If you’re a Melbourne Pilates princess, running enthusiast or in your fitness era, you’re probably well aware of Steph Claire Smith and Laura Henshaw‘s wellbeing brand, KIC. And while the app has been around since 2018, the brand is officially entering a new era, opening its first ever fitness studio in Melbourne.
Located in Cremorne, KICStudio is the brand’s first physical space in its 11-year history.
“We didn’t want to just do another studio that’s exactly the same as what we were doing or any other Pilates studio,” Henshaw said at the media launch.
“It had to feel uniquely KIC.”
The classes will combine a unique blend of Pilates, HIIT, resistance and breathwork to create somatic movement, a type of fitness class that focusses on the internal experience of movement rather than the physical aspect. The four classes KICStudio will offer include Energise (HIIT), Power (strength), Unwind (slow flow) and Breathwork.
“Our ethos at KIC has always been about moving for how you feel, rather than focusing on external appearance or the ‘after photo’,” Henshaw said.
“This philosophy aligns perfectly with somatic movement, which is designed to help you tune in, connect with the layers of your body, and release built-up emotions.”
Last week, we were invited to step inside the studio prior to its opening date of April 18 and experience one of the classes fo ourselves.
Inside KICStudio
KICStudio’s Cremorne location feels very tactful. It’s situated in the midst of Cremorne’s business hub, right next to the Camilla and Marc, Viktoria & Woods and Zimmermann outlets, and around the corner from a whole lot of offices. This is great for the girlies who work nearby and want to pop in for a class before/after work, but the parking situation for anyone who needs to drive to access the studio is a bit tricky.
The reception area is very light, bright, and welcoming. To the right, there’s a stand where you’ll leave your shoes and bag during class. On the left is a cute waiting area where you can warm up, cool down, and wait for your class. It’s decorated in warm rust and pink tones, which set a calming, welcoming tone as you chill on the couches.
There’s a skinny, narrow corridor that leads to the studio, shower and change rooms. Big, rust-coloured curtains drape over the walkway that match — it gives off some very bougie vibes. Unfortunately, the bathrooms weren’t complete when we attended the media preview, so we couldn’t take a squiz at those.
The studio where classes are held is officially zen: final boss. Orange LED lights line the walls and give the room a soft glow, and there’s a skylight in the centre of the room positioned above the instructor’s mat. It almost looks as though the instructor has descended straight from heaven to deliver your class.
There aren’t any mirrors in the studio, so you focus on moving freely within your body rather than how you look. I go to a dance studio that does the same thing, so this concept isn’t new to me, but I think it’s important to have mirrors to make sure your form is correct, especially in strength classes. The lack of mirrors might not be for everyone, but I feel as though a lot of people will enjoy this factor.
Our Thoughts on KICStudio’s Energise Class
We were lucky enough to attend KICStudio’s Energise class, a low-impact HIIT workout based in somatic movement led by KIC’s lead trainer, Imogen Sist. The class started out with lots of breathwork before standing up and swaying on the spot, getting into our bodies and moving freely to the music as we wished.
As we got into the workout, the lack of weights and equipment confused me. How was I meant to feel the burn when I was squatting if I didn’t have any dumbbells to hold?
Boy, was I wrong.
We didn’t work to a 50-second timer like I’m used to in a typical mat Pilates class, and instead spent aaages on each exercise, building onto each flow until it my muscles were aching.
After a good 10-or-so-minute flow, we’d come back to stillness and focus on the internal workings of our bodies, checking on our breath and heartbeat. It was a good reminder to stay grounded throughout class, something I wasn’t used to. Typically in a Pilates class, my brain is constantly working to push through so I can go on with my day. That wasn’t the case in the Energise class.
Our final burst was essentially a dance party contained to the rectangle of our mat. We could move however big or small we wished, dancing along to the rhythm of the music. You could jump, shake it out, step from side to side, or simply bob on the spot. When I tell you I’ve never felt my endorphins rushing so early in the morning (it was an 8am class), I’m not lying. It felt great to have a little boogie before I had to headed to the office.
The part of class I found hardest was the breathwork before concluding. I’m a fidgety gal with a lot of things on my mind, so sitting through it took a lot of effort to sit still for the five to 10 minutes we spent laying still on our mat. If I were to change anything about that energise class, I’d probably cut that meditation time in half.
KICStudio: The Verdict
KICStudio is absolutely gorgeous, and the gals weren’t lying when they said they’re offering something unique to the abundance of fitness studios that are already across Melbourne. I’ve never done a class like Energise before, and I had a blast trying something new.
However, would I trek to Cremorne on the regular to do it? Unfortunately, neither my work nor house is remotely close to the studio’s annoying-to-access location, so I fear if I were to go, it would be an occasional pop-in rather than regular visit. And TBH, since I already have a Pilates membership to a studio near me, it’s more convenient to stick to that.
That being said, if you live or work near Cremorne, it’s a great studio to pop into — especially if you don’t drive. If you do, you need to factor in ample time before class to find one of the limited free (timed) parking spots surrounding the studio, or fork up some dollars to pay for parking while you workout.
Foundation memberships are currently available, with a three-month minimum lock-in at $69 per week (usually $75 per week), or a six-month minimum lock-in at $59 per week (usually $65 per week). For a studio membership, it’s a littleee on the more expensive side, but it also includes a free KICApp subscription, unlimited classes, and a monthly event series. So if you make the most of the classes and app subscription, you can get your money’s worth.
It’s a great start to KIC’s new venture into physical studios, and I’m keen to see where they pop up next (hopefully a little closer to me).
Image: Marten Ascenzo / Alyssa Forato
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