Macclesfield's Balance Pilates to move into new studio next week
By Alex Greensmith
31st Oct 2024 | Local News
A Macclesfield pilates studio will stretch to a different side of town, as they move into a bigger and better studio.
Balance Pilates, owned by Charlie Bateup, will move from Pickford Street to 11 Grosvenor Street.
Their new studio will open at 6:30am on Monday.
The boutique reformer pilates studio offers pilates on a specialised machine, and is also a great place to socialise.
It has been a whirlwind few years for Balance, and founder Charlie.
"I used to be a trained professional dancer," said Charlie.
"I was performing for ten years professionally.
"I lived in London, doing shows, worked on cruises, worked at Disney, done a little bit of everything really.
"While I was doing all that, I was participating in a lot of pilates classes in London to keep up my fitness and help me with injuries.
"I did that for ten years, then fell in lots with teaching Pilates, and decided to take a step back from the performing world.
"I'm from the Wirral originally, so wanted to live in the north west when I moved back up north.
"Macclesfield ticked a lot of boxes. Affordable, cute coffee shops, it is an up-and-coming lovely little town.
"So I moved here in 2020, and opened Balance Pilates in January 2022.
"It has been a bit of a whirlwind since then, we have been so busy."
But it is not just riding the wave of a craze, that appeals to Charlie.
She is a true champion of the benefits it can bring, and has been even before her business began.
"It is trendy at the moment. Everyone wants to do reformer pilates," she said.
"But I have been doing it for so long, there are so many benefits of reformer pilates, from posture, strength, to core.
"It is amazing for your hips, knees and your alignment.
"A lot of people need help with their posture as many have desk jobs. We are sitting throughout the day and on our phones a lot."
According to the NHS, other benefits of pilates include mental wellbeing, and flexibility.
Like pilates on a mat, reformer pilates - on a machine - also dates back to founder Joseph Pilates soldier rehabilitation work during World War I.
And Balance Pilates' new studio, located inside a former garage, offers introductory rates and classes tailored for beginner's to reformer pilates.
Tight gripping socks are recommended, and can be bought at Balance.
"Reformer pilates used have a stigma as a 'rich person hobby'," revealed Charlie.
"I always wanted to make it more accessible to everyone, and make it more affordable.
"I have a monthly membership where you can as many classes as you want for £100, which is an amazing deal.
"But what we have done is made it more dynamic, added more fun, added more fitness.
"We have the tunes on, you can use dumbbells, it is a bit more inclusive so there is a lot of energy.
"It is fun, it is challenging, we make sure everyone in the room is looked after.
"You can change the spring on the machine to make it a bit easier, or harder."
Full pricing can be found on this link.
"What we always do when we get a new client in, we talk them through the machine and how to use it before the classes," added Charlie.
"We always make sure to put newcomers near the teachers, so they know how to change springs. We really look after them, and encourage them to move slowly at first, so they are safe and controlled.
"Currently we have eight machines, and in this space we are going to have ten machines.
"We also have a private one-to-one room as well, which we did not have before.
"So at the same time, we can have a one-to-one tutor and a class of ten at the same time, with this new studio.
"We currently have a team of ten of us, including me.
"We have a new instructor starting with us here on Monday.
"The team actually makes it [Balance Pilates] special.
"A lot of tutors actually started as clients, so they have grown with us.
"It is like a big family here. We are a community."
"We had 25 people and two classes to start with.
"We are now at over 200 clients, and have about ten classes every day.
"The two new machines mean it will easier for people to book onto classes
"This space also allows more to offer to community, we will be able to have events, we have a little garden so can have get togethers in the summer.
"It is a bigger space, so we are able to use the space more."
One to one classes start from £60.
But you will not have long to book Charlie herself, as she is actually off to have her first baby!
"We already do pre and postnatal pilates," she also said.
"I have taught them, but I'm really excited to attend a pregnancy class as a client.
"I would like to thank the balance community, they are so loyal and supportive, we are all there for each other.
"My team of instructors are incredible, and particular my studio manager Ellie who has been with me through thick and thin.
"We look forward to welcoming you in our new studio."
Balance Pilates will be shut on November 1, 2 and 3 to prepare the new space.
Balance Pilates' new studio opens on Monday November 4.
You can find more about Balance on their website or social media.
Balance Pilates is located at 11 Grosvenor Street, Macclesfield, SK10 1BN.
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