Sam - Contrology NZ Client

Any obstacles or considerations before joining:

A main consideration for me was the cost of a membership, particularly because I was still a student when I first started, but it is honestly worth every cent! Especially because you’re only in a class with a maximum of four other people – you still get so much one:one support throughout the class. Your workout is totally tailored to you and so is the support you get during the class – it is worth every cent!

Another obstacle was the idea I had of pilates – which was quite daunting. I wondered whether I would even be able to do it, but I truly now believe anyone can do it. The environment at Contrology is so welcoming and comfortable. Sanni tailors everything to your level/ability and will only introduce you to a new exercise if she knows you have a good foundation to execute it so that you are using the muscles you are supposed to and doing it correctly/not causing any damage/strain. She strikes the perfect balance of understanding your current level/abilities and supporting/pushing you to go further.

Result of becoming a Contrology NZ member:

I am much stronger since starting at Contrology. My core was very weak when I started, and that was impacting me a lot – from experiencing back pain because of my scoliosis, as well as the way I carried myself throughout the day. Although I still have a way to go, I am much stronger since starting, and much more aware of how the different parts of the body work together/impact each other. It’s been amazing to have a low-impact approach to working out that focuses on strengthening your core and using your own body weight to strength train. I have experienced pain from having scoliosis and from fracturing my coccyx when I was younger for well over a decade. I would often come home from the gym in pain and with a swollen back on one side due to my scoliosis. Back pain was something that I was experiencing every day and had just come to live with. Since starting at CNZ, this has reduced SIGNIFICANTLY – to the point I can’t actually remember the last time I had a really “bad back” day. CNZ Pilates sessions are almost rehab sessions as well as workouts for me. Because of the curvature of my scoliosis, the two sides of my body are quite unaligned and uneven. Since starting at CNZ, not only has my awareness of this increased which has helped me adjust myself throughout the day, but my alignment has improved significantly. When I first started, my right shoulder sat quite obviouslyhigher than my left, and after only a few months, I noticed my shoulders were a lot more even.

Likes about becoming a member:

That I know I am in expert hands. Sanni is so incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about teaching Pilates – not only the phsycal exercises, but also the theory/philosophy that guides them. She also has eyes like a hawk! She has such amazing attention to detail and will always ensure you are executing the exercises correctly, making even the tiniest of adjustments to ensure you are getting the most out of an exercise and working the right muscles. It is obvious she has been doing Pilates for years and knows what she is talking about. She also explains things in a way that make sense to you and makes sure you understand why making a particular adjustment is important. I could do Pilates at a million different places, but I know I would not be getting the tailored and expert level of support I get at CNZ!

Other benefits joining Contrology NZ:

1. I am SO much more aware and mindful of my posture and how I carry myself throughout the day. Sanni’s voice is always in my head – her reminders stick with me throughout the day and I am always correcting my posture, or doing little exercises/adjustments while I am driving or sitting at my desk.

2. Pilates is super mindful and I really notice a negative impact on my mental wellbeing when I’ve had to skip a class or two due to work or illness. It’s such a great way to start the day – as well as getting a good workout in, you’re essentially also doing mindfulness for an hour as you’re so in the moment/focused on exactly what you are doing at that point in time which is great for mental clarity and wellbeing.

3. It’s just nice to have exercise that I enjoy! It motivates me to come more often and I enjoy it in the moment too, even if it is hard!

Recommend Contrology NZ?:

Yes! All of the above! And just that, I think the main things that set CNZ apart from other Pilates studios are the level of tailored support you get, and the focus on ensuring you execute the exercises correctly and that you understand why this is important. It’s so much more meaningful when you know why something is supposed to be done a certain way, and what specifically you’re supposed to get out of each exercise.

Thank you, Sanni! I’m so grateful to have found CNZ and you!