When Olivia Suman started teaching Pilates in a small family-run clinic, she never imagined her passion for movement would grow into a thriving online business. What began as intimate in-person classes and “Park Pilates” community events, has now evolved into Live Active, a Movement-powered app blending Pilates, strength training, and education into one seamless platform. In this conversation, Olivia shares how she transitioned her in-person business online, overcame perfectionism to launch her app, and built a community-first brand that continues to grow with her.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how your business evolved into what it is today?

Absolutely! I’ve been working as a physio and Pilates instructor for about six years now—Pilates first, and then led into physio.

It started as a passion project. I was working in a small-town, family-run clinic, and I really wanted to bring Pilates into that space. I had to travel to the city to do my training, and I was soaking up as much as I could from the incredible educators.  

I started small, running group classes that eventually grew into Park Pilates events. I wanted to create a community outside of the clinic—a social, fun environment that wasn’t as serious as the typical in-clinic vibe. That was the very beginning of my business. Back then, it wasn’t called Live Active yet. Different name, same values and goals.

How did Live Active evolve from those in-person classes to an app?

Over time, my little community grew beyond just friends and family, and those Park Pilates events became something bigger. Eventually, my business evolved into what’s now Live Active, which exists as an app—and hopefully, one day, much more than an app!

The push to find a platform like Movement happened when I relocated from Sydney to Melbourne. I wanted to stay connected with my clients, but I couldn’t move with them in person anymore. I wanted to find a way to move with them online—on a user-friendly, interactive platform, not just YouTube. That’s when I really started my hunt.

I got so many recommendations for different platforms, but most of them were basically just websites with very little flexibility. I was really specific about what I wanted for Live Active:

"I knew I wanted to build more than just on-demand classes. I had a vision of combining education, structured programs, a more holistic approach—not just “here, watch my video”… so that’s where Movement came in."

How did you discover Movement, and why did it feel like the right fit?

Movement came to me through a recommendation from Jess Kostos, who taught me during my Pilates training years ago.

"I reached out to her when she started building her beautiful Move app and said, “Who are you working with? I need to know because it seems to be ticking all the boxes that I need!” She mentioned Movement, and it was exactly what I was looking for."

And here we are today, with Live Active on Movement!

Did you explore any other platforms before choosing Movement?

Yes, I did research for a year and a half before deciding who I wanted to go with. And we can’t ignore budget because that’s a massive factor. For a small business or a sole trader like me, creating an app from scratch with a development team just isn’t financially accessible.

I spoke to three different companies, including ones connected to bigger brands like Keep It Cleaner. But realistically, we were talking about a $50,000 deposit just to get the app off the ground. For me, that’s not where my business was at.

But I could do that with Movement, I get everything I need—and the flexibility to grow. So, sometimes looking outside the box pays off.

Was there a moment or challenge that made you realize you needed a better way to run your business?”

Yes, definitely. I think there were two main challenges that pushed me to start looking for a solution:

1. The first was storage. Having a restriction on the amount of videos or content storage I could use on a website was a massive issue. Class videos are large files, and I didn’t want to be limited by how many videos I could upload each week. I didn’t want my ability to grow the library or create consistent content to be restricted by storage.

2. The second was flexibility. There are plenty of online platforms where you can upload classes or programs, but I couldn’t find anything that allowed me to build the user experience of all three (classes, programs and education) I had in mind.

"The ability to have so much flexibility in how I wanted to build it—I just hadn’t found that anywhere else. When you know exactly what you want, and you’ve got this beautiful vision in your head, being able to bring it together with something as flexible as Movement… it just didn’t exist anywhere else."

How did you find the experience of setting up your app on Movement and learning the platform?

It probably took me a good two weeks to really sit down, put my blinkers on, and figure out what I could do and how to make it as streamlined as possible.

Once I learned all the toggles and little shortcuts Movement offers, it became much easier. I think one of the best things is the flexibility—especially for building strength programs. You can make them so individualised, with each program varying from the next. There were no restrictions or parameters in design with Movement. 

