Healing hands

Achieving balance and harmony is the main aim at Tauranga’s new Thai Touch.

Words Nicky Adams / Photos Jahl Marshall

Massage has been increasingly incorporated into the mainstream for both physical and mental wellbeing – a holistic approach to wellness, it is undeniably beneficial. I’ve personally been very slow off the starting block – my last massage was in Fiji many years ago and a virtual pummelling left me too winded to ask the lovely lady to ease off the pressure with her very strong hands; I learned part of the process is communicating what works for you.

Booking into the new Thai Touch in Elizabeth Street was quite a different experience, though. From the outset it was consultative, and having opted for a relaxing massage (rather than the popular injury-orientated targeted therapy) I was quick, when asked, to say that my preference was gentle – very gentle – applied pressure. Arriving at the brand-new studio felt almost like a destination spa experience. High ceilings lend a sense of luxury, the décor is authentic without feeling kitsch, and the hush straight away makes you want to melt into your chair. Moving from reception to the treatment area in fresh new slippers, the sparkling cleanliness is apparent, with the rooms an ambient but adjustable temperature, furnished with fresh towels and sheets, and low-level background music. Wanna, my masseuse, was perfection – friendly but so respectful; I felt totally at ease in her company, bonded by a silence that was golden rather than awkward.

Speaking with the owners, Orasa and Nigel, my experience was exactly what they have set out to achieve across each of their three studios (Mount, Bethlehem, and the latest in Tauranga). Orasa herself trained in Thailand at a massage school that taught an art that is over 2000 years old. Steeped in history, Thai massage is characterised by its energizing and vigorous processes. Drawing on ancient practices, massage and herbs are traditionally used for healing by treating muscle problems while clearing energy blockages and restoring balance. Falling into two different camps, one style of Thai massage concentrates on circulation and pressure points – known as a yoga massage. The other variety incorporates herbs by using a compress (or hot herb ball). At Thai Touch the massages follow a standardised process, apart from with the therapeutic massage where the therapist can address specific needs.

Orasa and Nigel have aimed to incorporate many authentic customs into their studios – from the greeting with rehydrating lemon water, to the herbal tea served afterwards. As Nigel points out, “The element of ritual is a key part, even down to the silent prayer, hands together, said at the start by the therapist unbeknownst to the client.” The therapists themselves are all Thai; Orasa and Nigel travel to Orasa’s homeland to interview experienced therapists with multiple years of commercial experience that they feel will fit into their spa family. The community aspect of this is very strong, with both relatives in, and an emotional attachment to Thailand, Orasa and Nigel love that they get to bridge the gap between the two countries and cultures in a positive and constructive way. With a team of 70 (that will rise to 80 over summer) everyone from the 35-40 therapists to the housekeeping staff that make up the whole team, are able to send money back to help their families – many of whom live in rural Thailand.

With the new salon Nigel believes their previous experience has culminated in what I consider to be exceptional premises. I was particularly struck by the high hygiene levels – always a priority for them, post-pandemic these meet stringent standards. Health concerns are taken very seriously (hence the in-house housekeeping for laundry). Indeed, Nigel mentions Bethlehem and the Mount have sterile air going through the air conditioning unit, while in Elizabeth Street fresh air is continuously vented through the building.

Here at Thai Touch, Nigel notes, “Relax and the healing can happen.” The aim was to achieve “a seamless experience – from walking in the front door into a tranquil oasis of relaxation and rejuvenation, with the whole environment a backdrop to a sense of trust in a place that is going to take care of you and your whole being.” From beginning to end there is an air of timelessness – always efficient, but not hurried. Nigel, himself an artist, has incorporated an art gallery to the side of the reception area, which will become a place where people can simply extend their stay in what he sees as a “conversational space.”

It is this strong alignment with the essence of Thai culture that makes the whole process feel so beautifully authentic, to the point where the treatments, in all their wonderful relaxing glory, feel a part of a wider holistic experience. 

thaitouch.co.nz

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.

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!” 

Scandi.co.nz

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.

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. 

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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! 

