Our Team of Exercise & Pelvic Health Experts

Caitlin is a highly skilled physiotherapist with postgraduate qualifications in women’s, men’s and pelvic health. She has extensive experience in pelvic floor physiotherapy, treating a wide range of pelvic floor dysfunctions in both men and women. Caitlin also loves working with pregnant women, ensuring they are comfortable, healthy and safe during their pregnancy, and helps to guide them through recovering after childbirth, in the safest and most effective way possible.

Her other interests are sexual pain rehabilitation, post-prostatectomy continence rehabilitation, post gynaecological surgery rehabilitation, helping women returning to sport after childbirth, chronic pain management such as endometriosis and helping men and women with bowel problems such as fecal incontinence or constipation.

Caitlin is also a certified pilates, yoga and spin instructor and has experience as an aqua aerobics instructor for pregnant women. Caitlin met Sophie in Auckland and immediately  bonded over the dream of opening a functional movement studio.

Education

• Bachelor of Physiotherapy – University of Otago, New Zealand
• Post Graduate Certificate in Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy – University of Melbourne, Australia
• Post Graduate Certificate in Women’s Health Physiotherapy – University of Melbourne
• APPI and DMA Pilates training
• Power Living 200-hour yoga teacher training
• Spin instructor training

Sophie is a highly skilled physiotherapist from London with over a decade of industry experience. Since graduating in 2008, she has worked in the NHS and private sector developing her skills in women’s health and musculoskeletal physiotherapy.

Sophie is passionate about empowering women to keep fit and healthy throughout their pregnancy and the years beyond. She has extensive experience in the treatment of back and pelvic pain, diastasis recti, bladder and bowel dysfunction, prolapse and pelvic floor problems in women of all ages.

Sophie is an advocate for Pilates as a tool for rehabilitation. She is certified through Polestar Pilates and APPI, and trained with leading experts in London. She uses these skills to treat spinal pain and sports injuries, and has developed an expertise for helping new mothers regain strength and confidence. She teaches private and group Pilates classes on all equipment.

Utilising these skills, Sophie has helped hundreds of women through their rehabilitation journey, minimising the stress and pain that can accompany pregnancy and menopause.

Sophie moved to Auckland with her kiwi fiancé in 2019, which is where she met Caitlin and found an ally in all things women’s health, a partnership that would lead to the creation of their shared dream, Unity Studios.

Education:

• Bachelor of Physiotherapy – Manchester Metropolitan University
• Certified Pilates Rehabilitation Practitioner with Polestar Pilates
• Certified APPI Pilates Instructor
• Ashtanga and Hatha 200-hour Yoga Teacher training

Rachel graduated from the University of Southampton in 2007 with over 13 years experience, predominantly in MSK injuries and pathologies. She worked in NHS hospitals and with sports teams for 3 years in Wales, before travelling from Wales to New Zealand. She has worked for the last 10 years in rehab clinics, pilates studios, schools and with elite athletes.

Rachel first trained with Polestar Pilates in 2013 and is passionate about Pilates and fitness. She loves taking one on one and group Pilates classes, Spin classes and running group classes.

Rachel is a certified Pilates Instructor and Trigger Point Dry Needling therapist. She uses exercise as part of a healthy mind-body approach to maintaining mobility, gaining strength and feeling healthy inside and out. She believes an all round approach to Physiotherapy is key.

Since becoming a Mum of two boys she has developed a greater passion towards helping and empowering pregnant women, new Mums and well practiced Mums using education, manual therapy and Pilates. Running around after two active pre-schoolers has highlighted the importance of keeping mentally and physically strong and healthy

Class Coordinator & Pilates Instructor

Paula’s journey into Pilates began 6 years ago following a significant back injury. Introduced to Reformer Pilates during her recovery, she experienced remarkable gains in strength and mobility, which fuelled her passion for the practice. This transformative experience inspired her to train and become a certified Pilates Instructor.

Paula is deeply committed to helping clients move well and build strength, while also relishing the joy of seeing their smiles and the positive impact of a great class. Pilates is much more than physical exercise; it is a vital tool for overall well being, focusing on both strength building and mobility improvement. Paula’s goal is to create a supportive and empowering environment where each individual can pursue and achieve their personal health and fitness goals.

In addition to her role as an Instructor, Paula contributes her skills to the administrative side of Unity Studios, ensuring smooth operations and a high standard of excellence. Her dual expertise in both teaching and administration underscores her dedication to the Pilates community.

Studio Manager & Pilates Instructor

Kitty first discovered the transformative power of Pilates in 2014 after sustaining an injury that left her searching for a method to rebuild her strength and improve her mobility. What began as a personal rehabilitation journey quickly evolved into a profound passion for the discipline of Pilates. Kitty experienced firsthand the incredible benefits of the practice, not only in physical recovery but also in enhancing overall well-being and body awareness. Determined to share the life-changing impact of Pilates with others, Kitty pursued formal training with Stability Plus Pilates, and became a certified instructor in 2019. 

