Taking charge
It took a health scare for Scandi Health Coaching owner Sofie Falk to find her true calling – helping other women realise their potential through self-care
It took a health scare for Scandi Health Coaching owner Sofie Falk to find her true calling – helping other women realise their potential through self-care.
Words Hayley Barnett
Photos Gleeson Royfree
Sofie Falk often thinks about the day she woke up exhausted. Reflecting on the night before, there didn’t seem to be any explanation for the worst fatigue she’d ever felt. She wasn’t hungover, the kids hadn’t kept her up, and she’d gone to sleep at a reasonable hour.
She dragged herself out of bed and managed to get her kids to daycare and school, but immediately returned home to sleep for six hours.
“When they came home I put them in front of the TV and went back to bed,” she explains. “From then on I started having horrible night sweats, my lymph nodes were swollen all over my body and I had constant migraines.”
The Tauranga mum of three went through the hospital system for a year and a half, having x-rays and ultrasounds and biopsies of her lymph nodes. They were consistently swollen, which indicated that Sofie had chronic inflammation throughout her body.
“After a lot of different tests, I was eventually discharged from hospital
as a ‘diagnostic dilemma’. But I knew there was more to it.”
That was the beginning of Sofie’s foray into the natural therapy world. With a degree in Sports Science, and having worked in areas like human nutrition at The University of Auckland, a lot of holistic treatment was foreign to her, but she also knew there was a chance she could treat whatever it was that she was fighting by changing her lifestyle. She saw a naturopath who advised she cut out caffeine, gluten, dairy and alcohol, and after just a few weeks she noticed a massive difference. Her migraines had disappeared, she started sleeping well and the swelling in her lymph nodes dramatically improved.
“I felt like I'd got back to myself. I started wondering how many other people were out there suffering and thinking it’s just mum life or some horrible illness they can’t shake.”
Blessed with newfound energy and vitality, Sofie decided to upskill by doing a health coaching course, to find out about the latest research in holistic medicine and nutrition. “I found my calling,” she says. “I needed to work with women, to help them become the women they know they can be.”
From there, Scandi Health Coaching was born, and soon Sofie was organising health retreats. She had been to a few herself in the past and knew there was a gap in the market for something low-key, affordable and less, well, hippie.
“The retreats I’d been to were expensive and they were the kinds of places that make you sit around a campfire burning up your notes,” she laughs. “I wanted a normal one, where you can opt in or out of anything and just have time to yourself. I wanted to offer women a quiet space to notice what we need to notice.”
The last retreat featured vegan chef Mila Arena of delivery service V On Wheels, as well as Encore Pilates owner Fanny Peters and yoga teacher Estelle Harman, all known experts in their fields. The retreat offered yoga, breathwork and pilates, with massage, reiki and beauty treatments as added extras.
Coming up on her fourth retreat in October, Sofie dreams of taking groups of women to the Cook Islands and Australia. Right now, they’re being held closer to home, like Paradise Valley in Rotorua.
“I grew up in Sweden and it was normal for people to attend retreats regularly,” explains Sofie. “I want my retreats to be for the everyday woman. Why can’t we all go somewhere exotic on our own or with a friend for a week, to recharge?” For now, Sofie is focussing on balancing work with family life, keeping her revitalised sense of self well nourished.
“I don’t want to tip over into burnout. The demand is there so I’ll carry on offering it, but I might have to hire a bigger team at some point!”
Pause, Relax, Unwind
As we shrug off winter and look to set new health and wellness goals, the answer to lowering your stress levels and feeling better could be closer to home than you think
As we shrug off winter and look to set new health and wellness goals, the answer to lowering your stress levels and feeling better could be closer to home than you think.
Bay of Plenty is renowned for epic beaches, surf and sunshine but the variety of wellness activities on offer here has exploded post-pandemic. Soothing our minds and recharging our bodies is now a legitimate priority and there are some heavenly ways to do just that in our own backyard.
STEAM
Release physical, mental and emotional stress with The Sauna Project at the Mount or Waihī Beach. Heat up inside their traditional wood fired sauna followed by a cold ocean plunge. Known as “contrast therapy”, exposing your body to temperature extremes is a renowned way to promote healing, reduce pain and enhance your overall wellbeing.
