Hello, my dear Frankies!

We made it through the mountains and out the other side in one piece!

While we were hiking the pilgrimage trails, my internet connection was patchy at best, so I’ve been having lots of fun catching up on everything going on back in Franklin.

And one cool person that I've been getting up to date with, is Katie from Katie Swift Pilates! Did you know we had a One Direction star here in Franklin?! That;s just one of the cool things I learned about her this week, so read the feature to find out all the good stuff!

And of course, hit reply, and let me know if there’s anything cool coming up in Franklin that I may have missed while I was off-grid!

R. and the Frankie Team xx

p.s. You know I had to share a photo of our mountain adventures🤭 We hiked over five days to see three grand shrines on the Kumano Kodo. While they were gorgeous and peaceful and full of history, they're also sacred and not really allowed to share photos online. But the Nachi pagoda and waterfall at the very end of the hike are permitted! And the view really was magical ♥​​

Meet Katie Swift: the dancer, educator and movement-lover bringing joy back to Franklin

We all know how some trainers can make movement and exercise feel like a punishment 🤭

Katie Swift is so not one of those people!

​Katie Swift is a Pilates and Barre instructor, ex-professional dancer, educator, mum, mentor, and all-round movement nerd in the very bestest way.

After moving to New Zealand in 2013, heading over to Australia in 2024, and now returning for 2026, Katie is back and ready to rebuild the beautiful, welcoming movement community she loves.

And if you have ever felt like fitness spaces can be a little bit too serious, too intimidating, or too focused on shrinking yourself into a smaller version of you, Katie’s classes might be exactly what your body and brain are craving ♥

Movement that feels good

Katie runs super fun and inclusive Barre classes on Wednesdays and Fridays at 10am from CoEvolve Studios, and also offers reformer Pilates and movement one-on-ones from her home studio.

Her approach is built on the idea that movement should make your life better. Not smaller. Not more stressful. Not something you do because you hate your body.

Even though Katie also has a PT qualification, she doesn’t believe weight loss should be the main reason people move.

“I don’t fundamentally agree with weight loss being a primary mover for exercise,” Katie says. “I think movement for better quality of life and enjoyment can be framed without the need for weight loss. Health doesn’t have an aesthetic size and we need to move away from skinny at all costs.”

And how refreshing is that?

Because movement can be about feeling strong, capable, supported, energised, graceful, ridiculous, sweaty, connected, and alive. It can be about having a moment for yourself in the middle of a busy week. It can be about remembering that your body is not just something to fix, but something to live in.

From dance floors to Barre classes

Katie’s own movement story started long before Pilates mats and Barre classes.

She learned to teach while studying at musical theatre college, teaching tap, ballet and jazz, before travelling the world as a professional dancer. She even met her Kiwi firefighter husband on a cruise ship while she was working as dance captain (someone write a rom-com about this please!).

And, casually, she was also in a One Direction music video.

As you do.

Katie trained as a Pilates teacher in London in 2011, then went on to become an international teacher trainer for Xtend Barre, helping bring Barre to Auckland in 2013.

A teacher of teachers

These days, Katie’s career is a beautiful mix of teaching, mentoring, educating and supporting people to move better.

She co-directs The Method NZ with a friend, offering certified continuing professional development for instructors in Barre, suspension training, perinatal movement and pelvic floor education.

She has extensive training in pregnancy and postpartum movement, and is also a pelvic floor safe registered practitioner. She was even a finalist for Educator of the Year at the NZ Exercise Awards, and is now putting together a mentoring programme for instructors who are mid to late career.

So yes, Katie knows her stuff.

But the best bit is that she brings all that experience into a space that still feels human, warm and fun. Not scary. Not performative. Not “you must already be good at this to workout with us.”

Go and move with Katie

Now that she’s back, Katie is hoping to fill her classes, grow her community, and hopefully add some beautiful events into the mix too.

So if you’ve been looking for a way to move that feels strong, joyful, inclusive and a little bit fabulous, go and find Katie!

Your body does not need to be punished into shape.

It just might need a Barre class with someone who once danced around the world, helped bring Barre to Auckland, trained instructors internationally, and somehow still makes movement feel like something you’re allowed to enjoy ♥

You can find Katie at katieswift.com, or learn more about The Method NZ at themethodnz.co.nz​

And follow on Instagram here!​

yintop esohs

Unscramble the letters above to find the Franklin-related phrase! Answer at the bottom of the newsletter!

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👉 Want a featured note on the notice board? - Simply book your feature here or just send us a quick email and we'll help you out!

