Instructor Spotlight: Sharon Liu

1.     Tell us a little about yourself and your Pilates background

Hi! My name is Sharon and I'm from Melbourne, Australia. I've been in the industry since 2015 and teaching Pilates since 2018. My current role is Head Teacher at Good Times Pilates where I teach two mornings and spend most of my time in collaboration with Cat Webb (Director of Good Times, all-round epic human) and the team to nurture our professional development through workshops, one-on-one training time as well as research and planning.

My business, Club Ronny, fuses my love for design, culture and movement. I currently host a monthly movement class at North Gallery in Fitzroy for my community and work closely with a select group of long-time private clients. I'd like to think that my friends would describe me as warm, kind and brave. As a teacher, I believe myself to be detailed, collaborative and candid. 

2.     How did you discover Pilates?

I discovered Pilates through my Performing Arts training through Patrick Studios in Australia. Anyone who's done any kind of professional sport or dancing knows how physically and emotionally demanding it can be. I feel really grateful to have continued to fall in love with Pilates — it's remained an anchor to support my body and mind through all seasons of life.

3. How do you keep learning?

I stay actively engaged with my learning by attending workshops, private sessions, and studio classes. I’m currently completing further study through Tensegrity Training and plan to create more space for study next year. 

One of my long-time inspirations is Sara Colquhoun — her kindness, knowledge, and skill drew me to her early in my Pilates journey and continue to inspire me. These days, I also feel lucky to be surrounded by not only great teachers and people but also inspiring women in business.

My programming for both clients and my own practice is heavily influenced by contemporary lifestyle and dancing. What began as an excitement to be creative in programming has evolved into an appreciation for the art of restraint and now looks more like guiding people through a story-like experience of movement.

Pilates feels almost synonymous with my ballet training — deeply grounded in repetition, centering, and a kind of 'full-body hum'.  

4.     The best advice you were ever given as a teacher…

A summary of the best advice I've been given: your willingness to master movement foundations is the key to a lifelong practice — both as a teacher and as a student. 

Advice I would give: Teaching will naturally open you up to who you are and how you communicate. There’s grace in saying less and meaning more.

5.      Is there something you try and instil in each of your clients?

The feeling of accomplishment, joy and the confidence to take up space. 

6. The best Pilates course you ever did was…

Polestar Pilates mat course with Kimi Broadbent along with Amy Carmody's Yoga training left the most notable impressions on me. 

7. What’s your favourite piece of equipment to use with clients in studio and why?

Depends on the client! I mostly work with reformers in group settings so I'll go with that but I find that the deepest connections have happened through mat-based work with rounded and soft props where needed. 

8. How do you stay motivated?

It might sound cliché, but I truly love what I do. The variability in my work keeps things feeling fresh — whether it’s through my own practice or creating movement experiences for others. I’ve learned that I feel most energised when collaborating with my peers and community. I know that there's still so much to learn and experience so there's motivation in the joy of that, too. 

9. What makes you laugh the most?

I'm an easy target when it comes to sharing a laugh but any kind of pop-culture humour or subtle Pilates cueing double entendres. 

10. What’s your favourite way to spend a day off?

Shopping haha and more importantly, quality time offline with friends and family. Sharing a meal and/or a quiet moment. Teaching involves a lot of talking, so I spend my time off laying low and listening or reading instead of speaking. 

11. How many pairs of grip socks do you own? 

I own at least twenty pairs of grip socks... which is a lot for two feet! A lot of these are gifted (shout out to the lovely Move Active team). I always bring at least one or two spare socks to the studio to share and lend to anyone who may need them. 

12. Does your family ‘really know’ what’s involved in your job? 

I believe they're understanding my work more now! My parents are Chinese and moved here about 30 years ago. So as much as they're well integrated into Australian culture, there are habitual things like Mum referring to a reformer bed as a 'mattress' that have started to shift in recent years. I feel really grateful that they've always been my biggest supporters in doing work that feels fulfilling.