Local never looked so good

Leading fashion store Wallis has been rebooted and is back at the Mount with all the labels you know and love.

WORDS Jenny Rudd / PHOTOS Salina Galvan

In February 2020, fashion retailer Wallis made the call to close its doors after 30 fabulous years of dressing local women in New Zealand-made clothing. Anna Mountford and her parents Carol and David handed over the keys to their Devonport and Mt Maunganui stores, and got to thinking about what to do next. Seven months later, Anna relaunched Wallis at a brand new site at the Mount.

"I seriously considered going into education, but in the back of my mind, I was always thinking about a shop of my own,” she says. “I thought my friends would be really shocked when I told them, but they weren't. They all said, 'Thank goodness!’"

With hangers and mannequins still in her garage after closing Wallis before lockdown, things fell into place really quickly.  Anna rang around her suppliers and picked up the relationships again, and the perfect new location came up on Maunganui Road. "We've had a fantastic start,” says Anna. “Lots of our key labels had been optimistic about the future and cut extra stock, so we had some beautiful pieces to open with. Every day people come into the store and say they’re pleased Wallis is back.

"It felt like the right time to close, then it felt like the right time to open,” she continues. “I’ve able to put my own touch on things, like the styling of the shop, but we still have the same core beliefs. We care about the people who make, sell and wear our clothes, and as we’ve done for 30 years, we stock local labels. It's easy to support local when the quality is this good."

WALLIS.CO.NZ

The miracle man

WORDS DANIEL DUNKLEY / PHOTOS SALINA GALVAN

Olly Coffey helps people out of wheelchairs and onto their feet. Daniel Dunkley visited his NeuroPhysics Therapy centre at the Mount to discover how he does it.

I’m lying flat on my back with my legs in the air. They’re suspended beneath an exercise bar and suddenly begin to tremble uncontrollably. My muscles twitch independently from the rest of my body, causing an unusual sensation right up to my stomach.

If this sounds out of the ordinary, it’s because it is. I’m at Olly Coffey’s NeuroPhysics therapy practice at the Mount’s SwitchedOn exercise and wellness centre, receiving treatment for a back injury that has been causing me pain for a few months. UNO has sent me here to uncover the secrets of the approach that has revolutionised physical therapy and is changing lives.

There are two NeuroPhysics therapy centres in New Zealand; Olly runs this one, and the other is in Auckland. He’s been practising NeuroPhysics for about four years, having learned his trade from Australian founder Ken Ware. From his base at the Mount, Olly runs  eight-week courses comprised of four intensive two-hour sessions in week one, plus ongoing follow-up.

To his patients, Hamilton-born Olly is a miracle worker. From the wheelchair-bound man he helped walk a year after his snowboarding accident, to the tetraplegic who can now stand, to the sports star regaining feeling after a serious accident, they all say the same thing: he produces extraordinary results. Olly, on the other hand, is more modest about his achievements. “I help people make changes themselves,” he says. “I’m a facilitator in that sense, just observing the penny-drop moments.”

NeuroPhysics therapy is a revolutionary form of treatment that puts a holistic spin on standard physical rehab. Rather than homing in on an isolated area of pain or damage, it treats the body as a whole and harnesses the brain’s power to help in the rehabilitation process. It’s less about building strength in the body, and more about building our awareness of how the body works – physical therapy with a hint of mindfulness.

The human brain uses trillions of neural pathways to send messages around the body, but in the event of an injury or medical condition, these pathways can become blocked or damaged. When the brain is used to sending signals along a particular pathway, any disruption affects function and sensation. NeuroPhysics attempts to open up other neural pathways, to find routes past the pain zone or area of damage.

Olly likens neural pathways to a synchronised school of fish. He says that when an injury happens, it’s like “a shark breaking up the school”. The ‘fish’ (messages) have to figure out a new way to continue their journey together.

How does the body find new neural pathways? A key part of the treatment involves making your body tremor; you may have felt a similar feeling while holding a difficult pose during a yoga class, lifting weights or holding a glass of water out in front of you. By performing slow, steady exercises using light weights, the muscles are stimulated and begin to tremor, and NeuroPhysics practitioners believe this is the body’s own calibration system being spurred into action, as it attempts to open up neural pathways around the body.

As well as firing up the body’s internal calibration system, NeuroPhysics aims to increase your awareness of your body. Posture, for example, is important. Hunched shoulders or inward-facing knees are signs that your body is in fight-or-flight mode, and in this stressed state, you’re in no position to heal. Olly wants his patients to enter a ‘growth’ state – the opposite of fight or flight. To achieve this, they’re encouraged to puff out their chest, close their eyes and allow their body to do the work.

“The body has an innate ability to heal itself, but we seldom give it a window of opportunity,” says Olly. “We can think ourselves into a state of anxiety and it holds us in the wrong physical state. You can’t isolate the musculoskeletal system, neural system or cardiovascular system – it’s all part of the bigger picture. The brain is coordinating everything; if your body is an orchestra, then the brain is the conductor.”