Thursday

🎯 Quiz Night — Pukekohe Golf Club​
Pukekohe Golf Club | 6:30–8:30pm
Test your knowledge at the weekly quiz night. More info here​

🍹 Cocktail Happy Hour — Little Ed​
Little Ed | 6–7pm
All your favourite cocktails, just a little bit cheaper!

🎨 Paint & Sip Fundraiser — Pukekohe High School​
Pukekohe High School | 6–8pm
A fun fundraiser evening with 2 drinks, nibbles and all art materials included for $45 — email Jennifer at jstewart@pukekohehigh.school.nz to book.

🕯️ Cocktails & Candles with Little Batch Wax Co — Blue Ox Babe​
Blue Ox Babe, Pukekohe | 6pm
Create your own individualised 220g candle guided by Beth, with a cocktail included for $75. All the details here​

🏡 Interior Design Night — Home Inspo Design Centre​
85 Manukau Rd | 6–8pm
Free-entry evening with cool guest speakers on interior design — tickets via More info here​

Friday

🎉 Waiuku College Matariki Festival​
Waiuku College | 4pm
Celebrate Matariki with markets and kapa haka performances. Check it out!​

🎸 Friday Night Bands ft. Loop — The Longkeeper​
249 King St, Pukekohe | 9pm
Live music night at The Longkeeper. All the details here​

Saturday

🐾 Your Local Pop Up Market — Your Local Cafe​
173 Manukau Rd | 8am
A market celebrating all things dogs. More info here​

🛠️ Waiuku Repair Cafe​
Waiuku Zero Waste, 8 Hosking Place | 10am
Bring your broken items along and get them fixed at this community repair session. Check it out!​

🖼️ Pulp Painting Drop-In Workshop — Franklin Arts Centre​
12 Massey Ave | 10am
Drop-in workshop with artist Helen Harvey exploring pulp painting. All the details here​

🛍️ Tuakau Community Market​
Central Park, corner of George St and Jellicoe Ave, Tuakau | 9am–1pm
A community market with a wide range of local goods and produce.

🎤 Linda Ronstadt — Kiwi Tribute — Waiuku Cossie Club​
Waiuku Cossie Club | 7pm
A Kiwi tribute to the iconic Linda Ronstadt. More info here​

Sunday

🌿 Franklin Country Market​
Pukekohe Park Raceway | 8am
Homegrown produce, handmade crafts, antiques, food trucks, live music and car boot stalls.

🧘 Sunday Stretch Sessions — The Stretch Collective​
RxFitness235, 42 Belgium St, Waiuku | 9am
A 45-minute guided stretch session open to all — bookings required. All the details here​

👗 Massive Pre-Loved Sale — Botanica on Bowen​
Botanica on Bowen | 2pm
A big pre-loved clothing and goods sale. Check it out!​

☕ Morning Tea & Fundraiser — Sanctuary Retreat​
Sanctuary Retreat | 10am
A morning tea fundraiser supporting Good Food Great Minds and providing pyjamas for children in June. All the details here​

monday

🌅 Good Food, Bright Minds — Cafe Queen​
Cafe Queen, Waiuku | 7–9am
A school-term collaboration between Cafe Queen and Sanctuary Retreat providing nourishing breakfasts for local kids every Monday morning.

🏃 The Wellness Run Club​
West Street | 5:45am
A welcoming 5km loop run open to all levels, starting from your local coffee spot on West Street.

🍺 Monday Quiz Night — Good Home Pukekohe​
65 Edinburgh Street | 7pm
Weekly quiz night at Good Home — bookings recommended.

🎨 Sip & Textured Paint — Franklins Bar​
Franklins Bar, Pukekohe | 7pm
A creative paint and sip evening. More info here​

Tuesday

🎨 Painting Club — Franklin Arts Centre​
Franklin Arts Centre | 6–8pm
Two hours of dedicated painting time to work on your own projects and connect with local artists — term time only.

Wednesday

🎯 Malt N Steel Quiz Night​
Malt N Steel, Waiuku | 7pm
Teams of 2–8 compete for prizes at this popular weekly quiz. All the details here​

📚 Anti-Social Social Club for Teens — Pukekohe Library​
12 Massey Avenue, Pukekohe East | 3:30pm
A safe, inclusive after-school club for teens of all personalities with fun activities each week.

🔥 Fire Station Run Club​
Fire Station Eatery, Pukekohe | 5:30pm
Weekly run with 2.5km and 5km options, spot prizes and bar menu discounts afterwards.

Word Scramble answer: Pointy Shoes

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