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December 14, 2021

This Pilates instructor wants to help you get moving

Filed under: Fitness — Tags: — admin @ 11:12 pm

One class changed her life.

The first time a friend suggested Cat Webb try a Pilates class, she wasn’t sure it would be for her. “I was 27 and my idea of exercise was a night out dancing,” she admits.

To her surprise, she ended up enjoying the class so much it would completely transform both her personal and professional life.

“I pretty quickly became obsessed and had a transformational experience, both mentally and physically. My lifestyle completely changed too. I was finding the joy of movement for the first time and began focusing on my own wellbeing, which previously hadn’t really been a priority.”

A gap in the market

Webb steadily grew her Pilates side hustle – she completed her teacher training qualifications and taught at various studios around Melbourne. But she soon pinpointed a hole in the market that would create the opportunity for her to strike out on her own.

“I was struggling to find a movement space and Pilates studio that celebrated inclusion and fun. That wasn’t so much about going hard, smashing yourself, needing to look a certain way, getting a six-pack and using outdated methods of teaching,” she recalls. “I wanted a studio that was very much about real connection, community, exploring and collaborating with movement, and using current evidence to inform the way we teach.”

Come as you are

Webb’s studio, Good Times Pilates, opened in Fitzroy in April 2018. Since the beginning, it’s emphasised an inclusive approach that’s designed to make everyone feel welcome, regardless of experience or ability.

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“I’d like people to think of Good Times as a Pilates studio and community where people feel welcome to come as they are and always leave feeling better than when they arrived,” Webb says.

Each of the 12 teachers brings their own style to their classes, but all work within the inclusive community ethos of the studio. “Five of our teachers started out as Good Times community members, so I already knew that they understood the kind of experience we’re trying to cultivate for our community, which is so important to me,” Webb says. “They all have their own unique style of teaching but they all work within our values of inclusivity, community and fearless empowerment, too.”

Beating business burnout

Good Times is all about creating a positive vibe for its community, but Webb admits she’s had her share of challenges to grow it to where it is today. She says she came close to burning out during the studio’s early days.

“I was trying to do it all in the beginning to keep costs down, and because I wasn’t always sure of when and how to delegate tasks. I was lucky to have three other amazing teachers but I was still teaching around 30 classes a week, plus doing all the customer service admin, trying to learn how to run a business and all the cleaning too.”

Just as she started to get into a rhythm, the challenges of 2020 struck, bringing a whole new set of lessons to learn. “Supporting our community and also my team while figuring out how to live in a new world and all that was unknown – that challenge was definitely up there on the list!”

Her response was to embrace technology and create an online library of classes that members can do at home.

Webb admits she’s still learning how to navigate the twists and turns that come with running a small business and managing a growing team. And although she spends more time behind the scenes these days, she still leads several classes each week.

“Teaching is my happy place, where I’m privileged to facilitate a joyful and empowered experience for our community members. It’s where I feel most myself.”

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