Fitter, Stronger, Vibier: How an Ad Exec and an Architect Make Pilates Fun at F2 Collective

A giant disco ball may seem an odd extravagance for a Pilates studio, but for F2 Collective founder Janelle Williamson it’s a non-negotiable. When the former-NYC-ad-exec-turned-Pilates-devotee began planning her studio – opened in March this year – she knew what she didn’t want.

“When you think about a stereotypical Pilates studio, we’re essentially the complete opposite,” Janelle tells Broadsheet. “Stereotypical Pilates studios are very bright, light and airy. We’ve done a complete 180: it’s dark, the lighting is moody, we’ve got the disco ball for fun energy.”

And while the nightclub vibe can inspire clients to go hard, it can also provide comfortable camouflage for those days when you’re not feeling 100 per cent, Janelle says. “You don’t feel like you’re on display … We like to say you can kind of hide under the glow of the disco ball.”

Janelle’s husband, architect Aaron Williamson, was the man charged with making Janelle’s studio vibe a reality. “We just wanted to make the space somewhere you actually wanted to be. Somewhere you look forward to going,” he says.

The initial brief was pretty basic – “I just want black everywhere, black walls, everything’s black,” Janelle laughs – but it was enough for Aaron to interpret. Aesthetically, it meant playing with textures (veneer, stone, paint) in warmer black tones and layering on atmospheric lighting. You could say the dark glamour links the couple’s past in New York with their current home in Melbourne – both cities know how to embrace black.

It also plays into a global trend for moodier and more inclusive fitness spaces, Aaron says. “It’s about making people feel comfortable and part of the community, rather than, ‘Hey, you’re just turning up to a space with a few reformer beds. Get in, get out, here’s a cup of water and see you later.”

In terms of fit-out, the F2 Collective vibe encompasses a reformer zone decked out with quality machines and a space for the studio’s signature blend of mat Pilates with TRX suspension trainers. There are luxe after-class amenities, too: two sizeable shower stalls and what the couple are calling their Get Ready room, equipped with Dyson hair tools, top-notch beauty products and free herbal tea and sparkling water.

For Janelle, it’s another nod to the communal nightclub experience; a chance for people to bond post-class. “It’s almost like getting ready with your girlfriends,” she says. “Maybe you’re taking a few minutes to sip your tea or do your hair, and you’re chatting with people about their days, or how the class went.

“It’s been a way for clients to actually meet each other and chat. We’re not rushing people out of the door as soon as class is over. We want them to stay. We want them to find that community with each other.”

Of course, a Pilates studio isn’t just a physical space. And Janelle says she’s carefully selected instructors that fit the F2 vibe: warm, fun and inclusive. “I really wanted to make sure that everybody who’s part of the team had that welcoming type of personality and wanted to connect with the clients and create a community.”

Classes are “all levels”, meaning anyone from beginners to advanced practitioners can attend. And while the music is “high-energy”, Janelle says each trainer chooses their own soundtrack, so clients are sure to find a teacher – and a group of work-out buddies – they vibe with.

For Aaron, it’s “a hundred different micro-decisions” that have played into creating F2’s distinct vibe. But for Janelle, you get the feeling it’s still all about the disco ball, and everything that comes with it.

“When you think about it in the nightclub sense, there is a reason why you’re dancing under the disco ball. You kind of let go a little bit and let yourself move to the music. We wanted to bring that same energy into the classes, so people could vibe while they’re also working out. Get into the music, let go of the outside world, and really get into their workout.”

Access will hold an exclusive wellness day with F2 Collective on November 2, featuring free Pilates classes and a wellbeing gift bag. For more invites to events like this one, join Broadsheet Access today. It’s only $12 a month.