Antonia Malavazos clocks over Class #2000 a decade after she first walked in the studio door – holding the record for the most classes of any Aleenta Health Club member, ever!
She tells us how it began and why Aleenta feels like home.
“Before I started here, I’d had no regular exercise and felt like I needed something,” she says, "and I got an email inviting me to a free barre class.
“I liked the idea of dance so thought I’d give it a go – and barre is still my favourite.”
Inspiringly down-to-earth, Antonia says time, steady commitment, and a love of movement are the flavour in her 2000 classes.
“The more exercise I do, the more I find time to fit it in, but you still need your down-time,” she says, adding balance for her looks like good reads, cult classic movies, and the occasional long and lovely overseas trip to visit family in Greece.
Antonia, a project manager, says she noticed physical changes first once she’d been coming to barre for a while.
“I also realised I started to look forward to exercise,” she says.
“It just felt right.”
She made the switch from Rundle St when the Glenelg studio opened closer to home, and took up yoga, Pilates and circuit alongside barre.
A warm atmosphere, welcoming community, and continuous growth with different teachers motivate her to get in the studio door.
“I also love the studio challenges – they make me lift my game,” she says, “but the teachers’ varied approaches have taught me great things about movement and technique.
“When Pilates was first introduced at Aleenta I learnt to work my core better; and again yoga gave me different lessons in understanding mind-body connection.”
Antonia says people of every age, fitness level and life stage come through the studio.
“Everyone does what they can, which is always encouraged,” she says.
"I think it’s so important to find a place that supports you as you move through life.”
Congratulations, Antonia. 2000-strong and counting! Warm wishes,
Your Aleenta Team
