Frequently Asked Questions

That is completely okay! Most of our members start exactly where you are.

• Yoga is fantastic for downshifting your nervous system, improving full-body mobility, and managing daily stress.
• Pilates focuses heavily on building core stability, supporting your posture, and protecting your joints.

Our recommendation: Get our 3-Week Unlimited Intro Pass. This allows you to try both styles across all three of our Christchurch locations (Halswell, Church Corner, and The Tannery) so you can discover exactly what feels best for your body.

Well let us describe it this way… They are kind of like Veges & fruit. Kind of the same. Kind of different.

Lots of people get confused between which are which sometimes (think tomatoes).

There is a lot of strong feeling which is better- but at the end of the day both are great for you.

You’ll find out along the way which you prefer.

Just like fruit & vege a lot of what you get out of it and or enjoy is down to the way the chef serves it up (how the class runs with a particular teacher).

Within both Yoga & Pilates there are lots of different ways to do things (just like there are lots of different types of fruit & vege) the key for us is working with you to find out how you like it and serving it up – with a bit of variety for interest & health along the way!

Both Yoga & Pilates focus on strength, stretch, breathing, awareness of body, mind & breath and creating connection, control & confidence within the body. Both are very much centered around balance & posture.

Let’s be completely honest here. If you are a next level athlete and love matching your crop top and hot pants to your mat and getting into superb selfie poses – then no- you probably won’t.

Our students tend to be on the older side (with our fab young ones that like the fact that they don’t have to look cool in our classes). Most of us are on the plus side of average & if you have seen any of our socials (just click the links at the top of this page if you want to check us out)- we are not perfect in any way shape or form.

If you like improving yourself, without showing off.
If you like being around a group of supportive & kind people (and not feeling the need to have to ‘fit in’).
If you want a place where you can just chill out on your mat or have a chat with the person beside you.
If you want to feel seen in a class & not have to do the same thing as the person beside you.
If you are happy for things to be adjusted along the way with a sense of education and development rather than a deep yogic experience.

Then yeah – you will fit in fab.

Absolutely not. At Adapted, we have thrown out the old fitness stereotypes. Our welcoming community is explicitly designed for real, everyday people aged 35 to 85. Whether you haven't exercised in decades or are looking to maintain your physical freedom as you age, you will find a warm, supportive, and judgment-free environment waiting for you.

The fastest way to start is to click any "Get Started" or "Claim Intro Offer" button on our website to access our secure GymMaster portal. Setting up your profile takes less than two minutes and immediately unlocks our live timetables.

Prefer a human touch? We offer a complimentary concierge service. If technology feels overwhelming, you don't have to navigate it alone. Simply text, call, or email us, and we will do the heavy technical lifting for you. We will happily jump on the phone, set up your profile together, and book your very first class for you.

No experience is required whatsoever. Most of our students start as absolute beginners who have never stepped onto a mat before. We skip the confusing fitness machines, loud music, and intimidating environments. Instead, we guide you step-by-step through functional movements that support your posture, stabilize your core, and protect your joints.

Yes, you must book your mat in advance. To guarantee that our classes remain small, supportive, and therapeutic, we strictly cap our attendee numbers. Booking ahead via our website or member app ensures your space is 100% secured and allows our teachers to review your injuries and tailor the session specifically for you.

You do not need to be flexible to start—that is exactly why you come to us! True yoga and pilates are about building functional strength and releasing stuck tension, not matching flexible influencers. Our classes use plenty of supportive props to bring the floor to you, ensuring you can move comfortably and safely within your own body's limits.

Please arrive 10 minutes before class starts. This gives you plenty of time to find a park at our Halswell, Church Corner, or Tannery locations, drop your things in the cubby holes, meet your teacher, and settle onto your mat without feeling rushed.

Wear comfortable, stretchy everyday clothing that allows you to move freely. Sweatpants, t-shirts, and casual leggings are absolutely perfect. There is absolutely no high-end gym gear, crop tops, or hot pants required here! We provide all premium mats, blocks, blankets, and specialized props completely free of charge, so you just need to bring a water bottle.

At our studios, the care doesn't stop when you step off the mat. We track your consistency through your GymMaster app. If life gets busy, you get sick, or you quietly stop showing up, we will give you a phone call to check-in. We are a genuine local community that looks out for each other, ensuring you stay supported and accountable to your personal wellness goals.

