Sarah is a highly experienced physiotherapist and clinical Pilates clinician with over 25 years of hospital and private clinic experience in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. She graduated from Auckland University of Technology in 1996 and later trained with the Australian Physiotherapy and Pilates Institute (APPI) in London. She is also a certified Polestar Pilates Clinician, recognized internationally for her expertise in rehabilitation and movement therapy.

Her career spans acute hospital settings, private musculoskeletal practice, and international course presentation. As a traveling APPI presenter, she lectured across the UK and Ireland and played a key role in establishing the Pilates department at King Edward VII Orthopaedic Hospital in London, where she served as Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent of Physiotherapy.

Over the past 20 years, Sarah has focused on musculoskeletal rehabilitation, with a strong passion in diagnostic accuracy to ensure targeted and effective treatment. Sarah identify overlooked gaps in care, particularly for patients struggling to progress. Her expertise covers lumbar, thoracic, cervical spine, hip, and shoulder injuries, and she regularly provides second opinions, collaborating with medical doctors, surgeons, and GPs.

Sarah has a special interest in real-time ultrasound imaging, using advanced technology to refine muscle recruitment, reduce pain, and enhance recovery. She is also deeply committed to pregnancy physiotherapy and Pilates, emphasizing pelvic and spinal health for optimal maternal well-being.

Additionally, she combines her passion for cervical spine rehabilitation with the assessment and management of TMJ (temporomandibular joint) pain, continuously advancing her expertise through international training.

Returning to New Zealand in 2003, Sarah founded Bodyreform and has served as the director since 2005.

 

Qualifications:

• BHSc (Physiotherapy), Auckland University of Technology (1996)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy, AUT (2023)
• Master of Physiotherapy Candidate, Otago University (Current)
• Certified Australian Physiotherapy & Pilates Instructor (APPI), UK (2002)
• Certified Polestar Pilates Instructor, NZ (2004)

Emma Whelan

Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist

 

Emma is a dedicated junior physiotherapist who holds a Bachelor of Physiotherapy from AUT (Auckland University of Technology). She has gained experience across various physiotherapy settings, including musculoskeletal rehabilitation, spinal cord rehabilitation, and acute paediatrics, working with diverse clients to support their recovery and help them return to meaningful activities.

Her passion for musculoskeletal physiotherapy stems from her love of sports, particularly field hockey. As a former competitive player, Emma understands the value of targeted rehabilitation and takes pride in helping people get back to doing what they love. Committed to continuous learning, she actively pursues professional development courses to expand her expertise.

Emma also has a strong interest in Pilates, integrating it into both her personal practice and patient rehabilitation to aid recovery and prevent injuries. Additionally, she has developed a keen focus on treating temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, furthering her knowledge through postgraduate international courses.

 

Pia D’Ambros is Polestar Pilates New Zealand Mat & Reformer trained and has been practising Pilates for over a decade.

Pia is a passionate, experienced Pilates coach that loves making every class different and new. Her energy is infectious in a class setting due to her love of Pilates’ core principals.

Pia works alongside physiotherapists to ensure rehabilitation from injury or surgery is safe and successful with the goal of getting your body back to functional movement.

She believes Pilates gives you the confidence that your body can do what you want it to do, when you want to do it.

Her effective and efficient exercises will have you leaving her classes feeling refreshed, energised and stronger than yesterday

Cassandra grew up in Orange County, California where she began her ballet training at the age of 5 years old. She studied ballet at The Academy of Dance, Southland Ballet Academy, Ballet Pacifica, Maple Conservatory, Houston Ballet, Boston Ballet, and American Ballet theater with instructors from all over the world. Cassandra first discovered her love for Pilates when she was 12 years old after her mother had decided to enroll her in regular Pilates classes as a way of cross training and strengthening.

After graduating high school. Cassandra attended the University of California, Irvine to receive her bachelors of the arts degree in Dance. While at University she decided to pursue her passion for Pilates and began her teaching training under Diane Diefenderfer and Barbara Bean at Studio du Corps in Orange County. Cassandra received her Pilates teaching certificate in the Ron Fletcher Method focusing on movement in classical Pilates.

Cassandra loves sharing her passion for Pilates with her clients and enjoys watching her clients find freedom and mobility in their bodies.

Bel has a background in dance and gymnastics and has been teaching for over 25 years. In addition to Pilates, she teaches yoga and dance and works as a certified Personal Trainer. Bel was a competitive rhythmic gymnast, representing NZ at the Commonwealth Games and World Champs. She then went on to a 20-year career as a professional dancer and performer. She is extremely passionate and curious about movement in all forms and is especially interested in injury mitigation and rehab. She combines her experience and knowledge of Pilates with her love for teaching, to help others find joy, freedom, strength and confidence through movement.