SOAK
Try float therapy at Zen Float Spa. Their quiet pods of high-density saltwater remove gravity from the equation so you can completely escape from life’s many distractions. Fernland Spa and Ōropi Hot Pools provide a tranquil setting to let go of daily stress, or book a massage at one of the many beauty spas or massage therapy clinics across the Bay.
MOVE
Outdoor activities help promote mindfulness and improve your mental wellbeing. Mauao Adventures offer stand up paddleboard (SUP) sessions so you can admire both our moana (sea) and whenua (land). Or book a surfing lesson and experience the rush of riding our ocean’s waves.
STRETCH
Yoga and Pilates are long-recognised for their enormous physical and mental health benefits. Improve your strength and stability while releasing a rush of endorphins. Classes are available everywhere and are suitable for all ages and experience levels. Pilates can be done on reformer machines for extra resistance or just by using your own body weight. Enjoy a yoga session with Miriama at Waihī Beach or try a “Breathwork with Camilla” class for something a bit different.
CONNECT
We are surrounded by nature but often forget to fully appreciate it. Reconnect with the outdoors by playing a game of disc golf at McLaren Falls Park or take a stroll along our extended beachside boardwalks. Go for a hike through Pāpāmoa Hills Regional Park or explore native forests and spot a real life kiwi in the Eastern Bay with Ōmataroa Eco Tours.
PAUSE
Italians celebrate “dolce far niente” – the “sweetness of doing nothing”.
We can probably all agree that slowing down and enjoying the simple things in life is a great idea. Sit on the beach, walk through a park, enjoy a delicious smoothie at your local café, or pay your local coffee cart a visit. Find time to do nothing and you’ll be happier for it!
Inside out
Women realising their self-worth is integral to this world-class retreat centre.
Women realising their
self-worth is integral to this world-class retreat centre.
Words Hayley Barnett
Think women’s health retreat and you’ll no doubt conjure up images of kumbaya circles and cleanses. Think weight loss retreat, and there will surely be some scary ideas of restriction and quiet shaming.
Resolution Retreats aims to do better. Founder Joelene Ranby started the retreats in 2012 after her own inspiring health journey led her to move away from her corporate life and into helping other women to slow down. She discovered the focus should be more on what to do, rather than what not to do when it comes to a healthy lifestyle.
Situated on Lake Karapiro, Resolution Retreats offers luxurious resort accommodation at a reasonable price, compared to other retreats that cost thousands of dollars a day to attend. It’s in line with the vision Joelene had when she started the business 10 years ago.
“I come from a family of people who don't prioritise their health,” explains Joelene. “And so I was never taught or encouraged to take care of my health from an early age. It wasn’t until I was an adult in my twenties that I decided to make changes, and implement some healthy options into my life.”
Joelene says she had to learn these changes “through the school of hard knocks”. Her journey took her from an overweight, stressed-out financial accountant to a relaxed and vibrant 30-something woman giving workshops to help others in the same dark place she was all those years ago.
“I wish I could have done something like this back then, but it didn’t exist,” she says. “I started learning about the psychology behind taking better care of yourself, and studying habits.”
Today Joelene offers a range of retreats with varying themes from weight loss to resilience, perimenopause and menopause and fasting – but all the retreats have a focus on changing behaviour.
“If there was a degree in habits, I would have it,” laughs Joelene. “I'm obsessed with how they're formed and how people respond to them. It's just very, very interesting to me. Everything comes from a place of practicality, and never from just science.”
At the end of each retreat, which range in days from three to 20, Joelene and her staff have one-on-one consultations with each guest to work out what their goals are and how they can best support them.
Coming away from a three-day weight loss retreat, there’s a feeling of lightness, not just on the scales, but also in the mind.
“Some people see a weight loss retreat as simply going there and losing some weight, because they didn't eat as much as normal, but it’s psychological,” says Joelene.
“I believe the true difference between somebody who is ‘healthy’ and somebody who is ‘unhealthy’ is what they do when they fall off the wagon. Because unhealthy people perceive that 'healthy' people don't fall off the wagon, but it's not true. They do, they’re just kinder to themselves. They go, ‘Oh no, I'm off track. Let's get back into it.’”
That’s the main aim at Resolution Retreats – to teach women to be kinder to themselves.
“A lot of women just reinforce what they are already thinking when they ‘fail’ at another diet, particularly people who have a really low self opinion of themselves. They can find that difficult to do and even more difficult to hear.”
