Functional Health/nutrition and yoga! Hi, I am Francesca a Yoga Teacher & Holistic Nutritionist based in Mangawhai, Northland.
I live here in our little slice of paradise with My Hubby Nathan and two (not so small now) munchkins Sienna Rose & Ethan. I love to float in the ocean, get outside in nature, create little wearable pieces of art in jewellery and hang out with my scrumptious family. You will often find me barefoot and drinking tea ( I am a tea monster).
My philosophy on nutrition is holistic, I take wholefoods, non-fad, non-diet approach to eating, believing that nature provides everything that the body needs to heal and function. At the beginning of 2020 I was all set to go into clinical practice after completing my Diploma in Nutritional Science. However, as we all know 2020 changed a lot of our plans and our goals. The brakes were put on to me setting up a practice, I continued to teach Yoga and learn. I soon realised that Clinical practice was not all that I wanted to do. I am a creative and compassionate being and I love connecting with others. I want to help others eat well and nourish themselves but not be to attached to restrictive diets, expensive supplements and to let go of emotional eating, to help people their bodies and stop wasting precious energy on how you look but to tune in to how you feel. This is where my focus will be in 2021 alongside seeing clients one on one, so stay tuned for updates on exciting up and coming group workshops combining nutrition, mindset and yoga! (all of my favourite things).
I have been practising yoga for around 20 years so. Not always a dedicated practice but always in some way shape or form. After sustaining injuries whilst surfing a few years ago, my own personal practice had to change. Little did I know at the time that this would be the beginning of a very exciting and soul-nourishing journey. I began to find new ways to move in order to build strength and improve my functional ranges of movement. I learnt more about anatomy and biomechanics so that I am able to understand movement so much more for myself and for my students. I had previously completed 250 hr vinyasa teacher training qualification but found that this was not in depth enough forthe way I was wanting to teachto teach, so I went on to study with Nikki Ralston. Nikki has devised her own method of Yoga called The Ralston Method. Her focus is on functional movent and strength whilst keeping the heart of Yoga very much the focus of the practice. This training changed the way I practice and teach, I love to share movement and yoga, giving people the power and the knowledge on how to move in their own unique bodies If you would like to practice with me see Yoga for more details and class timetable or feel free to contact me.
Let us honour our mistakes by allowing them to teach us. Let us consider our failings to be gifts and share them humbly with others. Let the cracks in our facades let in light and air so that new life can grow Through Them - Molly Gordon
23/10/2025
This is how it started! Flip through to see the journey to our now amazing 16-year-old!
She was stubborn right from the get-go, but strong, resilient, creative, and loves adventure (apart from any that involves a bike). She has the worst, yet best, sense of humour, loves anything Marvel and DC, loves the ocean and mountains, but is not too fond of cities or busyness.
💕✨💕✨💕✨💕✨💕✨💕✨💕✨💕
Sienna, you are so much like your Dad in that I never really can work you out and I don't really need to, just keep being you x
20/09/2025
When we start eating in a more whole-food, nutrient-dense way, it can sometimes feel a little restrictive at first.
It’s common to hear,or even think, things like, “I wish I had more variety.”
But let’s pause and unpack that. Picture 1 shows what whole-food eating really looks like: colorful, diverse, and full of possibilities. Picture 2, on the other hand, shows the kinds of highly processed foods we often crave ,which, if we’re honest, are usually made from the same handful of ingredients in slightly different forms.
So next time you catch yourself thinking you need more variety, it might be worth asking: do I actually want variety, or do I just miss those familiar flavors and textures?
Sometimes, all it takes is getting a little more creative with whole foods, herbs, and spices. Yes, it might take a bit more effort, but the rewards,more energy, better health, and a renewed relationship with food,can be life-changing.
19/09/2025
Hormone therapy during perimenopause and menopause, like many meds, can easily become a band-aid approach.
HRT can be incredible and I am not dismissing it. But there are layers. Suppose we jump straight into hormone replacement without first supporting the basics - Elimination pathways, alcohol habits, sleep, adrenal resilience and gut health. In that case, we risk missing the bigger picture and in some cases, we may make things worse.
Taking this approach makes sure the terrain is ready. Hormones do not work in isolation and when we support those systems first it is much easier to work out where the support is needed.
