A Wellington Pilates studio that has operated for 24 years will close at the end of October, with its founder saying economic pressures and changes in the fitness industry have made it increasingly difficult to keep the business going.
Performance Pilates founder Ellena Conland says the closure marks a sad end to a business that has been part of Wellington’s Pilates community since 2002.
The studio, on level six of Barlow House at 107 Customhouse Quay, has built a loyal following through its small-group classes and personalised approach to Pilates.
“Yes, it certainly is sad, and not what my many wonderful clients wanted to hear,” Conland told Wellington News.
She said a combination of pressures had contributed to the decision, including reduced government-sector employment, rising living costs and changes in how people choose to exercise.
Fewer people working in the government sector had meant fewer new clients taking up Pilates, she said, while household financial pressures were affecting how much existing and prospective clients could afford to spend.
The removal of inner-city car parks had also made attending classes less convenient.
At the same time, the Pilates market had changed, with lower-cost group reformer classes becoming an increasingly popular alternative to the smaller, individually tailored sessions offered by Performance Pilates.
“Collectively, these factors have created a difficult operating environment for a small business, compounded by the lasting impact and disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021.”
Conland established Performance Pilates in 2002 after teaching in Auckland and London. The business spent its first 18 years in Featherston Street before moving to its current Customhouse Quay premises.
Over the years, the studio has offered equipment-based Pilates sessions, mat classes and individual instruction, with an emphasis on adapting exercises to each client’s needs.
Its small-group studio sessions run for 75 minutes, allowing teachers to provide individual attention rather than relying on a standard group workout.
The business has also played a role in developing Pilates teaching in New Zealand.
Conland, who has a background in dance performance, has worked as an educator, examiner and mentor for Pilates instructors. The Wellington studio has hosted Polestar Pilates teacher-training courses, including a programme in 2024.
The studio’s history is reflected in its teaching team. Longtime instructor Loata Stewart first attended Performance Pilates as a client in 2003 before training to become a teacher herself.
For Conland, the decision to close reflects pressures she believes are being felt well beyond her own business.
“I feel like I represent a lot of what is going on in Wellington, and the problems small businesses and retailers face are not going to go away any time soon.”