To keep our spaces a peaceful sanctuary for everyone, we follow a few simple guidelines:

• Cleanliness: We leave our outdoor shoes and personal items in the entrance cubbies to keep our studio floors spotless. All equipment is fully sanitized after every single class.
• Props & Mats: Your teacher lays out the mats and specialized props in advance based on the injuries and needs of the students booked in. Please don't move or swap mats—your space has been curated just for your body today!
• No Ego: Our classes have a wide mix of ages, bodies and capabilities practicing side by side. Work strictly within your own body's limits, listen to the teacher's individual options, and enjoy having a laugh while you do it.

We believe in total transparency and no premium surcharges. All of our specialized options—including Mums & Bubs, Prenatal, Chair, and Yin & Restorative Yoga—use our standard studio pricing. Our rates scale beautifully to fit your lifestyle, starting from $18/week for a single weekly class, up to $33/week for two classes, or $39/week for completely unlimited access. We also offer flexible 10, 20, and 40-class concession cards if you prefer to drop in over a longer period.

No, absolutely not. We know many people are gun-shy about rigid franchise memberships. We do things entirely differently here. We offer Flexible Studio Passes with zero lock-in contracts, zero hidden cancellation fees, and total freedom to change your pass tier up or down as your lifestyle changes.

Yes, easily. If you are heading away on holiday or taking some planned time away, you can put your Flexible Studio Pass on a standard holiday hold for up to 6 weeks per calendar year. It requires a simple, one-off $10 setup fee, which safely secures your permanent spot in our classes and locks in your current pricing tier while you are resting.

You never lose out. With our Flexible Studio Passes, your unused classes automatically roll over and accumulate in your account. If life gets too busy, you get sick, or your routine changes, your classes are saved so you can use them whenever you are ready.

Yes, you can easily manage and cancel your class bookings directly through your GymMaster app. We kindly ask for at least 2 hours' notice for cancellations so we can safely open up that mat for another student on our waiting list.

We believe in absolute financial transparency and no premium surcharges for our specialized demographic classes. Our passes scale beautifully to fit your routine: starting from just $18/week for a single weekly class, up to $33/week for two classes, or $39/week for completely unlimited access. We also offer 10, 20, and 40-class concession cards if you prefer to drop in more casually over a longer period.

Yes, 100%. Your peace of mind and recovery are our absolute priorities. If you experience a significant injury, illness, or medical event, we provide a 100% free ($0) medical hold. Simply send us a brief note from your doctor or physiotherapist stating how long you need to rest, and we will pause your pass billing instantly.

Right here at Adapted. We offer an unmatched level of scheduling flexibility with over 40 pregnancy-safe classes running 7 days a week across our Christchurch locations. Every single one of our adapted sessions is guided by expert instructors trained to provide safe, comfortable modifications tailored to your exact trimester.

Yes, we run dedicated Mums & Bubs classes at our Halswell studio, as well as at The Tannery. These specialized classes offer a relaxed, judgment-free environment where your baby is welcome right next to your mat. We focus safely on rebuilding pelvic floor health, restoring core strength, and releasing the upper body tension that comes with early motherhood.

We offer dedicated, beautifully supported Prenatal Yoga & Pilates sessions at our studio at The Tannery (Woolston). In addition to these dedicated sessions, expectant mothers can also seamlessly access any of our 40+ weekly Adapted classes running 7 days a week at Halswell and Church Corner, which are fully equipped to safely accommodate pregnant students.

Yes, we run our highly popular Men's Pilates class at our studio at The Tannery. This class strips away the gym intimidation and focuses directly on building core power, improving hamstring flexibility, and protecting the lower back. It has fostered a fantastic community of local gentlemen who frequently head down to the Brewery Bar right here at The Tannery for a casual catch-up together after class!

Yes, we offer specialized Chair Yoga & Pilates sessions perfect for residents near Church Corner and Upper Riccarton. This class delivers all the strength, joint mobility, and mindfulness benefits of traditional practice without ever requiring you to get down onto the floor, making it an incredibly safe and popular choice for seniors or those with limited mobility.

Yes, we offer unmatched scheduling flexibility with over 40 pregnancy-safe options 7 days a week. Alongside our dedicated Prenatal sessions at The Tannery, we seamlessly integrate expectant mothers into our specialized Adapted classes at Halswell and Church Corner. Every single session is guided by instructors trained to provide safe, comfortable modifications for every trimester. Whether you are managing pelvic girdle pain or maintaining your strength, you can confidently book into any of these sessions.

