The Movement Refinery

Nicholas Psarros is on a mission to help people connect with their bodies and feel empowered by their movement.

Located in the quiet streets of West Melbourne, The Movement Refinery is a Pilates studio that blends tradition with modern exercise science. As Nicholas puts it, "We’re one of the few studios in the world teaching the Classical Pilates method developed by Joseph Pilates with a focus on private tuition and group setting equally."

“At The Movement Refinery, we train in a multitude of ways, with around half of the clientele enjoying group training in a boutique format —never more than six people— across the whole spectrum of Pilates apparatus, not just the Reformer.”
"Everyone deserves to feel comfortable in their bodies, and offering group classes makes Pilates financially accessible for more people," Nicholas explains.

A former aspiring dancer, Nicholas spent years studying contemporary dance and classical ballet before discovering Pilates.

"During my dance training I discovered that I wasn’t built to be bent in certain positions for hours each day," he reflects. "Pilates taught me how to understand my body and strengthen it in ways I didn’t know were possible."

This personal transformation ignited his passion for helping others unlock that same power through movement.

At the age of 20, he embarked on a comprehensive Pilates teacher certification and by 22 was working full-time in Melbourne, where he soon realised he wanted something more.

"I had some pretty bad experiences with employers," he admits. "I thought, if I didn’t take control of my own future, I wouldn’t be able to work with clients in a way that truly resonated with me."

This led to the opening of The Movement Refinery in 2005, in a small studio on Market Street. The name "The Movement Refinery" perfectly captures Nicholas’ philosophy. It’s about refining movement in all its forms—whether that’s Pilates, Gyrotonic or strength training.

"I didn’t want to just call it a Pilates studio. I wanted something that represented the refining of movement, and how we turn something rigid into something free-flowing," he smiles.

Over the years, the clientele has grown, and its newest home is a light-filled space in West Melbourne.

"We run our classes based on a year-round curriculum," he explains. "It’s like school—it’s only over time that clients can effectively track their progress, and that consistency helps them build a better relationship with their bodies."

Nicholas is proud of what he’s built, and he’s especially grateful for the lasting relationships he’s formed with his clients, some of whom have been with him for over fifteen years.

He has big plans for the future. Along with his colleague, Chris, he’s working towards advanced qualifications in exercise physiology to offer clinical services. The goal? To support people with specific medical needs with exercise therapy as well as general musculoskeletal-skeletal rehabilitation.