With a unique blend of empathy and expertise, she brings a deep understanding of injury recovery and prevention to her teaching. Her approach is rooted in the belief that Pilates is for everyone, regardless of age, fitness level, or physical limitations. Kitty’s classes are known for their supportive and motivating atmosphere, where she encourages clients to listen to their bodies and progress at their own pace. By focusing on proper alignment, core strength, and mindful movement, she helps clients achieve greater flexibility, strength, and balance. 

Outside of the studio, Kitty enjoys boxing fitness, spin cycling as well as calisthenics, and Pilates perfectly complements all these.

Shanelle is a certified Pilates Instructor, Mentor and Educator with 17 years teaching experience. She is the Head Trainer, and Class Manager at Unity Studios where she is responsible for the professional development and class quality of a team of 46 across two sites, as well as instructing her own group classes, private sessions, and workshops. Shanelle is an established mentor with Polestar Pilates and has recently commenced a role as a Polestar Educator.

Shanelle began practising Pilates in 2004 as a dance student, where she studied anatomy, biomechanics and the Alexander Technique, before going on to dance professionally for 15 years. She completed her initial Pilates training with Stability Plus Pilates in 2008, before completing the Polestar Pilates Comprehensive Teacher Training in 2018. Throughout her teaching career she has consistently expanded her knowledge by attending workshops, seminars and professional development courses in a wide range of methods to extend her teaching and educating practice.

Shanelle has worked full-time at numerous Pilates studios and physiotherapy clinics in a variety of roles including Studio Management, Class Instruction, Course Design, Social Media Marketing, Workshop Development, Recruitment, Instructor Mentoring, Instructor Education, Administration and System Optimization across Auckland at studios including Pilates Strand Studio, Peak Pilates and Physiotherapy, IQ PIlates, Studio 3, SALA, Body Reform, Configure Express, The Body Studio, Polestar Pilates and Unity Studios. She caters to clients of all levels and abilities, from extensive rehab environments to working with elite athletes and high profile companies such as Cirque Du Soleil and ZURU. Shanelle has a particular interest in drawing on the unique breadth of her Pilates education to support new teachers, and to connect diverse communities within the Pilates industry through the reciprocal sharing of knowledge and ideas.

Since graduating in 2000, Juliet has worked with representative Rugby and Netball teams, which allowed her to develop extensive experience in strength and rehabilitation that she now draws on for supporting Women to return to sport and running post-partum. Juliet has focused on Women’s Health for the last 10 years has run her own clinic PlusOne Wellbeing. She has completed several Post Graduate Pelvic health courses in New Zealand and Australia.

Her focus is on supporting Women to enjoy their pregnancy and have optimum recovery post-partum. Juliet has experience in treating pelvic floor disorders, prolapse, diastasis recti, sexual pain, c-section rehab and a full range of musculoskeletal disorders. She believes in treating Women holistically to help them return to the activities they love.

• Bachelor of Health Science Physiotherapy
• Post Graduate Diploma of Acupuncture
• Masters of Health Practice (Musculoskeletal Therapy) (Hons)

Juliet has two school aged children and outside of work she is enjoying learning pottery and enjoys skiing and snowboarding.

Larissa graduated from AUT in 2002 and her interest in Women’s health has led her to further her education in Women’s Health physiotherapy. She has completed several Post Graduate courses in New Zealand and Australia. Larissa has extensive experience in Musculoskeletal and Sports physiotherapy. Larissa is passionate about helping women enjoy their pregnancy through to their recovery after child birth and back to the activities that they love.  She has experience is treating a wide range of Pelvic Floor issues, including stress incontinence, prolapse, diastasis recti and pelvic girdle pain. She believes in working collaboratively with her patients to help them achieve their best outcomes.

• Bachelor of Health Science Physiotherapy
• Post Graduate Certificate of Acupuncture
• APPI Pilates Mat Work 1

Larissa has two young children and is a keen runner. She loves F45 strength and conditioning that she supplements with Pilates.

Laura graduated from the University of Otago in 2009 with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy. With 10 years of physiotherapy and pilates experience, Laura worked in private practice in New Zealand and Sydney and then in London for 5 years. She has experience in manual therapy, acupuncture and exercise rehabilitation and prescription.

She completed her clinical pilates training in 2010 and is highly experienced in mat and machine based pilates. Laura’s approach to helping her clients is holistic. She strongly believes that combining mindful exercise with other physiotherapy skills, is key to restoring physical health and function as well over well being.

