Our latest student story features Athina Macris, owner of her own private boutique pilates studio in South Africa, and a student on the BSc in Strength and Conditioning programme.
Athina provides insight into her journey from being a competitive athlete to opening her own business, incorporating Pilates into injury rehabilitation and aspirations for the future.
From Athlete to Pilates Instructor
“I have always loved sport! Growing up, I was either watching or playing it,” she shared. During her years at school, Athina competed in swimming and water polo. An injury to her rotator cuff and a desire to avoid surgery led to her becoming fascinated with strength & conditioning and introduced her to Pilates.
“To avoid shoulder surgery and keep doing what I love, I began going to the gym and regular Pilates classes to strengthen myself. The more I trained, the more and more my fascination with the strength and conditioning aspect of an athlete’s training grew- I became enthralled with the understanding of how vital strength and conditioning is to their success.
As much as I found the work I did at the gym beneficial, I just loved all the Pilates I was doing. The mind-body connection needed for all the exercises and the breathwork just elevated my sessions. This was my introduction to Pilates. I felt stronger after each session!”, Athina shared.
Turning a Passion into a Career
“Once I left school I did my BASI Comprehensive Pilates course under the guidance of Ashley Richie- I loved absolutely everything about it. Unfortunately, I have had a few health issues with my leg following the diagnosis of an aggressive growing benign tumour. Over the last 6 years I have had 3 major surgeries, the latest one being in October after the titanium in my leg broke leading to the revision of my knee replacement,” Athina shared.
Athina credits Pilates not only for its physical benefits but also for its mental and emotional impact. “As with all my surgeries, Pilates has played and continues to play a vital role in my recovery (once I am given the all-clear). I love how I can see the small improvements in my strength during each session, but the mindfulness when I move brings about the most improvements during my rehab. Over time I have learnt to appreciate the journey of the recovery process and bounce back stronger after each op.”
These experiences motivated Athina to help others, leading her to open her own studio during the pandemic. “I wanted to help clients get stronger—a time when many people learned that health is wealth. Without our health we have nothing,” she said.
Athina Macris Pilates
Athina now runs her boutique studio, offering private and duo sessions tailored to client’s needs. “The classes are limited to private or duo sessions, with the sessions being tailor-made to the clients I am training. No one human is the same- so why would their classes be the same?” she emphasised.
Last year Athina launched her On-Demand Studio an online platform where clients can access pre-recorded Pilates classes. “The videos are short, allowing them to be done anytime and anywhere,” allowing Athina’s clients to continue with their Pilates Practices wherever they are.
Tailoring Training for Diverse Clients
“The training method doesn’t change as much as the approach does. Understanding what the client needs is the key in providing classes that will be beneficial,” she said. “That being said, continuous education is also important- different populations will have slightly different needs that must be taken into consideration. Trust and open communication are necessary in a healthy relationship between clients and the instructor.”
Sometimes class plans may need to change if a client has a concern such as “a runner who has a niggle in their hamstring or knee” and Athina has “to pivot and make sure to work around their concerns.” In instances such as these Athina shared that she likes “working with my client’s Physio or Biokineticist. This allows me to ensure that the client is getting the most out of their class.”
Broadening Knowledge Through Setanta College
Athina’s passion for continuous learning led her to Setanta’s BSc in Strength and Conditioning programme. “I always love challenging myself with different courses and qualifications enabling me to grow and give my clients the most rewarding classes I can,” she said.
“As I began to think about what to do next, starting my studies with Setanta quickly came onto my radar and stayed there. With my passion for sport and my desire to work in the sports field, studying this degree at Setanta would be essential in achieving this goal,” she shared.
“Studying with Setanta has broadened my knowledge in so many areas,” she shared. “It’s helped me understand the demands of my athletic clients even more, as well as those clients who are starting out in their health and fitness journey.” Incorporating some of the practical knowledge she has learned from the course keeps her classes fresh and engaging. “My clients love it—they never get given the same class, new things are always implemented, and their health is always prioritised,” she added.
Looking Ahead
Looking to the future Athina has ambitious goals for her career. In the short term, she hopes to expand her studio for more space and hopes to add a gym next to her studio where she will be able to teach her strength and conditioning clients. “It will allow me to get the best of both worlds and continue to work in the Pilates field and the Strength field,” she shared.
Long-term, Athina dreams of working in motorsport as a performance coach. “The long-term career goal is to work in motorsport as a performance coach. Ideally, I am working towards working as a performance coach of a Formula 1 driver. Realistically, I understand that this may be a difficult goal… but I do love a challenge!” Athina shared.
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