And the shortcuts have been a lifesaver. When you’re creating six- to eight-week programs, that’s a lot of exercises and inputting data. Being able to save a block, copy and paste an exercise, or reuse a previous workout into the next week is incredible.

What advice would you give to someone else thinking about creating an app on Movement?

I’m still learning, but I’d say start by knowing exactly what you want. Write down all the things you want your app to look like or be able to do.

In my case, I wanted three things:

1. On-demand classes

2. Programs clients could work through at their own pace

3. A way to create community

Something that Movement does that not a lot of other apps do is give you the ability to have interaction within the app. For me, because my business started in the community and I had so much face-to-face interaction, I still wanted that element.

Being able to comment or message clients directly through the app, or post things like our next group community Pilates event to keep everyone up to date—that’s a massive plus in my books.

I think when you’re looking for an app, it’s so important to have a clear idea of where you want to go.

"Now that I’ve seen what Movement can do, the opportunities for me to continue to grow feel next level. It gave me the foundations I needed, and now I know how to really build on it."

Have you seen any benefits or changes in your business since launching the app?

I’m still in the baby days—only about three months in—but the biggest thing is being able to connect with people on a more intimate level.

Previously, someone might only meet me in a 50-minute class or a one-off physio session. This app has allowed me to build a bigger and deeper relationship with my clients. I’ve also been able to take the feedback and ideas from my family-and-friends —like more mat classes or reformer-based classes—and build that into my app, and it exists forever for them.

That’s one of the things I love most: this content isn’t going anywhere. Instagram exists to show short reels and all of these beautiful highlights, but the app is always there for them to come back to. It’s not going to expire!

Have you received any user feedback on your app from your community or members?

Definitely! First and foremost, people say it looks very professional. For someone like me—who’s not very tech-savvy and didn’t have a team behind me building this—that’s huge. A friend even said, “Did you do this by yourself?” And it was so exciting to know that with Movement’s tools, I could bring the app I had in my mind to life—and have it look that good.

Another big piece of feedback has been around how easy it is to follow. And it’s simple: if you want to do a class, here’s how you do it. You just click through rather than having to filter through a thousand different catalog-style classes. That’s been really positive feedback from clients.

The other thing people love is the hybrid nature of the app. A lot of my clients come from a Pilates-only background—they don’t do any other type of Movement. So, the ability to show them mobility and strength training under a ‘Pilates hub’ has been really special.

Strength training can feel a little daunting and scary if you’ve never done it before. But now I can drip-feed education and programs to my clients under the same roof, because of Movement’s flexibility. 

"And for me, as I look ahead with Live Active, the ability to showcase all my different skills within one app is hopefully going to be a game-changer."

Did you work with a designer or anyone else when creating your app?

No, not for the app itself. I definitely can’t take credit for the beautiful logo and branding, though! I worked with a wonderful digital creator, Alyssa Dunn, who’s absolutely fabulous. She’s based up in Northern New South Wales, and I actually started working with her around four years ago when my business was still called Active Living.

Back then, I filled out all my ideas for how I wanted the brand to look, and over the years we’ve done a couple of revamps. Before launching Live Active and the Movement app, we did a full rebrand. All the beautiful colors, the logo, the brand identity—that was Alyssa. When you work with someone for that long, they really start to understand you and your style. I think because she knows me on a more personal level, who I am, comes through more naturally in the brand.

As for the app design itself, that was all me. I’m a bit of an observer, so I did a lot of behind-the-scenes research—looking at different Movement apps and also the big players like Sweat and Keep It Cleaner. I just paid attention to what I liked as a user and what I didn’t, and tried to apply that to my app.

It’s been a bit of trial and error, and I know there’s always room for improvement. But for now, simple is best—for me and for my users—and it keeps the app really accessible.

