Your first step is booking an Initial Consultation. It's a 60-minute one-on-one session with Sarah where she assesses how you move, learns about your history and goals, and builds a program around your body. After that you'll move into small group or private sessions, depending on what works best for you.

You can book through the website or reach out to Sarah directly by email or phone. She's always happy to answer questions before you commit to anything.

Because every body is different, and Sarah needs to understand yours before she can create your personalise program. The Initial Consultation is how she makes sure your time at Avera is genuinely useful from the very first session.

It also means you won't arrive at a class feeling lost or unsure. You'll already know the equipment, understand how Sarah works, and have a program that's been built with your body in mind.r story online can make all the difference.

Reach out to Sarah before you book. She's happy to chat through whether Avera is a good fit for what you're looking for.

Absolutely. Sarah loves working with beginners. Your Initial Consultation will walk you through everything, the equipment, how sessions work, what to expect. You won't be expected to know anything walking in. Everyone starts somewhere.

Not at all. Sarah has worked with plenty of people returning to movement after years away from exercise. The studio is small, calm, and welcoming. You start where you are right now, not where you think you should be. Most people are surprised by how quickly they settle in and start feeling the benefits.

Sarah works with clients well into their 70s and beyond, and they're often some of her most dedicated clients. Age is rarely the barrier people expect it to be. If anything, the older we get the more important it becomes to move well and build strength, and the more you benefit from the kind of personal attention Avera offers.

Yes, and you're exactly who Pilates is designed for. Flexibility isn't something you arrive with, it's something you build over time. Sarah works with where your body is today and progresses from there. You'll never be pushed into a position your body isn't ready for, and most people find their flexibility improves naturally as their strength and body awareness grows.

You'll be fine. Coordination is a skill that develops with practice, not a fixed trait you either have or don't. Sarah breaks movements down clearly, watches how you respond, and adjusts how she teaches based on how you learn. Give it a few sessions and you'll be surprised at how much more connected you feel to your body.

Avera is a fully equipped studio at Sarah's property in Mount Eliza. The full address is sent through when you confirm your booking.

It's a beautiful space set among the treetops, with a wood cathedral ceiling, natural light, and leafy views that make it feel like a treehouse. It's calm, focused, and nothing like the big commercial studios you might have been to before.

The studio is fully equipped with professional-grade Pilates apparatus:

•       Cadillac (Trapeze Table)

•       Reformer

•       Wunda Chair

•       Spine Corrector

•       Full suite of small props including magic circles, resistance bands, foam rollers, and weights

This is professional equipment that allows Sarah to support, challenge, and adapt to each individual body, whether you're a complete beginner or an experienced client working through something complex.

Yes. Parking is available on the property. Details are included in your booking confirmation.

Sarah teaches every single session at Avera. There are no other instructors, no substitute teachers, no surprises. You always get Sarah. That consistency makes a real difference. She knows your history, she tracks your progress, and she adjusts your program over time because she was there for every session that came before it.

Three people maximum. Sarah keeps classes intentionally small so she can give everyone meaningful attention throughout the session. It's a very different experience from larger group classes where you're largely left to get on with it.

Sarah spends a full 60 minutes just with you. You'll talk through your health history, any injuries or conditions you're managing, what you've tried before, and what you're hoping to get out of Pilates. Then Sarah will guide you through a movement assessment to see how your body organises itself, where it compensates, and what needs attention.

You'll also get introduced to the equipment so nothing feels unfamiliar when you come back for your first proper session. You'll leave with a clear program and a good sense of what working with Sarah will look like.

Sarah will recommend either small group sessions or private sessions based on what she found in your assessment. Most clients move into small group classes. Some start with a few private sessions first, particularly if they're working through an injury or want a bit more time to build confidence before joining a group. Sarah will give you her honest recommendation.

Initial Consultations are 60 minutes. Small group and private sessions are 50 minutes.

Once or twice a week works well for most clients. Sarah will give you an honest recommendation based on your goals and schedule during your Initial Consultation. More sessions isn't always better. What matters most is that the sessions you do attend are the right sessions for your body.

Fitted workout clothes that allow Sarah to see how you move. Avoid anything too loose or baggy as it makes it harder for Sarah to spot what your body is doing. Pilates is done grip socks which are available for purchase at Avera.

Just yourself and some water. Sarah provides all the equipment, mats, and props you'll need. Grip socks are required and can be purchased from Avera if you don’t have any. A small towel is useful but not required.

