The Pilates Space

The Pilates Space is a small, independent Pilates studio in Victoria, the main town of Gozo, on By the Bastion Road. It is the island's place for thoughtful, form-first movement, with classes that run from gentle foundations to demanding strength and endurance work. Visitors who spend a week or more in Gozo, and UK residents who have settled on the smaller island, will find a timetable with a different focus on almost every day of the week.

The studio's guiding words are strength, balance, wellness and community. Classes are kept small so the instructor can watch technique, and the booking system limits places for the same reason. If you are comparing studios across the islands, our directory of Pilates studios in Malta lists other options, and our Gozo guide explains what else the island has to offer around your sessions.

The story behind the studio

The studio began as a personal story. Its founder came to Pilates during one of the hardest periods of her life, when body and mind felt disconnected and overwhelmed. What started as a way to cope became the foundation for rebuilding herself, and it taught her to breathe, to move with purpose and to feel strong again. She opened The Pilates Space at the age of 21 to share what the method had given her.

That background explains the tone of the place. Pilates is presented as more than exercise: it is a way of understanding your body, your breathing and your presence. The studio is meant to be somewhere you can feel safe in your body, learn, rebuild and strengthen, and leave feeling more like yourself. Nothing here is about perfection or competition; the invitation is to come as you are and progress in your own time.

Meet the instructor

The studio is led by Christiana Axiak, a certified Pilates instructor with a passion for thoughtful, form-first movement. She specialises in helping clients build healthy, resilient bodies, from complete beginners to athletes, and her teaching includes injury-aware progressions so that exercises can be adjusted when someone has a niggle or a past injury.

The studio sets out four values. Classes are versatile, matching different goals, energy levels and wellbeing needs. They are mindful, using breath-led movement to build strength, mobility and calm focus. They are inclusive, with all levels welcome in a supportive, judgement-free space. And they are consistent, encouraging small, sustainable habits that lead to long-term results rather than quick fixes.

The weekly class menu

The class menu gives each session a name and a theme, and each runs on a set day. Root is the beginner and foundation class, offered every day. It covers breathing, alignment and controlled movement at a slower pace with plenty of cueing, and it gradually introduces intermediate material as you progress. It suits beginners and anyone refining their technique.

The other classes are pitched at intermediate to advanced levels. Form, on Mondays, is a full-body strength class that uses props to guide alignment and build resistance gradually. Align, on Tuesdays, uses the Pilates ball to work on posture, balance and the small stabilising muscles. Spicy, on Wednesdays, uses gliders and a beam for a higher-energy session that challenges strength, stability and coordination.

Flow, on Thursdays, links breath and movement into continuous sequences, using an elastic band and a foam roller. Pulse, on Fridays, relies on micro-movements, holds and slow repetition with a triangle weight ring and a resistance band to work the smaller muscle groups. Core, on Saturdays, focuses on the deep abdominals, pelvic floor, obliques and inner thighs with the Pilates Magic Ring. Essence is a slow restorative session on some Sundays, announced in advance, with gentle stretching and breathwork.

Taken together, the menu suits a range of visitors. Someone who is new to Pilates can build confidence in Root before trying the themed classes, while an experienced client can follow a pattern across the week, perhaps strength on Monday, posture on Tuesday and core work on Saturday. The equipment changes from class to class, from props and balls to gliders, bands, rings and rollers, so the sessions feel varied even if you attend several in one week. The studio also lists memberships and private events in its menu, so groups and regular clients can ask about those options.

Heat, a warm-room Pilates class

Heat is a warm-room class held on Thursdays at intermediate to advanced level. The room is kept at roughly 30 to 32 degrees Celsius, which the studio says supports a deeper stretch and heightened awareness while the class works on mobility, lean muscle and core strength.

Because of the temperature, the studio advises that people with a history of fainting, dizziness, low blood pressure or heat intolerance, cardiovascular or respiratory conditions, vertigo or heat-triggered migraines should not take this class, and that anyone unsure should consult a healthcare provider first. This page offers no medical advice, so please follow that guidance and ask the studio if you have questions. The studio also suggests hydrating through the day, avoiding a heavy meal in the hour or so before class, and bringing a full water bottle and a towel. During class you can take breaks, move slowly between positions, tell the instructor if you feel unwell and step outside if you overheat.

Booking, payment and class etiquette

Classes must be booked in advance through the studio's booking system, using the website or the app on iOS or Android, since places are limited. The system includes a waitlist that notifies you automatically if a space opens. You can cancel up to 12 hours before a class and the credit returns to your account. Within 12 hours, or if you miss a session, the class is deducted from your pack. Classes can be swapped on the same day, depending on availability.

The studio offers class packages, each with its own expiry period that starts on the date of purchase. Packs cannot be paused, extended or shared, and they do not renew automatically, apart from rare extensions for medical necessity that must be requested before expiry. Payment is made before class or when buying a pack, and the studio accepts cash, mobile-to-mobile payments and Revolut, with cash preferred for smooth check-in. Prices are not published on the site, so ask the studio.

Please arrive five to seven minutes before class, because the warm-up is essential and late entry may not be possible once it starts. Wear comfortable, form-fitting clothing rather than anything loose, and bring grip socks, a towel and a water bottle. The studio provides all Pilates equipment and mats. If you have an injury or medical condition, or you are travelling soon, tell the studio before your session so exercises can be adjusted; travel arrangements are considered case by case.

Gozo location, visiting and getting started

The studio is in Victoria, the island's main town, which makes it easy to fit a class into a day of sightseeing. Visitors planning a Gozo trip can compare places to stay in our guide to hotels in Gozo, and our things to do in Malta page covers the wider island group. Day trips by boat to Comino and the Blue Lagoon leave from the Malta and Gozo ports, and a morning class fits nicely before a swim.

Planning a trip from the UK is covered in our pages on flights to Malta and the Malta weather guide, which helps you choose between the cooler and hotter months and decide whether a warm-room class appeals. For a longer move, our Malta relocation guide explains settling in. To book a first class or ask about memberships and private events, use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to The Pilates Space.