Love Athletica: Pilates and fitness brand to open first WA studio at Nedlands Square

Perth’s Pilates scene is about to get more competitive when popular East Coast company Love Athletica opens its first WA studio next month.

Love Athletica, founded by husband-and-wife duo Mat and Caroline Knipe, has gained a huge following across Melbourne, Adelaide and Canberra for its athletic spin on Pilates, high-energy classes and music focus — and now Perth will get a taste of the hype.

Love Athletica will open at Nedlands Square in October and will offer athletic reformer, functional strength reformer, hot mat Pilates and hot functional strength and heated yoga classes.

The studio will feature 16 reformers, a 33-mat hot room heated up to 35 degrees, three showers and a beauty bar for a pre – or post – class refresh.

Before starting Love Athletica, Mr Knipe spent a decade in the music industry and five years working as a DJ, so music is understandably an important element of each class.

Rather than just upbeat music playing in the background, each playlist is curated around the movement, building alongside the class before bringing the energy down to reconnect the body and mind.

Reformer sessions end with Love Athletica’s yoga-inspired flow while in the hot room, wellness warriors are spritzed with an overhead cooling mist.

Ms Knipe, who is also the brand’s lead designer, has ensured Love Athletica’s signature minimalist luxury aesthetic is brought to Perth.

“Our studios are designed to offer a sense of calm and luxury to people who’ve made time in their day for themselves,” she said.

“Every tone and texture is chosen to lift how you feel. You’ve given this hour to yourself — the space should give something back.”

A Perth studio has been in the works since the COVID-19 pandemic, and there may be plans for more venues in the future.

“We were actually looking at Perth before COVID and the pandemic derailed those plans, so this has been a long time coming.

The launch will see more than $1 million invested into the community with Love Athletica aiming to create 15 local jobs within its first six months of business.

Every Perth instructor will complete the brand’s in-house training before teaching their first class.