Felicity's Journey in Pilates
Although Felicity isn’t yet 40, she brings nearly two decades of experience to her Pilates teaching. She began her journey as a Mat Pilates instructor at a small personal training studio in Ballarat and has since grown to run her own successful business. Felicity is now also a key contributor to one of—if not the—leading Pilates training organisations in the world. Her story is one of humble beginnings, unwavering dedication, and a deep passion for health, the human body, and the practice of Pilates.
Part 1: passion and humble beginnings.
As mentioned above, Felicity’s passion for sport, exercise, and health has been evident since her school days. A classic example comes from her time at Loreto College in Ballarat, where she eagerly signed up for every sport on offer—back when that meant writing your name on a piece of paper pinned to the wall. And we mean every sport. Unsurprisingly, she was named Loreto’s Sports Captain and was the recipient of both the Middle School and Senior School Sports Awards.
While Felicity thrived playing her favourite sport—women’s football—unfortunately, it wasn’t taken as seriously then as it is today. The opportunities and recognition just weren’t there. Given her natural talent and athleticism, we often wonder how far she might have gone had she had access to the pathways and programs now available to young female athletes.
It’s no surprise that after graduating from Year 12, Felicity went straight into a Diploma course to become a personal trainer. True to the dedication that defines her journey, she threw herself into the role and quickly became an outstanding trainer—but she wasn’t content to stop there.
Keen to deepen her knowledge, Felicity enrolled in a full-time university degree in Exercise & Sport Science, all while working 20–30 hours a week as a personal trainer at a small but reputable studio in Ballarat. And it was here that her Pilates journey began.
At the time, there were very few Pilates instructors in Victoria—let alone Ballarat. Encouraged by her boss, Felicity completed her basic Pilates training and began teaching a few Mat-based Pilates classes each week. That small beginning would go on to shape the rest of her career.
The more Felicity taught and practised Pilates, the deeper her passion for it grew. Beyond improving her core strength, mobility, and balance, the practice had a noticeable impact on her athletic performance—especially in running half marathons.
After circumstances beyond her control led her to leave her job as a personal trainer, Felicity found herself feeling a little lost. But within a few weeks, she took a leap and started her own small Pilates business—aptly named Felicity Porter Pilates.
She found a charming little hall in a local complex, complete with polished wooden floors and floor-to-ceiling mirrors—perfect for Pilates. The rent was just $10 per hour, paid in cash and slipped into a box on her way out. With minimal advertising and no pressure, she launched two classes per week, needing just one client per session to cover her overheads.
To her surprise, 20 people showed up to her first Monday evening class—and 25 to the Wednesday session. It was an incredible start, and those numbers held steady throughout the two years she ran the classes.
As word spread, Felicity was approached by schools, community groups, sporting associations, and even friendship circles to lead tailored Pilates programs—and she happily said yes. By day, she was at university; by night, she was running a growing Pilates business.
Part 2: Further study and the Polestar impact
Although things were going really well at the time, Felicity made a decision that would ultimately change the course of her life—she enrolled in a Diploma of Mat & Clinical Pilates with Polestar Pilates, a globally respected education provider founded by American physiotherapist Dr. Brent Anderson.
While the program’s reputation for high standards and excellence initially drew her in, it was the people she met during the course who left a lasting impression. Physios, osteopaths, exercise physiologists, and athletes—a diverse group of driven professionals, all eager to deepen their knowledge and learn from the best in the field.
The course not only sharpened Felicity’s skills and deepened her understanding of Pilates, but it also opened the door to a career path that felt like a natural extension of everything she loved: Osteopathy.
The next step in Felicity’s journey was one of the biggest yet—leaving everything behind in Victoria to move to the Byron region (and eventually the Gold Coast) to pursue a five-year Master’s degree in Osteopathy. Fresh off completing a Bachelor’s degree in Sport Science and running a thriving little Pilates business in Ballarat, it’s no wonder people were asking, “Are you crazy?”
The answer? Yes—in the best possible way.
