SA Pilates

07/10/2026

06/10/2026

I've talked a lot about how Pilates can help with injuries, so I thought it was time to share my own story.

Six years ago, I had surgery on my spine after 18 months of severe pain and significant nerve problems.

Pilates didn't magically fix me, and I still have some permanent damage — but I genuinely believe it played a huge part in helping me maintain movement, rebuild my strength and get back to doing the things I love.

So this post is a little more personal. ❤️

If you have a injury, or limited movement, I see you and I understand x

06/10/2026

One movement. Three different experiences.

One of the things I love about Pilates is that the movements aren't really separate.

Mat, Reformer, Chair… the same movement can appear in lots of different places, but feel completely different.

And that's not just because the equipment makes it harder.

Sometimes the equipment actually helps you understand the movement better.

Take a hip roll.

On the mat, it's very easy to think you're rolling through your spine while actually using momentum, shifting your weight or letting your hips do more of the work.

Put that same movement on the Reformer?

There's nowhere quite so easy to hide. 😂

The carriage gives you feedback. You can feel when you're rushing, shifting or losing control.

Then you take that information back to your mat work.

And that's where it gets really interesting.

The equipment isn't replacing your mat work. It's helping you master it.

Different apparatus.
Same movement.
Different feedback.
Better understanding.

That's the bit of Pilates I really love. ❤️

04/10/2026

Meet SA Pilates' unofficial studio dog 🐶

If you've been to one of my 1:1 sessions, there's a good chance my pup has been there too. He usually makes a guest appearance on my videos, too.

He's usually in a separate room during sessions and, more often than not, spends the whole hour asleep.

Usually on his back. Because apparently that's the most comfortable position. 🤣

I don't generally let him greet clients because we're practising his “chill out and mind your own business” skills rather than getting him all excited every time someone arrives.

Although, occasionally, clients are treated to the sight of him enthusiastically squashing himself against the glass window before sliding down it and resuming a comfortable sleeping position. 😂

Not a dog person? Don't worry. Just let me know and I'll pop him away with a yummy treat — you won't have to interact with him at all.

Dog person? Well… you may occasionally get a very relaxed Labrador watching your Pilates session from the other side of the glass. 🥰

Most clients completely forget he's there.

Which, to be honest, is exactly what we're aiming for. ❤️

04/10/2026

✨️ What I wish beginners knew before their first Pilates class…

🫣 You don't need to know what you're doing.

🫣 You don't need to remember every instruction.

🫣 You don't have to copy the person next to you. Although sometimes, when I'm marching around it may help 🤣

🫣 You don't have to get every exercise “right”. Pilates takes time and there's always room for improvement 🙂

🫣 And if I say “one more”… I probably mean three. 😂

But most importantly:

✨️ Nobody walks into their first Pilates class knowing how to do Pilates.✨️

Give yourself permission to be a beginner. Everyone has to start their Pilates journey somewhere.

30/09/2026

We tried something new! ✨️

Sometimes trying something different is as simple as moving the mats around.

Yesterday I changed the layout in the hall just to see what happened. Normally I teach from one end, then swap ends so everyone gets a turn at being at the front.

But yesterday I put myself in the middle.

I was curious whether it would make a difference to how well people could see and hear me — and the conversation afterwards was really interesting.

It turns out being in the middle worked better for quite a few people. 👀

There was still plenty of space between the mats (I like a good metre, preferably more!), but changing the layout meant people had a different view of what I was doing and could hear me more easily.

And it got me thinking about how useful it can be to mix things up.

Sometimes a small change makes a surprisingly big difference.

That applies to Pilates too. You don't always have to stick to the same class, the same exercises or even the same way of doing something.

If you have a pass, you can use it across my different classes — so why not try a different one occasionally? You might find you really enjoy something you wouldn't normally choose.

You never know until you try. 😊

27/09/2026

NEW TO PILATES? 👋

If you've been thinking about trying Pilates but keep putting it off because you're worried you won't know what you're doing… this one's for you.

Here's what actually happens when you come to your first SA Pilates class:

🧘‍♀️ You don't need to be flexible.
You don't need a strong core, good balance or any previous Pilates experience. Some days I can't touch my toes either!

👋 I'll talk you through it.
I won't assume you know the terminology or expect you to magically know what your body is supposed to be doing. Talking is my superpower 🤣

💡 You might not get everything straight away.
That's completely normal. Your body and brain are learning something new. We have plenty of time. I'm still learning all the time too.

🙃 You might wobble.
You might go the wrong way. You might forget which leg we're on. I definitely won't judge you — I've taught enough Pilates to know that happens to everyone! And it's usually because I've cued the wrong arm or leg 🫣

💪 I'll give you things to think about, but I won't bombard you with corrections.
Sometimes the best thing you can do is simply have a go and see what you notice.

❤️ And you don't have to be “good at Pilates” to belong in the class.

My classes are about getting stronger, moving better, understanding your body and hopefully having a bit of fun along the way.

So if you've been thinking “I'd love to try Pilates, but I'm a bit nervous…”

That's exactly why I wrote this.

Come and give it a go. You don't need to know what you're doing before you arrive.

SA Pilates
📍 Wellington
🗓️ Monday 6pm, Tuesday 9.30am, Wednesday 6pm & 7pm, Thursday 9.30am
👇 Book your first class: www.bookwhen.com

27/09/2026

How fabulous was Wellington Carnival last night? 🎉

Massive admiration to all those dancers, walkers and everyone carrying costumes, holding poses and keeping going through the whole procession. The amount of time, effort and creativity that goes into making it happen is incredible.

And what an atmosphere! There’s something really special about seeing the whole town come alive like that — music, lights, costumes, cheering, people bumping into friends and stopping for a chat, and that lovely feeling that for one evening everyone is just there to enjoy the same thing.

We spent the evening with friends, watching the procession go by, laughing, chatting and soaking it all up. It’s those little moments that make living in a community feel so special.

Huge congratulations to everyone involved in making Wellington Carnival happen. ❤️ What a night!

26/09/2026

One thing I hear a lot is...

"I'm worried I'll be the least fit in the class."

The truth is, no two people in my classes move exactly the same, and that's exactly how it should be!

Every class has its own level, and I do my best to match that level to the people who've booked on. (Just ask anyone who's been brave enough to come to my Wednesday 6pm class... 🤣)

You'll always be encouraged to work at your pace.

Some days you'll feel strong and ready for a challenge. Other days you might be carrying a niggle, recovering from an injury, running on very little sleep, or just feeling a bit blurgh. That's life.

Movement doesn't have to be all or nothing.

I'll always offer options, provide equipment to support your body where it's needed, and, with your permission, use hands-on guidance if it helps you find the movement more comfortably. If there's an exercise that doesn't quite click, I'm always happy to stay behind after class for a chat.

My goal isn't for everyone to do the same exercise in the same way.

My goal is for everyone to leave feeling they've moved a little better than when they arrived.

Because movement matters—even on the days when you need to take things a little easier.

💛 What was the thing that almost stopped you trying Pilates for the first time?