And, because I'm so passionate about this space, I want to use it too. It's an app that I would like to use at home. If I wouldn't use it, why would I expect anybody else to?

How did you find the process of translating your existing brand identity into your Movement app?

Oh, so easy. You guys have done all the hard work for me! Movement makes it super simple—you just drop in your brand colors, fonts, and optional text right into the home screen setup. It was literally as easy as copy and paste.

And I really believe that carrying your brand identity over from your website or social media into your app is so important. Who you are and how you want to be seen needs to be consistent—and Movement made that effortless.

That’s so good to hear. And, we actually just added two extra brand color options!

Oh my gosh! Honestly, it's hard for me to keep up with all of your updates because you obviously take on feedback from your clients and think, "Okay, how can we implement this?"

When I was chatting with Jess, she said from the get-go—you all have been so helpful. If she has a suggestion, you jump onto it straight away. 

"That was a massive push for me to commit to Movement because it showed me that you are here for your clients and are willing to be more creative around the parameters of what their apps could look like."

Did you use any tools to plan out what your app would look like before jumping into the platform?

That’s a really good question! I’m quite a visual person in how I think and process things.

"Honestly, my main “tool” was just playing around in Movement. I created a free account first and spent time exploring—looking at lots of the different example apps you had online and thinking, “Okay, what would I want to keep? And how could I make it my own?”"

I’d look at how a Pilates class or a strength program might fit into those templates and ask myself if I wanted to follow that same week‑by‑week structure or tweak it to suit my style. I loved being able to think, “I like this part—I’m keeping it. But here’s where I can add my own spark.”

For organizing my content, I also used simple tools like Google Sheets and Docs. I had all my classes and programs mapped out there—matwork, reformer, strength sessions—so I could easily see how everything would slot into the Movement app. A lot of it came down to how I personally like to move my body and making sure the app reflected that.

How long did it take you to build and launch your app with Movement?

Not very long. I think the conception took me about five years—the ideas and having the confidence. The biggest barrier was probably just needing someone else to believe in me to actually launch.

I think about everything, and I think, “Oh no, if it’s not perfect, I can’t launch.” Which is not the case but that was definitely a hurdle for me.

Once I was recommended to Movement, it was probably three months max. I think I signed up in July 2024, and had a launch date in December. But because I knew it had to be done in December, I was finished by September. 

What branding tips would you give for someone who wants to level up the design and the look and feel of their app?

‘Keep it simple’ would be my motto. One of the biggest things for me is consistency. For example, having a color theme that connects the user to you and your brand, and keeping that consistent across all pages. Even just flicking from the homepage to the strength page, the colors stay cohesive. That was a big focus in how I built my pages.

The next thing is that it has to be aesthetically pleasing. If there’s just a big block of text, I’m not going to read it! I was really specific about layering photos with small amounts of text. For example, instead of just typing “Pilates,” “Strength,” or “Mobility,” I use an image that visually shows what the user is about to click on. It’s more appealing and gives context for what they can expect on that page.

The last thing I really prioritized in the early days was language. Hopefully, when you’re building an app, you’ve already thought about who you are, where you want to show up, and how you want to show up online. A small example in my app is my foundations programs—Pilates Foundations and Strength Foundations. We’re about to launch a new phase called Strong Build, and Pilates will have Pilates Build. I think creating themes or feelings around what you offer, in terms of your pages and your services, is a really nice way for clients to get to know you and your brand better.

Do you think the design and branding of your app has drawn people in and helped market it?

100%. As much as I don’t want to admit it, how something looks and is marketed on Instagram, social media, your website, or even TikTok—is absolutely how you’re going to capture your audience.

Even for me as a user of many different movement apps, if something doesn’t look good or it’s clunky, I’m less inclined to use it. I think that absolutely plays a part in whether clients choose to use the app.

Something that I hope to create on the app is an option to give feedback if you don't like how one of the programs is set up and you have a suggestion.

"The best thing about Movement is that it’s flexible, so I can take those suggestions on board and play with it."

