OUR Team

FOUNDER/TEACHER

Ellena is a pilates teacher with extensive experience in movement and rehabilitation, together with a dance performance background. She has worked for the past 27 years as a studio owner, teacher and movement educator, in both New Zealand and London. A pioneer of the pilates scene here in Wellington, in 2002 Ellena opened one of the first commercial studios, Performance Pilates, on Featherston Street. She has Bachelor of Dance from Melbourne University (Victorian College of the Arts) and has her Master’s in Health Science, Sport and Exercise, through Massey University.

Ellena’s professional associations include having presented and taught for Body Control Pilates (UK) and Polestar Pilates Education (USA) in roles of educator, examiner and mentor, as well as hosting Polestar Pilates Education teacher training courses in Wellington, (currently hosting the 2024 course).

She has twice run year long, in-house teacher training courses, under Performance Pilates Teacher Training and The Pilates Studio, (Alison Townsend) and has taught at the New Zealand School of Dance, in Wellington. While in London Ellena was a teacher at well known author Gordon Thomson's Pilates and Rehabilitation Studio.

Ellena’s love of teaching pilates includes many areas, such as general fitness, pregnancy and post-natal, rehabilitation, dance and the teaching and she has a passion for mentoring others to be pilates teachers. She continues to regularly attend many conferences and courses, some of which include Neuro-Muscular Rehabilitation, Advanced Spine, Scoliosis, Women’s Health, Exercise and the Pelvic Floor, Pilates for Rotational Sports, Pilates for Dancers and the Buteyko Method breathing.

Ellena creates an atmosphere within her classes that is inclusive and fun, where people can have a safe and effective workout, working to their own ability and at their own pace, in order to be strong and flexible. This is a collaborative process, and one of teaching and learning, on both sides.

TEACHER

Starting at the studio in 2003 as a client, Loata quickly realized the benefits of pilates for her own strength and flexibility. Slowing down movement and focusing on how the body moves became essential for her busy life. Loata decided she would like to become a teacher and so she initially trained with Performance Pilates (Ellena Conland and Alison Townsend) and later with Polestar Pilates. Loata has been teaching for ten years and is an asset to the studio. She enjoys working with clients of all ages and fitness levels, but is particularly interested in how pilates can assist in managing the natural aging process.