Sarah asks for at least 24 hours notice so she can offer your spot to someone else. Life happens though, and if something unexpected comes up, just get in touch as soon as you can. She's understanding and will work with you when genuine circumstances arise.

Avera offers a range of session options and packages to suit different needs. Every client begins with an Initial Consultation, and from there you can choose small group or private sessions. Session packs are available for better value.

For detailed pricing information, visit our Pricing page

This is currently in progress with peak bodies, health funds are still working on the finer details necessary to reintroduce Pilates to their existing programs. It’s worth checking directly with your health fund.

Pilates is a movement system developed by Joseph Pilates in the early 20th century, built around strength, stability, alignment, and controlled breathing. The original method uses purpose-built spring-loaded apparatus, which is exactly what Avera uses. It's suitable for all ages, bodies, and conditions, and the equipment means exercises can be adapted to support or challenge depending on what each person needs.

At Avera, Pilates is not gentle stretching or feel-good movement for its own sake. It's a serious tool for building real strength, correcting movement patterns, and helping your body work the way it's meant to.

Group reformer studios are great for general fitness but by design they can't give you personal attention and hands on guidance.

At Avera, there are three people per class maximum and Sarah programs each session around who's in the room. She knows why you're there, what you're managing, and what you're working toward. Her clinical training also means she can handle injuries and conditions that most group classes can’t cater for.

Clinical Pilates is the application of the Pilates method with clinical knowledge to address specific injuries, conditions, and movement dysfunction. Sarah's Diploma in Professional Pilates Instruction gives her that level of training.

But Sarah's approach isn't purely clinical either. She brings together clinical expertise and full-body strength work in a studio experience that feels considered and intentional. You're not just doing rehab exercises on a mat. You're building genuine strength through your whole body in a calm, well-equipped space that happens to be set among the treetops of Mount Eliza.

In most cases, yes. Sarah holds a Diploma in Professional Pilates Instruction, which means she's trained to work with injuries, chronic conditions, and post-rehab cases that many group instructors simply aren't equipped for. Your Initial Consultation is the place to tell her everything so she can build your program around what's actually going on.

If your situation requires medical clearance before you start exercise, Sarah will let you know and help guide you through that process.

If your pain is new, persistent, or unexplained, it's worth getting it looked at by your GP, physio, or osteo first. Once you have a clearer picture, Sarah can work with that information and coordinate with your health team. If you're unsure what to do first, reach out to Sarah and she'll help you figure out the right first step.

Yes, and this is something Sarah does regularly. She works alongside physios, osteopaths, and other health professionals to make sure her programming supports your broader treatment plan. If you're in active treatment for something, mention it in your Initial Consultation so Sarah can reach out if it would be helpful.

For most people, yes. Back pain is one of the most common reasons people come to Avera. Sarah builds core strength, works on the movement patterns and compensation habits that contribute to pain, and teaches you to load your spine in ways that support it rather than stress it. Many clients notice a real difference within a few weeks of starting.

Yes. Sarah has experience working with scoliosis at a range of severity levels. Pilates helps strengthen the postural muscles that support the spine, improve alignment, and reduce the discomfort that often comes with curvature. Sarah assesses your specific presentation and builds a program accordingly, working with your treating practitioner when appropriate.

Yes. Weight-bearing exercise is one of the most effective tools for maintaining and improving bone density, and Pilates provides that in a controlled, safe environment. Sarah builds programs that include appropriate loading for bone health, alongside balance and strength work that reduces falls risk. It's a particular strength of Avera's approach given the clinical training behind it.

Yes. Pelvic floor work is built into how Sarah programs sessions, not treated as an afterthought. She works on breathing, core stability, and pelvic floor activation throughout. For more complex issues, she coordinates with your women's health physio to make sure your program is appropriate and progressing well.

Yes. Sarah is trained to work with pregnant bodies and adapts exercises trimester by trimester. The focus is on maintaining strength, managing discomfort, and preparing your body well for birth. Please get clearance from your midwife or obstetrician before starting, and let Sarah know where you are in your pregnancy when you get in touch.

The general guidance is 6-8 weeks post-birth with clearance from your treating practitioner. That said, gentle breathing and pelvic floor reconnection work can often begin much earlier. Sarah will guide you based on your specific birth experience and how your recovery is going. There's absolutely no rushing the postnatal process at Avera.

Yes. Keeping joints moving, building the strength of the surrounding muscles, and reducing unnecessary load on affected joints are all things Pilates does well. Sarah works within a comfortable range of motion and builds progressively. Many clients with arthritis find that consistent Pilates reduces their pain and improves their mobility over time.