Setting
goals for me is really important. Whether it's work goals, health & fitness
goals or whatever it may be.
Working
towards a goal will give you a sense of meaning and purpose. It will also put
you in the direction you want to be in, which will ultimately make you happy!
You might
recall that earlier this year I shared a number of my personal goals for 2019 on
my Instagram. One of my goals was to try a Pilates class. After posting
this goal on my page, so many people suggested that I should try Peaches
Pilates!
ABOUT PEACHES
Peaches Pilates is a collection of boutique Pilates and fitness
studios founded by Managing Director Tori
Clapham out of a small space in Bondi.
“ The first version of Peaches actually started on
Tori’s living room floor where a small group of girls would come for an early
morning workout. This mentality has remained with Peaches to the current day.
We want all our spaces to be as warm and welcoming as our own living room.”
Bec Chidiac is the head trainer and director of studio
operations and will get you into the best pilates shape of your life!
“Her endless energy, in depth training knowledge and
fitness experience make her an expert on the day to day operations of running a
studio.”
Chris Hole develops and manages the systems and processes that
keep our business model moving forward.
“He has worked with some of Australia’s
biggest brands for over 10 years including Virgin, Myer,
Toyota, McDonalds and more.
WHY PEACHES?
The first
thing I did was jump on the Peaches Pilates Instagram @peachespilates and scrolled
through their photos, which capture some of the classes they offer.
This
really gave me an idea of the overall vibe. I was immediately drawn to the
unique culture of Peaches, which is more like a social community than just a
regular gym class.
I also
noticed that it wasn't your usual feed with the perfect girl posing with
the perfect outfit with the perfect abs- it has depth and realness that is
really welcoming.
The
quotes that are posted on the Instagram also grabbed my attention, including:
"No
one is going to stand up at your funeral and say, She had a flat tummy and a
thigh gap". & "Real Bodies"
and "Tag a peach
you're f@cking proud of".
Something I absolutely LOVE is their mission statement
being ‘MPFFA’ meaning ‘Make
People feel fucking awesome!’
It was
clear to me that the Peaches Team are REAL
and relatable which is very rare to find these days on Instagram and in the
fitness world.
I also
love that Peaches gives back to the community by donating clothes and personal
care items to Sydney’s displaced and encourage to give back. They also provide
community charity walks to raise awareness about domestic violence.
I have
attached a link below so you can stay tuned for their latest initiative!
https://www.peachespilates.com/bondicommunity
https://www.peachespilates.com/bondicommunity
WHAT DOES PEACHES OFFER?
Peaches offer
a range of classes including: pilates, boxing, barre, yoga, HIIT, weights and
cardio. They also offer classes that are a safe option if you are pregnant and some
classes that are just for mums and bubs.
I love
that Peaches offers you so much more than just the classes including delicious
recipes and community support that you can access through their Peaches
instagram account.
They also offer an online workout that you can
purchase if you would prefer to do a workout from home or would like a workout
program for a vacation.
One thing
that really stood out to me was the ‘Peachy Vaccay’, which involves workouts,
goal setting and cooking classes while on an amazing retreat in Hawkesbury, at a place called Yanada.
The best
part about the retreat is that you will also enjoy wine tasting, cheese pairing and of
course a sleep in the next day. Peaches Pilates is all about balance & it’s
so refreshing!
MY EXPERIENCE
CLASS. 1 – H.I.I.P
I chose
the 'H.I.I.P (High intensity Interval Pilates) which is a circuit based class that
includes classic Pilates moves at a higher intensity with resistance and speed
combining both cardio and strength.
The girls
at peaches believe that ‘variety is key’ and that Pilates should be the
foundation for your fitness. Any class that is not labeled as a ‘Pilates class’
is designed with the Pilates method in mind, so all of the exercises have the
Pilates principals to their core.
This HIIT
session took us through various stations where we focused on different areas of
the body including walking burpees, walking squats, pilates plates and much
more. Although I am used to high intensity training, by the end of the class it
really left me sweating!
CLASS. 2 – PEACHES PILATES
My second
class was ‘Peaches Pilates’ which is a total body toning mat Pilates class
which focuses on your core, legs and glutes.
Throughout
the class, we used a dual grip Pilates ring and a leg weight for strengthening
and toning. I have heard amazing things about leg weights but I didn’t realise
how much they can impact your work out. For those who are unfamiliar with leg
weights, the weight is strapped around one of your ankles while lifting the leg. I had the shakes by the end of each round!
The class
was taken by head trainer and co-owner of Peaches, Bec Chidiac who will guide
you through each area and motivate you to keep going! So far, this was my
favourite class.
CLASS. 3 – BARRE BURN
This
class is an intense workout on the
barre incorporating pilates, cardio and ballet basics for a total body
sculpting session.
We started the class on the mat with the dual
grip Pilates ring to stretch out our legs then it was straight to the barre. The class also incorporates leg weights that will really work
your legs and glutes. I personally found this class very challenging as I was
using muscles I’m not used to focusing on.
CLASS. 4 – MONSTER ABS
If
you are anything like me, I tend to avoid doing abs at all costs!
When
I started with Peaches, one of my goals was to focus on getting my abs back and
getting rid of some of the stubborn fat on my stomach. This is one class where
I knew I would struggle.
The
class was circuit based and I was sweating by the second station. In this class
we worked our entire
core - abs, transverse abdominis and obliques. If you are looking to tone your
tummy, this class is for you.
Starting
a new gym or fitness class can be very daunting. The fear of the unknown is
what stops people from trying something new. Well I’m here to fill you all in! Peaches
has such a welcoming vibe that makes you feel at home from the moment you walk
through the door.
The
owners of Peaches Pilates have created a realistic approach to fitness and
health that is so refreshing. Peaches focuses on changing the mindset around
exercise and your relationship with your body that is so important in this day
and age with social media flashing the ‘perfect body’ everywhere.
In saying
that, the teachers will still kick your butt into the best Pilates shape of
your life! Each class will guide you to a fitter & firmer body with some of
the best rnb hits.
They also
offer an online program for those who are time poor, on holiday or would prefer
to comfort of their own home!
Each
class incorporates Pilates and focuses on different areas of the body and
different levels of intensity. For me, it’s hard to say what class was my
favourite but if I had to choose, it would be the classic ‘Peaches Pilates’
class. One of my goals was to strength my core and take the time to focus on my
stomach muscles and this class was amazing for me. If you are looking to elongate
and strengthen your body, Peaches will help you achieve this.
There are
so many reasons why I enjoyed my experience with Peaches. Try a $20 week trial
and see for yourself why I have been raving about it!
I have
attached the Peaches Pilates link below so try it and DM me if you have any
questions and I also want to hear about your personal experience. I bet you
love it!
Sarsha x