Laura has a special interest in pelvic health and has completed post graduate Women’s Health training. She is particularly passionate about empowering women to maintain their strength and get back to what they love to do postnatally. She has experience in treating pelvic floor dysfunction and Diastasis rectus rehab.

Having lived overseas for the last 8 years Laura is a bit of a travel addict. When she is not doing pilates she also loves yoga, running and any activity near the beach.

Jess graduated from Auckland University of Technology with a Bachelor of Health Science in Physiotherapy. She is also a certified mat, reformer and pregnancy Pilates instructor. Jess has experience in musculoskeletal private practice where she helped people recover from injuries; reducing their pain and improving their function. She also worked as a Massage Therapist for several years, and completed an additional course in myofascial release. Jess believes in a holistic approach and enjoys empowering people to enhance their health through exercise.

Alongside being at Unity Studios, Jess also works as a Physiotherapist in Pelvic Health for the Public Health sector. Her special interest has led her to do additional courses in Pelvic Health. Jess is especially passionate about supporting women before and after birth, and with pelvic floor dysfunction to improve their quality of life. She is devoted to ensuring that her patients feel safe, comfortable, and informed with effective treatment options to achieve their individual goals.

Outside of the clinic, Jess enjoys doing Pilates herself and spending time in the sunshine with her friends and family. She spends many hours training in commercial dance, which has been her other lifelong passion.

Jessica has joined Unity to enable people to return to the things that bring them joy. She is passionate about empowering patients, through a collaborative approach to achieve successful outcomes. As a new mum to two young boys, Jessica has a new found interest in helping women in their journey in all trimesters and beyond. With over a decade in musculoskeletal practice and with a personal interest in yoga, strength training, and running, Jessica approaches therapy with a holistic and well-rounded approach.

Originally from Vancouver, Jessica graduated from Simon Fraser University (Canada) with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology (2008), and subsequently graduated from Auckland University of Technology in 2015 with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy. Since graduating, Jessica has completed courses in Dry Needling, Yoga therapy and more recently, pelvic health, enabling her to create a multifaceted approach to treatment plans.

Jessica has worked as a musculoskeletal physiotherapist on the North Shore with a focus on migraines, hip, and knee pathologies as well as volunteering for local rugby and football clubs in Canada and New Zealand.

Jen has a wide range of private practice experience, having worked both in Auckland and the UK. This spans general sprains/strains/soreness, sports injuries, working with Superleague Netball in the UK, and rehabilitation pre/post orthopaedic surgery.

Jen has had an interest in pelvic health physiotherapy since her student days when she had a PH placement. Throughout the years she noticed a theme of women coming to see her for MSK injuries where the impact can be traced back to issues developed in pregnancy or during birth which were not addressed at the time. This only increased her interest, and fueled an indignation at the lack of education and access to health services for women regarding pregnancy/birth related recovery.

This prompted Jen to start formal PH training in the UK, and upon returning to NZ after more than 5 years abroad joining Unity Studios.

Jen is passionate about treating and empathising with the individual person – recognising that the same issues can impact everyone very differently, and nutting out the best road to recovery for whoever she treats.

Education

• BHSc (Physiotherapy) AUT
• APPI Matwork Pilates levels 1-3
• Foundations of Acupuncture (AACP UK)
• Female Urinary Incontinence (POGP UK)

Penny has had a love of sport and fitness since school. She holds a Bachelor of Physical Education and has held a variety of roles within this domain. She discovered her love for Pilates after just one session and is Polestar Pilates qualified, Barre and TRX trained. Penny loves passing on her enthusiasm and knowledge for both Pilates and movement. She teaches a variety of Mat, Reformer and Equipment classes, as well as private and small groups. She keeps up to date with continuing education, and has a keen interest in running, and recently re-discovered tramping and challenged herself to her first adventure race.

Penny enjoys seeing her clients achieve their goals and class participants feeling better after a positive movement experience. As a busy working mum taking time to exercise for oneself is key to physical and mental well-being, and including strength, balance and mobility as we age is really important.

Penny relates to Joseph Pilates’s quote …. “Change happens through movement and movement heals”.

Pamela was first introduced to yoga during her professional dance training at the New Zealand School of Dance. During her studies, and since graduating in 2012, she has worked with Black Grace Dance Company, The New Zealand Dance Company, The Lion King (Australian Tour) and The Lion King (Netherlands).

Throughout her career Pamela developed a strong and personal yoga practice which she believes has sustained the health of her body and mind. Preventing injuries; assisting with muscle recovery; and offering a place of refuge, from the fast pace of everyday life, to slow down and reconnect.

To take her practice further she completed a YTA 200hr vinyasa yoga teacher training in Spain with Frog Lotus Yoga. She taught in Amsterdam for two years before returning home to Auckland in 2018. Along with her artistic endeavours she has continued to teach and loves that she gets to invite and guide others to journey on the same thoughtful enquiry of their bodies and minds.

