Feel Better Pilates

It was a HUGE month of milestone classes in May!
We're so proud of everyone always, but special shout out to these amazing humans who showed up 100 times to Feel Better.

Introducing the Warm Bodies Club.

It's winter. It's cold. It's dark when you wake up and dark when you get home and your bed is warm and your motivation is not.

We get it. We also don't care. Show up anyway.

Here's the deal: turn up consistently through June and July, hitting your regular membership attendance, and you're automatically in the draw to win a 90 minute massage at a local studio. No sign ups. No extra effort. Just your normal routine, done consistently.

Two winners drawn per studio, every month of winter.

Because you told us consistency is hard. And we heard you. Our response was to bribe you.

See you on the reformer. Warm bodies only.

WHAT'S ON IN JUNE ❄️

One big announcement, dropping tomorrow.

It's winter. Your motivation has left the building. We've watched you skip classes and blame the weather, and rather than guilt-trip you about it, we've decided to do something about it instead. That's all you're getting today. Come back tomorrow.

We're closed Monday the 9th for the long weekend, so factor that into your bookings. Your reformer will keep.

Everything else is running as normal, which in June means showing up while it's cold and dark and deeply tempting to stay home.

What's something you didn't expect about Pilates before you started?

Maybe it was how much you'd sweat (nobody warns you about the sweat). Maybe it was the fact that you'd voluntarily wake up early for it. Maybe it was that you'd end up genuinely looking forward to being told what to do for 45 minutes by someone who counts "just one more" at least four times.

Or maybe it was the part where you accidentally made friends. That one sneaks up on people.

Tell us yours. We're nosy.

"Belly button to spine."

You've heard it. Your physio's probably said it. Your last Pilates teacher probably also said it.

It's been one of the most common cues in movement for about 30 years. And for a long time, there was good reason for that.

But the research has moved on. Quite a lot, actually.

This carousel breaks down where the cue came from, what the current evidence says about it, and why the way we cue at FBP might sound a bit different to what you're used to.

Swipe through. Save it if it's useful. And if you've ever been told your core isn't "switching on" properly, slide 7 is for you.

Time to find out what kind of Pilates person you are.
Swipe through and tell us your answers in the comments. We already know the stomach rumble one is going to be unanimous.

Meet Jade
We asked her a few questions:

💙 What’s a completely unnecessary hill you’ll die on?
Fruit shouldn’t be hot unless it’s baked into things ie banana bread = acceptable, pineapple on pizza? Absolutely not.

💙 What’s a tiny thing that instantly makes your day better?
Getting called beautiful by my bird

💙 What does “feeling better” mean to you right now?
Peaceful moments, less screen time, sharing hobbies with friends (making them try all the perfumes)

💙 What’s one movement myth you’d happily retire forever?
That you can spot reduce or “tone up” both of those are just marketing buzz words and it’s so frustrating that it’s still used.

💙 What do you love most about the Feel Better community?
That you can turn up and be welcomed as yourself, as you are in that moment, odd socks, complicated life, we’re all here for each other.

💙 Are you a Pilates princess or a Pilates gremlin?
I had to turn to the group chat for this one, it was a unanimous princess vote 👸

Meet Paddy. 👋
Paddy runs his own business - Paddy’s PickUp - collecting, laundering, folding and returning our studio cleaning cloths each week (no disposable wipes here). He does it with support from his carer, with his iPad to help him communicate, and with a great deal of enthusiasm for any high five that might be offered.

His mum built this business for him because, like so many autistic young people who finish school, the pathway to meaningful employment is basically non-existent. Not because they can’t contribute - clearly they can - but because the systems that are supposed to support them keep getting gutted.
The federal government’s recent NDIS changes have made life materially harder for families like Paddy’s. Cuts to funding, increased red tape, and a review process that treats disabled people like a budget problem rather than human beings who deserve to participate in society. Some of our members are living this right now with their own kids, and it’s not okay.

We can’t fix the NDIS. But we can choose who we spend our money with, and we choose Paddy.
If your business needs a laundry pickup service in Canberra, go to paddyspickup.com.au - and give this post a share so more people know he exists.

If we had a dollar for every time someone said "isn't Pilates just for women" we'd have enough to open a third studio.

Meanwhile the blokes who already come to Feel Better are quietly getting stronger, moving better and wondering why they didn't start sooner.

Swipe through. Then tag a bloke who needs to see this.

You'll notice a little card on your reformer when you come to class.

One side says "I'm okay with hands-on assists." The other side says "not today." You flip it to whichever suits you and that's that. No explanation needed, no awkward conversation, no one asking why.

Some days you're fine with it. Some days you're not. Some days it depends on the exercise, or just how you're feeling that morning. All of it is completely valid and we will always respect it.

Your class, your body, your call.