If you’ve been craving a dose of calm-meets-fire to kickstart your Tuesday mornings, you’re about to be very happy. We’re thrilled to welcome Nhu to the 23W Essendon coaching team, where she’ll be leading Tuesday morning Reformer Pilates with her signature blend of warmth, precision, and quiet powerhouse energy.
Before discovering Pilates, Nhu spent more than 15 years navigating the IT world while raising two teenagers. She knows exactly what it feels like to squeeze wellness into an already full life. During the Covid lockdowns, a single “why not?” moment turned into a full-blown love affair with Pilates, and she hasn’t looked back since.
What started as a way to stay active soon became something deeper. Pilates helped her rebuild strength, develop balance and flexibility, and — her words — made her genuinely happy.
Nhu is now a fully qualified instructor with a particular love for Reformer Pilates. Her classes are dynamic, feel-good, and designed to meet you where you are. Think:
• thoughtful sequencing
• accessible but challenging flow
• an environment that feels safe, friendly, and deeply supportive
Expect to work. Expect to sweat. And expect to leave feeling like you’ve found a little more length, control, and confidence than you walked in with.
Nhu loves people. Truly loves them. She’s passionate about creating space for all women, especially those who may feel limited by language or cultural barriers. As a Vietnamese speaker, her dream is to help more women from migrant communities access movement in a way that feels empowering and inclusive.
This is why we’re so excited to have her at Essendon — her presence elevates not just the training, but the community itself.
We asked her a few of our favourite Hot Set Questions, and her answers made us love her even more.
How do you spend your time when you’re not coaching?
Watching K-dramas or cooking up something delicious.
Favourite authors?
No single favourite, but she devours Danielle Steel and James Patterson.
First job?
Working at a Vietnamese bakery making bánh mì when she first arrived in Australia. Yes, she still has elite sandwich skills.
If you could win an Olympic medal for any sport?
Taekwondo. She used to compete back in Vietnam… so consider this your warning to hold your planks properly.
Hidden talent?
She’s an incredible cook and loves sharing food with people. (We absolutely approve.)
If you had to eat one meal for the rest of your life?
Phở. Every day. No hesitation.
What are you most grateful for today?
A healthy, happy family and a job she loves.
If you want strength, energy, and a coach who truly cares about you growing inside and outside the studio, you’ll want to lock Nhu’s Tuesday morning classes into your routine.
She’s here to help you find your rhythm, your balance, and your joy — one breath, one rep, and one beautifully controlled movement at a time.
See you on the reformers.
Ange Drake is a personal trainer, women’s empowerment coach and fitness blogger in the northern suburbs of Melbourne. She is the director of one of the few womens’ only strength training gyms in Melbourne, 23W. Ange helps women to learn how to use strength based training, nutritional strategies and a positive mindset to transform their bodies, relationship with food and mind.