Olly says he has made the biggest difference to people who are living with chronic pain, and with life-changing injuries and conditions such as spinal cord damage and Parkinson’s. After my two-hour NeuroPhysics session, my back pain has significantly reduced and I have a sense of focus and clarity that I rarely experience. It is extraordinary – I’ve definitely joined the ranks of those who think so. Read on for stories of three other Kiwis who are benefiting from Olly’s work.

THE MAGIC TOUCH

Tauranga’s Casey Waterhouse suffered a severe motocross injury that left her paralysed from the chest down. She began seeing Olly since last June and says the sessions are like “slowly reawakening the senses”. “I had no feeling when I started with Olly. Now when my body is in tremor, I feel little flickers right down to my hip.” Casey’s making progress she never thought was possible. “Some therapists practically crossed me out; Olly has given me a chance. He calms me down and I’m starting to feel more.”

Another convert is White Sox player Jennifer Feret-Brear. Jennifer suffered an injury to the anterior cruciate ligament in her knee and was anxious to recover in time for August’s Women’s Softball World Championship in Japan. After four sessions with Olly, she was able to return to the game after 18 months out. “I could perform movements I’d been practising for a year but unable to master, and the calm and clarity of thought was even more rewarding,” she says. “For me, it was similar to the feeling you get after yoga, but with far less physical stress and effort.”

Matt Hall broke his neck in a swimming-pool accident last year, leaving him a tetraplegic. After making little progress with a regular physio, he discovered Olly. “It was a change of mentality,” he says. “I moved away from a model with very limited expectations of what
I could do. In three months, I went from not being able to feel my leg to standing on my own. After five months, I was walking on crutches. For me, it’s nothing short of a miracle.” Matt credits Olly’s calm demeanour for his progress. “His personality makes the difference. He’s a remarkable human being and has a real presence.” Matt’s now back working in Singapore, where he’s continuing his recovery. In the past month, he has started to be able to feel the sensations of hot and cold on his hands – something that would have been unthinkable a year ago. He wants to spread the word so NeuroPhysics therapy can help others. “Applying this process over several months can make a colossal difference to your life,” he says. “So many people out there could be recovering like me. It really can help.”

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. 

Top summer product and treatment picks from Tranquillo

Top-to-toe product and treatment picks from our appearance pro Sue Dewes at Tauranga’s Tranquillo Beauty Clinic.

Top Products

For your eyes

O Cosmedics No Baggage Native Collagen Eye Mask

Your new best friend before those special events, this eye mask smooths fine lines and wrinkles, and hydrates, plumps and firms the delicate skin around the eyes. Dampen with water, smooth on, boost with an O Cosmedics serum if you wish, then sit back and relax, and you’ll see visible results in just 20 minutes.  

For your feet

Gehwol Refreshing Balm

This footcare brand has a solution for every problem, ensuring your feet always feel comfortable. This balm is my favourite summer product from the range as it combats that burning feeling tired feet can bring when the weather’s hot. With menthol and peppermint oil, it cools, deodorises and moisturises. 

For your face

Juvenate B-Hydrated 4D  

I love to support New Zealand skincare companies, so for me this multi-active hydrating complex is a win-win. Designed to de-stress, soothe, smooth, strengthen and protect the skin while promoting collagen formation, it’s suitable for anyone concerned with hydration but extra-beneficial for those dealing with inflammation or acne. 

For your nails

FABY nail lacquers 

Cruelty-free and without toxic chemicals, Italian-made Faby nail polishes are considered among Europe’s most innovative. In a vast array of fashion colours, they’re formulated without the ‘big five’, so you can have fun using them to accessorise your summer look knowing they won’t compromise your nails or your overall health.  

For your protection

Environ RAD Shield Mineral Sunscreen 

Fewer chemicals but more complete protection designed to be applied more often, this is your safe, effective, daily shield against UVA, UVB, infrared rays and blue light. It combines powerful physical blockers zinc oxide and titanium oxide with a boost of antioxidant including vitamin E to minimise the free-radical damage triggered by UVA radiation.

Special treatments

Lash lifts & tints 

A wonder treatment with all the benefits of extensions but none of the maintenance and trauma to your natural lashes, lash lifts make your lashes look longer but curling them gently upward, opening up the eyes for a more youthful look. The result is simply beautiful, with a tint to top them off that means mascara can be a thing of the past for several weeks. For a complete treatment, combine with a brow shape and tint. 

Spray tans

There’s no doubt about it, a tan can make you look healthy, and with the Eco Tan line, a naturalistic tan is yours with no sun damage involved. Ingredients matter to me, so we offer the formulation that’s best for your skin and the environment, and this certified-organic range produces a beautiful colour almost immediately. We can also teach you how to care for your tan to give you a consistent look all summer long. 

