Happie At Home Pilates Studio

part 1

Friends! What started out as a dream of mine almost 20 years ago, is now finally coming to fruition!! I still cannot believe that my home Pilates studio is almost ready…there have been so many steps involved, I wanted to share each of them with you before giving you the final REVEAL!

Step 1: The Dream 

Ever since I became a Certified Classical Pilates Instructor, I wanted a studio in my home, not just to be able to workout any time of the day, but to be able to teach and share a space privately with clients, since many of them know these intimate sessions can turn into the deepest moments of therapeutic relief - physically, mentally, and spiritually! I envisioned a peaceful, ethereally lit space, that would bring about a feeling of peace and beauty, and where healing could take place…as well as a serious sweat sesh! (See inspo image above. Photo credit: Pinterest)

Step 2: The Location

I always pictured the studio to be in a separate guest house  space, but since moving into our most current home, I thought our upstairs “sunroom” would be the perfect location, especially since it has a separate entrance. The only problem was, it’s extremely narrow and tight, but the lighting and views are gorgeous. 

With the help and expert design eye of Irene Chung, we chose the  exact color palette to go with the upstairs area. She guided me through through the steps of bringing the upholstery swatches together in the natural light, side by side with some solid materials and accessories, like the plants that would also be in the room, to confirm the final colors before placing one of the biggest orders of my life… 

Step 3: The Equipment

One of the biggest challenges of having a fully equipped Pilates studio in your home is wondering if everything will fit and not feel too cramped. We measured the room countless times, and although 200 sq.ft seemed like it would fit a Reformer, Trapeze Table (Cadillac), Ladder Barrel, Step Barrel (Spine Corrector),  Electric Chair, Wunda Chair, once I factored in the accessories, and miscellaneous decor, I realized that there was barely any room to even walk around, film tutorials or even properly execute some exercises or hang upside down from the Cadillac (one of the best things ever!). I used the Balanced Body room planner app to create the image you see below, but after giving it much thought, and custom order in process, I started to have second thoughts about where to set up the space…ahhhhhhh!! More to come, friends, so please stay tuned for Part 2!