from a Pilates instructor—including confidence, communication, hands-on tactile cueing, adaptability, and somebody who isn't terrified because a giant NFL linebacker just walked into the studio.
00:00 – Intro & welcome back
00:31 – Anthony Barr's NFL career & introduction to Pilates
02:17 – Eric Kendricks on 12 years in the NFL & feeling great
03:27 – Why professional athletes add Pilates to their training
04:22 – Fixing football posture & what athletes want from instructors
06:26 – Why NFL players can be skeptical about Pilates
07:44 – Anthony Barr: Can Pilates actually prevent injuries?
08:57 – Eric sees Pilates change how he moves on the field
10:22 – Football recovery & keeping the body ready every week
12:17 – Why Pilates became Eric's first stop after game day
14:01 – How Pilates instructors can start training professional athletes
15:11 – Why NFL players DON'T always need a harder workout
17:36 – Communication, pain & adapting an athlete's session
19:23 – Will they keep doing Pilates after football?
20:41 – Pilates equipment starts showing up in NFL locker rooms
24:03 – Pilates isn't just for professional athletes
25:28 – Teaching younger football players Pilates fundamentals
26:28 – Playing through broken bones & recovering after the NFL
30:23 – NFL toughness disappears when the Pilates strap hurts
32:17 – What athletes actually want from a Pilates instructor
36:26 – The best coaches adapt to the athlete
40:30 – Top tips for instructors training professional athletes
43:07 – Eric & Anthony reveal their favorite Pilates exercises
45:17 – Retirement, Eric's 12th season & knowing when it's over
46:12 – Why basic Pilates exercises can be enough for elite athletes
48:10 – Final advice for athletes & Pilates instructors
49:04 – Wedding talk, workout stories & outro