PilatesStyle: How Pilates Keeps NFL Players Moving Eric Kendricks & Anthony Barr Hosted by Nikki Lal

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