Kiri Haretuku: Massage Therapist @ Bodysmart Gym, Auckland CBD

Kiri Haretuku is an experienced sports, therapeutic and relaxation massage therapist who works with elite athletes and people from all walks of life who want to maintain their fitness with the help of the BodySmart team. Kiri completed a diploma of body therapies, majoring in sports, along with a diploma of therapeutic massage at the New Zealand College of Massage in 1998.

Kiri moved into this field after being impressed with the sports therapist who looked after her netball team. Kiri's time as a top-level netball player has given her experience from both sides of the fence to understand how important it is to treat sports people's injuries and niggling pains as soon as possible. She played for the Counties Comets netball team and was in the National league's winning team, ASB Collegiate. As a result of this on court background mixed with her massage skills Kiri is a therapist for the Silver Ferns when they are in Auckland. 'I worked with them for the 2007 World Cup. They did so well and worked so hard. It's a shame they lost as they gave it everything they had.'
She has also worked with several other high profile international sports people including boxer Shane Cameron, and Mark Spooner the weightlifter.

'However most of my clients are fit people who do some sort of activity - be it at the gym or a sport - you don't have to be a top athlete to come in for a massage. It's about general well being and a bit of rehabilitation to keep them going.'

Kiri can work with athletes of all ages and endorses the merits of massage therapy for budding teenage athletes. 'You can help them change methods while they're developing before they develop bad habits. One triathlete had neck tension and we worked out it was his breathing method when he was swimming. When he changed the way he moved his head it stopped. I believe that helped curb even more potentially serious neck problems that may occur later in his sporting career.'

Kiri explains that she focuses on soft tissue therapy, which is on the heavier side of relaxation massage therapy, along with deep tissue, and lymphatic work.
Overall her focus is to assist people maintain their fitness and heal sports related injuries. To achieve this sometimes means a team effort - working with other BodySmart colleagues, which includes a physiotherapist, along with a chiropractor, and a personal trainer.