Unique Pilates is a Pilates studio in North New Brighton, Christchurch, run by studio owner and director Mel James. Mel has taught Pilates since 1999, following a dance career that took her around the world. She trained with Balance' Pilates and Physio in Sydney on a yearlong apprenticeship with rehabilitation clients, then completed her Polestar Pilates Mat, Reformer and Comprehensive qualifications between 2001 and 2003 while helping set up the Australian Polestar facility. She is now a Polestar NZ Educator and mentor who trains new Pilates teachers, and a Clinical Pilates Rehabilitation specialist. Mel was a finalist in the NZ Fitness Awards in 2021, 2022 and 2024, and won Pilates Method Teacher of the Year in 2025.
The studio's small teaching team also includes Tamara Richardson, who began her Pilates journey in 2006, trained through The Pilates Standard in Germany in 2016, and completed her Polestar Mat certification in 2024 and Comprehensive studio certification in 2026, and Kirsten Vaughn, a former national-level athlete and strength-based personal trainer who moved into Pilates in 2021 and completed her Polestar Mat certification in 2024.
Unique Pilates offers group Mat Pilates classes, small Mini Reformer classes on three in-studio Reformers, and one-on-one Private Sessions. All instructors are Polestar Pilates Accredited, and classes are designed to suit every level, from complete beginners to athletes, and every age from 15 to 100. The studio welcomes people rehabilitating injuries as well as those simply wanting to build strength, improve flexibility and posture, and support their mental health through movement.
Classes run across the week from Monday to Saturday, with a mix of Beginner, Intermediate, Reformer and Small Equipment sessions at various times. Bookings and payments are handled through the Classfit app, and new clients are asked to contact the studio first so Mel or the team can make sure a class suits their needs and ability.
Tucked away at Level 1, 18 Bower Ave in North New Brighton, Unique Pilates has been helping Christchurch locals move and feel better through Pilates. The studio is owned and directed by Mel James, who has been teaching Pilates since 1999, after a dance career that took her around the world came to an end.
Mel's Pilates journey began with a yearlong apprenticeship at Balance' Pilates and Physio in Sydney, working with rehabilitation clients. From there she completed her Polestar Pilates Mat, Reformer and Comprehensive qualifications between 2001 and 2003, while also helping train instructors and set up the Australian Polestar facility. Today she is a Polestar NZ Educator and mentor, training the next generation of Pilates teachers, and a Clinical Pilates Rehabilitation specialist able to modify exercises to suit individual injuries and needs. Her work has been recognised with NZ Fitness Awards finalist placings in 2021, 2022 and 2024, and the Pilates Method Teacher of the Year title in 2025.
Mel is joined by instructors Tamara Richardson and Kirsten Vaughn. Tamara discovered Pilates in 2006 while looking for a way to improve her overall health, was drawn in by its authenticity, and went on to train as a teacher, completing The Pilates Standard training in Germany in 2016, her Polestar Mat certification in 2024, and her Comprehensive studio certification in 2026. Kirsten came to Pilates via a background as a national-level athlete and strength-based personal trainer, stepping into Pilates in 2021 and completing her Polestar Mat certification in 2024. All instructors at the studio are Polestar Pilates Accredited.
Unique Pilates runs three main formats. Mat Pilates classes bring the practice back to its roots, using flowing, cueing-led exercises, breathwork and body weight resistance. Group classes run for 55 minutes with a maximum of 12 people, small enough that instructors can watch and correct form throughout.
For something more individualised, the studio's Reformer Mini Classes cap at just 3 people across its 3 in-studio Reformers. That small ratio means the class can be tailored to the participants in the room, with easy modifications for injuries and a genuinely personal workout building strength, muscle and bone density, and resistance training.
Private Sessions are a popular choice for anyone recovering from or rehabilitating an injury. A one-hour session with a qualified instructor uses a mix of reformer, small equipment and mat exercises tailored specifically to the client, often paired with a home programme to keep progress going between visits.
The studio is genuinely open to everyone, from complete beginners to athletes, and from age 15 to 100. Men attend regularly alongside women, and all shapes, sizes and fitness levels are welcomed. New clients are asked to get in touch with the studio before their first booking so the team can understand their needs and confirm the right class fit.
Classes run Monday to Saturday and change from time to time, so it's worth checking the current schedule. Bookings and payments for Mat and Reformer classes go through the Classfit app, and first-time visitors can message studio owner Mel directly on 0212380785 to arrange their first class or a private session.
All mats, props and other exercise equipment are provided in the fully equipped studio, so there's nothing to bring along except comfortable, breathable clothing and a willingness to get moving.