our story
philosophy
Join UsMa’at is a boutique Pilates studio rooted in the traditional method and guided by an individualised approach.
We honour the classical lineage while creating space for you to move with intention, presence, and care.
At the heart of our studio are the Pilates principles - control, precision, breath, flow, centering, and concentration, tools that help you return to your body with clarity and ease.
This is a practice of connection: to strength, to stillness, to yourself.
Whether you’re new or experienced, Ma’at offers a space to build balance and alignment, in movement, and in life.
our namesake
Ma'at
"Maa-at"
Our namesake and muse is Ma'at, the Egyptian goddess of balance, truth, harmony, and cosmic order. Ma'at was more than a goddess, she was a fundamental principle that guided the ancient Egyptians in their daily lives and their understanding of the universe.
This connection feels natural to us. By working through the Pilates principles, we find balance and harmony internally and externally – a balance of mind and body, a connection through movement that mirrors what Ma'at represented thousands of years ago.
The principles and values you work with in Pilates, the balance and connection you find here at Ma'at, serve you well beyond the studio doors. It's about creating a harmony of wellbeing, strength, and balance that becomes part of your everyday life.
Just like our ancient namesake, we believe true strength comes from finding your center and maintaining that balance in everything you do.
meet the team
Penelope
Book with PenelopeGet to know Penelope.
Director/Founder Ma’at Studio Pilates by Penelope Johnston. Diploma of Professional Pilates Instruction with Pilates International Training Centre (Pilates ITC). Member of Pilates Alliance Australia
My mission is that every client leaves each class feeling balanced in mind and body, improving their quality of life, physical fitness and their general health.
Movement has been an integral part of my life for as long as I can remember. After spending fifteen years in the fitness industry, instructing high intensity group classes, I was suffering from ‘burn out’ and instructed by my naturopath to slow down - to seek a less strenuous exercise regime. So I tried Pilates.
This was the beginning of my love and passion for all aspects of the Pilates method. The immediate results - from the mind-body connection through movement and breath, the strength and flexibility, the physical feeling of ‘long’ and ‘strong’ and the overall balance, I was addicted. I then wanted to share this with every ‘body’! I was amazed at how strong I felt whilst being so gentle on my body.
I decided to become a Pilates instructor after four years of Studio Pilates, to share my passion and assist others to discover another level of body awareness that Pilates creates. In 2019 I completed a Diploma of Professional Pilates Instruction with Pilates International Training Centre in Sydney, and I haven’t looked back.
My love and passion continues to grow as I see transformation of my clients, exhibiting the six key Pilates principles; breath, concentration, control, flow, precision and being centred.
I look forward to working with you to achieve your goals, Pene.
Tahlei
Book with TahleiSemi Private Studio Instructor
Previously an accountant, Tahlei fell in love with the Pilates method the very first time she attended a corporate mat class in the boardroom. Not long after she decided to pursue Pilates as a career, and has never looked back. She has been a Pilates Instructor since 2011 and holds both a Diploma and Advanced Diploma through Pilates International Training Centre. She loves the versatility and variety of Studio Pilates and how anyone and any body can benefit.
Jasmin
Book with JasminComing soon...
Juliette
Book With JulietteSmall Group Reformer Instructor
With a love for movement and holistic well-being, Juliette embarked on her journey to become a certified Mat and Reformer Pilates instructor in late 2024 after experiencing the transformative power of a single Pilates lesson. Once a dedicated runner and gym goer, she found herself utterly captivated by the practice, walking away with a new sense of balance, alignment, and a deeper understanding of her body.
Determined to share this empowering experience with others, Juliette now dedicates herself to helping people improve their strength, flexibility, and overall health through controlled, purposeful movement—firmly believing that wellness is a lifestyle, not just a workout and something that should always bring you joy.
Outside the studio, Juliette unwinds by pampering her two senior Jack Russells, Howard and Kinky Tail, experimenting in the kitchen to create healthy, tasty meals and treats, and planning her next holiday adventure. As she continues on this exciting journey, she looks forward to inspiring others to move with confidence and ease, no matter their age or ability.
Susan
Book with SusanMat Instructor
One of Susan’s favourite things is the opportunity to introduce someone new to the wonders of Pilates. Susan holds a Diploma in Pilates Teaching and Methodology from Tensegrity and has been teaching Studio and Mat Pilates for 10 years. Along the way, she worked with physiotherapists to use Pilates for rehabiliation, conducted community mat classes and ran her own studio in Broadmeadow for five years. These days, although semi-retired she enjoys teaching mat classes, believing that the foundations of the Pilates method are essential to improve posture awareness, build strength and maintain mobility for an active life.