Revive Fitness

Returning to Revive after being unwell?

We know there’s been a lot of nasty flu and illness going around lately, and for many, recovery has taken longer than expected.

If you’ve had some time away, there’s no need to jump straight back into your usual routine. At Revive, we encourage you to ease back in and give your body time to rebuild.

✨ Drop a level. If you usually attend Intermediate or Advanced, try a Beginner class for your first session or two. It’s a great way to ease your body back into movement.

✨ Take it slower. Use lighter resistance, take breaks and let your instructor know you’ve recently been unwell.

✨ Listen to your body. You may feel better but still be recovering. Fatigue, dizziness, unusual breathlessness or simply feeling “off” are signs to slow down or rest.

✨ Build gradually. There’s no need to make up for lost time. Rest was part of your recovery.

And a reminder for our members:
Any classes you’ve missed are sitting on your account as credits, so there’s no need to rush back just to use them. Come back when you’re ready and use those credits at a pace that feels right for you.

Take your time, start where you need to, and let your body lead the way. We’re here for you when you’re ready!

A different perspective 🤸‍♀️
Short Spine Massage + Long Spine are two of those Reformer exercises that turn you upside down. They challenge:

✨ Core control
✨ Spinal articulation
✨ Shoulder stability
✨ Mobility + coordination

And there’s something pretty satisfying about mastering an exercise that looked impossible at first!

At Revive we’re a small-group studio, so our instructors can actually see you move, give individual guidance and make adjustments when you need them.
Because Reformer Pilates isn’t about simply following along, it’s about how YOU move. The right cue, correction or modification can make a huge difference, especially with challenging exercises like these.

Short Spine or Long Spine — which is your favourite? 👇

Never tried Reformer Pilates? Come experience the difference a small-group class can make 🤍

Meet Monique! 👋

Originally from Australia, Monique is a former professional ballet dancer with a lifelong connection to movement. She began practising Pilates in her early teens and became a fully certified Pilates instructor in 2008, training with Alan Herdman, one of the early pioneers of Pilates in the UK.

She has since taught in studios across London, Berlin and Amsterdam. Alongside Pilates, Monique works as a health and performance coach, supporting women to build greater capacity, feel more grounded in themselves and create healthier, more sustainable ways of living and working.

For Monique, movement is about far more than exercise. She sees it as one of the most powerful ways we can shift our state, support our nervous system, build confidence in our bodies and feel better in ourselves.

She loves reformer Pilates for the way it combines breath, precision, strength and flow, while still leaving room for creativity and play. Her classes are designed to help people get out of their heads, reconnect with their bodies and build strength in a way that supports how they want to live.

Monique will be teaching on Tuesday evenings and the occasional weekend. Expect thoughtful movement, a little challenge and a sense of play, leaving you feeling taller, stronger, more connected and a little lighter.

Just checking you’re having the best possible experience?

Our instructors take client care VERY seriously around here…

From checking your springs are just right to making sure your alignment is on point, we’re always keeping a close eye on you!

Because at Revive, we’re all about making sure you feel looked after… perhaps a little too looked after 😂

Some days, you just have less in the tank. 🤍

Maybe you didn’t sleep well. Maybe your hormones are doing their thing. Maybe life has simply been a lot.

And that’s okay.

Your Pilates practice doesn’t have to look the same every day. Some days you’ll feel strong and ready to push yourself, and other days the best thing you can do is take the lighter spring, choose the easier option, slow things down and listen to what your body is asking for.

There is no prize for pushing through when your body is asking you to ease off.

We want our studio to be a place where you can meet yourself exactly where you are that day and still leave feeling better than when you arrived.

Honour your body. Adjust when you need to. Rest when you need to.

That’s still Pilates. ✨

💪 GET A GRIP!

It might tell you more about your health than you think... Research shows measurable differences in women’s grip strength across adulthood.

📊 Average combined grip strength:

20–29 → 38 kg
30–39 → 38.7 kg
40–49 → 36 kg
50–60 → 26 kg

That's a ~10 kg difference between women in their 40s and 50s. And grip strength isn't just about your hands. It's used as a simple marker of overall muscle strength and physical function.

So why does this matter? Because strength is your physical reserve! It's what helps you carry your shopping, garden, lift your suitcase, pick up your grandchildren and get yourself up from the floor.

On the Reformer, gripping the straps and footbar builds whole-body strength, stability and coordination which is the foundation of functional strength for everyday life. Don't wait until you need strength to start building it.

💪 Get a grip. Build strength. Slow the rate of decline!

Every breath you take affects your pelvic floor...

Most people think the pelvic floor’s main job is simply to “hold everything up and in.”
But one of its important roles is helping your body manage intra-abdominal pressure, the pressure that builds inside your abdomen when you breathe, cough, laugh, lift, run or exercise. And your pelvic floor doesn’t work alone. It’s part of a team of muscles that includes your diaphragm, deep abdominal muscles and back muscles, all working together to manage pressure and provide support.

With every breath:
⬇️ Inhale
Your diaphragm moves down, creating a change in pressure through your abdominal cavity. Your pelvic floor responds by lengthening and adapting to that pressure.
⬆️ Exhale
Your diaphragm moves back up and your pelvic floor naturally recoils, helping to regulate pressure and support your movement.

This is one of the reasons we place so much emphasis on breathing in Reformer Pilates. As you move against the resistance of the springs, your body is constantly managing changes in load and intra-abdominal pressure. Coordinating your breath with movement helps your deep core system respond rather than simply brace. It’s not about constantly squeezing your pelvic floor. It’s about having the strength, flexibility, timing and coordination to respond appropriately when your body needs it.

🚫 Myth Buster
❌ Myth: You should keep your pelvic floor switched on all day.
✅ Fact: Your pelvic floor should contract and relax. Constantly gripping it isn't the goal and, for some people, it can actually create problems.

If you're experiencing leaking, pelvic heaviness, pain or other pelvic floor symptoms, don't assume it's something you just have to live with. We're fortunate to have some excellent pelvic health physiotherapists here in Nelson, and we're always happy to point you in the right direction if you'd like a recommendation. Just send us a PM!