Do you have a marketing strategy, or what’s worked best for you so far?

Great question—and probably a bit of a hot topic in my household right now! We’ve put so much time and energy into creating this app, and now it’s all about letting people know it exists.

I started exploring Meta ads and marketing, creating a short reel to use as an ad. We played around with that back in February. I’m lucky that one of my partner’s best friends works in digital marketing, so he’s been giving me a few hot tips.

At this stage of the business, I feel like it’s about diving into Facebook and Instagram ads, because they can be really effective. I love that you can target exactly the groups you want to reach. That’s high on my to-do list now.

Right now, a lot of our growth is still word of mouth. I’ve done a fair bit of physical marketing too—printing flyers and brochures with Canva and leaving them in the clinics I’ve worked with. It’s been great because if a physio or chiro friend has a client who needs movement therapy but doesn’t want to go into a studio, they can just send them straight to Live Active online. Over the next three months, I’ll definitely be dedicating a lot more time to marketing.

Do the in-person events you host play into your marketing of the app?

Absolutely! Our most recent event was for International Women’s Day. I run those events sporadically but often enough now that I’m back in Sydney. I love to sprinkle in Live Active at those events—I hand out brochures, gift vouchers, or “share with a friend” promos that give someone the chance to win a prize, like a piece of activewear or three months of free access to the app.

These events are prime moments for Live Active marketing because the people attending already know me and Live Active, but the referral effect is really, really powerful. Sometimes it’s not something they keep for themselves but palm off.

What would your advice be for actually getting to launch—and getting your mindset there?

This is such a great topic because the idea of launching—particularly for women, I think—face this imposter syndrome. It’s that voice saying, “Oh, I don’t have the skills. I don’t have the experience.”

But in reality, if you’ve got an idea and you’re passionate about it, whether or not you have the experience is almost void. If you’re passionate, if you show up and you care, it’s going to translate.

I think the most important thing I did for myself, as someone who battled a lot with imposter syndrome, was I set a date and I said it out loud. I told my partner, I told my family, and I told my close friends.

• First of all, it held me accountable.

• Secondly, I think it created a bit of excitement.

Obviously, it’s stressful—you’re launching a business, it’s scary, it’s daunting, you’ve never done it before. But I wanted there to be a bit of a celebration after all the hard work. So I planned a community event.

When we were in Melbourne, we did the launch event the weekend before I launched online. And I think for me, that was the fun side of building this app because it was almost like a reward. All the hard work had gone into the app, but the physical event—getting to teach, be myself, and move with a whole group of bodies in front of me—almost felt more real than the app itself.

"So my advice is set the date, and have something that feels like a little celebration to create that sense of community. There’s nothing more powerful than bringing a group of people together who share the same values to really showcase, “I did something for a reason and a purpose.”"

And then I think the last thing—which I am still definitely learning—is that there is no such thing as perfect. I think I changed my program four times after I launched—and my clients wouldn’t have noticed. They’re doing so many other things in their own lives, and when they were ready, they came back and did the program.

Let go of the idea that it has to be perfect. Launching, having the product available, and holding yourself accountable is so much more important than worrying about one class not being “good enough.”

Has the way Movement lets you instantly publish updates changed how you approach building your app?

It gives me so much autonomy and creative freedom. I can literally jump on right now, change a whole program, and it’s instantly live—no waiting for anyone to review it. 

I think the biggest thing, though, is that every idea I’ve had or thought process, I’ve been able to bring to life. There hasn’t been a moment where I’ve thought, “Oh no, I can’t do that because of some limitation.” If I’d gone to a creative tech or a custom app company, they would’ve come back with, “your idea can’t work because of X, Y, or Z.” 

A really good example is that I designed my website four years ago. Simple, nothing fancy. I think it was on WordPress. It worked, but it had all these limitations—sticky structures, weird malfunctions—mostly because I didn’t know what I was doing and was just rolling with it.

