Meet the Team

Martina

Owner / Instructor

A woman with shoulder-length dark hair wearing a white sleeveless top and black pants, standing with her hands on her hips, smiling at the camera against a plain white wall.
A woman with dark hair is practicing yoga indoors on a blue mat, performing a side plank pose with her left hand on the mat, right hand on her hip, and smiling at the camera. Behind her are several black dumbbells and other exercise mats on the wooden floor.
A woman practicing yoga or stretching on a blue mat in a room, holding a yoga wheel with her arms extended, wearing white socks, a white tank top, and black athletic pants.

I am a passionate Mat Pilates instructor whose main goal is to help my students build strength, improve mobility, and feel confident in their bodies. With a background in indoor cycling, you can expect me to bring the energy in class. My classes focus on building core strength, improving posture, and moving with intention - all while keeping things encouraging and enjoyable.

When I’m not at the studio, I am out playing some tennis with family and friends, watching a movie, or trying different cafes in Auckland.

I love seeing everyone’s progress and providing a good challenge because I know how strong you are. Building a strong community around movement is what inspires me to keep doing what I do. I’m excited to keep growing in this space.

Let’s move together and have some fun!

Val

Instructor

A woman with long dark hair tied back, wearing a white sleeveless crop top and black high-waisted leggings, standing against a plain white wall with her hand on her hip.
A woman performing a yoga pose with one knee on the ground, back arm holding a dumbbell, and front arm extended holding another dumbbell in a fitness studio with exercise mats and black hexagonal weight racks in the background.
Woman practicing yoga on a colorful mat in a bright room, smiling while doing a side plank pose.

My Pilates journey started in 2023, I certified in Hot hiit Pilates programme while also training for hot yoga. With pilates I liked the connection of breath, alignment, and high intensity movement, helping the body and mind feel present. My classes are full-body, with core work, glutes, planks, and small bursts of HIIT to keep things moving.

I also enjoy slower flow sessions that calm the nervous system and bring gentle awareness to the body and breath!

Outside the studio I love hiking, painting, reading, exploring nature, and practicing mau rākau. My whānau, especially my daughter, inspire me to live well and move with intention.

In class you can expect to move, feel supported, and leave feeling calm, balanced, and present.

Savannah

Instructor

A young woman with blonde hair wearing a white sleeveless top and black pants, standing against a plain white wall, smiling at the camera.
A woman is performing a yoga pose kneeling on a colorful round yoga mat in a room, holding a black ring in front of her with both hands extended forward.
A woman wearing a light blue tank top and black leggings does a yoga pose on a multicolored yoga mat, holding a dumbbell in her right hand and balancing on her left hand with her right foot on the mat and her left leg extended back. She is smiling and air can be seen in the room with a closed white door behind her and various weights on the floor.

I’m Savannah (Sav), I’m a passionate Pilates instructor with a background in Track and Field, where I both coach and compete in the throwing events. I discovered Pilates after returning from a competition season in Europe, I fell in love with (what was to me) a new way to move my body and rehabilitate my injuries. The improvements I saw in my posture, fascia, injuries, and general wellbeing really excited me, and ultimately lead me to pursue instructing, with the goal of supporting others in achieving their own goals (whether this be injury rehab, general strength and mobility, or something else).

I am extremely interested in the human body, and approach my practice with curiosity, compassion, and excitement. I focus on leading classes that not only work clients hard, but more importantly supports clients in developing functional breathing patterns, movement patterns, and general understanding of their own body. I focus on a mix of both verbal and hands-on corrections and providing a mix of catered variations so every client can move in alignment to their goals.

I am excited to bring my practice to Hiraya and be a part of a growing community of wonderful people.

Ema

Instructor

A woman with long, wavy reddish-brown hair smiling, wearing braces, earrings, a white sleeveless top, and black pants, standing against a plain white wall.
A woman lying on her back on a yoga mat, with her arms extended to the sides and her knees bent, performing a bridge pose exercise in a room with wooden floors and white walls.
A woman with red hair doing yoga in a room with white walls and wooden floors, with colorful mats laid out on the floor.

I have a genuine passion for helping people move better and feel stronger, bringing balance between precision and good vibes to every session. Expect plenty of form cues, a few laughs, and maybe some sore abs the next day. When I’m not doing Pilates, you'll find me hunting down the best local cafes or planning my next adventure abroad. I believe great movement, food, and travel will nourish the soul. Come ready to work out and have fun doing it!

Alice

Instructor

A woman standing against a white wall, smiling, wearing a white tank top and black leggings, with her right hand resting on her hip.
A woman practicing yoga indoors, kneeling on one knee and holding a beige exercise ball with both hands. She has dark hair tied in a bun and is wearing a white sleeveless top, black leggings, and black socks. There are black dumbbells on racks in the background, and yoga mats on the wooden floor.
A woman in athletic wear practicing yoga on a colorful mat in a bright, minimalistic room with wooden floors, surrounded by exercise equipment and mats.

I have been teaching for over a decade and am all about helping people find joy in movement. Expect to unlock a new level of strength and mind-body connection, with hella spicy add-ons and a cringe joke (or six). I love going to the gym, travelling, sipping matcha, and stuffing my face with tteokbokki. I hold qualifications in personal training, contemporary and restorative yoga, mat Pilates, and Animal Flow, plus a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and a Postgrad Diploma in Arts Therapy.

Paola

Instructor

Expect a class that’s challenging, supportive, and fun. I focus on quality movement over rushing through exercises, helping you build strength, confidence, and body awareness while making every class worth your time. I’ll always encourage good form, offer corrections when needed, and make sure you leave feeling accomplished.

Outside of the studio, you’ll usually find me trying a new cafe or restaurant, spending time with my dogs, going for walks, or, of course, doing Pilates.

I’m inspired by seeing people grow in confidence and achieve things they didn’t think they could do. Watching clients become stronger, move better, and enjoy the process is one of the most rewarding parts of teaching.

My classes are all about form, control, and purposeful movement. I want you to move well, challenge yourself safely, and have fun while doing it. Expect plenty of encouragement, attention to technique, and a positive atmosphere where everyone feels welcome.

I was an F45 girl before discovering Reformer Pilates after an injury in 2023. What started as rehabilitation quickly became something I couldn’t get enough of. I was going every day! I fell in love with how Pilates made me feel, both physically and mentally, and that’s when I decided to become an instructor so I could share that same experience with others.