The challenge, she says, is in getting people to realise that they need to slow down and, perhaps not smell the coffee, but more their own sense of self-worth.
In the future, Joelene wants to offer more specialised retreats, such as her mother/daughter focused workshops, and plans to launch a charitable trust this year, to help make the retreats that much more accessible to low-income earners.
“I want to get the message out there that, if you are struggling with your health, there is somewhere you can go for help, no matter your circumstances, to instil those healthy habits in a safe, non-judgemental space,” says Joelene.
The Pilates Fix
Tahlia Charleson talks to UNO about the fitness craze that has taken the Bay by storm – and a few others we’re still totally obsessed with.
Tahlia Charleson talks to UNO about the fitness craze that has taken the Bay by storm – and a few others we’re still totally obsessed with.
Tell us about the benefits of matwork pilates, yoga, meditation and reformer pilates.
When it comes to the benefits of our classes, we could create a never-ending list. Through regular sessions you’ll grow in full-body strength, stability, flexibility and core strength, as well as gain better posture and muscle tone. Despite being so varied, there are common benefits across yoga, pilates, meditation, barre and breath work. All of our classes leave you feeling a combination of relaxed but invigorated. That’s because they’re all linked by breath and mindful movement of the body – some more physically challenging (like pilates and barre), some more soothing (like meditation and breathwork). This leaves you with a deeper connection between your mind and body, and muscle activation in all the right places.
What sets you apart?
From the beautiful environment to the classes, every element of The Pilates Fix is inclusive. Whether young, old, injured, strong, beginner, postpartum or experienced in their practice, we cater to all. Every person who walks through our doors experiences that "Ahh, I’m here!" moment of exhale and tension release. Alongside our vast range of classes (more than any other studio in town) we’ve recently begun a new men’s only class that addresses spinal stiffness, rigidity of movement and helps clients to lengthen without losing strength.
What can people expect when they come to a class?
There is no rushing, no large classes, and clients know that when they walk through the doors they’ll find exactly what they need. Whether that’s reduced pain, increased strength, improved mental health, confidence, growth, love for yourself, or vitality, you’ll soon find our classes have benefits that go beyond movement. It’s a space where you feel connected – to your body, to the environment and to each other. As part of the Pilates Fix family you’re likely to make friends – many people often assume our members have been friends prior to joining but they’ve all met through our classes. One of our clients described The Pilates Fix as “a slice of paradise where there is no judgment.” And that’s exactly what you can expect when you join us for a class.
What are you most proud of?
My team is the backbone of the Fix family. They add so much value to both the business and our client’s experiences, with their continual upskilling and high level of instruction. Not to mention the level of support they give one another and every single client who walks through our doors. And I’m proud of what my husband and I have brought into downtown Tauranga. With the support of our family and friends, we’ve built something pretty special and it’s only the beginning.
WIN! UNO presents Flourish with Arbonne
THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED.
UNO is proud to present Flourish with Arbonne, an exclusive wellness event overlooking the sparkling Tauranga Harbour at Trinity Wharf.
This special breakfast event will have a guided meditation, yoga session and smoothie bowls as well as the latest Arbonne products.
Head to Instagram and tag a friend in the comments below to go in the draw to win one of two prizes:
1 x double ticket to the event
1 x double ticket to the event and a night's stay at Trinity Wharf
Terms and conditions:
1. These terms and conditions relate to the Arbonne giveaway competition run by the Promoter to encourage people to comment, share and like the Promoter’s Facebook post about the Flourish Breakfast Event (“Promotion”). Information on how to enter and prizes forms part of, and entry into the Promotion is deemed to be acceptance of, these terms and conditions.
2. The promoter is Spectre Publishing Ltd (UNO Magazine), (“Promoter”).
3. The Promotion commences at 4.30pm Friday 11th June 2021 and closes at 9am Wednesday 23rd June 2021 (“Promotional Period”). Entries received outside of the Promotional Period will not be accepted.
Conditions of Entry
4. Employees (and their immediate families) of the Promoter, its related companies and any other companies associated with the Promotion are ineligible to enter.
5. The competition is open to residents of New Zealand aged 18 years and over.
6. You may only enter once. Prizes
7. 14 x level ONE prizes, 1x level TWO prize winners will be drawn.
