Sunshine and sore abs
Chloe Haberecht is the kind of person who makes you feel better just by being around her – she’s warm, she’s funny, and she’ll absolutely make your abs burn. She brings a lightness into every room, the kind that stays with you long after class ends.
Tell us a little about yourself and where you call home.
I’m 26, almost 27, and I’ve lived in Bathurst my whole life. People laugh when I say I feel old, but honestly, I think it’s because I’ve always been someone who feels things deeply.
Bathurst is home in the truest sense. Everything is ten minutes away, everyone knows everyone, and the people here are the reason I stay. My partner Cam, our dog Dixie, my best friends, the footy on weekends, the wineries just out of town – it’s a simple life, but it’s full.
There’s something grounding about living somewhere that doesn’t try to be anything other than what it is. It lets you breathe.
How would you describe your life in the region right now, in one honest sentence?
Down to earth and wholesome – with a side of hustle and bustle.
I love the calm of this place, but I’m also someone who’s always doing something, always moving, always trying to show up for the people around me. It’s a balance I’m still learning.
What drew you to the work you do – and is it what you expected?
Movement has always been my thing. I danced from the age of four, and stretching weirdly became my way of coping – my way of switching off when life felt too loud.
After school, I went into the stereotypical business world because that’s what you’re “meant” to do. I was trying to find my feet in the adult world, but it just never felt right.
Then COVID hit, and everything shifted. Liz, the Director of Studio Benefit, reached out and asked if I’d cover a few classes while she was away. I wasn’t working much at Uni, so I said yes – and it turned out I was pretty good at it. Good enough that she didn’t want to let me go. That moment changed everything. She saw something in me before I even realised it was there.
I thought the fitness world would be all sweat, crop tops and intensity. But it’s not. It’s connection. It’s trust. It’s people choosing to spend their free time with you because you make them feel better in their bodies. That still blows my mind.
What do you know now that you wish someone had told you at the start?
That it’s not about having the biggest studio or the most aesthetic space. It’s about the people who come back. It’s about the trust they place in you. It’s about the tiny moments – the smiles, the sighs, the “I needed that today.”
A rebooking is the biggest compliment. It’s someone saying, “I feel better because of you.” And that means everything. That’s when you know you’re doing something right.
“My life mantra is ‘You never regret making the effort.’”
When did you last feel really well – and what did that look like?
Honestly, the last few weeks.
Coming off the warmer months, I tend to put too much on my plate, so I’ve been making a conscious effort to slow down – weekends with Cam and Dixie, getting the groceries, pottering around the house, and ending the day with a home‑cooked meal and a TV show.
It’s simple, but it feels like breathing again.
What fills your cup when life gets heavy?
Exercise – always! Moving my body resets me. It’s the one thing that’s never let me down.
And baking sweet treats. Because, balance.
What local initiative, group, or person is quietly doing something remarkable that more people should know about?
Ummmm… Chi. Connects! You’re doing something special here – creating space for women to feel seen and supported. That matters.
What’s your favourite thing about living here that you’d never admit on social media?
How simple the lifestyle is. Everything you need is here.
And I secretly love that when I go into town or out for breakfast, I’ll probably run into someone I know. It’s like the universe giving you a little nudge – “Here’s someone you needed today.”
What’s a hidden gem in the region that deserves far more attention?
Renzaglia Wines. Their wine and cheese platter on a Sunday afternoon with your best friends? Unreal.
What do you want women in this region to know about you that they might not be able to tell from the outside?
That I’m even funnier after a few proseccos – and I LOVE a yarn.
And that underneath the energy and the light, I’m human too. I have my moments. I have my doubts. I’m figuring it out like everyone else.
If her story made you smile, you’ll love her classes. Chloe teaches at Studio Benefit, Bathurst.
