Holly Puddephatt, Founder of elethea

This week we sat down with the powerhouse that is Holly, wellness avocdate, qualified life coach and the founder elethea Pilates & Wellness studios. Holly launched her brand new Studio this weekend and we wanted to talk about juggling big ambitions, family life and making time for her. 

Holly has been practicing Pilates for many years but was inspired to learn to teach it after seeing how much it helped her rehabilitation following injuries sustained during the birth of her daughter Thea. Holly left a 20-year corporate career to pursue her passion. 

 Since opening the first studio in Leeds, Holly has opened a third studio and recently announced two further expansions. She is on a mission to make Pilates accessible, empowering and inclusive with big dreams of scaling her business, offering retreats, Pilates education and so much more.  

 1. Talk us through your day so far

My days always start at 5am. With two children, I’ve found that early mornings give me a couple of precious hours to either get to the gym, have a quiet shower, or just catch up on life admin. I also teach some of our early morning classes at the studio. Around 9am I’ll usually sit down with a coffee, and from there no two days look the same. But one thing that is consistent - those 5am starts have been life-changing for my productivity. The flip side...I’m often asleep by 8:30pm!

2. What chapter of life do you find yourself in at the moment?

Right now, I’m fully focused on building my business. I left a 20-year corporate career last year and I’m now creating something that feels truly special — something I’m deeply passionate about. It’s exciting and intense in equal measure. I’m only a year into this startup journey, so my work-life balance isn’t quite where I’d like it to be long-term. I don’t get as much time to see friends or watch a good crime drama -  but I know if I lay strong foundations now, that balance will come. Outside of work, I try to be as present as I can with my children - my daughter Thea is 3, and my stepson is 6.

3. What’s something you’ve learned recently that’s shifted how you think about rest, connection or self-care?

When time becomes as limited as it is now, you become much more intentional with your energy. I used to say yes to too many things - sometimes out of habit, sometimes out of guilt — and would often end up rushing around and running on empty. These days, I pause before I agree to anything and ask: Do I really want to do this? What are the knock-on effects?

I wouldn’t call myself a people-pleaser, but I think many of us have a tendency to overextend ourselves. I’ve also become far more aware of what stress feels like in my body - high cortisol all the time is so damaging. Learning to slow down, even in small ways, has made a huge difference to my wellbeing.

4. What’s lighting you up right now — and what are you learning to let go of?

Following what excites you is such a powerful compass. Even though Elethea is ‘work’, it lights me up. I’ve gone from a job I liked, to building something I truly love - and that shift in purpose and passion is everything. Planning for the future of Elethea genuinely fills me with excitement.

What I’m learning to let go of is the belief that I have to be everything to everyone. Running a business means I’m not always the friend, or the mum, I want to be. Releasing the pressure to be perfect at everything has been such an important lesson in this season of life.

5. If you could design the perfect day for rest and renewal, what would it look like?

It would start with a slow morning with my children - their joy and excitement for the day ahead is contagious. Kids really do remind you to be grateful for the simple things.

I’d go horse riding - it’s something I absolutely love and have been making more time for again recently.

Then Curtis (my partner) and I would head off somewhere for a night away. We love a road trip with a playlist and a good chat. A spa, a countryside setting, and a cosy dinner — that’s my idea of heaven.

6. What does connection, friendship and solidarity mean for you at this life stage? How do you make space for this?

This is something I do find challenging. I’m always questioning whether I’m making enough effort - but I also know that friendships are a two-way street. The friends I had in my 20s (the ones I’d go out with every weekend) are different from the ‘mum friends’ I lean on now - the ones you can message in chaos and vent without judgement.

My closest friends are those I can fully trust, even if we don’t speak every week. Social media definitely helps us stay connected, but nothing beats a proper catch-up and a long conversation to put the world to rights.