Linda’s discovery of Pilates began after experiencing various injuries from being a keen hockey player and runner. She found that Pilates allowed her to have a deeper connection with her body through the awareness of movement and patterns she had built over the years of playing sports.

Her passion is teaching and educating and she feels fortunate that Pilates allows her to work with clients from all backgrounds with varying needs; to facilitate movement that can help them live a more comfortable, happy and active life.

Linda completed her Pilates training through Studio Pilates International and Polestar Pilates. She is also a certified 200 hour Yoga teacher and loves how Yoga and Pilates complement each other so well with the connection of the mind and body.

Zoe is a physiotherapist and Pilates instructor with an interest in women’s pelvic health. With a previous career in the environmental sciences she transitioned to Physiotherapy graduating with a BHSc from Auckland University of Technology.

With over a decades experience in Pilates, Zoe loves using this movement modality to assist women in their journey including during and post pregnancy and beyond. Zoe teaches Pilates privately and in group classes and uses all equipment in rehabilitating a wide range of conditions.

Zoe has experience in working with women in the Public health sector and has completed post graduate training courses in pelvic health in New Zealand. She also works as a musculoskeletal physiotherapist in private practice.

Outside of work, Zoe is a mum of boys and loves relaxing with her family, enjoying park walks with her dogs and spending time sailing on the ocean.

After completing her physiotherapy degree at the University of Brighton in 2014, Julie worked across a broad scope of disciplines in the UK, both in NHS hospitals and in the private sector. Through clinical practice she had exposure to patients with a variety of musculoskeletal conditions and developed a passion for working with clients holistically to get the best individualised outcomes.
Julie moved to New Zealand in November 2018 and developed a special interest in pelvic health conditions through her work in private practice here. She upskilled with the completion of post-graduate women’s and men’s pelvic health qualifications and her development here has been greatly complimented by her experience part time in the Pelvic Health Physiotherapy team at Greenlane Clinical Centre. Julie enjoys empowering patients with timely education and the ability to optimise their bodies through movement and exercise at any stage in life.
Outside of work Julie is a keen footballer and gym enthusiast. She enjoys hikes, freezing cold sea dips, acting classes and playing the guitar.

Education

• BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy – University of Brighton 2014
• PPI Pilates Matwork Level 1
• PAANZ Dry Needling

Irene graduated in Ireland in 2013 and emigrated to New Zealand soon after where she has gained rehabilitation experience in musculoskeletal injuries and chronic pain as well as teaching Pilates. She has completed a post grad cert in rehabilitation from AUT in her time here. Irene started pelvic health training in 2016 and has gained experience in treating incontinence, prolapse, chronic pelvic pain and pre and postnatal rehabilitation since then.

Education:

Courtney is a Pelvic Health and Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist, who qualified in Scotland with a First Class Honours degree. She moved to New Zealand in 2017, where she completed her Pilates training. She loves teaching Reformer and Mat classes, alongside 1:1 sessions with use of the Trap Table, Wunda Chair and Ladder Barrel. She is also qualified in Sports Massage and Dry Needling.

Courtney worked in private practice in London for four years, where she further developed her Women’s Health training to treat pregnancy pain, post-natal rehabilitation alongside bladder issues.
Courtney uses a holistic approach with all of her patients and works closely to help achieve their goals.

Eva has over ten years of experience as a massage therapist, treating clients from all ages, walks of life, and sporting backgrounds, including a high-performance football team.

Eva’s skillset includes therapeutic, deep tissue, Swedish, sports, pregnancy and postnatal massage, and she has worked alongside physiotherapists, osteopaths, and chiropractors.

She is passionate about helping people live pain-free, move better and enjoy a higher quality of life.

Pilates Instructor

Barre Instructor

Barre Instructor

Barre Instructor

Pilates Instructor

Laura has been working as both a Musculoskeletal and Women’s pelvic health physiotherapist since graduating in 2014. After spending six years in Melbourne completing a range of specialist courses in womens and pelvic health, Laura has returned home to Auckland. 

Laura has experience treating a wide range of conditions including low back and neck pain, pregnancy related pelvic girdle pain, bladder and bowel conditions, pelvic and sexual pain, prolapse, and sporting-related injury. Laura also has an interest in treating running related injuries, including returning females to high impact exercise in the postnatal period. Laura is a clinical pilates instructor, is experienced in strength training, and is passionate about encouraging others to also live a balanced lifestyle. 

Laura loves to take a proactive and holistic approach with all of her patients to ensure optimal results long-term. 

Outside of work Laura loves spending time outdoors running,surfing or hiking, a good book, and a good coffee.