Pedicures  

Want to look your best barefoot at the beach and in those summer sandals? Come and see us for a thorough Tranquillo pedicure. Winter feet are simply not ready to be summer feet without some TLC, so don’t let your neglected toenails let you down – let us soak away that dry, rough skin, then enjoy a invigorating, velvety massage finished with Faby nail polish for all the the glam with none of the nasties. 

Bespoke facials 

Summertime and the living is easy and more social too, so if you’d like to feel your best when you’re out and about, we can design a gorgeous facial for you to beautify your skin while relaxing your body and mind. Achieving an authentic healthy glow is so rewarding and our full facial analysis will help us tailor a treatment that’s perfect for you. Regular facials will also help to repair any skin damage and prevent warm-weather skin issues. 

TRANQUILLOBEAUTY.CO.NZ

Autologous fat transfer: an alternative to breast implants

UNO spoke to Paul Salmon, surgeon at The Skin Centre about the method of using your own body fat to increase your breast size, as an alternative to breast implants.

UNO: Can you tell us about autologous fat transfer and breast surgery?

Paul: Autologous fat transfer or AFT is a technique of restoring or enlarging the breast by grafting fat into it. People have been trying to put fat into breasts for many years, but with haphazard results for a number of reasons. First, there isn’t enough space in a small breast. Also, the fat is put into the breast in large lumps, which doesn’t make for a successful graft. Recently, there has been a lot of interest in preparing the breast by expanding it slowly over the weeks prior to grafting. This technique has revolutionised AFT by providing the right environment for the reliable take of grafts.

UNO: How long have you been doing this procedure?

P: I have been grafting fat and doing liposuction for breast reduction for 25 years. Liposuction of the breast is really the reverse of AFT; women can get rid of overly heavy breasts without scarring and still have confidence in being able to breastfeed later. In 2017 I went to Florida to operate with Dr Khouri, who had published the seminal papers on Brava, a breast expansion device, and AFT. Since then, I have been doing the procedure both in Tauranga and Auckland.

UNO: How does the process work?

P: AFT involves a gentle liposuction of fat from an area where it isn’t wanted. It’s then prepared and grafted into the breast. Prior to the procedure, the patient spends a few weeks using an external expander, usually at night. Used regularly, the small suction dome will enlarge the breasts. If the expansion is stopped, the breast will shrink again. It’s the grafting of fat that makes the enlargement from external expansion permanent. The grafted fat is laid down in a 3D network of tiny, thin strips in the breast, eventually building up the volume for a larger breast. There are virtually no scars, as only tiny nicks of 2mm in length are needed to allow us to insert the fat into the breast.

“One thing to think about is that because your breasts have been enlarged by fat

transfer, if you gain or lose weight, your breasts will respond accordingly.”

What are the benefits of AFT versus breast implants?

P: Implanting breasts with silicone prostheses is very safe. As with all procedures and general anaesthetics, complications are a risk; infection, bleeding, loss of sensation, scarring, the wrong placement or rupture of an implant or capsule formation are the most common complications. Cancer is a very rare complication. AFT gives a woman the opportunity to have larger, younger-looking breasts naturally without synthetic implants. And there’s an opportunity to get better-looking hips, legs or tummy, depending on where the fat is taken from.

UNO: What are the disadvantages of AFT?

P: To work reliably, the breasts must be prepared by using the external expander every night. The most popular size for silicone implants in New Zealand is around 300ml, which is more than a AFT procedure can reliably produce. With AFT, women can expect to go up one cup size, although further increases can be achieved with an additional AFT procedure. Also the fat placed into the breasts is treated by the body as if it is still in its original position, so if your graft fat comes from your tummy and you put on weight there, your breasts may also enlarge.

So this technique be used to reduce breast size?

P: Yes, we can use the liposculpture technique on its own (without using the expanders). This will reduce the size of overly large breasts. Tiny incisions around the edge of the breast mean that excess fat can be carefully removed to maintain the same shape of the original breast.

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MEET THE SURGEON

Dr Paul Salmon Paul is New Zealand’s most published dermatologic surgeon with over 60 papers published in peer-reviewed literature. He has an Honorary Fellowship in the Australasian College of Dermatology, and has been a speaker at the World Congress of Dermatology as well as the American College of Mohs Surgery. He has served on the Specialist Advisory Committee for the RACP on behalf of the NZDSI. His areas of special interest are cutaneous oncology, micrographic surgery, prevention of skin cancer, sun damage and cosmetic surgery.

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SKINCENTRE.COM 0800 754 623 171

CAMERON ROAD TAURANGA

Better than ever

We talk to Mount Skin & Body owner Kelly Kingston on her clinic’s new look.

UNO: Mount Skin & Body has been at the heart of the beauty scene at the Mount for many years, but we love your salon refit – what did it entail?

KELLY: We’ve been here for 15 years now but have recently renovated the space to better reflect what we spend our time doing. It was a long process – two years of talking to clients, staff and industry professionals about where we’re headed – but I wanted Mount Skin & Body to be a community hub as well as a place you can sneak into to take some time for yourself, a place that appeals to all your senses and encourages you to take time out of your busy life.

