Float Fitness is pioneering the AntiGravity® Fitness movement in New Zealand, having opened the first boutique studio in Mount Maunganui in June 2015. In 2016, Float was named NZ AntiGravity® Brand Ambassador and is working hard to grow the brand internationally.

A former competitive athlete and a professionally trained master instructor, owner Louise Kirkham, runs the business alongside her husband, cinematographer Chris Kirkham. Their goal is to inspire people to be the best version of themselves by delivering a fitness experience that can’t be matched.

Our studio is a custom-built fit out with 100-year-old wharf beams as the main feature. Our beams are often a real talking point. So, I thought I’d take this opportunity to share the history of how this fantastic feature came about. Four years ago, when we secured the space for the new Float HQ, we knew we had to do the uber-stylish architecture of the building justice. We needed something special, so my husband Chris and I were keeping our eyes open for inspiration.

One day, Chris and a good friend were brainstorming ideas for the new space. Our friend mentioned some old wharf poles that had been abandoned in a sawmill in Tauranga, and Chris decided to snap them up to restore for the studio.

Around the same time, I was studying for an AntiGravity® training session at the library, and I saw a fabulous old photo of an elephant lifting poles for the Tauranga wharf. I showed Chris, and we wondered if they could be the same poles we’d just bought for the studio.

Of course, we can’t know for sure without really digging deep, but how cool would that be?! There’s definitely some star-aligning magic to this tale, I have to say… 🙃

The poles were a labour of love for my husband and our engineer. Chris spent two weeks sanding them to perfection.

If you’ve not had the pleasure of checking out our gorgeous feature, please feel free to ‘swing’ by and have a look!