Bronwyn Beck
Here is our fearless leader, Bronwyn Beck, the founder of Balance Pilates and a qualified STOTT Pilates Instructor.
Bronwyn has always been passionate about movement/mindful movement, working in the Health and Fitness industry since she was 17 years old, discovering Pilates and its benefits in 2003 and deciding to embark on her Pilates teacher training in 2006.
Bronwyn is inspired by watching her clients achieve and master movements, gain strength, alleviate pain, recover from injuries and precise their daily movement patterns. And these are just the physical benefits, preaching and instilling into her clients the mind/body benefits too.
Bronwyn loves being surrounded, in such a diverse team of teachers and loves seeing them grow and thrive and the positive energy the studio holds.
Bronwyn lives with her husband Andy, her eight year old
son Oliver and her two 18 year old step sons Matt and Dan.
She loves to keep active, walking her dog Poppy, does Yoga regularly and as a family, they enjoy the beach in summer and ski in winter. Bron also has a russian blue cat called George.
Pieter Symonds
Introducing the lovely Pieter.
Pieter is an ex professional dancer and also a yoga teacher,
she is mum to an adorable and super energetic 6 year old,
and also a gorgeous, outspoken 10 year old lilac Burmese.
Pieter has spent her entire life exploring movement and choreography, she knows she has to move, and that a 'stagnant' day leaves her feeling tense and unfulfilled.
Pieter likes her classes to be a place where people can come
to stretch the 'kinks' out, from whatever they have done (or will do) that day, to become aware of how strong and connected you can feel and to shift away from all those tasks/lists that forever need doing and just enjoy moving
for a few peaceful moments.
Pieter is Christchurch born, and was lucky enough to be introduced to Pilates in her late teens, when she was in her 2nd Year at the New Zealand School of Dance and
injured her knee performing. Pieter used Pilates to successfully rehabilitate and it was an amazing tool
that supported her through a 17 year professional dance career without too much long term damage.
Over that time she saw so many dancers struggling with injuries and knew that becoming a Pilates teacher would assist with injury rehabilitation/prevention and offer new ways to think about moving and being.
Pilates is like an endless play session for Pieter. 30 years after her first class and she still finds new sensations.
In Pieter's class, she hopes you will leave feeling balanced -pushed and challenged, your body has been awoken and
mind feels less cluttered. That you have breathed out any stale energy and are feeling more vibrant and free.
Noelia Baquero
Noelia is originally from Argentina. In 2015, she moved to New Zealand and has called Christchurch her home ever since.
Noelia discovered Pilates while working on getting her degree
as a ballet and contemporary dance teacher. Pilates has
been part of her life since a young age, and she is
passionate about sharing its essence with her clients.
After receiving her first Pilates certification, Noelia began teaching in 2007. In 2023, to further enhance her knowledge, Noelia receiving her Polestar Pilates certification, and is now a qualified Pilates Practitioner.
In 2024 Noelia completed an NZQA Level 4 Certificate in Personal Training.
Noelia strongly believes in the power of Pilates for rehabilitation, improving movement, and well-being; she would love to help you discover its benefits, get you stronger and ready for your next challenge!
Natalie Macrides-Pantos
Introducing Natalie Macrides-Pantos, Nat traded the caffeine rush of high-end advertising campaigns for a rush of another kind. PILATES! Putting her ‘Save the World’ ad portfolio aside and discovering the profound self-awareness and self-mastery that came from being fully present in the body and its power, and helping others experience this.
"After the pace of the ad industry, the Pilates ideology took a front row seat for me. That was 18 years ago, to my surprise, and I have been in the fitness/wellness industry ever since".
Natalie completed her certification to teach Pilates in 2003 and has a long list of qualifications that complement her BASI Pilates training, including Cranio-Sacral Therapy, Kinesiology and Ashtanga Yoga.
