1. What inspired you to start Unity Studios?
My business partner, Sophie, and I, are both pelvic health physios and pilates teachers. We’ve worked in clinics and studios across the world, and both had recently moved to NZ when we met. We both shared a vision of bringing our learnings from around the world to Aotearoa, providing expert pelvic health physio, and also bridging the gap between pregnancy/postnatal/people with pelvic floor dysfunction, and the general exercise world. We’ve both seen the inequity of women’s health in Aotearoa and also in other countries, and wanted to bring good, accessible healthcare to women and people with a vagina.
2. How do you define the mission and values (philosophy) of Unity Studios?
It’s important to us that Unity is a space of safety, guidance and support to our physio clients, who usually come to us with very intimate issues like sexual dysfunction, bladder and bowel control issues, and pain. We want our clients to feel empowered with knowledge and supported towards their goals. We wanted to provide a space where our clients can exercise without judgement. We have a strong focus on functional physical goals at Unity, and we steer away from a focus on physical appearance or image. We don’t want people to smash their bodies in class - we want them to come out feeling strong, but also like they’ve learnt something about their body from their class, and they’ve also focussed on mobility and posture and functional movement.
3. Can you describe the range of services and programs offered?
Unity Studios is basically divided into 2 main services: Our physio service, and our exercise class service. Our physios are all pelvic health physios, who treat issues like bladder and bowel control issues, vaginal prolapse, painful sex, pregnancy aches and pains, birth prep advice and more.
Our exercise classes include reformer Pilates, mat pilates, yoga and Barre. As part of our timetable we have lots of pre and postnatal classes, and over 50s classes too, as we want to guide our physio clients into appropriate exercise. We also do lots of clinical pilates too, which has a rehab focus.
4. What tips can you share with new mums or mums-to-be?
My usual advice when it comes to parenting is to find one or two trusted friends or family members to listen to. And listen to them and no-one else. Ignore the noise.
Oh, and see a pelvic floor physio for a prenatal WOF appointment for a pelvic floor check, and birth prep information. Then a postnatal WOF at 6 weeks postnatal for rehab after birth.
5. What does a typical day look like for you being a mother and business owner?
I co-parent my two kids, with their dad, so on the days the kids are with me, it’s pretty hectic! I usually wake up with a small human who has found their way into my bed overnight, which, after the many sleepless nights of baby raising, I actually really adore now that they’re a little bit older.
Once they're up, the next hour or two of wrangling the kids to get them out the door ensues. It’s a combination of me barking orders haha, and the kids running riot around the house.
After school/daycare drop off, it's off to either the Northcote or Mt Eden Unity Studios. Honestly, being at work is my time off. I love it. I love having one on one time with adults for physio appointments, helping guide people towards their physical goals. I have a couple of days a week of working from home - currently those days are busy with setting up our third Unity in Point Chevalier, which is opening in August.
I only work school hours, so at 2.30pm, it’s basically the morning in reverse - pick ups, after school activities, dinner, bath, books, bed.
We have such an epic team at Unity, that there’s not very much in terms of business management to be done, luckily. Sophie and I both have young kids, so we do a lot of working from home, whatsapp messaging to each other, and voice notes, but we both prioritise our kids and family so it’s all pretty relaxed business wise. We both have the same ethos: Our work revolves around our life, not the other way around. We’re very grateful to have such skilled and reliable employees at Unity - they basically run the show, so we just turn up at work and it’s all running smoothly.
We also make sure that our work is mum friendly, for both our staff, and our clients. We often have instructors or physios bringing their kids into work with them for teacher only days/school holidays. And my kids are often coming in with me for meetings. We’re all in the same boat, and we make sure that Unity is flexible for our staff’s needs.
6. Do you have any go-to skincare products for you and your family?
Honestly, I am very lazy when it comes to skin care! I’m loving the IAMMI tinted serum - it doubles as hydration + bronzer, which helps save time when I have 2 small humans to get out of the door in the morning.
I was very kindly given some BEETL baby cream, which I’m actually loving using myself! I use it as a body moisturiser, and love how it’s soft and buttery, and smells delish.
7. Who do you look up to or see as an inspiration in your life?
Mums. All of them. But definitely all of the solo mums in my life. I’m absolutely astounded at the hoops all mums jump through for their kids and whānau - it’s something I witness day to day in my physio consults. Solo mums blow my mind, and are always absolute weapons in life.