Laurel Parsons Wellness

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Laurel Parsons Wellness

Retired Health and Wellness Coach, Occupational Therapist and Personal Trainer I am committed to helping you be your best self and to live life to the fullest.

Laurel Parsons Wellness

About Me

My long career as an Occupational Therapist (OT) reached a turning point when I realized I wanted to start using my passion for health and wellness to help people live a life they love, as well as assist in preventing many of the conditions I treated as a therapist. I offer a unique service by integrating Wellness Coaching with my clinical skills and professional

experience as an Occupational Therapist, plus my Health and Fitness Qualifications, to support midlife women who want professional guidance in making positive lifestyle changes. Qualifications and Professional Memberships

Registered Occupational Therapist – AHPRA

Member of OT Australia

BSc (Occupational Therapy) – Curtin University

Post Graduate Diploma Health Science – Edith Cowan University

Certified Wellness Coach – Level 1, 2 and 3 Wellness Coaching – Wellness Coaching Australia

Certified Nutrition Consultant - Jill Coleman Fitness

Certificate 3 & 4 Fitness – Fit College

Registered Exercise Professional – Fitness Australia

Certificate in Pain Management – Edith Cowan University

10/07/2025

I turned 68 today. I’m not 100, or even 70 yet, but at 68, I’ve still seen stuff…a lot of events and changes, both globally and in my own little circle.

I’m not blind to the awful things happening in the world at the moment and observing it can cause a range of emotions from anger to sadness, but I also don’t want that to cloud my vision of the positives and beauty left in the world, or influence the way I live.

So, I celebrate firstly that I was born, then that I have family and friends that I love, a comfortable home, access to quality food and clean water, and pretty good health (well except for a dicky shoulder and the head cold I’m just getting over). I’m strong enough to carry my 20kg suitcase (inelegantly) up three flights of odd shaped European stairs and walk up the hills and steps of Lisbon all day (and night).

I still have vision (with glasses) and I can hear (kind of, with hearing devices 😂) to take in all that is around me. I live close to nice bushland and a lake, and a 10-15 minute drive to beautiful, white sand beaches where I love to go for long walks.

I live in a country that is not at war and where we have universal health care, public schools (even if they’re not absolutely perfect), a strong economy and a multicultural society.

So lots to celebrate so far on this 68 year journey ❤️

08/04/2025

Yay for Frequent Flyer points 👏🏼 Spent most of the last 24 hours flying from Bali to Geneva and lay flat beds definitely make it easy. And bonus, the views coming in were stunning. We’re now in Annecy, France and glad I strength train as had no problem lugging my suitcase and backpack up 2 flights of stairs in an old building.

10/07/2024

So…today I turned 67. Just got home from a lovely dinner with family and friends. Not sure where all those years have gone, but grateful for every day, grateful for the people in my life, and grateful for what my body can still do for me.
I’ve been MIA a bit from Insta because I’m back working in an occupational therapy / Injury Management position 3 days a week, and with the exercise groups I still run and coaching / personal training clients, there’s not much time to post here. But, yep, I’m still alive and ticking off another birthday 🙌🏼 ❤️

05/05/2024

You may notice my right hand is in my pocket on my lakeside walk this morning, because I’m meant to keep my injured right shoulder still for 48 hours.

Exercise professionals sometimes carry injuries as well. For some months now I’ve been nursing what was first diagnosed via ultrasound as mild shoulder bursitis.

It had a gradual onset, so not really sure how it happened 🤷‍♀️

I’ve continued to train clients and do my own workouts (albeit modified for my shoulder, with less weight, reduced range and therapeutic rehab exercises). No issues with my lower limbs, so they’ve been working at the usual intensity.

Shoulder pain and ROM failed to improve, so last week had an MRI and now rotator cuff tendon tears added to the bursitis diagnosis. Had a corticosteroid injection Friday afternoon, and except for some lovely walks, I’ve rested over the weekend.

No significant improvement noticed yet, but fingers crossed it gradually improves 🤞🏼

In the meantime, I’ll keep all my other body parts (including my left upper limb) moving and strong.

So, if you too have an injury to one particular body part, don’t give up exercise altogether! Explore what you can do safely and comfortably with the remaining, uninjured body parts.

If your lower limbs are okay, walking is a great start, and squats, lunges or hip hinges (deadlifts) without weights can be alternatives.

If the upper limbs are okay, seated resistance exercises are an option.

Walking on land or in water, or swimming can be great for back injuries, as can gentle pilates, yoga or core exercises. As you improve, unloaded squats, lunges and hip hinges are options. When it comes to upper limb exercises, if you find that a freeweight exercise hurts, reduce the weight or try a machine option instead.

However, if you’re uncertain how to exercise with an injury, consult with a suitably qualified health professional or your doctor.

Anyway, just wanted to say, if you have an injury, take care, start back in small steps, but don’t completely ditch exercise. Instead, just find a way to keep moving your body within your tolerance 😍

07/03/2024

Tonight’s dinner - fresh beetroot and spiced chickpeas roasted in the air fryer, tossed with shredded chicken, feta, and spring onion drizzled with balsamic glaze. I also made a honey mustard dressing and added some of that at the table. Flakes from the shredded chicken made the beetroot look all messy, but never mind, it still tasted really good, and we have leftovers for lunch tomorrow 👏🏼 😋

I also burnt my forearm on the air fryer basket, but quickly ran it under the cold tap, then mixed turmeric powder with water and rubbed it on. Barely any pain now. Works a treat on minor burns 🔥

What was on your dinner table tonight?

