I have always enjoyed being physically active and grew up in a family which loved sports such as swimming, tennis, squash, and running.  Combining this with healthy nutrition (as well as the odd pack of maltesers…which I love!!!) is a must in my day-to-day life.  Pilates came into my life in 2010 when I unfortunately had a knee injury which then led to a sore lower back.  My physio said that pilates would be a great form of exercise for me as part of my rehab and I have never looked back…I was hooked!!!  

I ended up leaving the corporate world in 2013 and opened my first pilates studio in the Brisbane CBD in early 2014, then a second studio at Ashgrove in 2015.  Busy times ensued, but also great opportunities for personal growth and for me to learn more about the human body, refine and modify pilates techniques and generally just have a lot of fun with some amazing instructors and clients….some of whom are still with me today!!  

I’ve seen first-hand how reformer pilates helps everyday people to be healthy – whether it’s mentally, physically or emotionally! It creates such a positive impact on so many of our clients when they can suddenly feel themselves standing up taller, or being able to move more freely, or without acute pain that they have been living with for many years.  I am truly grateful to have this ability to help people achieve their goals and hope to be changing more and more lives in the years ahead with the Pilates Emporium studios and our amazing team of instructors.

Hi, I’m Karen. I’ve always had a love of fitness which started as a gymnast when I was just 5 years old. After years of High Intensity exercises – (Pump, Step, CX Worx, Tennis and running 10km 2-3 times a week) I started to get severe back pain.  What I didn’t realise was that even though I was relatively fit, I actually had very little TRUE core or glute strength. So I started pilates and went back to the basics of learning how to CORRECTLY activate those muscles. It was found I had severe degeneration of the L5/S1 vertebrae and had successful Spinal Fusion Surgery almost 3 years ago. Pilates has been an integral part of my rehabilitation, learning to focus on particular muscles through Mind Muscle Connection, and using breath to enhance muscle activation has been one of my greatest learning points. I am so passionate about Pilates and it’s benefits which is why I decided to become an Instructor.

HI, I’m Amanda. I honestly can’t remember why I tried my first ever reformer Pilates class, but I’m sure glad I did! Even with hereditary ‘dodgy knees’ and a lower back injury, I found the low-impact nature of Pilates to be just what I needed. Along with the physical benefits, I also found that I could switch off the outside world completely and focus on myself and the exercises for the duration of the class. I love that Pilates is available to, and suitable, for all body shapes and sizes.

Then one day on the back of a bus in Vietnam, I decided to dive in and study to become an instructor, and I’m loving it! Now, I’m that person who is trying to convert everyone around me to love pilates as much as I do, because I honestly feel that everyone can benefit from it.

Hi, I’m Erin. I was hooked from my first introduction to Pilates. Starting in matwork Pilates, I loved how it complemented my dance training. After adding reformer classes to my conditioning regime, there was no turning back. I was drawn to the holistic and intense stability, strength and flexibility reformer Pilates offered, with the opportunity for new knowledge, awareness and challenges that were offered in each class.

I graduated from the Queensland University of Technology with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance in 2019 and am currently instructing in the reformer Pilates studio whilst also doing freelancing in contemporary dance. I am excited for the continuous learning and growth my career offers and I love that it gives me the opportunity to share my passion with others.