Upgrade Pilates Studio

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Upgrade Pilates Studio Train in Classical Pilates for a centred, whole-body upgrade that keeps you limber, strong and calm.

If there's a time that's not available, contact me and we can sort out something.

29/10/2026

Week 5 - Progressing on the Cadillac

Getting stronger and challenging myself a bit more as I practice Contrology.

Recovery is a reminder that progress starts with the foundations. Build strength, trust the process and progress with purpose.

Have you ever been surprised by what you can achieve by pushing yourself a bit more each time to get results?

25/10/2026

Same body. New alignment. A whole new journey of discovery! 🚶‍♀️

After years of walking with a complex, fixed valgus (knock-knee) deformity, seeing myself walk with a straighter leg is quite something…

BEFORE: My body had spent years adapting and compensating for poor knee alignment, affecting how I stood, walked and moved.

AFTER: A straighter leg, improved alignment and the opportunity to retrain muscles, rediscover movement and change long-established habits.

It’s still early days, but what a difference already! And there’s so much more to discover.

A huge thank you to my orthopaedic surgeon, Dr Lloyd Roffe of Nelson Orthopaedics, whom I couldn’t recommend more highly, for correcting my challenging knee. And to the wonderful carers at Southern Cross Manuka Street Hospital for their exceptional care.

Knee replacement is major surgery, and preparation and rehabilitation matter.

🌟My formula?

✅Pilates before surgery – Years of practising Contrology helped build strength, body awareness and control.

🚴 Exercycle - at least six months of cycling to help strengthen my quads and maintain movement before surgery.

🚶‍♀️ Post-op rehab – Equally important!

Relearning to walk with better alignment, rebuilding strength and retraining muscles after years of compensation.

Recovery isn’t just about the knee. It’s about how the whole body works together.

I’m excited about this new journey of exploration and discovery, and seeing what my body and mind can achieve for a better quality of life.

❓Want to improve how you move❓

Contrology is about uniform development of the body through corrective exercise. With consistent practice, you’ll begin to notice the difference in how your body moves and functions.

Come and experience Contrology at Upgrade Pilates. Whether you’re looking to improve strength, mobility, balance or simply move better, we’ll work with your body and build from where you are.

One step at a time!


Southern Cross

22/10/2026

Discover it in your own body.

I recall Jay Grimes saying “discover it in your own body, like kids pushing boxes or learning to get on a swing, they fall and get up again.”

Watching our Open Studio enthusiasts working together is a reminder of the importance of exploration, practice and persistence - qualities that Joe Pilates himself emphasised.

In Contrology, understanding doesn’t come simply from being told what to feel or how to move. It develops through practice, exploration and feeling it your own body.

Each session is an opportunity to learn, refine and discover something new.

Keep practising.
Keep exploring.
Keep discovering.

20/10/2026

Week 4: Back on the Reformer! 💙

Small steps, working within my current capabilities and gradually rebuilding strength and movement.

It feels so good to progress, but I’m reminding myself that recovery takes time. There’s no rush. The goal is to build a strong foundation and let the body recover at its own pace.

Practising what I teach: control, patience and consistency. One movement at a time.

16/10/2026

Never underestimate the simple movements. 💙

The TV exercises may look basic, but they play an important role in rebuilding strength, improving balance and restoring functional movement.

In Contrology, every movement has a purpose. It’s not about how complicated an exercise looks, but how well you execute it.

Build the foundations. Regain control. Progress with purpose.

15/10/2026

Week 3 post-op.

Nearly off the second crutch and rebuilding my Contrology practice.

Working on knee range of motion, some mat to work the centre, seat and back.

Adapting where I can.

Working a bit longer each session, and listening to my body.
Progress takes patience, and time.

08/10/2026

Horseback — then & now. 🐎

An expression of applying what you’ve learnt in Joe’s Contrology system.

In Contrology, we’re always aiming to use our Centre, but it doesn’t just happen.

Our bodies have to learn, adapt and gradually understand how to organise movement from the Centre. It takes time, practice and awareness.

Something I’ve been working on for years, and still am.

Perhaps that’s part of why I love the challenge of my own practice.

I’ll be back to it soon…

02/10/2026

One week after knee surgery.

Back to movement on the Cadillac — seated, supported and listening to my body.

Working with the Arm Chair springs to create resistance and movement.

Even in recovery, we can work on dynamic stability through the lower body to create movement elsewhere.

A slight lean with a tall spine keeps me lifted and supported through the back line, moving from a strong Centre while still finding the two-way stretch.

Resistance Training for Life.When we think about resistance training, we often picture weights or gym machines. But resi...
29/09/2026

Resistance Training for Life.
When we think about resistance training, we often picture weights or gym machines. But resistance can also come from springs, gravity, bodyweight, and Pilates apparatus.
In my latest blog, I explore the growing research around resistance training and its importance for maintaining strength, mobility, balance and physical function as we age.
So where does Contrology fit?
The springs and apparatus provide resistance while the Method asks us to work with control, precision, coordination and whole-body connection. These are qualities we continue to explore in our practice at Upgrade Pilates.
There is growing evidence around Pilates, but more research is still needed to understand the specific benefits of Classical Pilates and the Method as it was traditionally taught. That makes this an interesting area to keep exploring.

Read Resistance Training for Life: https://www.upgradepilates.co/blog/resistance-training-for-life

23/09/2026

Last workout before knee replacement.💙

This time, I’ll be my own patient.

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of supporting people through many stages of their movement journey — before and after surgery, through injury and recovery, and simply as their bodies change over time.

Now it’s my turn to experience that journey.

The next phase is rest, recover, rebuild — listening to my body, being patient with the process and gradually finding my way back to strength and movement.

I’m sure I’ll learn a lot along the way, and I look forward to bringing that experience back to my work and continuing to support others through their own journeys.

For now… one last workout. 💙

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Redvale Road, Redwood Valley
Nelson
7081

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Monday 8am - 12pm
Tuesday 9am - 10am
5:30pm - 6:30pm
Wednesday 9am - 12pm
Thursday 9am - 10am
5:30pm - 6:30pm
Friday 9am - 12pm

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