Vital Body Therapy

02/04/2026

Peri and Menopause symptoms will affect all women at sometime in their lifetime. Either hugely or not really a big deal.

I trained as a Certified Menopause Coaching specialist 2 years ago and this week recertified. This part of my clinical skills is probably the one that goes under the radar until I start to hear a woman, who is between the ages of 38 - 75, talk about a whole range of symptoms that sound completely not connected. But oh yes they are.

And in fact 38 is not the youngest age for Perimenopause. Women of African ethnic origin can go through this stage much younger. Also surgery or chemically induced Menopause can start way younger.

My role as a menopause coach is to help my clients find the route that is best suited to their aims, values and situation in life. I will also show options and also help women find validation in what they know is their body - if I could make money from the phrase " you are too young to be experiencing perimenopause" !!!!

No I don't prescribe HRT or supplements. I help you work through avenues to find providers that will support you as well as helping you with the small things like pain relief for muscles and joints as well sleeping, nutrition and exercise support. Craniosacral and remedial therapy is also used during the sessions to support the body during this time of transition.

And yes Peri and Menopause kicked my butt too!!!!!!!!!!! but I didn't know what it was. This is why I trained as a Menopause coach. To support myself to live the life I wanted to live, but also so that support is available for women - looking at the whole picture.

04/02/2026

03/02/2026

Day 3 Scarwork completed. Certificate received.
Today was all about working on members of the public. We had people come in with a huge variety of scars. Some scars were very tiny like laparoscopic scars but their impact was deep into the abdomen with the associated surgery then done inside. Other scars had hardware like artificial joints and plates and screws.
Women with c sections and hysterectomy surgery that had ongoing pain not only in the site of the surgery but throughout the abdomen.
And all these people sat at the end of thir session in a better place physically and emotionally.
I am privileged to have had this opportunity to learn these skills from an amazing teacher that had travelled from Poland to Perth to teach us. He started the 3 days with slides from work that he does in the Ukraine form victims of the war. I knew then that he was the best to learn from. It wasn't just technique but the total knowledge and skill of a master therapist.
Once again I look forward to bringing this therapy to all my clients when I get back. Next week.

02/02/2026

Day 2 of the Scarwork course completed. Today was about learning the advanced techniques such as releasing the abdominal adhesions caused by operations, pregnancy, c sections, surgery that included bone and also those little cuts that we have had since childhood.
I had my facial scars worked on yesterday and then today was the big task of unraveling my C section scars as well as abdominal adhesion from my many years goal keeping for soccer. The broken ribs I had when I was 17 had caused internal adhesion under my ribs. This was released easily and painlessly.
The joy of the techniques I am learning is that any scar whether it is from a cut, graze, surgery or even burns or from swelling or compression injuries can be easily released. This allows us to be able to move easier in our bodies.
Tomorrow will be working on the public. So I will be up at 5am again to study.
In the meantime I am sitting on my balcony eating dinner and watching the sun go down. Yes it is going down at 7.30pm. No Daylight saving here.

01/02/2026

Loving this Scarworks course. Spot me sitting in my white top. Day one complete. So excited to bring this back to NZ

01/02/2026

Day 1 of Scarwork training almost finished. A day of learning how scars are formed and how we can gently release adhesions and help scars to move together and feel better within the body's structure and movement.
I am astounded at how beautiful Mandurah, Perth is. Right on the waterfront. Beautiful sunshine and 40 degrees yesterday. A bit different to the rain of the past few weeks.
Now to go and do the practice treatments. But as I have been awake since 3am I will be working slowly through the techniques. Still 2 more days to cement the techniques and concepts.

28/01/2026

I will be out of the clinic next week. I am heading to Perth to attend the Scarwork Course with Anatomy Trains. This course has been on my 3 year plan and it popped up on my radar 3 months ago.
Scarwork is very close to my heart. I see on a daily basis the impact of scars- not just what is on the surface but what effect it has deep into the body - C sections, Appendix operations, hip, knee and shoulder surgery or even the falling off a bike or burns.
This course will address the impact and then the treatment of the deep effects of these scars - where they adhere to other structures in the body and thus restricting movement throughout the body.
I fly to Perth tomorrow Friday and will be there until Thursday next week. I apologise for the delay in some people getting appointments over the next 2 weeks but I know that the knowledge I bring back will be a huge support and comfort for the many of us who live with the underlying effects of scars.
I look forward to seeing everyone in Morrinsville and Cambridge from the 9th February.
Regards
Heather

15/01/2026

Happy new Year and Welcome to 2026. I am now back in the clinic after a great break which included time with my family as well as milking my beautiful cows and hosting a great friend from Scotland.

