Recovery from injury or surgery
People progressing through the later stages of rehabilitation who want supervised, progressive exercise to build strength and return to full function.
Pilates Classes in Christchurch
Physiotherapist-led Pilates in small, personalised groups that's designed around your body, your goals, and where you are right now.
Our Pilates classes in Christchurch are led by physiotherapists, not fitness instructors. Every participant has an individual assessment before joining a class. This is clinical Pilates, a structured, rehabilitation-focused approach that sits within the same therapeutic continuum as your physiotherapy care, not alongside it.
Classes are available at our Riccarton, Longhurst, and Avonhead clinics. Call reception at your preferred clinic to arrange your initial assessment or book a class.
What is Clinical Pilates?
Pilates was originally developed for rehabilitation and recovery. It's a body-focused practice built around the principles of activation, balance, control, breathing, and flexibility. Clinical Pilates keeps those foundations intact and adds physiotherapy-level assessment and individualisation.
Small class sizes
Equipment / Reformer classes run with a maximum of four people. Mat classes run with a maximum of six. This is deliberately different from large community classes, because it means your physiotherapist can see you, correct you, and adapt what you're doing throughout the session.
Assessment before you start
Every new participant completes an initial assessment before their first class. This is not a formality, it establishes what your body needs, ensures exercises are safe, and builds the foundation for a programme designed specifically for you.
Part of your rehabilitation journey
At You First Physio, Pilates is positioned as part of the end-stage of rehabilitation, it is the bridge between completing your physiotherapy treatment and returning to full strength, performance, and independence. When you have finished active injury rehab and want to continue building under supervision, Pilates can be a great option.
Who our Pilates classes are for
Clinical Pilates may be appropriate for a wide range of people. It is not limited to those recovering from injury — it is also useful for people wanting to build strength and stability preventatively, or to maintain function over time.
Persistent back or pelvic pain
Clinical Pilates focuses on the deep abdominal and pelvic floor muscles — the body's internal support system for the spine. It may be helpful for people managing persistent lower back or pelvic pain as part of a broader physiotherapy plan.
Pelvic floor rehabilitation
Pilates training activates and strengthens the pelvic floor muscles in an integrated way. It may be helpful as part of pelvic floor rehabilitation, and is available at all three Pilates locations.
Core strength and postural control
For people wanting to build core stability, improve posture, or address movement patterns that contribute to recurring injuries or discomfort.
Athletic performance and return to sport
For athletes completing injury rehabilitation and wanting a structured, supervised progression back to full training load, or wanting to build foundational strength and control as a performance base.
Osteoporosis and joint conditions
Low-impact, controlled exercise may be helpful for people managing osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, or other joint conditions where high-impact exercise is not appropriate.
Pregnancy and postnatal recovery
Clinical Pilates may be helpful during pregnancy and in the postnatal period, with exercises adapted to your stage and needs. Please discuss with reception when booking your assessment.
Conditions requiring bespoke programmes
Bespoke/individual programmes can be created for those with many other conditions such as Menieres, Parkinsons, Charcott Marie Tooth and cancer where 1:1 supervision from a physiotherapist is appropriate.
Our Pilates classes and programmes
We run Reformer Pilates, Mat Pilates and Equipment Pilates classes across three Christchurch clinics. Each programme has a distinct pathway depending on where you are in your journey.
Mat Pilates is:
● a good starting point for people new to Pilates.
● a floor-based class using bodyweight and simple props.
● appropriate for all ages and fitness levels.
All new participants must complete a 30-minute pre-Pilates assessment before joining a Mat Pilates class. This includes:
● a brief medical screen.
● an introduction to basic Pilates principles.
Available at: Longhurst and Avonhead
Our Equipment Pilates classes use a combination of Reformers and specialist Pilates equipment in a small-group circuit format.
● Avonhead offers a Reformer, trap table, and Wunda Chair
● Riccarton and Longhurst, classes are Reformer-based.
Before joining an Equipment class, all new participants complete a minimum of two individual Pilates sessions to:
● introduce the equipment
● establish your baseline
● build a programme specific to your needs.
Available at: Riccarton (Reformer), Longhurst (Reformer) and Avonhead (Equipment circuit)
Individual sessions are one-to-one with a physiotherapist. This offers:
● a starting point before joining a group class
● standalone sessions for people who prefer fully personalised supervision
After your introduction session, shared 2:1 sessions are available at a reduced rate if you’d like to continue tailored supervision alongside a friend.
