THE
STUDIO THREE TEAM
Our team at Studio three have been carefully selected for their expertise, experience in the programs they teach and above all, their commitment and level of care for our clients!
Viv Gallagher
Viv‘s passion for movement started from a young age with classical ballet and developed over the years as she studied various styles of dance, gymnastics, yoga and pilates.
Viv has more than 25 years’ experience in the fitness industry and is a certified Group Fitness Master trainer, Personal Trainer, TRX, Barre, Pilates Mat and Reformer Instructor, Viv has worked internationally teaching Pilates and a wide range of group fitness classes for leading brands including Les Mills and BTS.
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Viv has completed training in a variety of Pilates styles over the years. Her classes reflect her versatility and experience ranging from New York Core workout based reformer methods, Stability Plus and Yin Pilates certifications.
Committed to continuing education Viv has completed a comprehensive Pilates Anatomy and Kinesiology course with Anthony Lett and continues to study in Yin Pilates.
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Viv founded Studio Three in 2013 with a vision of providing high quality boutique fitness classes across the 3 disciplines of Pilates, Barre & Yoga to create balance in both body and mind by offering both Yin and Yang style classes.
Studio Three was the first Studio in Auckland to Introduce the high energy Barre classes and Viv's team have been comprehensively trained in the Internationally acclaimed Xtend Barre method.
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Viv is a firm believer that in order to stick to a fitness routine, it must motivate, challenge mentally and physically and above all be something that you enjoy doing!
Penny Metcalfe
Penny has had a love of sport and fitness since school. She holds a Bachelor of Physical Education and has held a variety of roles within this realm. She is a qualified Polestar Pilates Instructor and was introduced to Xtend Barre in early 2013.
Penny likes how Xtend Barre is a challenging, yet achievable workout that is fun and great for mind-body coordination. Its suits all abilities and a dance background is not required! Penny loves to see participants leaving a class happy, sweaty, refreshed and challenged! She is looking forward to seeing Xtend Barre grow in New Zealand.
Meech
Meech’s most recent role was the Regional Director of Group Fitness for Pure International Ltd based in Hong Kong, managing a team of 100 instructors.
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Having had over 20 years of global experience coaching, presenting and educating in many different countries, Meech’s comprehensive knowledge and diverse skill set have earned her popularity and respect.
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Meech is a renowned Master Trainer for TRX and Rip Trainer, Global Master Trainer for ViPR, Master Trainer for Rumble Roller (Self Myofascial Release techniques), Master Trainer for Barre, and a Mentor/Educator for Polestar Pilates. She has been instrumental in developing these programs, training Instructors and Personal Trainers, and launching them successfully throughout Asia Pacific. In the past 8 years, Meech has coached and mentored over 60 Mat and Reformer instructors through to successful completion of their Polestar Pilates certification and qualifications.
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Meech specializes in training and coaching group and individual clients with a particular emphasis on understanding the biomechanics of human movement and its practical application to help prevent injury, speed healing and rehabilitation, and improve overall fitness, health and wellbeing.
Meech lives by the motto of “Live with integrity and be passionate about everything that you do”.
Maria Munkowits
Maria Munkowits is a freelance dancer based in Auckland and holds a Bachelor of Performing and Screen Arts majoring in contemporary dance.
She has toured both locally and internationally in various performances and worked with some of New Zealand's leading contemporary dance companies. Maria has completed a YTA 200hr yoga teacher training course with Byron Bay Yoga in 2010 and is a passionate advocate of yoga and dance.
Maria has developed Yoga Dance, now offered at Xtend Barre and Studio3 – a flowing practice combined with classic and dynamic yoga postures choreographed with invigorating musicality.
Maddie Brosnan
Maddie found Xtend Barre in Wellington in the city where it all began. Her love of barre as a client soon took her in the direction of becoming an instructor where she completed her training here in our Ponsonby studio!
Maddie has a huge passion for health and wellness and believes that movement is medicine, and completed 200 HR Yoga teacher training with PowerLiving in 2016.A strength over scales attitude Maddie is all about how we feel from the inside out and becoming strong and functional in the way we move. Combining the elements of Xtend Barre has reshaped her body and mind.
You will find her Olympic Weightlifting, at CrossFit and also competing in Powerlifting competitions. She came to test Xtend Barre out to see how this would help with mobility and lengthening and has never looked back!
