For Allisha, the journey to founding Lean Wellness wasn’t planned. A former business consultant, she first discovered Pilates while living in Kenya in 2019. “I was doing HIIT, but I kept getting minor aches and pains,” she recalls. “Pilates gave me strength, posture, and a way to work toward my long-term fitness goals.”
After years living across the U.S., UK, and South Africa, Allisha returned to Malaysia in 2022 and dove into her consulting career. The intense work schedule — early mornings, late nights, and little time for herself — soon took a toll. “I wasn’t exercising, I was eating poorly, and my mental health was suffering,” she says. Burnout and stress prompted her to take control of her wellness. Teaching classes became a way to hold herself accountable and the spark for something bigger.
“People asked if it would be easier to just be an instructor, but I wanted to build something of my own” – Allisha Azlan
Allisha started small, teaching Barre once a week. But it became clear that her corporate life wasn’t her calling. “I loved teaching and moving my body,” she says. “That gave me the inspiration to start Lean Wellness, which we officially opened in early 2025.”
Strength To Strength
The road hasn’t been without obstacles. Just four months after opening, a fire on the top floor caused by faulty wiring threatened to derail the studio. “It was our biggest challenge,” Allisha admits. But rather than close, she and her team found a temporary space. “The overwhelming support from our community reminded me why we started,” she says. “It was intense, hands-on work, but stopping wasn’t an option.”
Allisha’s business background proved invaluable in navigating the chaos. “People asked if it would be easier to just be an instructor, but I wanted to build something of my own,” she explains. Her goal was clear: Lean Wellness wouldn’t be just another Pilates studio. “I wanted a space where people truly felt they belonged,” she says.
Lean Wellness blends Pilates with strength training, featuring weights, machines, and wellness amenities such as a sauna, ice bath, and recovery room. Classes focus on building strength, mobility, and flexibility, and Allisha ensures quality remains a top priority. “We work directly with the founder of SRT in L.A.,” she says. “I’m confident in the standard of our classes.”
Growing demand prompted a move to a larger 4,000 sq ft space in the Matahari Building in Desa Sri Hartamas. The new studio features a bigger mat room, upgraded machines, and a small gym, each designed to maintain the aesthetic and philosophy that set Lean apart. “Even with the new space, standing out is still a challenge,” she admits. “But the quality and community here are unmatched.”
For Allisha, the reward is seeing her students thrive. “Hearing that they feel stronger and have more mobility and flexibility, that’s what makes it all worth it,” she says. For her, Lean Wellness is more than fitness — it’s about connection, empowerment, and a place where everyone feels at home.