Fighting fit

Rachael Ferguson’s stage four cancer diagnosis was a stark reminder that health really is our wealth

Photos Tim Ingle + supplied

When Rachael Ferguson was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer no one was more shocked than the former competitive bodybuilder herself. At just 32 years old, Rachael was the picture of health.

“I’d just got back into training,” explains Rachael. “I had been a member of Clubfit Baywave for five years and did a bit of running, too.”

At the time she was feeling a bit more fatigued than normal. Having just got married, Rachael put her tiredness down to the stress of the wedding and all the COVID-19 lockdowns that came afterwards.

Rachael and her husband Glen were planning to have a baby in the near future so she visited her doctor, to make sure she had nothing to worry about.

“Hand on heart, if we weren't planning to have a baby, I probably wouldn’t have made that call,” admits Rachael. “Had I not gone, it’d be a different picture for me today.”

After her diagnosis she had what is called definitive surgery treatment
– surgery on a sufficient margin of tissue. Her margins returned clear, but she still had to undergo chemotherapy, to catch any rogue cells.

Twelve rounds of chemo later, Rachael is thankfully one of the lucky few to survive stage four cancer. 

“My treatment took place over six months, with one every fortnight.
I just kept an open mind every time and didn't fixate on side effects.
Plus I worked out the whole way through.”

Her doctors recommended she continue her fitness regime as best she could.

“I was told it’s really important to replenish your body after chemo, because it absolutely knocks you. Exercise can be the last thing you want to do and often I'd feel average for a couple of days after treatment,
but as soon as I would start to feel okay, I’d either be out going for a walk or back in the gym.”

Rachael continued training at Clubfit throughout, allowing her to still attend her favourite classes of Body Step and Body Pump.

“Everyone at Clubfit was so great,” says Rachael. “They knew what I was going through and where I was at. It’s always been such a nice community to be a part of. There's no judgement and there’s so much support for everybody, which you don't often find in a gym.” 

Just six weeks after her last round of chemo, Rachael fell pregnant with her son, George. These days, with George having just turned one, Rachael still makes sure she prioritises fitness. She goes to Clubfit classes twice during the week and once on the weekend when George is at his swimming lesson at Baywave below the gym.

“I really believe being healthy and fit played a huge part in me fighting
the cancer the way I did,” says Rachael. “Everyone knows what the gym means to me now. It’s more than just staying in shape. A lot of women believe that once they become a mother their needs don't matter anymore, but you can't be your best if you're not feeling right. In many ways, looking after yourself is the most important thing.” 

Clubfit.co.nz

Systemic change

UNO’s new health and wellness columnist,
Anna Rolleston, shares how a plant-based diet
may benefit your life – and the earth.

Words Monique Balvert-O’Connor 

Photos Jahl Marshall

For most people, working with professional sporting teams might be considered the pinnacle of their career. Holding a PhD in nutrition and metabolism, Anna Rolleston was the exercise physiologist for both the NZ Warriors and Waikato/BOP Magic. She was responsible for the team members’ performance monitoring, a critical part of keeping these elite athletes working at their fittest and best.

But Anna isn’t “most people”. In 2010, she felt a calling to shift her life’s work into the health and wellbeing space. With whakapapa to Tauranga, she moved home from Auckland to launch and become director of The Cardiac Clinic. In 2016, the business took on a more holistic direction, rebranding to become The Centre for Health.

The Centre for Health focuses on lifestyle management – through programmes, services, and research – for long-term conditions like heart disease, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, anxiety and depression, and more.

“We cover everything from medical management to lifestyle change – nutrition, exercise, dealing with stress – and Māori traditional healing practices and complementary and alternative modalities for health management,” Anna explains.

She and her “excellent” team feel strongly about creating a health system that really works for people. And it’s far from a one-size-fits-all approach.

“We recognise people have different ways of viewing health, different cultural contexts, different conditions. People want to be heard and listened to, and there’s not always a lot of time in the health system to get off their chest what they need to,” Anna says.

“We like to think we are pathfinders, listening to people’s stories and then supporting them in a solution that moves them forward on a health and wellness journey.