I worked with talented people on the renovation, including Rachael Hackett-Jones of Rubix Design Collective, whose vision completely aligned with my ethos; she came up with elegant, sustainable ideas and really understood what would make our clients feel comfortable. My trust in her expertise meant I was able leave her to it and focus my attention on reinventing how we serve our clients.

Our beautiful new space includes an interactive skin bar and a secluded spot in which to relax before and after treatments, plus we’ve made it easy for people to pop

in to shop for skincare, make-up and gifts. We’ve also set aside a dedicated space to give our therapists more room to plan, write notes and relax between clients. The more organised and rested they are, the more our clients benefit.

UNO: In what other ways has your salon evolved to meet your clients’ needs?

KELLY: Personal and professional growth has always been very important to me. I believe our ongoing training helps improve both my team and our clients’ wellbeing. We’ve attended skin symposiums in France, the US, Australia and Queenstown to keep up with the best trends and treatments around the world, and we’ve also continually invested in technology to ensure we can offer the very best in beauty.

UNO: Do you have any new treatments on the menu to match your new look?

KELLY: We do! Collagen induction therapy has been our favourite for a while now, IPL and LED light therapy are relatively new additions, and more recently we launched dermaplaning and hydrabrasion, which is microdermabrasion with a water component – think your cleanest, smoothest skin yet. We’re also slowly reintroducing some of our popular spa treatments.

UNO: What else do you think makes Mount Skin & Body so special?

KELLY: Skin and personalised service are our true loves. We pride ourselves on delivering luxurious therapies that leave our clients feeling and looking radiant. The skin tells a story, so we take a holistic approach to any concerns, looking at all area of our clients’ lives and working together to discover the root cause. We also take care to use environmentally friendly and sustainable resources whenever we can.

As for personalised service – it requires a lot of energy and enthusiasm, so as a team we like to support each other and keep each other’s tanks full, which in turn ensures that our clients are well looked after. It’s really important to me that everyone on our team loves their job. I believe when people are happy in their work, it filters through to their family, and hopefully the community, too.

mountskinbody.co.nz

Born ready

Mother, midwife and Instagram influencer Carmen Lett talks to UNO about her new venture, Hatched Online.

WORDS JENNY RUDD / PHOTOS RACHEL DOBBS

When you’re heavily pregnant with your first child, you want: 1) a baby handbook, and 2) to lie on the sofa. Knowing this, Carmen Lett, a midwife and the mother of four young children, has founded Hatched Online antenatal and parenting classes.

“As a midwife on the postnatal ward at Tauranga Hospital, I noticed a lot of parents coming through who didn’t know much about what happened straight after birth. I’d often find myself on the ward showing people how to change nappies or swaddle a baby to help them sleep, or teaching them what a newborn’s feeding pattern might be like or that babies are often wakeful on night two of their life. I realised that lots of these fundamentals weren’t being taught in antenatal classes.”

There’s nothing quite as shocking as realising you’re responsible for another person’s life. You’re sent on your merry way from the hospital with a tiny baby and not so much as a “Do you know what you’re doing with that?”; you’ve probably experienced more stringent checks when taking out a DVD at Blockbuster. After going through the most physically and emotionally intense time many of us will ever experience, you’re promoted with immediate effect to being in sole charge of someone who’s completely helpless, unable to feed themselves and can barely communicate their needs.

“Because first-time mums tend to do lots of research and antenatal classes cover it really well, people were really clued up about the birth process, but there was a real knowledge gap in terms of what to do after you’ve had the baby,” says Carmen. She knew that empowering mums and dads with this information would remove much of the fear.

“I’ve been running Hatched On Location antenatal classes in Tauranga for the past few years, and they’re always full,” says Carmen. “Expectant parents are keen to learn everything they can about birth and the early days of parenting, but there were lots of couples who missed out because their partner worked shifts, they lived rurally, or the pregnant mum was on bedrest.” Once she realised so many people weren’t getting this vital information, she set about launching Hatched Online, with her husband, Aidan, a tech start-up whizz, handily in the mix.

Hatched Online’s antenatal classes – which also include that invaluable postnatal education – are delivered in the form of 13 videos, each about half an hour long. They’re the same as Carmen’s Hatched On Location classes, with a few bonus extras. Whether you snuggle down and watch one every evening, or binge watch the whole lot over a couple of days, once you subscribe, you can view them as often as you like for six months (and given baby brain is a real thing, it’s safe to say most parents-to-be would be happy to take advantage of being able to watch certain modules more than once).

“The friends you make are an important part of antenatal classes, so for my online parents, I’ve set up a Facebook page that everyone gets access to, and I do live Q&A sessions so you can ask as many questions as you like,” says Carmen. “The great things about Facebook is that all those questions and answers stay right there, so you can go back and read them all.

“I often hear that parents feel pressured to do things in a particular way. So it was also important to me to offer information on all the options,” she continues. “For instance, if you want a home birth, or an elective cesarean, I provide all the information, then you can make your choice one way or the other. We focus on healthy babies – without guilt.”

