Rochelle Moloney of Reform Pilates: Building business and balancing motherhood
You're building and running Reform at both Victoria Park and Commercial Bay as well as your new cycle studio RIDE, while raising your family — what does a “full” day look like for you from school drop off to bedtime?
A full day starts early, teaching a 5.15am or 6am class, and always after a proper breakfast because I can’t think straight on an empty stomach! If the timing works I'll get home in time for school drop off, then it's into the day properly. Team check ins, admin, more teaching or private sessions, class planning, and somewhere in there I try to sneak in a Pilates or cycle class for myself, even if it's a half session squeezed between meetings. School pick up leads straight into sports drop offs. We protect family dinner as much as we can, then it's a final lap of admin to make sure tomorrow is set up properly before the boys go to bed, and then I'm not far behind them.
Has motherhood changed the way you lead and build your business? In what ways has it made you sharper or softer?
Motherhood has given me a lot of perspective on the things that truly matter, which has changed the way I lead my business. It’s made me ruthless with my time efficiency and much gentler with my expectations, both of myself and others.
When you're pulled between being present at home and present at work, how do you balance where your energy goes?
Honestly, I don't always get the balance right. But I do try to have small non-negotiable reset points built into the day rather than hoping I'll find time for one. For me that's often just sitting down to eat my lunch in the sun, or choosing to listen to some music or a podcast on the drive between the studio and home instead of taking a phone call.
What's something no one tells you about running a business and being a mum?
How you can sometimes feel like you're running on empty but also very fulfilled at the same time!
On the days you feel overstretched, what grounds you? What does self care look like for you in this season of life?
Weekends are often just as hectic as my working week with kids' sports, birthday parties and playdates, so I normally try to carve out some self-care time during the week while the boys are at school. A massage or sauna is my go to reset. It's so easy to feel guilty about taking some time out for self-care, but I'm constantly reminding myself how important it is to fill my own cup so I've actually got something to give to my family, my team and my clients.
What does nourishment look like for you when you're deep in business mode?
Prioritising healthy and balanced meals and being really organised with nourishing snacks between meals has been a game changer for me. A Betty Bar is my mid-morning go-to (Choc Fudge is my favourite!) and I'll often reach for some fruit or nuts to keep me going between meals throughout the day. When life is full, food is one of the most important tools I have for keeping my energy steady.
Are there non-negotiables you protect around your own movement and nutrition?
Movement Monday to Friday is non-negotiable, Pilates, cycling, weights, tennis, or just a walk if that's all the day allows. Weekends are not rest by design, they're rest by surrender, because kids' sport and activities take over completely! On nutrition, breakfast is high protein no matter what time I'm out the door, even if that's before 5am, and a protein hit mid-morning is what gets me to lunch in one piece.
How do you approach nourishment for your family?
I'm very lucky that my husband does all of the cooking at home. He's a fantastic cook and always puts balanced, nourishing meals on the table for me and the boys, which is honestly one less thing I have to think about in my day. I don't take that for granted at all. It means dinner time for me can just be about sitting down together as a family, which is something we protect as much as we can.
What's your philosophy around nourishment and cooking in your house — do you have a meal plan or are you more intuitive?
We're more intuitive than planned, but my husband has a great instinct for putting together meals that are balanced and satisfying without it feeling like a production. The main thing for me is that we're all eating well and sitting down together, even when the day has been full on.
If you opened your work bag right now, what would we find inside?
My laptop, always, plus a notepad and pen because I'm constantly jotting down random work or movement ideas as they come to me. Pilates grip socks, lip balm, sunblock and an assortment of kids' snacks that are probably well past their best!
If you could name the lesson this chapter of your life is, what would it be?
Beautiful chaos!
What part of entrepreneurship feels most energising for you right now?
Building RIDE from scratch and helping to build the profile of rhythm cycling in the New Zealand market has been one of the most fun and rewarding things I've ever done. There's something really special about introducing people to an exercise modality they've never experienced before and watching them fall in love with it.
If you could give one piece of encouragement to ambitious women building a business, what would it be?
Be brave, take risks and keep going. It is so worth it. You will look back one day and be so happy you took the leap!
Quickfire
Coffee or matcha? Matcha.
Favourite Betty Bar? Choc Fudge, always.
Morning person or night owl? Morning person, without a doubt.
6am or 6pm Pilates class? 6am, every time.
Favourite thing about your business? Energising people's day through movement.
Find Rochelle's studios at Reform Victoria Park, Commercial Bay and her new Cycle Studio here.