"With Movement, it’s been completely different. It’s so user-friendly that I’ve had zero hiccups. I had a program in mind, built it in two months, published it, and now I just keep building. There’s no barrier to editing or evolving what I’ve created. It’s incredibly freeing and accessible for me."

How important has social media been to your strategy and the growth of your business? 

I think it’s a very small community but it’s organic–all the followers and community I have have built up over the last five years. And honestly, if I didn’t have Instagram or TikTok, I don’t think this app would even exist. The idea of creating an app really only came about because that community was growing.

Connecting with like-minded people online—people I don’t see face-to-face—was what pushed me to finally go, “Okay, let’s create Live Active and bring my classes to the community online.” So absolutely, if this online community didn’t exist, Live Active as an app probably never would have come to life.

I also think social media allows me to keep evolving—as a Pilates instructor, as a physio, and as a business owner. There are different phases of our lives that we lean into, and right now my focus is very much on building community, educating about, strength training, and Pilates, and prioritizing sharing that knowledge with my community. But in 5 years, maybe my phase will shift to pregnancy and postpartum. And the idea being that the app will grow with me is really special—because as I learn and evolve as a person, the offerings and services in the app are going to change with me.

And the really cool part is that my followers and community get to come along for that ride. Usually, the people who connect with me online share a similar value or mindset, and often they’re going through the same seasons of life. That’s probably why they find me or how they’ve connected—and why the services in the app are something they find great value in.

What does the future look like for Live Active?

Oh my gosh, I have so many things running through my brain all the time. If I could just pause time and do everything at once, it would be wonderful. But with the nature of my work, everything takes a lot of planning, and a lot of filming.

Right now, we have a new strength program launching which is, as I said earlier, a “build” program. It progresses from the first program we already have in the app and is really for my clients who are ready for a new challenge outside of Pilates.

It’s a little bit out of their comfort zone, but there’s so much evidence supporting strength training for women, and that’s something I really want to push. Following closely behind is a Pilates Strong program.

This one is designed for clients who are maybe just dipping a toe into strength and functional training, but still want it to feel like Pilates. So, over the next three months, Live Active will see two big program launches.

After that, my big goal is to start integrating an education piece into the app. I already sprinkle “golden nuggets” of education into my classes, but I would love to create more of a conversation with my users.

I’m envisioning something like a fortnightly topic deep-dive—whether it’s pelvic floor health, pregnancy and postpartum, or other areas we cover as health professionals. I believe the more we share what we learn with our community, the better. No gatekeeping, just helping people understand and care for their bodies.

And my big overarching goal for Live Active is actually to get into schools. I work part-time as a pediatric physio with a lot of athletic females, and I think we’ve done such a good job right now through Instagram and social media targeting women in sport and movement.

But there’s almost a missing piece for the young woman. If I have any big goal over the next 5–10 years, it’s to find that market of young female athletes and take Live Active—through the app and through me—into schools.

I want to provide education to young women about what menstruation looks like, how to move their bodies, and how to support their developing bodies—everything from bras to shoes to period care. The app would come along as an accessory to that education, something the girls could keep using as a resource.

I hope to carry on what this epic community has done for the preggies and postpartum to our younger gen because we were all there once upon a time and all we had was sex education.

From Park Pilates events to an all-in-one fitness and education app, Olivia’s journey with Live Active reflects the power of starting small, listening to your community, and staying open to evolution. By combining her passion for movement with Movement’s flexible tools, she’s been able to create a platform that grows with her, supports her clients at every stage, and keeps her vision of community at the heart of everything. Whether it’s new program launches, school-based education initiatives, or simple moments of connection, Olivia’s story is a reminder that you don’t need a perfect plan or a massive team to launch something impactful—just the courage to start and the right tools to support your vision.

Ready to launch with ease? Our team has you covered so you can focus on the why, while we take care of the how.

Check out the Live Active app or find Olivia on Instagram.

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