Introducing: Rachel Emily’s Fitness & Massage

Years of study and practical experience are behind a new home-based, and mobile, wellbeing business, which has opened in Orewa.

Rachel O’Neill, who is offering personal training and massage through Rachel Emily’s Fitness & Massage, has a Bachelor of Sport and Recreation, majoring in outdoor education, as well as certificates in relaxation massage and personal training and fitness. On the practical side, she worked as an outdoor instructor on cruise ships before moving back to the Coast where she has been involved with a number of local gyms.

“It’s really cool to be able to help people achieve their fitness goals,” Rachel says. “You don’t need to be an Olympic athlete to want to look good and feel good.”

One sector Rachel hopes her service will appeal to is mothers.

“Mums, whether they are in paid employment or are full-time carers, are inevitably time poor. They spend so much time running after everyone else that finding any spare time for themselves can be difficult.

“Because I’m mobile, I can come to their homes for a 45 minute work out or a local park if that is a better option. I’m also flexible so the workout can be timed to fit in with a baby’s sleep time.”

Rachel has written a fitness, health and wellbeing manual, which takes a holistic approach to physical and mental wellbeing. Through a 10-step programme, she emphasises not just fitness and nutrition, but other factors such as proper hydration and sleep. It also provides a record of an individual’s progress, a 12-week home-based fitness routine and please of health and fitness related tips.

She says the aim is get people into a training routine that is sustainable. This means having clear goals and making sure the routines are varied and appropriate.

“My goal is to keep people motivated to achieve what they want to achieve. Sometimes it can seem overwhelming and a person doesn’t necessarily know where to start. If this is the case, my advice is to start small – just taking out one unhealthy habit is a great start.”

Rachel says that while the massage she offers is purely for relaxation, massage has a role to play in stress reduction and injury rehabilitation.

Exercise and relaxation are also important contributors to mental health, she says.