Inside the pilates revolution that has Australians changing careers
Teachers, corporate climbers and government workers are quitting their secure 9-to-5s for an exercise revolution taking the nation by storm.
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It’s the fitness craze with a cult-like following taking over the nation one core exercise at a time.
The pilates phenomenon is attracting beginners, athletes and everyone in between with dedicated studios popping up and traditional gyms buying equipment across Australia.
But with everyone suddenly booking out expensive mat and reformer classes, where are all the instructors coming from?
While some Aussies are juggling corporate jobs with their teaching duties others even leaving their day jobs to take on the challenge full time.
Like South Australian sister act Maddy and Kamryn Ross who first started doing pilates in 2020 and quickly took the plunge to become teachers.
At the time Maddy was working in corporate administration with her days filled with “excel spreadsheets and word docs”.
“I was definitely very interested in fitness and then when the opportunity came up to … become an instructor, I took it because I was super passionate about the industry (and) wherever it was going to take me, and it kind of just grew from there,” the 23-year-old said.
The Peterhead local said she was initially “nervous” stepping away from the security of her corporate job for pilates.
“Because it’s a fitness industry, and you know, trends come in and out … I was a little hesitant of say, leaving such a secure full time role for something that was so casual (at the time),” Maddy said.
“For about six months I was doing my full time role on the side as well, before I went straight into full time (pilates) and had to say goodbye to my other role.”
Unlike her older sister, Kamryn is more of the “arts and crafts” type than a fitness fanatic and admitted she “never saw (herself) in this industry at all”.
The 21 year old was a casual hospitality worker when she decided to “put her best foot forward” and give pilates a go.
“It started off very casual,” Kamryn said.
“Whenever the opportunity came up to pick up more classes, obviously we would, we would do extra social media and stay back and help out as much as we can, to show how passionate we were and they just went from there.”
Maddy became studio manager of STRONG Glen Osmond in 2022, with Kamryn stepping into the same role at the fitness brand’s Port Adelaide location at the start of this year.
“We feel very secure in our roles,” Maddy said.
“We love both sides of it as well, so management … and also instructing on the side … we kind of have fingers in every pie at the moment, which is really nice.”
The Ross sisters are not alone with many Australians joining the pilates revolution for life in the studio.
Swapping school for the studio
Renee Holland from Aleenta Health Club
Renee Holland was five years into a primary school career as a school services office when she decided to pursue pilates.
After growing up in the dance community the now 26 year old was first drawn to fitness craze while searching for a form of exercise she could enjoy in her “adult life”.
Ms Holland started reformer pilates at 21 and became qualified mat and reformer instructor in May last year.
When the opportunity arose for her to become the studio manager of Aleenta Health Club’s Mawson Lakes studio she decided to swap classrooms for studios full time.
“This was a big decision for me as I was very comfortable working at the primary school, I absolutely loved the children and my co workers,” Ms Holland said.
“(But) it wasn’t a difficult decision as I was definitely ready for a change and knew how proud I would feel stepping out of my comfort zone.”
Now Ms Holland spends her days managing and teaching and especially enjoys “learning about how to support people through pregnancy, injury and overall wellness”.
“I love that pilates is for everyone,” Ms Holland said.
Ditching the desk job for the reformer
Ashleigh Hansen from Love Athletica
Before she found pilates Ashleigh Hansen was as a clinical naturopath spending the majority of her working hours sitting at a desk on a computer.
In 2020 she decided to give pilates a go to see of it would help with her chronic pain brought on by endometriosis.
It did so Ms Hansen became an instructor and started teaching classes in 2021.
“I was essentially full time teaching as of 2022/2023, the decision at the time was easy because the industry in Adelaide was evolving at such a rapid rate and there were incredible opportunities popping up,” the 31-year-old said.
The Lockleys resident said she loved the industry which “keep diversifying”.
“My best advice for anyone looking to get into pilates as exercise is to find somewhere that feels really comfortable and to just go in without any presumption or expectation on your body,” Ms Hansen said.
Quitting the heavy load of child protection
Anita Ruiz from STRONG Pilates
Pre-pilates Anita Ruiz worked in child protection for more than 10 years.
On the side she was always involved in the fitness world becoming a Les Mills coach and participating in gym classes.
But Ms Ruiz and her young family were living in Melbourne during the Covid-19 pandemic and after a “tough 14 months” she decided it was time for a career change.
“When returning to Adelaide with my family I didn’t feel I could return to the heavy load of my child protection role and having two young boys of my own so decided to quit,” she said.