Carmen’s Hatched On Location classes are nearly always full, and not just because she serves snacks and hot drinks, and gives out goodie bags filled with baby products. If you had to pick anyone to teach you about babies, you’d pick her. She’s been a midwife for 10 years (“I’ve known I wanted to be a midwife since I was 15 years old”), and as a mother of four – Rosie (5), twins Asher and Jude (4), and Taj (2) – has some pretty colourful birth stories of her own. “I’ve had a C-section, vaginal births after a C-section, ventouse, epidurals, the lot,” she says.

Carmen also runs popular mummy blog The Lett Tribe, and thousands follow her Instagram account @carmenlett, where she makes it clear she loves her job. “Gimme all the babies!” she says.

FIND more information about Carmen’s Hatched Online and Hatched On Location classes at: HATCHEDANTENATAL.CO.NZ

Bakuchiol: the plant-based alternative to retinol is our new skincare hero

PHOTOS SUPPLIED 

Have you heard of bakuchiol? Pronounced “buh-koo-chee- all”, this plant-based skincare ingredient is a gentler alternative
to retinol that helps target the look of wrinkles and uneven skin tone. Compared to retinol, bakuchiol is better tolerated by skin, is mild enough to be used morning and night, is safe to use with other skincare ingredients and it’s vegan-friendly, too.

Bakuchiol is one of the three hero ingredients used in Arbonne’s new AgeWell range, a vegan skincare collection that embraces a holistic approach to skin ageing. Formulated using a range of dermatologist favourites, the trifecta of ingredients – bakuchiol, vitamin C, and plant stem cell extract – work together to deliver youthful-looking skin.

The second ingredient, vitamin C, supports collagen by providing the skin with moisture, but can’t be used at the same time as traditional retinol. However, vitamin C and bakuchiol are fine to use together, so you can get the benefit of both ingredients at once.

Sustainable plant stem cell extract is the third ingredient taking centre stage in the AgeWell range. Plant stem cell extract helps skin to look more vibrant and improve firmness, and it’s derived from natural origins but uses less water during production than traditional versions. This harmony of ingredients works to target visible signs of ageing without being harsh on skin.

COLLAGEN NURTURING SERUM WITH 2% BAKUCHIOL: Indulge your skin in this super-concentrated formula which helps reduce the look of facial wrinkles, along with stabilised vitamin C to help boost and maintain moisture by supporting collagen.

MOISTURE RESTORING CREAM WITH 0.5% BAKUCHIOL: This versatile moisturiser contains shea butter, avocado oil, coconut oil, and squalene complex to help replenish
the skin’s moisture barrier
and reduce the appearance
of fine lines.

MOISTURE RESTORING CREAM WITH 0.5% BAKUCHIOL: This versatile moisturiser contains shea butter, avocado oil, coconut oil, and squalene complex to help replenish
the skin’s moisture barrier
and reduce the appearance
of fine lines.

ARBONNE.COM

Leanne Cashmore takes us inside the Cashmore Clinic

“Having your skin looked after at my clinic is no different to going to the hairdresser or having your teeth whitened. My treatments are subtle. They may be indiscernible to anyone else, but you’ll get a huge boost to your confidence.” Leanne Cashmore is pouring tea into fine china cups at her clinic on Muricata Avenue, Mt Maunganui. A beautiful, pale-blue villa from the road, inside it’s a calm oasis.

A registered nurse, Leanne has been working in appearance medicine for 20 years. Seeing that “there was a real need for a boutique, welcoming and luxurious service at the Mount”, she launched the Cashmore Clinic in April this year. It’s a personal, one-on-one service. “Some people want to dash in during their lunch hour, and others like to take things slowly, talk about their treatment, and relax with a herbal tea. It’s very private here, and my clients appreciate that.”

A born-and-bred Mount local, Leanne is part of a talented family whose members work in creative industries. Her husband, Mark, is a pool and landscape designer (check out his design project in UNO’s summer ’17 issue) and her sister Maree Wilkinson is a photographer, while the eldest of her four children, Jordan, captains a superyacht in the Caribbean. Meanwhile, Leanne can be found at her clinic from Monday to Friday and on the occasional Saturday – during daylight hours. “I work around my clients, and prefer natural light as it helps me provide the best treatment,” she says.

The Cashmore Clinic is overseen by a small group of qualified doctors. “I’m very lucky to have worked with some of the top professionals in appearance medicine throughout my career,” says Leanne. “It’s all very friendly and connected.”

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The Cashmore Clinic services

Botox For: the face, and to treat excessive underarm sweating. It’s the most popular procedure, as it’s quick, affordable and delivers fantastic results. Fillers For: fine lines, dark circles around the eyes, acne scarring, lip enhancement, reshaping the jawline and chin, and skin hydration (with the V2 machine). Fillers provide a beautiful lift that restores lost volume in the face. Leanne says anyone who tries them becomes an immediate convert. Head online to discover more of Leanne’s treatments.

