Upstate Richmond Is the Company’s Biggest Studio Yet

Richmond Pilates princesses: assemble. A splash of yellow, in the form of Upstate’s latest mega studio, has landed on Bridge Road. The two-storey space shares a tram stop with fellow Victorian-born studios Core Plus and Studio Pilates, so you’re now totally spoilt for choice.

Upstate offers four main class styles: yoga, boxing, hot mat Pilates and reformer Pilates. Unlike other fitness studios that work on a franchise model and only allow memberships at one or two locations, Upstate members can attend classes at all of them, meaning there’s a wider range of classes, spots, instructors and times.

The Richmond space is the brand’s biggest studio yet, with more than 150 classes a week. Downstairs, you’ll find a dark, high-energy boxing room lit only by neon lights. And up the yellow steel staircase, find two large reformer Pilates rooms and a space for mat Pilates and yoga.

Upstate offers vinyasa-influenced Power Flow yoga classes, slower (but no less difficult) Yin sessions and a version of Yin that includes a sound bath and meditation. Hot Pilates styles include Strength, which uses heavier weights; Burn, which focuses more on toning; and Original, which is a combination of the two. And on the reformer, the Jump class is more cardio-focused, Burn tests your strength and stamina, and the regular power reformer is a full-body workout.

Upstate is backed by a capital raise from the Cotton On Group’s Innovation Fund. This has allowed the founders, sisters Gail Asbell and Charelle Cuolahan, to scale Upstate across Victoria, launch apparel label Upstate Sport and offer international wellness retreats.

Upstate Richmond
172 Bridge Road, Richmond
(03) 5222 1690