The summer break is usually a time of rest and rejuvination whether it is at the beach or relaxing at home. I find that this is when parents are getting to see the little niggles and issues that are overlooked when the busyness of school and after school activities are hiding symptoms. Headaches, sore muscles, overtiredness are all signs that our kids need a bit of Craniosacral Therapy and Body Work to help them grow easily and be relaxed in their own bodies.
Headaches can be from the fall off the trampoline 3 months ago or the nervousness of going to a new school or even for the first time to school. Tiredness and body pain can be from an over stimulated system or from growing at an alarming rate in the sunshine and joy of being on holiday.

I see lots of children over the January month. Relaxing muscles and downregulating nervous systems. The sessions will often look like home is. The whole family attending, toys and books everywhere. A place to relax and recover. Sometimes the child is treated on the treatment table and sometimes in Mums arms or even on the floor - I am more than happy to be sitting cross legged on the floor while the child cuddles into a parent who is reading a book.

Whatever the session looks like I know that it helps not only the child but the whole family. I even have children who tell their parents when it is time for them to go back to see "Heather"

I have added an extra day into my week - I am now available in Morrinsville on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday and in Cambridge on Tuesday and Fridays. I am looking forward to meeting you and your family. Regards Heather

30/11/2025

I am excited to be running another Kinesio® Taping Foundations Course in Cambridge next February. I know that this course like the previous ones will introduce the participants to a world of taping that they didn't know existed - the very light epidermis taping for nerve pain and the 75% tension for Ligament issues.

If you are a Therapist, or the therapist you know uses elastic therapeutic tape and wants to be able to use it correctly then this is the course to take

I am looking forward to teaching how to "Tape with Wisdom"

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DML7nbiMN/

Learn the Kinesio® Taping method with Heather Lever. Kinesio® Taping Foundations Courses in Morrinsville & Cambridge, Waikato. New Zealand based workshops

15/10/2025

A very important part of my clinic is the Scar Rehabilitation Therapy treatments that I do. I have been studying Scars and their impact for the last 10 years or so. I have learnt so much about the body's ability to accept and compensate a change in the skin, fascia and ulitmatelt muscle and other tissues.
However my journey with scars is a very long and special one. I have had scars since I was in a car accident at the age of 7. I wear these scars with an air of comfortable. They are on show for everyoine to see and not many see them. I remember the uncomfortable feelings and the itchiness and pulling at my face.
My other 2 scars are deeply important to me. The result of 2 emergency C sections. The joy of bringing my 2 kids into this world mingled with the emotions of all that comes with the words and realities of C sections. I wear these scars with total pride. But not always. It has taken me many years to find peace with them. The feeling of numbness and pulling, the change in my body's ability to move and flow. The change in my appearance. The Pouch!

Ultimately this is what drew me to looking for answers for myself and my many clients who live with the results of having a scar.

Each scar has its story - some exceptionately funny and others very sad. Some are just there with no emotional story. My job is to help mend the gaps.

To release the layers of tissue from the tissue and structure underneath in a way that is gentle but encouraging. To bring the layers together that have pulled apart. To hold space for the emotions and walk alongside the stories. To bring feeling to the numbness and to dull down the pain.

The influence of a scar is not just the scar itself, it is the tissue around that was pulled back in an operation or grazed deeply in a crash. Its influence is also the area around that swelled and then came back to "normal" or still retains the fluid above the scar. It is the pull of tissue to the left and right of the scar or even the shoulder pain that comes from tissue being pulled from a C section or abdominal surgery.

It doesn't matter how long ago the scar was formed. I have seen 70 year old scars released and the improvement in shoulder and arm mobility be amazing.

For me, it is a priviledge to be allowed to work with a scar. I know that my journey to heal my scars has been so special for myself and I am proud to be able to help others on their journey.

15/09/2025

I am back from my calving holiday and am excited to say that my clinics are open again.
I am looking forward to helping all my existing clients all those needing support for themselves and their families.
My online booking link is in the comments.