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82a Muricata Ave, Mt Maunganui

CASHMORECLINIC.CO.NZ

CASHMORECLINIC

Great hair day

WORDS TALIA WALDEGRAVE PHOTOS TRACIE HEASMAN

Tucked into the burgeoning creative hub on Totara St, Talia Waldegrave celebrates with hair salons Ivy and barber shop Havana.

LAUNCH NIGHT

As far as first impressions go, Ivy and Havana have me sold. Brimming with young up-and-comings, local business owners and budding hair professionals, the launch night is a damn fine party. Down to earth glamour is how I'd describe it: smiling, handsome barbers hand out steaming slices of delicious pizza from The Pizza Library next door, and the bar is set up with a tangled web of mint leaves, a mountain of lime wedges, and buckets of ice to make Havana Rum cocktails. Two ultra-glam ladies kick back in barbershop chairs, pizza slice in one hand, champagne flute in the other. This is a family unit, blood relative or not.

THE GURU

On my second encounter with the Ivy Havana crew, I’m early, but am instantly greeted warmly before I've managed to get inside the door. With time to kill, I wait in the communal kitchen at the table where I’d gobbled pizza just a few nights earlier. The kitchen epitomises the Ivy Havana vibe: the fit-out has had someone with a sharp design eye oversee it, and it's fully functional too (the washing machine is tucked neatly away in the corner). Best of all, this space joins Ivy: the ladies' salon, to the Havana: the barber. Staff make themselves a cuppa and chat to clients waiting for a colour to take, or anyone else who happens to be there for a chat.

Each person passing by gives me a nod, a wave or a ‘hi’, and I wonder if they’re trained to smile this way, because it’s incredibly welcoming. 

I’m here to meet Ruth, the matriarch of the family. After 45 years as a trainer, she’s a bit of a legend in the industry. “My mother-in-law opened one of the first hair training schools in New Zealand and that’s where I started. From the beginning, I’ve enjoyed watching how life changing it is for young people and I still love every second of it.”

Ruth and her team have recently refurbished the Hair2Train building on Totara Street and created beautiful salon Ivy, and brother barbershop Havana. The branding is cutting edge and the décor contemporary cool; it’s unlike anything Tauranga has seen before.

"We wanted to offer something completely separate from the training school where people could come, sit at the table, read the paper and have a coffee. It’s about offering the whole experience, with service and consistency.”

IVY

Put simply, Ivy is beautiful. She's quintessential salon luxe with gold candles and ornate décor. It's the place to be pampered in all things hair, from cuts and styling to indulgent treatments for luscious locks.

HAVANA

The recent resurgence in the old school barbershop has brought back the traditional cut throat shave, injecting some va va voom into men's grooming and Havana is just that. The décor is all blokey and the corrugated sliding door to the car park is reminiscent of a 1950’s James Dean biker gang. 

But what makes this place tick is the people.

“Because we are aligned with the training side of things, our attention to detail is impeccable, we are good at communicating with our clients but most importantly, but what we do best is customer service.”

On my way out, I book an appointment. I can't wait to go back, I already feel part of the gang.

Davinci Clinic: the cooler way to shift stubborn weight

WORDS Pip Crombie PHOTO Logan Weaver

We all have stubborn areas of fat which we just can’t shift, even with regular, intensive exercise and a good diet.

While surgical procedures like liposuction and abdominoplasty are popular for removing excess areas of fat and tightening loose skin, they do require a general anaesthetic and significant recovery time.

Good news. There are now some non-invasive techniques for helping to get rid of areas of stubborn fat, typically around the waist and tummy, thighs and upper arms and double chin. One of the most popular techniques is CoolSculpting, using a technology called Cryolipolysis®.

Widely acknowledged as being safe and effective, CoolSculpting is the only FDA-cleared procedure to use controlled cooling to safely target and eliminate diet and exercise-resistant fat.

HOW DOES IT WORK?
Fat cells freeze at higher temperatures than the surrounding tissues. CoolSculpting technology safely delivers precise cooling to gently and effectively target the fat cells underneath the skin. The treated fat cells are crystallized (frozen), and then die. Over time, your body naturally processes the fat and eliminates these dead cells, leaving a more sculpted you. As a body-contouring procedure, it offers an effective solution to shifting stubborn bulges, has no down-time, requires no anaesthetic, no needles, is suitable for most people, friendly to your budget and perhaps most enticing of all, is performed with only minimal discomfort. 

SAFETY FIRST!
Make sure you go to a specialist nurse who is trained to develop a customised treatment plan for your areas of concern, advise on the suitability of CoolSculpting and work within your budget.

