pilates
small spaces
BIG RESULTS
Balanced Body’s
A robust pilates offering is still possible EXO Chair – a
with limited space. Daniel Wilson reports
full body workout
in a small space
A
s pilates continues to grow in popularity,
more clubs are adding the discipline as both
a source of non-dues revenue and a valuable
competitive service differentiator. But in
tough economic times, when most fitness centres are
not increasing floorspace, there’s an obvious obstacle
to the implementation of an equipment-based pilates
programme: where do you put it?
Does your club have enough room to start an effective
programme? Five years ago that question might have been
hard to answer. However, several space-saving pieces of
equipment now make it easy – and, in many cases, more
affordable – for even a smaller club to implement a
robust pilates programme.
tranquility pilates studio
ca
se s
tu
dy
N
ikki Chrysostomou is the owner She used the larger pieces of kit as private sessions simultaneously without
of the Tranquility Pilates Studio. storage containers. “We could easily store getting in each other’s way,” she adds.
Formerly located inside Europe’s largest props, mats, baby arcs and step barrels
fitness club at Canary Wharf, London, last under the reformers. The additional space keeping it fresh
year she moved to a new facility to start a meant I could buy a ladder barrel and a No matter the size of your space, a
pilates instructor training business. combo chair. The members liked them, pilates programme won’t be successful if
She says clubs need to understand the plus they’re small and easy to move.” things stays the same. “We keep the
importance of pilates as a service offering, One of the key things to think about studio alive by putting on different types
even if space is limited: “Pilates is such is how many times the kit will need to of classes, like circuit and reformer, or
a good selling point for any club. At my be moved to accommodate other types reformer with small props and jump
club, non-members were allowed to of pilates classes. “I loved the reformers, boards. We also hold special workshops,
come and use our facilities. Most of them but they weren’t portable, so it was hard like pilates for skiers and golfers,” says
subsequently became club members and to move them out of the way for mat Chrysostomou. “We’ve built up good
took up other activities at the club. You classes,” Chrysostomou says. “I was lucky relationships with our clients and some
can’t let lack of fl oorspace be a barrier.” – I ended up renting an empty studio next come three or four times a week.”
to mine to hold the mat classes. Looking As mentioned earlier, Chrysostomou
clever storage back, it would probably have been better recently moved out of the club to a
Chrysostomou’s space measured only to buy portable or stackable reformers.” new 102sq m (1100sq ft) studio in the
62sq m (670sq ft), with toilets and Even with the limited space, Canary Wharf complex. “We’d outgrown
changing facilities provided by the club. Chrysostomou was able to put together the space and wanted to offer training
The studio had five Studio Reformers, a full agenda of classes, including private courses and services like massage,
one Reformer with Tower, a Combo and semi-private sessions, plus two group physiotherapy and osteopathy. But I’m
Chair, a Trapeze Table, a Ladder Barrel classes each day. “As we grew bigger, I proof that, with the right kit and storage
and a Gyrotonic Pulley Tower. “That’s a hired some great instructors and we were planning, a pilates programme can
lot of equipment for the space,” she says. able to effectively conduct two to three fl ourish within the footprint of any club.”
august 2009 © cybertrek 2009 Read Health Club Management online 35
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