Hi, I’m Sarah
Founder and Pilates Practitioner at Avera
I created Avera to offer a personalised approach to Pilates. Where clinical expertise and whole body strength work can live side by side.
ABOUT SARAH SCHOKNECHT
Movement has always been my language. I trained at the Victorian College of Arts, completing a Bachelor of Dance, and spent my early years immersed in full-time dance training. It was during this time, navigating injury and recovery, that I discovered Pilates. What began as rehabilitation became something deeper. Pilates taught me how the body compensates, how strength rebuilds, and how awareness changes everything.
I've been teaching Pilates for over 10 years and hold a Diploma in Professional Pilates Instruction. I work with a wide range of clients: dancers refining technique, women moving through pregnancy and postnatal recovery, people rebuilding strength after injury, and older adults maintaining mobility and confidence. Pilates has also supported me through my own life. After the intensity of dance training, through pregnancy, and now into early motherhood with young children, it has been my constant. It adapts as I adapt, grounding me and reminding me that sustainable movement matters.
Avera is the studio I always wished for as a client. Small sessions, individualised programming, and space to be seen and supported. I care deeply about the relationships I build with the people I work with. You're entering a process, not just attending a class. I take the time to understand your body, your history, and what you need right now. Programs evolve, strength builds gradually, and progress feels considered.
AVERA PHILOSOPHY
How I teach
I bring together clinical expertise and full-body strength work, adapted to your body and your level. I don't teach from a script. I watch how you move, ask questions, and adjust based on what I see.
If you're brand new to Pilates, I'll teach you foundational movements with care and precision. We build from there. If you've been practicing for years, I'll refine your technique, progress you to more complex work, and challenge you in ways that build genuine strength. If you're managing an injury or chronic condition, I know how to work with that safely, and I'll coordinate with your health team when it's helpful.
With just three people per session, I can tailor the work to your body. You get real attention and programming that evolves as you get stronger. You'll work hard here. And you'll leave knowing exactly what you’re building and why it matters.
There are 3 principles that guide every session at Avera:
~ Tailored to your body
With max three people per session I can tailor the Pilates programming to you, your experience level, your problem areas and your goals. My continual attention is given to how you move, combined with programming that evolves as you get stronger.
~ Real strength, real results
Full-body Pilates programming that challenges you to build genuine capability. Better posture, less pain, movement that feels easier and more confident. You'll leave each session knowing you're progressing from wherever you started.
~ An intentional space
The studio is calm, bright, and set among the treetops. You come here to focus on your body in a space designed for concentration and care. Expert guidance, professional Pilates equipment, and an atmosphere that helps you do your best work.
THE STUDIO
The studio is nestled among the trees in Mount Eliza and equipped to support a wide range of movement needs. It’s designed to feel welcoming, calm, and focused. A place where you can escape and give your body the Pilates and attention it deserves.
I designed the space to suit a maximum of three clients and curated a selection of equipment to provide a holistic Pilates experience.
Studio Equipment includes:
~ Cadillac
~ Reformer
~ Wunda Chair
~ Spine Corrector
~ Full Suite of Small Props
This is professional-grade equipment that allows me to teach beginners foundational movements safely, progress experienced clients to complex work, and adapt exercises for anyone managing injuries or limitations.
Located at
Murralinga Place,
Mount Eliza VIC
Ready to get started?
Is Avera Pilates right for you?
Avera works well for people who are ready to invest in their body and want Pilates that’s designed around how they move. People who value expertise and consistency. People who want to see real progress.
You might be managing a long-term injury or chronic pain and want expert guidance that builds strength through your whole body. You might be ageing and have decided it's time to take your physical health seriously. You might be an aspiring young athlete looking for peak performance. You might have done group classes before and want more personal attention and proper progression. You might be brand new to Pilates and want to start the right way, with someone you trust.
Whatever brings you here, every journey starts the same way: with an Initial Consultation where Sarah learns about your body and builds your program from the ground up.