“We talk about ourselves as a bridge between potentially disconnected worlds: medical and non-medical, cultural and Western, illness and wellness.” 

At The Centre for Health, some of the bridge-making incorporates a te ao Māori approach and is backed by community-driven research undertaken by Anna’s team. “Our strong research arm provides evidence that what we do works, and it supports communities to answer questions people have about their health,” Anna explains. “We also support clinical trials, and combine clinical and qualitative research too.”

As well as research, The Centre for Health team’s capabilities cover clinical exercise physiology, nutrition, sport science, nursing, and Rongoā Māori.

One of the more recent offerings they’ve developed is FastTrack Kai ā Nuku, which offers recipe packages promoting healthy eating. It’s been well received by The Centre for Health’s clients and is now available to the public via its website (fasttracknz.co.nz).

FastTrack – a plant-based approach to eating – started as an idea from the centre's clients. Recipe creation and testing followed, and the programme was launched late last year. FastTrack offers recipes and menu plans for breakfast, snacks, lunch, dinner and smoothies. 

“FastTrack is a way of living that supports flourishing. It is not a diet,” Anna emphasises. 

At its heart, FastTrack encourages clients to eat foods that promote good health. The programme is linked to the health and wellbeing services provided at The Centre for Health.

Anna says that The Centre for Health isn’t prescribing a specific way of eating – “We are just about helping people eat more healthily in their lives and sharing various ways to do that, but knowing that plant foods are key in good health.”

FastTrack may be particularly helpful for people who might suffer from diabetes and heart problems, for example. “Our clients were saying, ‘Surely we can eat our way well!’” recalls Anna. “Evidence says this is about reducing meat and dairy intake and increasing plant-based food, so that is FastTrack’s focus.”

This grounded approach to eating has benefits not only for our bodies, but also for the planet. “Eating food that comes mostly from plants is good for our bodies and also helps to support Papatūānuku (the earth),” Anna explains. “We have used evidence from science, principles from BlueZone communities, and the mātauranga (Māori knowledge) that is unique to our place in the world. We’ve combined those three spaces and created an Aotearoa-specific plant-based eating approach.”

The principles behind FastTrack’s recipes and menu plans:

• 90 percent plant-based

• Daily dose of beans of
  any variety

• Meat on special occasions
  only, or limited to one serving per week

• Eggs limited to four per week 

• Sourdough bread only, maximum of two slices per day

• Fish and other seafood are allowed, three servings per week

• No dairy; use goat’s milk products, plant milks and coconut yoghurt as alternatives 

• No added or refined sugar

• Limit caffeine and alcohol.

Every FastTrack recipe has been trialled and rejigged if necessary. Processed foods are out, but fermented foods (kimchi, sauerkraut, sourdough and coconut yoghurt) get the big tick. There is even flexibility to include seafood.

But the main criteria is, the recipes have to be delicious, Anna says firmly. 

“In terms of our Centre For Health clients, FastTrack is going great guns. Now we’re ready to spread it more widely.” 

fasttracknz.co.nz

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.

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. 

thepilatesfix.co.nz

Mind matters

Do you need to spring clean your head space? Anna Veale explains how visualisation can be a helpful wellbeing tool.

PHOTOS Salina Galvan

As we find ourselves coming out of hibernation from what seems like a very long winter, a sense of new beginnings may be upon you – and for good reason. The mornings are getting lighter and the evenings are drawing out, bringing a new cycle which represents planting new seeds, growth and expansion. 

Spring, “the king of all seasons”, is a fantastic time to check in with yourself and see what sneaky habits have crept in over winter that don’t have your best interests at heart. Perhaps you’ve been hitting the snooze button one too many times, or drinking one too many cups of coffee to warm yourself up.

If you want to build on the energy that can come from our change in seasons, here are some tools to accelerate your journey. 

The power of visualisation

In the sports world, visualisation or “mental rehearsal” is used to help athletes prepare for and enhance their physical game. This technique draws
in direct focus to task, using the senses to dial down on the process of the goal rather than the outcome itself. 

As we move into the new season, we have an opportunity to get clear on what we want for the coming months, and we can use visualisation to bring a goal to life and generate the all-important ingredient for success: Action. 

