Canterbury secures top New Zealand fitness industry awards

The Canterbury region has secured the principal accolades at the 2019 New Zealand Exercise Awards, with Christchurch fitness studio Adapted Yoga and Pilates securing the Supreme Club of the Year Award and Canterbury/West Coast-based Jessee James named Personal Trainer of the Year.

Having secured a Highly Commended prize in Studio of the Year category at last year’s Awards, Adapted Yoga and Pilates went one better for 2019, also being named Studio of the Year.

Commenting on the double win, Richard Beddie, Chief Executive of Awards organiser the Exercise Association of New Zealand (ExerciseNZ), explained that the studio showed a unique ability to excel in multiple areas offering traditional yoga and Pilates, while also serving a more traditional exercise audience at the same time as being highly community focused.

Beddie stated “they are the first yoga studio to take out the Supreme Award.”

In winning the Personal Trainer of the Year Award, judges noted that James “demonstrated 100% for her clients to be successful and embrace the philosophy of wellbeing, or te whare tapawha, for everyone that attended her facility.”

The Awards were presented in Auckland on Saturday night, co-timed with the Hauora yoga conference and the FitEx fitness and exercise conference.

Advising that the awards and the efforts of New Zealand registered exercise professionals go a long way to addressing the health of all New Zealanders, Beddie noted "the New Zealand exercise industry is ready and willing to play its part here and today we call on the government to work with us it to help get more Kiwis active."

Beddie says New Zealanders need to do more and this needs leadership and direction from government, local authorities, organisations and workplaces, supporting people to get more active, adding “something needs to change given that we are the worst of all the developed countries and 13th worst in the world in meeting WHO exercise guidelines.”

Educator, Community and Delivery Awards
Educator of the Year
Winner: John Polley
Judges comments: “An educator (who) has come in to support and embrace the New Zealand exercise industry through training and development of professionals beyond the physical aspects of exercise programming.

Innovation Award - Sponsored by: Active Management 
Winner: Les Mills the Trip.
Judges Comments: “The winner showed an understanding that a group exercise experience is not just about health but engagement and excellence. A brand unafraid of innovation and resetting the bar.”

Programme Excellence Award
Winner: Goldfit, YMCA Auckland
Judges Comments: “If every programme was this successful, New Zealand would be a lot healthier. The programme had great participant support and showed real care and attention from our winner.

Community Excellence Award
Winners: Parkinsons Exercise Class at YMCA Upper Hutt
Tangata Atumotu Trust Physical Activity Classes
Judges Comments: Both our winners were directed by the needs of a specific part of their community, giving examples of true community outreach, combined with industry standards.

Individual awards
Group exercise - pre-choreographed instructor of the year - Sponsored by: OneMusic
Winner: Suli Tuitaupe
 
Group exercise - own choreography instructor of the year 
Winner: Danielle Mather

Mind body instructor of the year - Sponsored by: Courage My Love
Winner: Justine Hamill 

Small group trainer of the Year - Sponsor: Fitnessworks
Winner: Christine Houghton

Student of the year - Sponsor: Les Mills New Zealand
Winner: Christopher Treacher

Outstanding Support Award
Winner: Jermaine Robinson

People’s Choice Award - Sponsored by: LifeFit Heath and Fitness Festival. 
This award is chosen by popular vote
Winner: Shannon Booth

Up and coming personal trainer of the year
Winner: Nicci Webb

Personal Trainer of the Year - Sponsored by: AUT University
Winner: Jesse James

Facility awards
Studio of the Year
Winner: Adapted Yoga and Pilates, Christchurch

Franchise Facility of the Year
Winner: Snap Fitness, Papamoa

Independent Facility of the Year - Sponsored by: Fitnessworks
Winner: Iron Hood Fitness, Christchurch

Chain/Group Facility of the Year - Sponsored by: NRG Fitness Equipment
Winner: CityFitness, Hastings

Supreme Club of the Year
Winner: Adapted Yoga and Pilates, Christchurch

Special Awards
NZ Register of Exercise Professionals Award
Winner: Sport Canterbury for its Live Stronger for Longer initiative

Skills Active Manukura Award
Winner: Neil Wagstaff

Skills Active Te Iti Kahurangi Award
Winner: The Achievement Room

Images: Adapted Yoga and Pilates, Christchurch (top) and Richard Beddie (below).