Rebecca Wyatt
Rebecca grew up with a very active lifestyle and has not stopped moving since. She began dancing at the age of 4 doing Ballet and Jazz, and also has a strong background in competitive Athletics.
Outside the studio, she has recently completed a Bachelor of Communication Studies majoring in Advertising Creativity, pursuing a career in the arts and media industry.
Rebecca has recently completed the intensive Xtend Barre training and is now a fully certified instructor. Rebecca is passionate about staying active and continually challenging herself, her sweet, cheerful personality will inspire you to do the same!”
Emily Adams
Emily currently works as a Pilates instructor, Contemporary Dance artist and
Dance teacher. She fell in love with Pilates at the age of 17 where it was
introduced to her during full time dance training at The New Zealand school of
Dance. Since then Pilates has been a constant in her life, a regular practice,
as it not only enhanced her dance career but her overall well being.
She has had the pleasure of working with various overseas artists and many
of the most high profile Choreographers and Companies in New Zealand
dance industry which has led her to perform around the country and the world.
In 2014 she was eager to extend her Pilates training, so began this with the
Polestar Pilates method…and has never looked back! She has since
graduated from both the Polestar Mat and Comprehensive Studio courses, is
a Polestar Mentor in Comprehensive, Reformer and Mat, she is a Reformer
and Mat Educator for the Polestar teacher training courses.
Emily considers it to be a privilege to share her passion for Pilates with others,
and is deeply invested in guiding each individual towards their goals.
Shanelle Lenehan
Shanelle started practicing Pilates as a client with Brenda Wing at Pilates Strand Studio while still completing her dance studies in 2004. After graduating she danced full time professionally alongside practicing and exploring the Pilates method and studying anatomy and biomechanics.
Shanelle completed her Pilates training with
Stability Plus Pilates in 2008 in Basic, Intermediate and Advanced Mat, Reformer, TrapTable, Wunda Chair and Ladder Barrel completing a total of 200 structured hours and 1000 hours of practice, observation and apprentice teaching by 2009. After completing her Pilates training she initially worked full-time at Peak Pilates Newmarket before opening the new branch Peak Pilates and Physiotherapy Grey Lynn as a manager herself. During her time there she managed between 4-6 full-time physiotherapists and 3-6 pilates instructors, provided ongoing training and professional development to all staff and promoted the studio to the local community. She also instructed her own group mat, reformer classes and private clients as well as private groups, pregnancy classes and special advanced classes for staff and clients alike.
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Some of Shanelle's additional trainings include:
-Authentic Pilates - Mat and Equipment (Charette Boyce) -Osteoporosis Management ( STOTT)
-Pilates Matwork for Breast Cancer rehab (STOTT)
-Pilates for Men (STOTT)
-Reformer for the Older Adult (STOTT)
-The Knee Stability and Function (STOTT)
-The Lumbo-Pelvic Region (STOTT)
-Certified Comprehensive Studio Instructor (Polestar) -Mentor in training (Polestar)
-Advanced Assesment with Brent Anderson (Polestar) -Alignment, Load and Tempo with Brent Anderson (Polestar) -Scoliosis- A practical approach (Polestar)
-Womens Health ( Polestar)
- Knee Pathologies ( Polestar)
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Shanelle loves teaching and respects her clients hard work and commitment. She is inspired everyday to make herself and her clients more spontaneous and alive through cultivating ease and freedom of movement. Shanelle is mother to her daughter Portia, born in April 2015 and as a comprehensive certified Polestar Practitioner is back teaching studio equipment, private sessions and group classes and has begun the Polestar Mentor Programme with Polestar NZ headquarters in Auckland. She is currently working with Artists in Cirque du Soleil while they are on their NZ tour of the show ‘Kooza’.
Pamela Sidhu
Pamela was first introduced to yoga during her professional dance training at the New Zealand School of Dance. During her studies and since graduating she has worked with Black Grace Dance Company, The New Zealand Dance Company, The Lion King(Australian tour) and the Lion King (Netherlands.)
Throughout her career, Pamela continued to develop a strong and personal yoga practice which shes believes has sustained the health of her body and mind. Preventing injuries; assisting with muscle recovery; and offering a place of refuge, from the fast pace of everyday life, to slow down and reconnect.
To take her practice further, she completed a YTA 200hr yoga teacher training in Spain with Frog Lotus Yoga. She continued to each in Europe and loves that she now gets to invite and guide others to journey on the same thoughtful inquiry of their bodies and minds.