Kate’s journey into studio ownership began at a pivotal moment in her life. While working full-time as a teacher in Sweden, she was balancing a demanding career with raising three children and trying to hold on to some sense of a personal life. She was giving everything to the thirty children in her classroom, and often came home with little left for her own family. Something had to change.
Having fallen for reformer Pilates and spotted a gap in the Swedish market, Kate started exploring the idea of opening her own studio. She knew, though, that a traditional model — one that needed her physically present and teaching constantly — wouldn’t be sustainable in those early stages.
The on-demand model has been a complete game changer — members can train on their own schedule, and the studio can run far beyond traditional hours.
The decision
Looking for a way to combine her passion for Pilates with a more flexible path, Kate discovered Your Reformer. Pairing on-demand kiosks with the reformer offered exactly what she needed: a way to build a business alongside her full-time role, letting members choose sessions that suited their level and pace without requiring her to be in the studio at all times. It was the bridge between where she was and where she wanted to be.
The studios
Kate now runs reformer studios in Sweden and in the UK alongside her business partner, Fran. Both are equipped with studio reformers and on-demand kiosks, creating a consistent, tech-enabled experience across locations. In Sweden, where Kate also teaches, the studio carries extra accessories — pregnancy wedges and gondola poles among them — to support a broader range of clients.
The impact
On-demand, self-guided sessions transformed the business. Members attend at times that suit them and progress at their own pace, which makes for a highly flexible, personal experience. It also lets the studios open for extended hours in a largely unmanned capacity, maximising access while keeping operations efficient. The studios have been successful enough that Kate was able to take a sabbatical from teaching to focus on the business — and ultimately, she no longer needs to return to her previous career.
Member experience & digital integration
In Sweden, Kate runs a hybrid model: roughly 90% of sessions are delivered via kiosk and 10% through instructor-led sessions and beginner courses. That balance lets members pick whichever experience suits them — the guidance and motivation of an instructor, or the freedom to move independently. The kiosk integration also keeps the studio open every day with extended hours, a level of convenience that’s become central to the member experience. In the UK, Reformed has recently introduced beginner courses so customers can build confidence on the reformer before progressing onto their own on-demand journey.
Read the original feature
The full case study, as published by Your Reformer.