Available at: Riccarton, Longhurst and Avonhead
Once you have completed the required supervised sessions and received clearance from your Pilates physiotherapist, you may access our equipment independently. This is a cost-effective way
to maintain your programme between supervised sessions.
Eligibility requirements:
● One Introduction to Clinical Pilates session plus four individual (1:1) sessions, or
● One Introduction to Clinical Pilates session plus five Equipment classes
To keep your programme safe and progressing, one individual or shared session every three months is required.
Available at: Riccarton, Longhurst and Avonhead
Pilates appointment costs
Pre-Pilates Assessment (new clients)
30 min
$75
Follow-up 1:1 session
30 min
$75
session
Introduction to Clinical Pilates (new clients, 1:1)
1 hour
$120
Follow-up 1:1 Session
30 min
$75
session
Follow-up 1:1 Session
1 hour
$120
session
2:1 Shared Session — per couple
1 hour
$200
session
Casual Class
50 min
$30
session
2:1 Shared Session — per couple
30 min
$100
session
Equipment class — Casual
50 min
$39
session
Equipment class — 5x Concession card
50 min
$165
5x Concession Card
50 min
$120
Equipment class — 10x Concession Card
50 min
$290
10x Concession Card
50 min
$220
Follow-up appointment
30 minutes
Initial pelvic health assessment
60 minutes
Pelvic Health (private)
Casual session
30 min
$10
session
Casual Session
1 hour
$15
session
10x Concession Card (valid 3 months)
$120
20x Concession Card (valid 6 months)
$240
Follow-up pelvic health ACC appointment
30 minutes
Initial maternal birth injury assessment
60 minutes
Maternal birth injuries (ACC covered)
Follow-up pelvic health ACC appointment
30 minutes
Initial pelvic health ACC assessment
60 minutes
Pelvic Health (ACC covered)
Follow-up appointment
30 minutes
$87
Initial appointment
45 minutes
$112
Private treatment
Follow-up appointment
30 minutes
$49
Initial appointment
45 minutes
$57
ACC-funded treatment
UC student private (non-ACC) appointments
$72
session
UC student follow up ACC appointment
$37
session
UC student ACC initial appointment
$42
session
After your introduction session, if you would like to continue with tailored and supervised sessions but at a reduced price, why not share a Pilates session with a friend (2:1)? The shared sessions will provide plenty of supervision and support.
Questions about costs before you book? Call your nearest clinic, we're happy to help.
Pilates FAQs
No. Your initial assessment establishes your starting point, and your programme is built from there. Many people come to us having never done Pilates before.
Our Pilates approach is built on five foundational principles: Activation of the deep abdominal and pelvic floor muscles; Balance; Control of movement; Diaphragm breathing; and Flexibility. Your initial assessment introduces these principles before you join a class.
The assessment ensures that the class type and exercises are appropriate for your body, and allows us to design a programme specifically for you rather than give you a generic class routine. It also means your physiotherapist already understands your history before you start.
Mat Pilates uses floor-based exercises and simple props — no specialised equipment required. Equipment Pilates uses Reformers and other Pilates apparatus in a small circuit format. Equipment classes offer more variety and resistance options, but Mat is an excellent foundation and accessible for all fitness levels.
Our classes are led by physiotherapists, capped at four (Equipment) or six (Mat) participants, and built on an individual assessment for each person. Community Pilates classes may have larger groups, and instruction is typically led by fitness professionals rather than physiotherapists.
Pilates may be appropriate alongside or following injury treatment — your initial assessment is the right place to discuss your specific situation. If you are currently seeing one of our physiotherapists, ask them whether Pilates would fit into your current programme.
A membership is required to hold a permanent position in your preferred class. Without a membership, you can attend as a casual client — call your clinic the day before to check availability. Concession cards are available for both Mat and Equipment classes if you prefer to attend regularly with a fixed spot.
Yes, once you have completed the required supervised sessions and received clearance from your Pilates physiotherapist. Unsupervised access is available at a significantly reduced rate, with a maintenance requirement of one individual or shared session every three months.
Comfortable, flexible clothing that allows free movement. Grip socks are recommended for Equipment and Reformer classes — these can often be purchased at reception.
We run Pilates classes at three clinics across Christchurch: Riccarton (Reformer Pilates), Longhurst (Reformer and Mat Pilates), and Avonhead (Equipment/Reformer and Mat Pilates). See our class timetable above for days and times.