Having made the move to a foreign, yet beautiful, part of the country, studying Osteo full-time and working part time at a cafe in stunning Bangalow, Felicity made the tough decision to put her Pilates training with Polestar on hold. But that didn’t last long. Enter Dav Cohen—an American credited with bringing Polestar Pilates to Australia and one of the country’s most respected Pilates instructors and Physiotherapists—who just happened to set up shop in Byron Bay. Talk about timing. With someone of Dav’s calibre suddenly in her backyard, Felicity immersed herself back into her Pilates education under Dav’s mentorship.
The next few years became some of the most pivotal in her career:
1. She completed her Diploma of Pilates and Rehabilitation.
2. She began working with Dav at Byron Bay Physio & Pilates.
3. She graduated with her Master’s in Osteopathy from Southern Cross University and subsequently gained employment at AMC (Associated Medical Clinics) under Ray & Sarah Lewis.
At this point, Felicity was truly thriving. She was working as an Osteopath on the Northern Gold Coast, teaching Pilates in Byron Bay (no small commute, by the way), and living her best life in Coolangatta
But home came calling.
Part 3: starting Bay City Health and becoming a Pilates mentor
Felicity’s deep desire to start a family, build a business, and be closer to her loved ones in Victoria became the driving force behind her decision to leave the Gold Coast and Byron Bay in 2018.
But where in Victoria would truly feel like home? Ballarat? Melbourne? Geelong?
After some heartfelt soul-searching with her partner and fiancé, Clint, the choice became clear: Geelong. It was close to the Surf Coast, a place that reminded Felicity of the relaxed, coastal lifestyle she cherished up north.
In the end, it felt like the right fit.
A lease was signed in Newtown, Geelong, a name chosen — Bay City Health Group — and the dream started to take shape.
Not many people know this, but the colour scheme of Bay City Health is Sea-foam Green — a nod to mid-century California. For Felicity and Clint, it was essential to bring a piece of Byron Bay’s calm, creative energy into their new space.
They wanted the studio to feel different from typical clinics — to inspire a sense of warmth, connection, and belonging. That’s why you’ll find an abundance of plants, colour, and natural timber throughout the studio — subtle touches that help people feel instantly at ease the moment they walk through the door.
Another non-negotiable for Felicity was quality.
When it came to Pilates, she was determined to bring the knowledge and experience she had gained over the years into her own studio. From the beginning, her vision was clear: to create a central hub for Pilates excellence in the Geelong region.
And so far, that vision is well on its way to becoming reality. Bay City Health now offers a diverse range of Pilates services — including Clinical Pilates, Rehab Pilates, Reformer Pilates, and 1:1 sessions — catering to a wide range of clients and needs. There are even more exciting developments on the horizon… but we’ll keep those under wraps for now.
Amidst all of this, including a couple of challenging, COVID-disrupted years, Felicity also fulfilled a deeply personal dream — becoming a mum to her beautiful daughter, Florence, who is now a familiar and much-loved face around the studio.
As if that weren’t enough, Felicity was also invited to become a Pilates Mentor with Polestar Pilates — a true recognition of her expertise and dedication to the practice. This mentorship involves two years of hands-on training in Melbourne, assisting in the formal education of aspiring Pilates instructors. Once fully qualified, Felicity will join a select group certified to host and guide students throughout their entire journey — from observation and apprentice teaching right through to exam preparation.
It’s safe to say that any Polestar Pilates student will be incredibly lucky to have Felicity as their mentor.
Personal Note:
Clearly, this wasn’t written by Felicity — her humble nature would never let her say most of what’s been shared in this blog.
As her partner in crime (and fiancé), I’ve had a front-row seat to her journey in Pilates, and I can confidently say that her passion is unmatched. She absolutely loves what she does. And thanks to her relentless drive to keep learning and growing in the field, her skills and knowledge have risen to meet that passion — and then some.
The best part? I know she’s only just getting started. She’s not even 40 yet, and there are so many years ahead for her in both Pilates and Osteo.
I truly hope that anyone reading this gets even a small sense of just how hard Felicity has worked to master her craft — and how incredibly lucky the Geelong community is to have someone like her raising the bar and setting the standard in Pilates.
To book an Initial Clinical Pilates assessment or 1:1 Private Pilates session with Felicity, click the button below. Or, you can call our friendly reception team to make a booking with Felicity or ask any questions you may need answering on 03 5229 3220