Kate Burton
Studio owner and Pilates Instructor Kate Burton came to Pilates training through a career in dance, she holds a Fellowship in Modern Dance through the International Dance Teachers Association (IDTA), a Diploma in Dance Exercise and studied, performed and taught Dance for 25 years.
She started her Pilates training in early 2000 with the Peak Pilates method teaching for Sue Wilson at Bodypower Pilates Studio in Nelson and certified through New York’s PhysicalMind Institute in The Method® Pilates under Pilates Master Instructor trainer Tania Huddart of the Hearts and Bones studio in Wellington. Kate’s love of movement and movement flow, and the body mind connection and how it connects and heals the body informs her classes.
Kate also enjoys spending time with all her family, living in Nelson and enjoying the great beauty of the area.
Maren Fritsche
Maren is a qualified physiotherapist as well as a comprehensive Pilates teacher and since October 2017 Mum of a beautiful son. Born in Russia, she grew up in the south of Germany and spent the last couple of years in Hamburg, in the north of Germany.
Maren has been teaching Pilates since 2010, first on a casual basis next to her job as a physiotherapist. After completing her comprehensive Pilates training trough The Pilates Standard Germany, she was finally able to combine her passion for teaching pilates and functional movement.
In 2015 she and her partner Simon went on a big trip through South-East Asia and came to Nelson in April 2015 where she became part of the Pilates team at the Pilates studio Movement for life in Nelson pretty soon. In May 2017 she got qualified in pre and postnatal Pilates in Sydney . Pilates is a great way to stay active through pregnancy and also for the recovery after pregnancy.
“… For me pilates has many faces, it works for people who have physical issues, it helps you to rehabilitate, facilitate better movement, relieve pain and improves self-esteem! And of course Pilates is a great complement to any sport you might enjoy!”
Maren offers a highly personal approach to her teaching, she keeps you motivated through out the training sessions and helps you to achieve your personal goals and establish a training routine for your every day life. She enjoys teaching private sessions using the equipment as well as mat group classes.
This is a comment from one of Maren’s students:
“Maren’s one to one teaching on the reformer is excellent. With her extensive experience of working with the body and teaching pilates/reformer, she brings a very high level of expertise to each session. I find her instruction precise and easy to follow, and she is always a pleasure to be with. I feel that my body awareness has increased in combination with the focussed strengthening and both have led to greater precision in my pilates practice. I think the benefit of this one to one teaching cannot be under-estimated and I would absolutely recommend Maren to anyone considering the reformer to develop their pilates practice.”
David Agnew
Dave came to Pilates from another body practise of Seido Karate.
Training under Eiko Hanshi (8th Dan) Andy Barber for 30 years achieving the rank of Sensei (4th Dan), teaching for 15 years at the Nelson Dojo and travelled training and competing nationally and internationally.
In 2014 Dave decided to try Pilates with Kate at Pilates Nelson to help with maintaining body mobility.
Initially found it slow and didn’t appreciate the subtleties that its principles imparted, but being patient, came to relax into the practise and learning to embrace it.
Started instructor training with Hearts and Bones (PMA) and deepening understanding with daily study.
Dave became an Instructor at the end of 2015
As a person in their mid 60s he can understand how invaluable it is to keep core strength, alongside joint mobility, lateral
stabilisation for balance and to keep enjoying everyday activities.
It is not what we do on the mat, but how we take this into our daily life so we take back what we all inherently have.
Hannah Challis
Hannah first tried barre in 2014 and quickly became obsessed with how amazing she felt after attending classes, not only physically but mentally. Coming from a dance background she really enjoyed the balletic approach to exercise. In 2015 she decided to turn this passion for Barre into a career and began teaching full-time in Wellington. Hannah loves seeing her clients energised after class, enjoying movement, strengthening their bodies and increasing body awareness. Hannah moved to Nelson in September and is looking forward to providing barre classes to the people of Nelson.”
“Barre Fitness Classes combine elements of ballet barre strengthening exercises with Pilates, Yoga and functional body-weight training. Each class includes a set of elegant ballet-style exercises to challenge your balance, enhance flexibility and work your core. With high-reps and low-impact movements, barre challenges anyone looking to find a fun and energetic workout. No Ballet experience required.
Jess Hannah
Jess started her movement journey at 3 years old with Gymnastics and Ballet
competing in Gymnastics Competitions around New Zealand. Alongside Gymnastics, Jess danced weekly taking Ballet, Jazz and Contemporary classes in Nelson. As a teenager she decided Dance was what she was most passionate about and left Gymnastics to shift her focus. At age 16 Jess started her Dance Teacher Training at Peta Spooner Academy of Dance. Jess completed her teacher’s examination through The IDTA becoming a fully registered teacher in 2018.
“I am extremely grateful to be mentored by Peta and I am still training to further my qualifications. The structure and discipline of Ballet, as well as the physical and mental benefits, are skills that I will have for life!
My aim is to deliver fun and engaging classes within a kind and supportive environment for all my students”.
Jess’s Pilates journey started soon after at age 17. Jess started Pilates as a recommendation to gain core strength to help her to recover from a back injury. At the end of 2019, she was offered a part sponsorship with Kate at Pilates Nelson to train as a Pilates Instructor. Over the next 18 months, Jess was taught and mentored by Sarah Lynford from Machine Works as she trained Jess for her Pilates Instructor exam. At the start of 2022, Jess became a qualified Pilates Instructor.
“I am very lucky to be supported by Sarah and Kate, who have a wealth of knowledge and experience. I’m continuing my training to gain more knowledge and skills and I look forward to passing my knowledge onto my clients”.