“Queen of Pilates” comes to Perth to open Scotland’s Largest Pilates Studio

Today, Bälans of Perth has officially become the largest Pilates studio in Scotland. The new premises at Perth Airport Business Park are equipped with the very latest state-of-the-art equipment making Bälans a mecca for Pilates devotees across Scotland and further afield.

Underpinning the industry’s support of the new facility in Diamond Jubilee year, Bälans is being officially opened by Lynne Robinson who has been at the forefront of creating the boom in Pilates in the UK and her name and image have become synonymous with Pilates. Referred to by The Times as the “Queen of Pilates”, she is firmly established as the world’s top-selling Pilates author and presenter. Her books and videos are sold in over 30 countries and her high-profile clients have included Sophie Dahl, Hollie Willoughby and Liz Hurley. She has also worked with the Chelsea first-team for three years. 

Lynne said “It’s a real pleasure to open this fantastic new studio. Both in terms of size and in the level to which it is equipped, Bälans will be the reference for Pilates studios in Scotland. To have a studio like this in Perth shows just how far things have come since we launched Body Control Pilates in 1995. Pilates has now really come of age in Scotland!”

Joakim Valsinger, proprietor of Bälans, is a Swedish born Australian who came to the UK in 1998 and moved to Perth in 2001. A former Australian Army Reserve Commando, Bondi Beach Surf Life Saver and TA Physical Training Instructor, Joakim is an Advanced Pilates Teacher and Sports Therapist.

Joakim explains the roots of Pilates: “When Joseph Pilates overcame frailty and illness in childhood to develop physical fitness programmes in the early 1900’s, he probably never considered that his regime would become globally known as the “Pilates Method” after his death. Over recent years Pilates has gone from being an exercise programme of the rich and famous to becoming one of the most popular exercise regimes in the world today. In Scotland, thousands of people practice Pilates every week.”

Bälans has grown organically since opening in 2005 and the completion of this new centre, firmly places Perth as a destination for Pilates training and workshops. Students not only come from Perthshire, but all over Scotland and the investment in the new centre enables a series of programmes to be developed using innovative equipment, including ultra modern Allegro2 Reformers as part of a complete Pilates Apparatus Studio.

Joakim adds “We run small group classes which ensures a high level of attention and quality of training and a very personalised service. Including a range of this innovative new equipment fits really well with the ethos of Bälans offering an accessible fitness programme for all ages and abilities. We have also made a big effort on the décor, I had a client who came to see the work in progress last week who said how relaxing the place was – and that was while it was still covered in builders dust!”

Perth and Kinross Councillor Bob Ellis, Chairman of Sport and Active Recreation, commented “With Perthshire’s heritage of health & fitness and outdoor activities, it’s fantastic to have this new facility locally, taking advantage of our central location and we welcome those who will be visiting to enjoy the benefits!”

To find out more or book a session you can contact Joakim at www.balanspilates.com