When we mentally rehearse our goals and the process of reaching them, we are sending a strong message to our unconscious mind that we are ready and will be more likely to take the action required to make change. Science tells us that if we commit our goals to writing we are 40 percent more likely to achieve them. It also tells us that if we tell someone else about our goals we are 60 percent more likely to achieve them and if we have a coach, we are 95 percent more likely to achieve success. 

Your goal-setting toolbox

Adding visualisation to your goal-setting toolbox will help bring your dreams to life. If you are new to visualisation, here are some ideas to get you started:

Create a vision board

This can be fun and simple to do and serves as a daily reminder of your intentions. Use magazines and printouts to create your very own piece of goal-setting art. Be brave and think big. You are only limited by your imagination, so banish limited thinking and get creative. 

Visualisation meditations

There are plenty of good visualisation meditations out there for guided goal-setting visualisation, leaving time at the end to brain dump, set goals and put timelines on them. So now we have our head space covered, how can we give our body a shake-up out of its winter slump and get it bouncing into spring?

Rehydrate

Often water gets replaced for hot drinks over winter, so look to replace caffeinated drinks with water or herbal tea. 

Eat well 

Nourish your body with whole foods like split peas, lentils, chickpeas, quinoa, buckwheat and rye. Increase the fibre in your diet with fruits and vegetables such as apples, pears, apricots, berries, broccoli, carrots, okra and spinach.

Catch the morning sun

Reset your circadian rhythm by getting up at the same time each day, taking yourself out for a walk around the block and getting some fresh air. 

Be consistent 

Showing up daily for yourself sends the message that your wants and needs are important. Cultivate a routine that's easy, fun and aligns with your values. 

Check out Anna's free resources page, where you will find your very own “spring reset”

freshcoaching.me

Fat transfer: the why, the how, and what to expect

Fat transfer can restore youthful contours to your face, hands and body, can be wonderfully rejuvenating and also improve scarring; here, two people share their experience of the day-stay procedure at Tauranga’s Skin Centre.

INTERVIEW LISA SHEA

Face facts

UNO: What led you to try facial fat transfer? I felt good in myself, but then I’d look in the mirror and I’d look so tired! It aged me beyond my years.

Was there any preparation required before your procedure? The only prep I recall was not drinking alcohol for two weeks prior – and that’s never a bad thing.

How did you feel in the lead-up? I couldn’t wait to get it done! I’d been given lots of information from the Skin Centre and they were there for me if I had any questions at any time. I was so looking forward to not looking exhausted anymore – to looking like I had as much energy as I felt I had.

How did you feel afterwards? There was a bit of swelling that subsided in the first few days, but I took a week off work so I’d feel completely comfortable with how I looked when I went back. The pain was minimal, just a bit of a dull ache in my thigh where the fat was taken from; there was no pain at all in my face. I followed the instructions for the pain medication and I was good as gold. I had to sleep propped up for a few days, but that wasn’t a biggie.

Do you love the results? I had the procedure about six years ago and I’ve never looked back. My face still looks and feels totally natural – which it is! – and I don’t look tired anymore. I’m so much happier with my appearance.

How did you find your experience at the Skin Centre? The staff at the Skin Centre were so caring and informative. They made the whole procedure and aftercare really easy.

What advice would you give to someone considering facial fat transfer? For me, it’s a no-brainer. The procedure’s straightforward and the results are great – and long lasting.

Body beautiful

UNO: What led you to try body fat transfer? Being small- busted, I’d always joked about wishing I could transfer some fat from my problem areas to my chest, so it felt like a dream come true when I found out about this procedure! I was attracted to this solution knowing there was nothing artificial that would be inserted into my body.

Was there any preparation required before the procedure? To ensure it was successful, I had to wear a pump expansion- type system regularly for some weeks prior. This worked to make space for the fat to be placed in.

How did you feel in the lead-up? I was mostly excited as it seemed like the perfect solution to something I’d always thought about but hadn’t expected to be possible. I had a lot of faith in Dr Salmon and the team at the Skin Centre. Any nerves I had were put at ease by their kindness and professionalism.

