Pyes Pa

Born and raised in New Zealand, have volunteered and been an employee as an Ambulance Officer (with several other internal roles teaching, auditing, mentoring, healthline consults) for St John Tauranga for 15 years graduating as a Paramedic in 2018.

BSc HONS Physiotherapy, Sports massage therapy level 3, sports taping

I started my physiotherapy career working in the NHS in the UK. I completed two years of rotations within public health, medical, respiratory and neurological physiotherapy, before specialising in musculskeletal outpatients. I have completed specialist training with post op orthopeadic rehabilitation and have an interest in return to sport or return to work rehabilitation. I have completed additional qualifications in sports massage therapy and kinesiology taping.

Interests : sailing, kitesurfing, suring, running and hiking.

BSc Sports Conditioning, Rehabilitation and Massage, MSc Pre-Reg Physiotherapy

I enjoy painting and making jewellery. I also do Taekwondo and play lacrosse. Love walking outdoors (love a good view) and exploring, especially shell finding at the beach.

I have lived in Tauranga for over 25 years and have three wonderful adult children and a gorgeous grand daughter. I have worked in the physio industry for the last 16 years. My husband and I love the beach and I enjoy spending time with my family & friends, baking, candle making and enjoying the local lifestyle.

Inerests: Social Beach Volleyball, Candle making, The Beach, Baking

BHSc (Physiotherapy), COMT

Alana graduated from AUT in 2014 and moved back down to the sunny Bay to begin her career in musculoskeletal physiotherapy at Body in Motion. During her time with Body in Motion Alana completed the certificate of orthopaedic manual therapy and qualified in dry needling.

Alana also spent time working with the Bay of Plenty Women’s Sevens side and gained valuable experience in sports injuries. After working for three years the call of travel became too strong and Alana spent the next year and a half travelling Europe. Alana has now returned to Body in Motion and keen to continue using and developing her skills to help members of the community return to their best. Alana uses a combination of manual therapy, exercise and education to aid recovery and enjoys taking a holistic ‘whole body’ approach to treatment.

Alana is a keen hockey player who also has an interest in all the outdoors have to offer, especially spending time at the beach, camping and tramping.

BPhyst Deg, MPNZ

Tom gained his physiotherapy degree while in the South African military in 2000. His service enabled him to gain experience in a variety of fields, including musculoskeletal, hydrotherapy, respiratory and neurological physiotherapy. Tom then worked in the United Kingdom in the public and private sector for 4½ years before emigrating to beautiful New Zealand.

Tom’s areas of interest are manual therapy, exercise-based rehabilitation and sports injuries, particularly the diagnosis and management of shoulder injuries. Tom undertakes Occupational Workplace Assessments and Stay-At-Work programmes for both ACC and Private Insurers. He also has an interest in Concussion injury management and treatment of Vestibular Dysfunction. Tom’s corporate clients include NZ Police and Oji Fibre Solutions.

BSc(Hons) Physiotherapy, MPNZ

Alice has a passion for helping to return to what they love doing in life. She believes in ‘treating people and not injuries’ and is currently one of our key workers working alongside people with persistent pain conditions.

Alice graduated from the University of Manchester (UK) with a BSc (Honours) degree in Physiotherapy in 2001. After 3 years working in a large NHS teaching hospital in Leeds she decided to explore life “Down Under” moving to Australia in 2004. Based in Queensland, Alice owned her own successful Physiotherapy Practice for 10 years before selling this in November 2015 to moving across the ditch to NZ. Outside of work Alice loves bringing her kids up in the Bay of Plenty and exploring all the beautiful places it has to offer. In the summer Alice can often be found at the beach or on a hike and she stays active during the winter by playing football.

Diploma of Physiotherapy 1978

Dennis graduated from the Auckland School of Physiotherapy in 1978, initially working at Waikato Hospital before going into private practice as a Clinic owner for 30 years. He was the Team Physiotherapist for the Waikato Rugby Team for 16 years, Chiefs Super Rugby for 10 years and 2 years as assistant Physiotherapist with the All Blacks. Between rugby roles he was the NZ Blacks Sox Softball Physiotherapist for 3 years. Dennis was a Clinical Educator for the Auckland School of Physiotherapy for 24 years before heading to Hobart, Australia to work for a four year adventure.

Dennis has a particular interest in treating neck and back pain, sports injuries and particularly lower limb injuries and was recently awarded Life Membership of Physiotherapy New Zealand.

Dennis returned to NZ for family reasons and recently moved to Tauranga and has joined the Body In Motion team. 

BOHSc (Physiotherapy), PGCert HSc (Rehabilitation), NZ Registered Hand Therapist

Chris is an experienced hand therapist with a physiotherapy background who graduated from AUT in 2009. As a physiotherapist he ran three clinics and worked with surgeons, specialists and patients of all ages and stages including sportspeople ranging from weekend warriors to world-beaters.