8. Winners will receive: Level one prize: 2x tickets to the Flourish Breakfast event at 10am on Wednesday 30th June at Trinity Wharf Hotel, Tauranga – travel to event and accommodation not included Level two prize: 2x tickets to the Flourish Breakfast event at 10am on Wednesday 30th June at Trinity Wharf Hotel, Tauranga and a one night stay for two at Trinity Wharf - including room and breakfast. Expires 30th November 2021- travel to the event not included How to enter
9. To enter, you must, in response to a post (indicated as being the post relating to the Promotion (“Relevant Post”) on the Promoter’s Facebook or Instagram page (“Social Media Page”), comment on, like, and share the relevant post.
10. In addition to complying with these terms, you must comply with any additional instructions stated in the Relevant Post. You must also comply with any terms of use relating to the relevant Social Media Page. The Promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or the responsibility of, Facebook or Instagram.
11. All entries are deemed to be received at the time of the receipt into the Promotion database and not at the time of transmission by you.
Draw and Winner Notification
12. The prizes will be drawn at random on 10am Wednesday 23rd June at the UNO office 3/17 Banks Ave, Mount Maunganui and the winners will be notified by personal message on the social media platform through which the winner entered the Promotion. If a winner has not responded within 24 hours another draw will take place. Winners will be notified in the manner set out above. In the event that the winners of the second draw (if any) fail to respond to such notification, further draws will be undertaken in the manner set out above until all prizes have been awarded. 13. The Promoter's decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
14. Prizes will be awarded to the person named in the entry to the Promotion.
General Terms
15. The Promoter reserves the right to change these terms and conditions without prior notice. 16. Prizes cannot be varied and are not transferable or redeemable for cash. In the event that a winner does not take an element of the prize at the time stipulated by the Promoter, then that element of the prize will be forfeited by the winner.
17. If the winner is not able to be contacted within a reasonable time period following the draw, that winner shall forfeit the prize and the Promoter may choose to draw another winner, and so on until a winner is contacted to accept the prize.
18. Unless expressly stated in these terms and conditions, all other expenses become the responsibility of the winner including meals, taxes, transport, insurance and any other ancillary costs of any nature.
19. The Promoter reserves the right to request the winner to provide proof of identity, proof of residency at the nominated prize delivery address and/or proof of entry validity. In the event that such proof is not provided by the winner or is not suitable to UNO, then that winner shall forfeit their rights to any prizes.
20. The Promoter reserves the right to verify the validity of entries and to disqualify any entry (including the winning entry) which, in the Promoter’s opinion includes objectionable content, profanity or potentially insulting, inflammatory or defamatory statements.
21. The Promoter may disqualify any entry or individual (including any prize winner) who tampers with the entry process, submits an entry not in accordance with the terms and conditions, breaches these terms and conditions, or who has, in the opinion of the Promoter, engaged in conduct which is unlawful, improper, fraudulent, misleading, deceptive or generally damaging to the goodwill or reputation of the Promoter or Promotion.
22. The Promoter is not responsible for any problems or technical malfunction of any website, telephone network or lines, computer systems, servers, providers, computer equipment, software, technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any website, or any combination thereof.
23. The Promoter assumes no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorised access to, or alteration of entries.
24. If for any reason the Promotion is not capable of running as planned for reasons including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorised intervention, fraud, technical failures or any other cause beyond the control of the Promoter, which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of the Promotion, the Promoter reserves the right in its sole discretion to cancel, suspend or modify the Promotion.
25. The Promoter takes no responsibility for lost, damaged, misdirected, late or illegible entries or any entries that for whatever reason, are not received by the Promoter or are incomplete.
26. The winner of any prize agrees to co-operate with all reasonable media editorial requests relating to the prize, including being interviewed, photographed or filmed. The winner permits having their name, image and/or voice appear in connection with the Promotion, the Promoter or the advertising or marketing thereof, in any media whatsoever throughout the world.
27. To the maximum extent permitted by law, the Promoter and its related companies shall not be liable for any loss, damage, or personal injury whatsoever by or to any person in connection with the Promotion or with winning or benefiting from a prize.
28. All entries become the property of the Promoter. The Promoter needs to collect personal information from entrants in order to conduct the Promotion – without this personal information the Promoter may not be able to provide you with entry into the Promotion. Unless otherwise authorized by you, your personal information will be held by the Promoter for the purposes of the Promotion in accordance with the Privacy Act 2020 and may be shared with partners of the Promoter solely for the purposes of the Promotion.