A Focus On
Enhancing Your Life
With a long-standing passion for movement, Pilates For Life has been built with the vision of helping its clients lead healthier, happier and longer lives.
Our Story
Pilates For Life was initially founded in 2002, with a vision of enhancing lives through movement.
After her extensive experience both in South Africa and abroad, owner Colette de Vries relocated to Paarl in 2006, seeing the opening of the her second studio.
Today, the custom-designed studios at The Spice Route offer a comprehensive health and wellness solution both in-studio and now online reaching an all-new virtual audience.
MORE ABOUT THE OWNER
Colette de Vries
OWNER & INSTRUCTOR
Colette de Vries, a Royal Academy of Ballet graduate and a classical ballet dancer, discovered the therapeutic power of Pilates after suffering a knee injury. Her exposure to the Pilates philosophy and method was so inspiring that she decided to make Pilates her professional home.
Colette’s first qualification as a Level 1 & 2 Pilates Instructor (Mat and Small Equipment) in 2002 was followed by a Diploma in Pilates Body Conditioning at the Pretoria Technicon. In 2003 she earned her stripes as a Level 3 Instructor in Advanced Matwork, the Reformer, the Wunda Chair and the Cadillac, after having completed a course at the acclaimed Trifocus Fitness Academy. A year later she advanced to Instructor Trainer. In 2007, five years after embarking on her Pilates journey, Colette gained international accreditation as a certified Pilates Trainer from the Pilates Method Alliance (PMA), a professional association serving the international Pilates community.
Colette set up her first Pilates studio with physiotherapist Gerda Miller in 2002. In 2004, after having received her qualification as Instructor Trainer, she and Gerda founded Healthy Living Education, a company that specializes in training Pilates instructors. Her private studio, Pilates for Life, found a new home in Durbanville and Colette branched out yet again by taking on a consultant role as the Chief Educator for Pilates trainers at Planet Fitness in Plattekloof. Juggling a busy schedule, she also managed to fit in two stints as guest instructor at the Pilates Room – a leading Pilates practice in London, UK.
In 2006 Colette relocated to Paarl, and built Pilates For Life into the beautiful studio it is today.
