Allana Frisken knows how it feels to walk into your first Pilates class – a little scared, anxiety ridden, and intimidated – so she decided to change that. After a knee injury, Allana found reformer Pilates and set out to build her own studio for other women like herself. With a Bachelor of Commerce and experience across a range of different industries, she now employs 60 people across 10 Muse Pilates Studios in Canberra, Sydney, Newcastle and the Hunter Valley.

What inspired you to start this business?

“After I discovered a love of reformer Pilates, I set out to create a studio that was luxe, friendly and judgement-free. I felt a lot of what was out there already at the time was not quite what I was looking for myself and I thought a lot of others would feel the same, and it turns out I was onto something.”

What is the most rewarding part of your job? And the most challenging?

“The community we have created is definitely the most rewarding. The most challenging is finding enough hours in the day to do everything I want to do, especially with a young family in the mix as well.”

What do you consider to be your key strengths?

“Energy, persistence, motivation and a truly entrepreneurial spirit.”

What do you consider to be your organisation’s key strengths?

“We are Pilates for real life. This extends from having down-to-earth and friendly instructors, to a regular schedule of classes to make things convenient, and studios that are so beautifully designed and appointed that they make the experience of exercise feel somehow a treat.”

What projects do you run outside of Muse?

“I also mentor women in business to grow their own companies. I found it to be quite a natural fit with my studies, background, and experience scaling Muse.”

Where to from here?

“I’m continuing to expand the business with new studios and also the introduction of the Muse franchise model, which is about to be launched. Particularly in Canberra, I will be opening Muse Campbell February 2023, if everything sticks to schedule.”

To experience the difference for yourself, visit musepilatescanberra.com or call 0401 198 180.

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