You are exactly who our studios are built for. Our teachers are highly trained professionals operating with a therapeutic lens who modify movements in real-time. Before class, simply drop us a quick email or tell your teacher as soon as you arrive so we can set up your mat with the correct supportive props.

Your peace of mind and recovery are our priority. If you experience a significant injury or health challenge, we offer a 100% free ($0) medical hold. Just provide a brief written note from your doctor or physio stating how long you need to rest, and we will pause your pass billing instantly.

You are welcome in almost every single session we run. Our studios are designed specifically for beginners and people managing injuries. As long as your teacher knows what is happening, they can completely adapt the session to avoid irritating your knee, while actively assisting you with safe strengthening and mobility exercises.

The only sessions we recommend avoiding are our dynamic Yoga Evolve classes, as they include more advanced, intense movement. If your knee injury makes it difficult or uncomfortable to get down on the floor, our specialized Chair Yoga & Pilates sessions are the perfect alternative. Most of our teachers have personally experienced significant knee injuries themselves, so they truly understand what you are going through. If you are at all concerned, please book a chat with us—we will happily map out a personalized plan together to ensure your instructors are perfectly prepared to take care of you before you even step into the room.

Yes, absolutely. Our studios are built for real, everyday people aged 35 to 85 who need a safe environment to build core stability and protect their spines as they age. Chronic lower back stiffness is often a sign that your deep stabilizing muscles need gentle support, rather than aggressive exercise.

Our instructors specialize in "Adapted" movement, meaning we modify traditional poses in real-time using blocks, straps, and blankets to fit your unique skeleton. We focus heavily on gentle spinal decompression and core activation to melt away stubborn back tension. For a complete breakdown of how to look after your spine on the mat, you can read our comprehensive guides: The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Pilates in Christchurch and Managing Lower Back Pain & Joint Stiffness Safely.

Yes, our entire business model is built around safe, adapted rehabilitation. Pushing through rigid routines can cause harm. We work alongside medical professionals to rebuild your movement foundations safely. For more details, see our guides on What is “Adapted” Movement? The Evolution of Local Yoga, and Pilates and Injury Yoga & Pilates.

Yes, this is exactly what our therapeutic sessions are crafted for. High-intensity workouts can overstimulate exhausted nervous systems, whereas our breathing and restorative practices guide your body out of fight-or-flight mode. Read our full strategy here: Navigating Perimenopause, High Cortisol, and Chronic Stress. Tips for class, learn to relax.

You do not need to be flexible to start. That is a major misconception! Our studios are a judgment-free sanctuary built specifically for absolute beginners and individuals who feel physically stiff or vulnerable. We don't do advanced, intimidating poses. Our classes focus strictly on functional mobility, joint health, and stress relief. You will practice side-by-side with a warm mix of ages and capabilities, working entirely within your own body's limits.

Guide for beginners
Tips for Class
Tips for beginners from a student
Myth you have to be flexible to start

Yes. Once you have been cleared by your specialist, doctor, or physio to begin gentle movement, our Adapted classes are the safest place to start. We work safely alongside your local healthcare team to help you rebuild your movement foundations. We pre-set your mat with specialized props—like blocks, bolsters, and blankets—based on your surgical recovery needs before you even arrive in the room. Read more about our specialized approach in our article, What is “Adapted” Movement? The Evolution of Local Yoga & Pilates.

Yes, every single session is custom-planned around the exact injuries and mobility levels of the students booked into the room. We intentionally keep our class numbers small so our highly trained instructors can modify movements for you in real-time. Whether you are managing an acute injury, recovery from a medical event, or chronic pain, we tailor the practice to your unique skeleton—not the other way around. Read our full guide on moving with pain at Injury Yoga & Pilates.

Our specialized Adapted, Yin, and Restorative classes are designed specifically to act as a therapeutic sanctuary for chronic pain and stress. When your body is dealing with long-term discomfort or fatigue, intense gym workouts can cause more harm than good by driving up cortisol. Our gentle mobility classes focus on downshifting your nervous system, lowering anxiety, and safely restoring physical freedom without overstimulation. Learn more about calming your system in our article, Navigating Perimenopause, High Cortisol, and Chronic Stress.