Toowoomba’s top yoga and pilates instructors revealed after readers vote in The Chronicle’s online poll

Whether they helped you enhance your flexibility, balance and strength or achieve the ultimate zen, we can now reveal Toowoomba’s top 12 yoga and pilates instructors as voted by you. See the list here.

For Toowoomba’s Amy Pattison, it’s been a week of celebrations as it marked two years since she moved her business Antara Studios into its large Ruthven St space.

When the world was in the process of shutting down due to Covid-19 in June 2020, she was just starting out, offering yoga, pilates and meditation classes.

Antara Studios owner Amy Pattison. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Initially leasing out a small, modest piece of carpet inside the Rumours International Convention Centre to teach her classes, Ms Pattison first accepted donations only.

Drawn to the holistic practices to benefit her own wellbeing, Ms Pattison said she was proud of the sense of community which had formed within her studio.

Despite the timing risk, the business has continued to grow and has remained in its 140-year-old Ruthven St building for the past two years.

Antara Studios owner Amy Pattison. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Ms Pattison said she was thrilled to see so many people expand their perception of healthy living to go beyond gyms and clean eating to now incorporate alternative practices like meditation.

The Chronicle asked readers to nominate and vote for Toowoomba’s best yoga and pilates instructor, with more than 40 put forward.

While Ms Pattison ultimately came out on top in the online poll, it’s a title she does not feel comfortable claiming, and took the time to recognise everyone in the industry.

“The idea of competition doesn’t align with yoga,” she said.

“Yoga is more about collaboration and the word actually translates to union.

“We really are so spoiled for choice here in Toowoomba with the quality of yoga and pilates teachers and I have learnt from many of them in so many different ways.”

Antara Studios owner Amy Pattison. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Teaching members as young as five through to early 70s, Ms Pattison, who has been an instructor for eight years, said she hoped to continue the practices in some capacity for the rest of her life.

“I don’t know about 80 (years old) … I do fantasise about retirement, but we’ll see.”