Chris’ work is driven by genuine care for his patient’s wellbeing. He became interested in hand therapy after discovering how much he could improve a person’s quality of life using the extra tools at a hand therapist’s disposal.

From 2017-2022 he worked and mentored staff at an Auckland hand therapy clinic, allowing him to help more than 1200 people with their elbow, wrist and hand concerns. Chris has moved himself, his wife and two young children to Tauranga to be closer to family and is eager to help you with your recovery at Body in Motion.

Outside of work, Chris enjoys mountain biking, rock climbing, anything outdoors and usually with a child or two in tow.

Rona has been with Body In Motion since July 2015 and trained as a Pilates Instructor in August 2022.  Although she has not participated in high level sport for some years, she has always maintained an interest in sport and exercise.  She has supported her children through their sporting endeavours and now that they are all independent, it’s time to return the focus back to her own exercise goals.  The pilates course was the natural progression to accomplish this.  She looks forward to seeing you in the Pyes Pa Clinic soon. 

BHSc (Occ. Ther), NZROT, MNZAOT, NZBA.

Lara was born in Thailand and spent her later schooling and the majority of her working career in multi-cultural South Auckland, completed further studies in the UK, volunteered in the Solomon Islands and is now enjoying the rural community life of the South Waikato.

Professionally, Lara has been privileged to work with people from all age groups (2 years and over), in a variety of settings including preschools, schools, homes, workplaces and the wider community. Currently Lara is relishing the challenges and achievements that come with being part of the Body In Motion whanau.

Out of work, Lara is busy keeping up with her two boys and fabulous husband. Nga Mihi, Lara.

Bachelor’s Occupational Therapy (Distinction) – BOcc Ther, NZROT, MNZAOT

Arriving in NZ a decade ago, with just a rucksack and a suitcase, Emma has ventured across from the UK to work in the Bay of Plenty, Northland and Waikato regions in various health settings. Now a proud citizen of this beautiful country Emma is back in the Bay of Plenty and is putting down roots. As a recipient of the Linda H Wilson, Essence of Occupation Award (2020), the Joan Walden Trophy (2021) and the OTNZ-WNA, Occupational Therapy New Zealand – Whakaora Ngangahau Aotearoa Graduate Award (2021) Emma has fully embraced her recent career change completing her Bachelor’s in Occupational Therapy with Distinction. When not nosing in books you will find her walking our beautiful coastlines, kayaking or camping with her family. Emma has a special interest in neuro Occupational Therapy and is currently undertaking postgraduate study in Rehabilitation

Susan has a background in Organisational Psychology (Victoria and Massey Universities, NZ) and worked for 25 years in various Human Resource roles throughout NZ before leaving the Corporate world to focus on a family business. 

Susan is a keen (but not necessarily fast!) runner and has completed a number of International and NZ Marathons and half-marathons.  To balance her running and help with the inevitable injuries, Susan began practicing Reformer Pilates in 2014 to improve core stability and running technique.  Susan has now completed STOTT Reformer Pilates training so she can actively engage and encourage others to develop and achieve through Pilates.

Susan is passionate about Pilates, particularly on adapting exercises to provide challenge and strength for everyone irrespective of individual levels of fitness and condition.  In her experience the benefits of regular movement and muscular strength extend into an overall sense of wellbeing which continues to grow with focus and practice.

Having recently relocated to Mt Maunganui, Shelley brings with her 10 years of Mat Pilates and Yoga teaching experience. Shelley completed her Pilates training with STOTT and her Yoga training with the Ashram Yoga 200hr Teaching Program. Since then she has specialised in pregnancy and post-natal clients and classes, and has more recently added STOTT Barre Training to her qualifications. Shelley’s classes are light and fun with lots of variety as she likes to add in the best of both Pilates and Yoga (and a bit of Barre too!) to keep her clients on their toes. She is passionate about working with her clients to help them achieve their goals, whether it be to help with injuries or limitations, or to increase strength and flexibility

Ian Cuplan:

Ian is both a Pilates and Fitness trainer. He completed his Core Foundation and Optimal Mobility Pilates course in 2012 at Studio Pilates in South Africa. His training emcompasses many different methods of Pilates including STOTT, Power, and the New York discipline, where his knowledge and experience in each of these can facilitate his individualised approach when programming for clients. In fitness, Ian is grounded in TRX suspension training & functional fitness and incorporates elements of these disciplines into his classes. He loves the mechanics of our anatomy makeup and feels privileged to help others reach beyond their training goals whether it be post injury returning to wellness or athletic conditioning.