Origin Story.

Hi. I’m Wade Edwell. I’ve been involved in movement for over 20 years- initially delving into Pilates teaching in 2003 and opening the first Proper Pilates studio in 2011. Over the course of the following decade Proper Pilates evolved to encompass three studios across Melbourne and the Macedon Ranges in Victoria, became a home for practice for hundreds of clientele, and supported the growth of dozens of teachers through education, professional development events, and mentorship for a special few who now direct their own studios around Australia and New Zealand. In mid 2021 my husband and I decided it was time for a new adventure, and we moved to Brisbane where I now run Proper Pilates virtually, and in person through regional events around Australasia.

I hold degrees in Dance (Distinction, WAAPA), Business, Marketing and Public Relations (QUT) and have been a long term and broadly employed member of the fitness community. I am certified through the Australian Pilates Method Association, but most significantly, I’m the only leader working in Australasia to have graduated from The Work, a Contrology mastery program led by Pilates Elder Jay Grimes. Aside from my experience with Pilates, over the past twenty years I’ve worked across all levels of enterprise. I’ve danced and choreographed independently; been a National Presenter for Les Mills Australia; Marketing Director for Her Majesty’s Theatre Melbourne; National Performance Coordinator and Regional GF Manager for Zest Health Clubs QLD; as well as Group Marketing Director and National GF Director for Recreation Health Clubs.

Within the Pilates field I’ve presented internationally for Balanced Body, co-delivered an entrepreneurs study program for Vintage Pilates (USA), presented workshops on Open Studio strategy for Karen Frischmann Pilates (USA), and have consulted with studio owners across North America, Asia Pacific and Europe, helping them to shift towards an open studio model of operation. Within Australia I’ve delivered workshops for the Pilates Alliance Australasia and the APMA, as well as for various studios, major events, and training organisations from around the country.

Through Proper Pilates I’ve lead a significant shift in how Pilates is delivered. PP has developed into a bright force behind a global push to drive Pilates studio operations back to an original format of running as open practices. This traditional format places the onus on clients to engage in building self-practice habits and mentality, and redefines the teacher’s role as one of a coach. Clients of this method build resilience, consistency, and mastery over the Pilates system, which was the task set for practitioners by the creator of the method, Joseph Pilates. I believe this running format is actually more fundamental to ‘getting’ Pilates than even training with the exercises left to us. Proper Pilates was also the first traditional Pilates studio world-wide to run as a hybrid practice whereby clients could join Open Studio practice in-person or virtually.