Two years of on-and-off lockdowns saw us mostly cooped up at home, limited to a few hours of outdoor exercise and online classes.

Luckily, many fitness studios have come out the other end stronger, with a raft of newcomers continuing to open across Melbourne. One of which, in a former Northcote real-estate office, is the new sister studio to Fitzroy fave Good Times Pilates.

Similar to the original location, which launched in 2018, the new light-filled studio is running reformer (and only reformer) classes. “After doing mat classes online during lockdown, it’s kind of nice to move on from that,” says Good Times founder Cat Webb.

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The High Street space, right near Northcote Plaza, was gutted and refitted by a heavily pregnant Webb and her partner Dave Kerr. Drab, carpeted interiors have been replaced by polished concrete floors, the walls receiving a fresh lick of paint and plastering.

The studio has two eye-catching partitions: a curved wall of glass bricks, letting in dappled natural light, and a circular breezeblock-style concrete divider, which separates the reformer area from the changing room and lounge.

Playful pops of colour come in the form of eccentric, locally made pieces: a lilac reception desk was built by Kerr and topped with Mortadello Terrazzo concrete. It sits alongside a curvaceous pastel-blue lamp by Make Believe and a massive floral installation, which is replaced fortnightly. The small retail offering – including cork rollers and Frank Green water bottles – is perched on custom Nicole Lawrence shelving.

“Everything I did design-wise … I wanted to make people smile,” says Webb. “The colours are a bit fun and [help to] create that holistic, feel-good space.”

Ten Balanced Body reformer beds fill the studio, and Webb says classes are designed for people of all ages, abilities and experience levels. Across both locations – with almost 5000 members – Good Times promotes an inclusive ethos, providing a space for people to enjoy their workout without shame or judgement.

It offers six types of classes, including the high-energy Cardio Pilates, which feels like “walking up a steep hill to get to the pub”; the more middle-of-the-road Burn, like “the best parts of a remedial massage”; and the meditative, low-key Stretch and Chill, which feels like “a comfy firm squeeze from your BFF”.

Good Times Pilates classes start at $37, and memberships start at $50 per week. Sign up or book online.

Good Times Pilates Northcote
400 High Street, Northcote
0408 930 730

Hours:
Mon to Thu 6am–8.30pm
Fri 6am–9am
Sat & Sun 8am–12pm

goodtimespilates.com.au