Move with Mel: Pilates & Barre

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Move with Mel: Pilates & Barre

Barre & Pilates classes & On-Demand studio.

06/01/2026

Whether you write resolutions, goals or intentions, whether you have a vision board, record them in a journal or just think about them in your head I hope they aren’t about shrinking yourself.

Rather, I hope they are about how you want to feel in your body, how you plan on looking after your body as we age or about setting some challenges for the year.

Comment which one is your first to focus on for 2026 👇🏼

04/01/2026

January doesn’t need to be about punishing the body, gruelling workouts, cutting out food groups or focusing on measurements!
Find the movement that works for you. The most effective workout routine is the one you actually do…consistently.
So find what you love, find what works for you, keep it structured OR keep the variation…just keep showing up!

31/12/2025

2025…
I am someone who sets goals. I adapt them when things change and I dig in and question why when they don’t go to plan. So at the end of last year I asked myself why I still hadn’t done my certification exams, and the answer was simple…fear and ego.

I was fearful of failure. I know this is not rare. But when I apply logic I know that this is a win-win situation. I would learn more, realise any gaps, go back to the basics, and hone my craft, regardless of the examination outcome. No matter what it was going to benefit my practice and benefit my clients. So I needed to feel the fear and do it anyway.

However, A lot of my self value over the years has been tied up in achievement, and so failing is a hard pill to swallow. It becomes even harder when ego is involved. When you don’t want other people to view you from that lens, when you think that will lessen you from external eyes. This is what made me realise I was avoiding something for the wrong reasons.

The truth is I can’t control other peoples opinions or views on me.
The truth is none cares about us that much!!
The truth is I know my value. I know my clients get value from their classes and sessions with me.
The truth is I am a life-long learner and know I will forever be learning new, improved or changed things.

So I set it as a goal for 2025. And did it.
STOTT Pilates mat certification 97% for the practical and 96% for the theory.

We can do hard things, especially when we know why we are doing them and can address our reasons for why we are avoiding them.

So I am signing out for 2025 knowing I can do the hard things…2026 here we come!

19/12/2025

To all my Onewhero crew, my online members, private clients, people who I have done a class for their workplaces or groups of friends…thank you.

To everyone who shares content, recommends me to others or just engages with me…thank you.

I can not stress enough how much of a privilege it is to be able to provide movement for you all, how much trust I know goes into that and I genuinely appreciate every single one of you.

Wishing you a holiday season that is safe, spent with your people, and moving in ways that feel good for you.

Meri Kirihimete 🎄💚

18/12/2025

I constantly ask myself questions like “what do I want to achieve with this?” Or “why am I doing this?” To strip things back, prioritise things and to keep myself aligned and when I do this I am reminded:

1. I want people to feel empowered
2. I want people to do things FOR themselves not TO themselves
3. I am a grassroots person
4. I believe in the power of community and connection.
5. I want things to be equitable

So in this space it means teaching out of the local rugby club, in my rural community with all the locals ❤️ I am so happy u do this and loved our 4th annual Christmas barrelates this week with some of our members! Feeling full of joy 🎄❤️

09/12/2025

I go though patches of loving or hating different exercises. Here are 6 of my currents - that are free of jumping.

1. Marching oblique pull down
2. Alternating back lunges with fly
3. Jack rabbits (it’s a love hate thing, and you won’t find a HIIT class without them)
4. Squat and rotation
5. 4 point rows and donkey kicks
6. Lateral lunges with pick up and put down

All you need are some weights, a timer and some good music and you are set. 30s on, 10s rest between and see how many rounds you can do….I did 10 (the last few rounds of jack rabbits were interesting)

02/12/2025

In my 20s I was exercising to burn calories, I punished my body, I was wanting to decrease the number on the scale.

I went to my first barre class to add to these intentions…but it changed everything.

I fell in love with movement again. Strengthening myself, improving my mobility, challenging myself, clearing my brain and having fun were my reasons again. And on top of that it sparked a new career and has allowed me to meet amazing people!

Move because it feels good, because it is for our physical and mental health and for social connection ❤️

24/11/2025

I have been an educator for 26 years! A tutor, a dance teacher, a secondary science teacher, a dance school owner, a workplace facilitator, a leadership trainer and a Pilates & barre instructor. And with the range of educating roles there are common themes, my 3 most important things:

1. Know your people. You need to know who you are working with in order to achieve the best results. Don’t rush through learning about your people to get “to the learning”…this is part of the learning!

2. Know your outcomes. What do you want them to leave your course, your workshop, your class with? Break it down, use verbs to write out your outcomes - what do you want them to do.

3 know yourself. I recommend to all educators to sit with yourself and work out your style. What do you like in a class, a session etc. simple things like do you like music on, do you like discovery learning, do you demonstrate a few reps, how much do you talk, where do you stand? Be comfortable with who you are and own it!

I could honestly talk for AGES about being an educator, but these are my top 3. Thoughts?

Address

Papakura

Website

http://www.melhwellness.nz/

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