There are lesser versions of the CoolSculpting technology available on the market. If you are investigating options, you will see that only CoolSculpting is permitted to use the term Cryolypolisis®. Be wary of imitations and counterfeits and devices which lack the safety mechanisms of CoolSculpting. The extensive training necessary for CoolSculpting ensures that our nurses are very skilled in recommending which areas will respond to treatment and how many treatments are required. This provides consistency in results and optimal outcomes for you, the patient. Two or more treatments are usually scheduled and results are not immediate, but generally become evident over weeks as the fat cells die and are eliminated. So it’s not immediately obvious that you have had any ‘work done.’ Both men and women are loving the results of CoolSculpting at the Da Vinci Clinic. Take a moment to enquire to find out if it’s the answer you’ve been looking for to combat those unwanted bulges. 

davinciclinic.co.nz 

Midwife Anne Sharplin: 2,000 babies and counting

WORDS Jenny Rudd PHOTOS Brydie Thompson

The New Zealand College of Midwives recommends a caseload of about 40 babies per year. Most midwives retire having delivered hundreds of babies. Anne Sharplin has attended the births of more than 2000 babies and is still going. That’s about 50 babies every year of her 35 year career.

Anne has slept knowing a phone call may wake her at any minute and she’ll walk into a highly-charged and unpredictable situation for most nights of her adult life. And has lost up to a whole night of sleep about every five days, depending on when the babies decide to come into the world. Then there are the ante and postnatal visits required for other pregnant mums on Anne’s books, which must be conducted during the day over the rest of the week.

This sounds like a demanding job even with no other commitments, but Anne, incredibly, was a solo mother of two little boys from the get-go. And there weren’t the child-care options in the eighties that we have today. The pressure must have been incredible. But reading her youngest son Adam’s account of his childhood, as well as many of Anne’s birth stories, the same description comes up time and again; of a calm, powerful, kind, and assured woman.

Indeed it has been a battle, during the writing of this article, to keep Anne on the topic of herself. She doesn’t see herself as exceptional, and insists we talk more about midwives and the choices of maternity care at home she believes all women should have. She talks of herself in very humble terms and took some persuading to feature in the magazine.

WHAT DOES A MIDWIFE DO?

Anne’s description of her own job could not be more understated. “You have to be quite present - you need to react to lots of things that are happening at the same time, although it often appears you are doing nothing at all.”

According to the dictionary, a midwife is a person qualified to aid the delivery of babies and look after women before, during and after childbirth.

Anyone who has either had a baby, or seen a baby being born, will realise that this official description lacks the wild and intense emotion which can accompany pregnancy and childbirth.

A midwife assesses and manages risk with the highest possible stakes, on a second-to-second basis, over an undeterminable period of time. The ideal working conditions would be total quiet, to assist the concentration required to manage all the unpredictable goings-on. However it’s more likely to involve bestial screaming, sobbing men, and a lot of strange fluid. 

The midwife may be called upon at any time of day, and so must always be prepared. She may be called to work at 2 am in torrential rain, or on Christmas Day in the middle of present opening. No matter - the midwife must drop everything, and go to work.

It makes some other jobs look a little frivolous, doesn’t it?

“Being on-call is a way of living which takes surrender.

You can plan a big family Christmas, only to be called away at 6 am.”

BIRTHING CHOICES

“Midwifery facilitates a process of wellness. That’s what motivated my choice of study. After qualifying in Oldham, Manchester in 1981, I returned home to Auckland and started to attend homebirths with Veronika Muller, Joan Donley, Carolyn Young and others.

“The choices women have now are vastly different to when I starting practising. I had my first son, Joseph, in Auckland in 1983. My midwife was Joan Donley. At the time, a doctor had to be present at all births. There were few midwives and doctors who offered a domiciliary (home) birth service and the pay was poor, and inferior to that of midwives practising in hospital.

“In 1986, I was living in Thames with my son Joseph and his father. Three women from the Bay of Plenty asked me to attend their births as at the time, the only domiciliary (homebirth) midwife had stopped practising because of the low pay and lack of support.

“I came down with my son and stayed at my brother-in-law’s house with my nephews Alex and James, and my niece Annah who is now a midwife herself. Between the three women, they lent me a blue Morris Minor and I took my little boy with me to attend each of their births.

“We moved to Tauranga the following year. It was such a busy time; my sister had died, her children were here and I wanted to be close to them. I was pregnant with Adam, had a toddler, and attended eleven home births that year, right up to being eight months pregnant myself. I was frequently exhausted and we had very little money.”

REFORM

The Nurses’ Amendment Act of 1990, championed and implemented by Helen Clark the then Health Minister, changed everything. Midwives had autonomy, so no longer needed a doctor at the birth. And they were given equality of pay when attending home births. Suddenly it was possible to earn a proper living.

“Being on-call is a way of living which takes surrender. You can plan a big family Christmas, only to be called away at 6 am. My sons made me breakfast in bed one Mother’s Day, which was interrupted by a phone call; I gulped it down, gave them a quick cuddle, threw on some clothes and left. Many have retired by now as it’s demanding to live on-call.”