25/02/2024

I really felt like working my legs this afternoon. For a bit of a change, I did a pyramid style workout. When I finished, I was hot, sweaty 🥵 and my legs were tired (so, needed this bit of a sit down 😂), but I felt accomplished, satisfied and loaded up with endorphins 🙌🏼😌

We babysat our little granddaughter last night, and there was a bit of squatting and sitting on the the floor to play, some vigorous dancing, emulating Barbie surfing on the TV, then carrying her up the stairs to bed. She’s so much fun, and I don’t want to miss out on any of these moments. Leg workouts will contribute to my ability to keep doing this, and all the other stuff I want to do.

I did 1 set each of 20, 15, 10 and 5 reps of:
DB lunges (each leg)
Squat jumps
Bench Step Ups (each leg)
DB Front Squats
Alternating DB Curtsey Lunges (each leg)

I took a 1 minute rest between sets.

I started with lighter dumbbells and as the reps decreased, I increased the DBs by a kg in each hand. I’ll be honest though, I started really light for the Squat Jumps because, well, they exhaust me, 😮‍💨 and for the Step Ups because, I’m not that steady on the bench, and although I’m improving, if I do stumble, it may well look hilarious, but I don’t want to be flailing around with heavy weights whilst trying regain balance (especially as I was recently diagnosed with mild right shoulder bursitis 😣).

Anyway, it’s good to do something different now and then to make things more interesting. What do you do to add a bit of interest to your workouts? 😍

14/02/2024

So, last night’s workout was all about lower body. I started with some mat work - 3 sets x 10 reps on each leg:
Supine Banded Hip Flexor March
Seated Hip Hurdles
Banded Clams (feet raised)
Hip Adductor Raises

Then it was on to strength training. We’re in a heat wave and I was feeling a bit overheated 🥵 (even with the air con and it being early evening), so only did 2 sets, but it still counts!
10 x DB Front Squats
10 x Bench Step Ups (each leg)
10 x DB Lunges (each leg)
10 x Bulgarian Split Squats (each leg)
10 x Side Lunges (each leg)
10 x DB Romanian Deadlift

According to our weather bureau, high temperatures will continue at least until next Wednesday. What’s the weather like where you are? Do you need to modify your exercise to suit? ☀️ ❄️ ⛈️ 💨

13/02/2024

Health and wellness is a journey that has no end (well, you know, not until we depart this earth). It’s more than a 4, 6, or 12 week challenge, a particular number on a scale, running a marathon, competing in a fitness contest or some other big goal.

Yes, it’s awesome to have dreams and big goals (provided they’re realistic), but what happens after you’ve achieved that big goal?

To age actively and positively, you’ll have to be consistent. As you get older you may have to modify your goals and the way you do things, but you’ll still need to keep showing up.

So here I was at 5:00pm yesterday (yes, pm not am, because I can lift more late afternoon), showing up for my health and wellness, and aiming for a longer healthspan, not just an increased lifespan.
Do I care that I have messy hair and no makeup? Not really, it had no bearing on the benefits of my workout 😜😂

One of my self-care goals is to stay strong so I can be functional, keep doing the sh*t I want (or need) to do and remain independent into my older years.

My dumbbell workout was upper body, with 10 reps x 4 sets:
Incline Chest press
Bent Over Row
Chest fly
Lawnmower Row
Front Raise
DB Pullover

Lower body today!

If you have some big goals you’re working towards, do you have a plan for after?

04/02/2024

Last night’s dinner. Figs are in season here in Australia, so I replicated a delicious salad I had on a visit to New York. I used fresh figs, rocket, prosciutto, feta, mandarin (the original had orange, but I had none, so substituted), toasted walnuts and drizzled it with balsamic glaze. The hubs was still barbecuing the accompanying chicken breast in lemon herb marinade when I took this photo, so it missed out on a pic. Both were tasty and satisfying 😋

We ate mindfully and stopped when full, so we’ve got a bit of leftover chicken. Tonight I’m going to use that up, plus the unused prosciutto and rocket to make a pasta dish with tomatoes, onion, Greek yoghurt, and Parmesan.

What are you having for dinner?

03/02/2024

Progress is not just about the final goal. It’s a process and a journey. And like a journey, every step forward, no matter how small brings you closer to your goal and is a win

An essential part of the process is acknowledging how far you’ve come, even if you haven’t yet reached your destination.

So, celebrate those small steps and the progress you’ve made along the way!

If you’d like some help to start taking those small steps and make progress towards better health and wellness, DM me or fill out the form in my bio to find out how we can work together.

16/01/2024

A few snaps from my beach walks in Busselton and Meelup Bay. Good for the body, mind and soul 😌

14/01/2024

Happy 46th wedding anniversary to us!! 💞 Celebrating by staying a couple of days at the brand new Hilton Garden Hotel, Busselton.

We spent our honeymoon in Busselton all those years ago, but we’re not quite reliving the experience, because all we could afford as 20 and 23 year olds was a pretty basic motel. It’s still here in Busselton, and online it actually looks better than it did back then, but we thought we’d aim for a little more luxury this time.

So, it was pool time and a pretty good coffee this afternoon, then a beautiful dinner this evening. Looking forward to a beach walk tomorrow. Feeling grateful 🩷

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About Me

My 20 year career as an Occupational Therapist (OT) reached a turning point when I realised I wanted to start using my passion for health and wellness to prevent the conditions I treated as a therapist. I am committed to helping you be your best self and to live life to the fullest.

I offer a unique service by integrating Wellness Coaching with my clinical skills and professional experience as an Occupational Therapist, plus my Fitness qualifications, to support clients who want professional guidance in making positive lifestyle changes.

Qualifications and Professional Memberships

Registered Occupational Therapist - AHPRA and member of OT Australia