Although I have simply chosen to explore other Pilates options in Hong Kong to find a staff that…read morehas a deeper bench of well seasoned Pilates instructors in addition to more Pilates props on sight (ie. a cadillac, barrels, gyrotonics equipment, etc), I do not really have anything bad to say about Anhao Wellness. The Yelp review sits somewhere between a 3 and a 4, but feel a 3 is a better reflection than a 4 when you consider Pilates options around Hong Kong.
Located tucked up the stair ways of Ladder Street in Sheung Wan, Anhao Wellness is one of those places that you cannot just pop in. It kind of seems like unless you are there for a scheduled session, there is nobody on sight at this locationM (or at least the several times I tried to pop in prior to getting on the schedule, there was nobody ever there). Maybe better to reach out via phone or e-mail first. No receptionist at a desk or anything like that. Anhao has another location on the Kowloon side (I think...but maybe not) that this might be the case, but this location seems more like a satellite studio.
I took 4-5 private sessions with Mio. Mio is super kind, eager to share her knowledge and a good "newer" instructor. I believe she has been teaching for a year or two. I am by no means an expert (if I were, I would not be doing private Pilates for the last 6 years if I could do it on my own!), but after inquiring with the owner to book my initial appointment and explaining my Pilates background, I got Mio. I like Mio and absolutely can benefit from an instructor regardless of their experience, but I kind of think maybe I was a square peg being put into a round hole. As a new client that wants to go to their Sheung Wan studio and was only available on a certain day of the week, but has extensive Pilates experience, I might have simply been assigned an instructor by Anhao Wellness that fit into this model. This might be my fault too. I prefer more contemporary styles and an instructor that expands my horizons that shows me things that challenge me, mixes it up and are new. I did not feel I got this with Anhao Wellness. If this instructor exists, despite expressing my background and interest, I got Mio. This puts Mio in an odd spot and me too when it comes to expectations. Life is about managing the expectations.
The studio is small and simply has five reformers. No wunda chair, no cadillac, no ladder barrel. If these items were available someplace on another floor, I never saw them.
The studio is cute, small, clean, mirrored. The location always seemed hot to me too, maybe relying on cool breezes through the windows versus A/C. I am a sweater, therefore, I was always hot.
I was then gone for two months over the summer and when I returned, I sent two e-mails to the owner to get back on a schedule and nobody ever responded. If you have so much business that you cannot respond or sift through your junk e-mail to check for e-mails like mine, then maybe my money is best spent elsewhere. As a paying client, I should not have to seek you out extensively to get a response, considering there are lots of Pilates options about. This kind of bugged me a touch, also knowing that I had spoken to the owner all along via e-mail when I first became a client.
If you are new to Pilates or live in Sheung Wan and want someplace boutique and small, this place might be for you. Mio might be the instructor for you! Although I did not bare witness, they offer personal training, Pilates mat and yoga options too. All this occurs on an upper floor that I did not see, since I was a private client and only saw the first floor.
