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Pīwakawaka Pilates

Helping you live the life you love

Rehabilitation → movement → strength → fitness → power → doing cool stuff with your body.

Walk. Garden. Run. Play with grandchildren. Get off the floor. Go hiking. Dance all night….

Recover from surgery. Feel confident exercising. Trust your body again.

Keep doing the things that make your life yours.

Back pain
Rehabilitation
Not Sure?
Beginner's Course

Get stronger and more flexible

Break through existing challenges

We work within the body’s limits to move, strengthen and train the body how to move without pain or with as minimal pain as possible. (I know, that may seem surreal, but I’ve seen it in myself and many others I’ve worked with), and then get super strong.

Get back to doing the things you love

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My Story

For many years I suffered excruciating, debilitating, body-contorting pain. I worked with doctors and medication, physio, massage therapists, osteopaths and yoga. I went to the gym 3 days a week for 18 months. The pain was unrelenting.

I learnt a lot about pain. Damn it’s good to be out of pain like that.

Now I’m grateful for what my body can do, and my focus is on learning how to help other people discover what their bodies can do too.

That’s led me to become fully STOTT certified, complete a Diploma in Clinical Pilates, publish research, and join national and international committees working to change the way we think about osteoarthritis. I'll also be presenting at this year’s Physiotherapy New Zealand national conference.

Pilates gave me my life back

More about Dell
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Our local, serene, boutique studio

After seeing how much Pilates can help, both in my own practice and through instructing at the Lucy Warren studio, I opened a body-positive boutique reformer studio up the coast from Ōtepoti, Dunedin. With only four reformers, you can rest assured you will be in a safe environment, with sessions tailored to those in the class so you get maximum benefit. Combined with a light sense of humour that shines through, you will usually walk out feeling lighter and freer than when you came in, in both body and mind. Kind of similar to what it feels like when you see a Pīwakawaka.

We’re a local studio, so you also get the benefit of not having to drive far, saving on time and energy costs, great parking, meeting others in your community and all in a beautiful, peaceful, resort-like space. Come check us out. Be warned, it can be addictive.

Book here

Why Pīwakawaka?

Pīwakawaka move with the ease, speed, and agility that I dreamt of when I was in pain. They have a friendly, cheeky, lighthearted character that captures what I love about movement.

But most of all, Pīwakawaka make me smile.

Testimonials

  • "Dell is an amazing instructor who teaches you confidence in your own body"

    Metiria

  • "I just had my first ever pilates session with the amazing Dell McLeod... arrived with back pain, left pain free. Dell is an amazing instructor, calm and clear, able to make even complete beginners feel comfortable. Thanks you."

    Kea

  • “I loved the pace of the class and the enthusiasm of Dell. Feeling I'm making good progress - feel less stiff & stronger. My puku is feeling more taut & less flabby.”

  • “I liked the class being local with a relaxed friendly atmosphere. I felt able to ask questions. Felt great afterwards. Gentle on my broken-ass body”

    Claire

  • "Being in a small group, I loved lots of repetition as I forget from week to week. I like your pace Dell and getting us to do things that seemed improbable in the beginning"

  • "I really enjoyed the fun vibe of the class, you have a really fun/beautiful energy that makes coming to the class a joy"

  • “Building on each week - by week 8 I felt I knew a pathway between exercises. Really relaxed and friendly.”

    Sam

  • “I like being given a range of different abilities for each exercise, and the fun and friendliness.”

  • "I enjoy going to the weekly Pilates classes. I find Dell to be a good pilates instructor. It's a relaxed environment but the classes are structured and the teaching is clear. Dell encourages questions if you aren't sure about any of the lesson. Since going to the classes I'm becoming more flexible, better posture and more aware about what my body is doing and can do. It's a great feeling"

    Jackie

  • "I just wanted to say how much better I feel after Pilates today. I've been going to bed with pain relief for almost two weeks so that I can get to sleep and tonight it hasn't even crossed my mind. My body feels so much freer and relaxed and it's all because of you and Pilates and for that I'm soooooo grateful. Thank you x"

  • "Love going to Dell's Pilates classes. The classes are run in a way that we are all able to enjoy them. Many a laugh is shared while we are becoming stronger and more flexible. I would definitely recommend to others to give Dell's pilates classes a go :)"

  • "I found the demonstrations and instructions very helpful. Loved the humour too - very relaxed vibe, very comfortable. I enjoy the small class size too.

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