Former Australian Winter Olympian and influential fitness coach, Stephanie Prem, has opened her second luxe fitness space in Melbourne’s chic South Yarra – Studio PP. Studio PP is a complete health and fitness destination, with a contemporary approach to fitness and a foundation based on the belief that body and mind are intrinsically connected. There are no standard programs and everything Prem and her team offer is centered on core stability and functional movement.
What inspired you to launch Studio PP?
I wanted to create a unique studio, a one stop health and fitness shop with a variety of offerings. My business Premium Performance was launched in 2012 as a women’s outdoor group fitness training business in parks around Melbourne.
I focused on motivation and making fitness fun to women of all ages, abilities, shapes and sizes helping them become the most premium versions of themselves and performing at their best both in health, fitness and life. It quickly grew into a popular mummas fitness, girls bootcamp and personal training business. In 2013 PP added Pilates to the mix and it became the foundation to the PP training method.
Last year I opened my first pop up Pilates studio on Chapel Street, Windsor. It quickly outgrew itself and after 8 glorious months it was decided PP deserved a longterm roof over its head that would not be dictated by Melbourne’s bipolar weather.
Studio PP is the new and improved PP HQ. The studio offers a complete fitness and wellness experience from Reformer Pilates, yoga, barre, bootcamp, personal training, massage and nutritional advice; all of which effortlessly support you on your journey of good health and strength.
How does Studio PP differ to other Pilates and functional fitness studios out there?
I believe at Studio PP you are not a number. What we offer is luxurious but minus the intimidation. I hate it when people feel intimidated to walk into a studio! After all, we’re all there to better our selves and bodies and fitness and health needs to be enjoyable to get outstanding results.
In health and fitness no two bodies are ever the same and a standard program does not necessarily work for every ‘body’. People see results and have better maintenance plans for their bodies because it’s a combination of all fitness types performed with function and form, using Pilates at the core of all movement. It’s challenging but we keep it FUN.
Did you face any challenges when launching Studio PP?
I had always said that the flooring shop next door would make the most beautiful and luxe studio space! When the address became available to lease I thought the stars had aligned. Turns out it was not the flooring showroom but the property next door that had become vacant and let me tell you it was the opposite of endearing.
The space was a site office and had been for a few years so it was run down, in desperate need of a makeover and a bit of TLC. The natural light and the beautiful large industrial steel windows and exposed beams were the main reason I chose the space, so I needed to incorporate what I had envisaged for Studio PP around those original features.
The challenge we faced was making such a large open area, a warm and intimate space best representing the Studio PP Brand, Creating a space from scratch takes time and we had to be patient with the process, (not one of my finer traits!) however I was adamant that is had to be perfect and combine all the essential elements and the right team. Good things come to those who wait.
You’re a former Winter Olympian – do you have a highlight from your career as a snowboarder?
Nothing can ever prepare you for the feeling you get when you stand at the top of an Olympic race course looking down and realising in that moment that everything comes down to you and your performance for your career and your country at that very moment. It was terrifying, exhilarating and empowering all at the same time.
Whenever I have a stressful moment in life these days I just take myself back to that moment and remind myself if I can handle that stress and pressure I can handle anything.
What advice do you have for those wanting to start a new business?
You just have to back yourself 110%. If you operate from a strong value system and you practice what you preach it will all work out in the end. You don’t want to be standing at the top of an Olympic course wishing you had worked harder or trained more right? I take the same approach to my business; always willing to go the extra mile. Staff are also a huge part of running a successful business and need to embody the brand and what it stands for, so I searched high and low to find my team and they have come from all wellness walks of life. I’d like to think that united we are Melbourne’s newest wellness hot-spot, bringing invaluable experiences together to form a complete package for our clients.