After giving up her busy career as a sales executive to go on maternity leave, Jo decided it was time to retrain in something she was truly passionate about. While on maternity leave with her children she gained her certificate in Sports Training and Development, which led to a role teaching post-natal fitness to new, and not so new mums. It was here she fell in love with the idea of being able to improve people’s lives, both mentally and physically. Having always dabbled in massage at home, and with a keen interest in health, sport, physical and mental wellbeing, training to become a massage therapist was a natural choice.
Jo has a background in running, triathlon, rock climbing and mountaineering. She is a regular competitor at New Zealand trail and mountain running events and can often be seen supporting Lower Hutt’s popular parkrun. While in more recent years mountaineering has been put on the backburner, she still considers her unsupported ascent of Aconcagua in the Andes and her attempt to climb a remote and relatively unknown peak in the Himalaya’s as two of her greatest achievements.
Jo has two young children and understands the pressures of juggling parenthood with the expectations of modern day living. Her commitment to providing a family friendly environment stems from understanding that sometimes it just isn’t possible to ‘leave the kids at home’.
Her familiarity with different sporting disciplines, as well as the aches and pains that come with living a busy, active life as a parent give her a natural affinity for working with a wide range of people in a considerate and sensitive manner. She can include working on professional athletes from the Phoenix football club in her portfolio, as well as a number of recreational athletes, office workers and parents.