Natalie is inspired by her Faith. her family. her clients. Simple truths. Kindness. Gratitude. Continuing through adversity. She is inspired by making a difference in someone's life, or day, even if it is a shared smile or giggle. You will find all of this in Nat’s classes.
For Natalie, Pilates is a dance. A sequence of movements with a beginning and an end, creating one experience at a time. And there are many songs. How you choose to dance it, is up to you.
Sarah Pele Mounsey
Introducing Sarah Pele Mounsey, Pilates Specialist, teaching
Group Reformer classes, Semi/-Private and Private rehabilitative classes.
Sarah also specialises in Pre/post natal classes.
Sarah completed comprehensive Pilates training in Australia in 2017,
she has been specialising in injury rehabilitation, using a clinical Pilates
approach and she is extremely passionate about assisting women with
Pilates for postnatal recovery. Sarah loves health and fitness and
promoting a movement based lifestyle which is what drives her to
succeed as a Pilates teacher.
Sarah is happily married, a mum to 4 little people, her happy place is the
beach and she loves being surrounded by whānau and friends enjoying
good food and wine. Having been a transient family for nearly 10 years.
Sarah has travelling all over Australia and New Zealand and is now
excited to return to their hometown to settle down.
We asked Sarah what inspires her:
"Seeing significant positive changes in clients bodies and mindset is what motivates me and inspires me to teach more and continue learning. Their achievements over a period of time are sometimes incomprehensible, so
it is amazing to see them moving mindfully, with control,
and without the barrier of pain or fear."
"Change happens through movement and movement heals"
Joseph Pilates
"I bring a unique vibrant energy to my classes, that are always inclusive, safe
and fun. I ensure all fitness levels are well catered for, and enjoy
challenging my clients with strong direction and clear guidance. I love good
music, that fits the vibe of the class, and my goal is that my clients always
leave feeling taller than when they arrived!"
Michelle has been a Physio for over 20 years, qualifying in 1998 from the University of Otago. She completed a Master’s Degree in Anatomy & Structural Biology before her Physiotherapy degree.
Michelle has completed post-graduate training in Manipulative therapy, Acupuncture and Pilates.
She has been a Polestar Certified Clinical Rehabilitation
Pilates Instructor since 2012,
finishing her training in Perth, Australia.
Michelle enjoys teaching on a variety of equipment,
especially the reformer. She is passionate about using Pilates as a rehab tool to develop strength and flexibility,
especially aiding return to activity after injury.
Returning to Christchurch after several years away in Perth and Auckland with her husband, two teenage sons, cat and chocolate lab, she also works part-time as a
Physiotherapist at Active Health.
Michelle Ongley
Let me introduce you to Mrs Stephanie Hadley (nee Melbourne) our Barre and Reformer Pilates instructor and Pre and Post Natal fitness specialist. Stephanie has been teaching dance and group fitness for over 17 years. She has an extensive performance background in Jazz, Hip Hop, and Musical Theatre. While studying for her law and arts degree, Stephanie took up group fitness instructing part-time, moving on to Pilates and Barre when working and living in Melbourne, which she found complimented her foundations in dance
Stephanie is a REPS registered exercise professional in Group Fitness, a certified instructor of The BootyBarre®, KONGA®, and Studio Pilates International®, and a certified Pre and Post Natal Coach with Girls Gone Strong®.
Outside of the studio, Stephanie is mum to two young girls, Maria and Grace and even more energetic GSP/Hungarian Vizsla dog Mack and wife to James.
She is also an Associate at James & Wells Intellectual Property and loves how dance fitness allows her to balance out her busy days in the office and at home.
Stephanie favourite inspirational quote is from Oscar Wilde "Be yourself, everyone else is already taken"
Stephanie has a passion for dance and fitness and combines these worlds to provide a unique experience to the classes and programmes she provides. In particular, Stephanie aims to educate pre and post natal clients on the benefits of exercising safely and effectively during pregnancy and postpartum through dance fitness and pilates.
Stephanie Hadley