How did you feel afterwards? I was deliberately cautious with all my movements and activities. I was a bit uncomfortable, but it wasn’t any worse than I’d expected and with some regular pain relief for a day or so, I was comfortable. Planning ahead to allow myself time to recover was also important for the success of the treatment.

Do you love the results? It’s been a couple of years, and I’m still really happy with my results. I feel like I got back what I had before children and a little more, yet look really natural – plus, the shape of my breasts has improved and my body confidence has too.

How did you find your experience at the Skin Centre? I could not fault the experience I had. The atmosphere was relaxed and I was supported through all stages of the procedure and my recovery.

What advice would you give to someone considering body fat transfer? To me, it seems like one of the most natural ways of enhancing what you already have, leaving you with a natural shape and feel. I’m really happy I did this for me.

SKINCENTRE.COM

The brave move

PHOTO TRACIE HEASMAN

Cindy Powers Prosor is exactly the kind of import we love! The Californian has come to us via Hawkes Bay, bringing with her an unusual skill. Cindy helps people who, on the outside, looking like they are nailing life, but inside are struggling.

She brings with her a generosity of spirit. But what really impressed was her analytical mind. She asked questions about our magazine which gave us food for thought, long after she'd left, spurring us on to improve. Cindy is UNO.'s kind of gal!

1) What do you do when you notice that the same types of issues or challenges show up in multiple areas of our life and relationships?

While it can be easy to blame outside circumstances for those challenges, true and lasting happiness and love are inside of you.

When you uncover what I call your blind spots, you have the freedom to create a joyful life no matter what’s going on around you. When you are happy on the inside, you attract and create all those things you desire. It all begins within you.

Opening doors within means to courageously look at your thoughts, fears, beliefs, emotions, old wounds, and stories you tell yourself. These are your “blind spots,” which are difficult to see for yourself because you are so “in” them. These blind spots run your life until you recognize them and change them so you can create something different. 

Part of my work with my clients is creating a safe and courageous space so they see different perspectives and possibilities they can’t see for themselves. By doing this inner work, you actually shift the way you see your world. And, once you shift the way you see your world, your world changes.

2) How did you make the transition to the Bay of Plenty from an established life in California in the US? Do you have any tips for people going through their own major life transition?

Life transitions such as a big move, job change, divorce, or death can certainly be chaotic and uncomfortable!

When my husband Larry asked me to move 13 years ago from our beautiful home near Lake Tahoe, California to the isolated east coast outside of Gisborne, New Zealand, I thought, “Sure, let’s go on an adventure.”

I had no idea how painful and difficult this “adventure” would be. I struggled for three years...my heart was ripped apart. I felt alone, lost, and helpless. As you know, Gisborne is isolated and surrounded by beauty and solitude. I had created the “perfect storm” to uncover my blind spots.

Thankfully, I had an amazing coach at the time who walked alongside me. With her support and incredible wisdom, I acquired the tools and information to lovingly be there for myself in all the ways I had wanted others to be there for me.

Together, we gently dismantled my inner world and looked at the core of what was really creating my deep uncertainty, pain and sorrow. 

After seeing how my life transformed with that level of support, I became a Professional Co-Active Coach; certified by The Coaches Training Institute in San Rafael, California; and a member of ICF, International Coaching Federation. I’ve extensively studied metaphysics over the last 25 years with teachers around the world.

Now I know that my own happiness and life is a reflection of my work and my most potent credential and this is the transformative work I do with my clients.

3) Have you met any interesting people here?

Yes, I’ve so enjoyed meeting the people here. For example, I had heard about Debbie Karl the week I arrived and immediately booked an acupuncture session with her to get to know her and her work. Since then, we have created and grown a beautiful relationship, supporting each other both professionally and personally. That same week I was introduced to Chantelle Laurent. As with Debbie, our meeting unfolded with ease and we have been supporting each other professionally ever since.   

4) How can I find out a bit more about your service?

I invite you to take a free quiz to help you discover your blind spots and start changing the way you see the world at www.CindyPowersProsor.com.