“I have always cared for six women per month. Care starts early in the pregnancy and continues until six weeks after the baby is born. I have tried to reduce to four women a month, but I often get requests from families for whom I’ve been the midwife for two generations. Because I’ve been around a while, I have attended the births of aunties, cousins, sisters, nieces. However you can’t be present at every single birth; on the days I can’t attend, I rely on my midwifery partner Lyn Allport. We have also had support from many other wonderful midwives.”

Now a grandmother to Shore, Anne enjoys taking him to weekly swimming lessons, and in the future plans to present the vast data she has collected from her 2000 births, along with her observations as part of a university degree. Once completed, this will be an important body of work, full of Anne’s heartfelt intelligence. It’s no wonder the French for midwife, la sage femme, translates as wise woman.

PINARD HORN

“The pinard is an excellent tool; a simple, hollow horn shape which amplifies sound. A type of stethoscope, it’s designed for auscultation: the act of listening to the body’s internal workings - in this case, the baby’s heartbeat inside the mother. Widely used across Europe, it never breaks down, doesn’t need to be plugged in and is totally trustworthy.”

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BIRTH STORIES:

Sarah Wilson

When my younger son Henry was born in 1999, Anne held an ice-cream container between my legs while Henry’s father drove us to Tauranga hospital in Anne’s van. My labour lasted just 20 minutes and Henry wasn’t breathing when he was born. I attribute Henry’s life to Anne’s calmness and directing of the wildly frightening proceedings. He was incubated for the first week of his life; we couldn’t touch him, and I had severe blood poisoning. At the time of Henry’s birth we lived near Anne’s home in Simpson Road in Papamoa. Anne’s son Adam and my daughter Billie became great friends during those years.

Rhonda Collins 

On Christmas Eve, I was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia and induced in hospital (my date was 31st December). My midwife, Lyn Allport had Christmas Day off, so I called Anne who was my fill-in midwife at 5 am on Christmas Day. Throughout the labour, Anne stayed with me. She was wonderful - so kind and supportive and gracious. At 9.42 pm, my daughter Mackenzie was born with the aid of forceps. Anne and my husband Anthony shared a Christmas dinner kindly provided by the hospital during the day, and drank lots of tea. I caught up with Anne a few weeks later and bought her a beautiful tea cup and saucer to say thank you.

Pauline Scott and daughter Sophie

I met Anne in 1983, before she moved to the Bay of Plenty. In 1990, following a series of health care reforms, New Zealand midwives were recognised as independent practitioners. Anne was at the forefront of this long and challenging battle for midwives’ autonomy. As a childbirth educator, I had a special bond with Anne. This became closer when I discovered I was pregnant at 41 with my third child after an eleven-year gap.

On 25th January 1992, Sophie Ann Joy was born at home. Anne's calming influence was invaluable, especially as Sophie's shoulders got stuck as she was being born, but there was no hint of panic. Anne offered support and encouragement, not telling me what to do, or demanding me to hurry along. Her total calmness and trust in the birth process allowed me do what my body was designed for.

Sophie has been born less than a minute in this picture, and I'm rubbing her back gently to help her take her first breath. Anne's hands are to the left of the photo, in a pose of calmness and reassurance. It is a special moment, surrounded by family and with the person I most trusted in the world: Anne Sharplin, mother, midwife and one marvellous woman.

Danielle Hart-Murray trained to be a midwife with Anne (who also attended two of Danielle’s siblings)

It was Anne who inspired me to become a midwife, and I was lucky enough to complete my final year working alongside her. Anne taught me skills which simply can’t be taught in a classroom. The way she works with women and their whanau is exemplary; no other midwife I have worked with shows the amount of passion and dedication for ensuring the care is truly woman-centred. She goes above and beyond for the women she cares for, but would never say so herself. A role model not just to midwives, but to all women.

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On our Facebook Page, we posted a request for photos of Anne’s babies. Some of the hundreds of comments about Anne:

• Such a beautiful, humble lady.

• Anne you have inspired, cared for, encouraged and supported so many woman with your abundance of skill, knowledge and passion.

• A very special lady with a gift.

• Her patience and strength is inspiring. She empowers women to do what they are made to do without the fear that is unfortunately part of modern pregnancy and birth.

• Anne is amazing, a beautiful, knowledgable and intuitive soul.

• Absolute gold, we had just arrived in New Zealand, and she even gave us a lovely queen-sized bed! Love you Anne x

• A wonderfully calming, reassuring influence.

• We are so lucky to have her! She is the best of the best!!

• I love this lady.

• Anne always came with a quiet confidence that nothing was too difficult to take on and she proved this time and again with all the adversities that came my way. Dealing with my own health issues as well as my babies’ successful outcomes resonates with my children, who are now choosing her, she is simply the BEST !!!

• I met Anne nearly 18 years ago and she came highly recommended by Māori mums because of her respect for Te Ao Māori. We welcomed her into our home and she would go on to help us bring three of our children into this world at home. So when our first moko was announced we knew she would be the one to also help us. We are so grateful for all her care and aroha.

• Such a beautiful being.