The busy mum said it was a “surprise” to her family when she made the career move as her government job was “stable”.
She enrolled in pilates training in 2020 and immediately found herself “immersed” in the community.
“Covid taught me life is too short and to truly follow what feels right – scary yes … but I felt the fear and did it anyway with the support of my beautiful husband,” Ms Ruiz said.
Alongside her other half, Albert Ruiz, Ms Ruiz opened STRONG Pilates Keswick in 2023.
“We love connecting with people and moving our bodies (and) getting STRONG for life,” she said.
Deferring uni to launching a business
Indi Hetherington from House of Happy Hour and Love Athletica
Indi Hetherington remembers feeling “stuck in this weird in-between stage of life” before she found her spark.
“I was a full-time uni student and working casually in retail,” Ms Hetherington said.
“(I was) not really loving where I was at but not sure how to get out of it either.
“I just knew deep down there had to be something more that lit me up.”
Ms Hetherington started attending pilates classes and said the exercise “changed everything” for her.
“The movement felt like therapy for my body, but what really drew me in was the energy of the instructors,” she said.
“They were uplifting, empowering, and full of light — and I remember thinking, whatever they’re doing, I want to do that too.”
It has been just over two years since Ms Hetherington received her certification in both mat and reformer, and while she initially juggled her retail job with instructing it wasn’t long before she decided to go all in.
Now she works full-time at Love Athletica between Norwood and Goodwood as an instructor and has also founded wellness brand House of Happy Hour with her best friend Sophie Kelly.
“We’ve created something really special that blends movement, mindfulness, and fun, and it’s only just getting started,” Ms Hetherington said.
“I feel like I’ve finally found my spark, and I get to live it every day.”
The straight out of school instructor
Sophie Kelly from House of Happy Hour and Love Athletica
The other half of House of Happy Hour is Sophie Kelly who also knew she “wanted something more” than working a retail job.
She first discovered pilates after suffering from an injury and using the exercise in her rehabilitation.
Ms Kelly was “hooked” and became certified “straight out of school” at just 18.
Despite her deep love for pilates, the young instructor admitted leaving her secure retail role was a big step.
“Retail was safe, but it wasn’t fulfilling,” Ms Kelly said.
“Once I started teaching regularly and saw the impact I could have — especially when we started building House of Happy Hour — I knew I had to go all in.
“It was scary at first, but so worth it.”
Ms Kelly now works at Love Athletica’s two Adelaide studios and host “wellness events” through the brand she and Ms Hetherington launched last year.
“It’s not your average pilates studio — it’s community, movement, and a little bit of magic (and yes, there’s glitter involved),” she said.
Not your average PE teacher
Meg Henderson from Hello Pilates
Meg Henderson knows what it is like to juggle pilates with her day job.
The 30 year old founded Hello Pilates while she was a high school PE teacher and college sport co-ordinator.
Over two years down the track Ms Henderson still manages both roles and has grown to two studios in Modbury and Marden thanks to the help of “lots of caffeine”.
“For the first year, I worked full time at school along with sport co-ordinating to manage the risk but ultimately to gain more work-life balance, it made more sense to be part time,” she said.
“I feel very lucky to balance two careers that compliment one another so well – one’s that both allow me to be active and connect with like-minded others.”
The Fairview Park local said that “every day is different” as she finds the balance between teaching pilates and teaching children.
“Juggling school sport and instructing on weekends is a challenge,” she said.
“But somehow I still end the day feeling energised and really fulfilled.”
Mum trades marketing for multiple studio ownership
Erin Canto from KX Pilates
Erin Canto was working in social media marketing when a knee reconstruction led her to pilates.
“From one class I was absolutely hooked and wanted to be a part of it,” Ms Canto said.
“While I enjoyed my previous role, I was looking for what was next.
“I knew I wanted to do something else but I wasn’t really sure what. I guess I was waiting for something to find me. After I left my first KX class, I rang my husband and told him I found it!”
Rather than becoming an instructor, the mum-of-two decided to become a studio owner and opened her first location in 2020.
She is now the proud owner of studios in St Marys and Blackwood.
“Every day is different,” Ms Canto said.
“Depending on the day I might be in studio chatting with clients, on the phone checking in with clients, working with our training team.”
The corporate job juggle
Charlie Parish from Love Athletica
28-year-old Charlie Parish balances her corporate job with her part-time pilates role and said the juggle helps keep her active.
“It keeps me motivated to stay fit and I love how it allows you to get more in touch with your creative side by coming up with all the different class plans,” Ms Parish said.
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