Now of course it is different for everyone- If for example, sleep is being disrupted by relentless hot flushes, then, yes this might be a time when HRT becoomes a helpful tool so that you are able to work on the foundations.
If you are unsure about where to start on the foundations then work with a practitioner that can support and guide you.
And if HRT is something you would like to explore then I recommend finding a GP who is well-versed in this area and will take your unique needs into consideration.
05/09/2025
I often wonder what this world would look like if more people actually focused on health. Not just fixing symptoms or following trends but real foundational health.
The kind that makes you feel grounded, strong and capable.
Imagine if energy, sleep, digestion, hormones and mental clarity were treated like essentials not luxuries.
If people realised just how much power they had to change things just by tuning into what their bodies actually need rather than what they want.
This is not about perfection but connection.
Just imagine the ripple effect that this would have on our human experience 🤯🪐
28/08/2025
This time in our lives can be a bit of a wild ride.
It can feel like the last decade went by in a blur and we suddenly wake up not even recognizing ourselves.
We feel like things have changed but don’t feel like we have changed a thing.
But if we look under the surface, so much has.
Yes, this time in our lives can be challenging but if we meet it with curiosity, love and understanding then it does not have to be so much of a rough ride.
19/08/2025
Why is this part of your body so important?
Because it contains a pretty amazing gland called the Thyroid Gland.
Thyroid hormones act on every single cell in the human body. So pretty important right?
Approximately 10% of the population experience thyroid dysfunction.
Up to 90% of those cases of hypothyroid may be the autoimmune condition Hashimoto’s and up to 60-80% of hyperthyroidism will be Graves.
Up to 60% of people with Thyroid disorders are unaware of their condition. 🤯
If you have been diagnosed with a thyroid condition. Or suspect you may have one DM me for our free thyroid guide! 🦋
04/08/2025
We talk a lot about food, exercise, and supplements,but one of the most powerful healing forces for the human body isn’t found in food or a supplement.
It’s connection.
Real, human connection.
The kind that makes you feel seen, safe, heard,and like you belong.
Why does connection matter for your health?
Because we are wired for it
Loneliness has been shown to increase inflammation, weaken the immune system, and even raise the risk of chronic illness.
On the flip side, meaningful relationships boost oxytocin, lower cortisol, support nervous system regulation, and even improve hormone balance and sleep.
We don’t just want connection.
We need it
It’s a biological imperative - a vital nutrient for the mind, heart, and body.
That is why the Body Reset Program is so successful.
You do not just get a nutrition and movement plan. You get support and human connection through 1:1 coach calls, specialist calls as well as group calls which include Q & A’s, topic calls and mindset calls.
If you want to be part of an awesome community send me a DM so I can show the way 🥰
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Send a message to Francesca Purcell - Nutrition and Yoga:
Welcome to Wild Wellness, a small holistic wellness company with an enormous heart-based in Mangawhai, New Zealand. Wild Wellness combines ancient Yoga wisdom and philosophy with modern-day anatomy and biomechanic knowledge to bring a full body and mind experience. For more information and timetable visit www.wildwellness.nz
Francesca the founder of Wild Wellness is also a qualified Clinical Nutritionist offering in-depth Consultations to access your individual nutrition and wellness needs. Francesca works in a holistic way, honoring your whole body and lifestyle to improve your health and wellness, combining modern science and functional testing to get to the root of your health concerns. There is so much more to wellness than just how we nourish ourselves, we need to consider our behaviors, our sleep patterns, how we think, feel, and how we connect to nature For more information or to book a consultation for nutrition please do not hesitate to contact Francesca at Wild Wellness for more information
Francesca's own experiences have led her to this path of holistic wellness and functional mindful movement through her yoga practice. After battling her own health issues she decided to study Holistic Nutritional Science at The Naturopathic College of New Zealand so she could help others on their health journeys.
Yoga has been a support system for her for many years both mentally and physically, however, after sustaining injuries during surfing she found herself unable to practice as she once had. This led her to gain a further 250hr teacher training certificate from Nikki Ralston of The Ralston Method. A method of yoga that incorporates functional mindful movement practices into traditional yoga, to ensure strength and healthy mobility.
Our bodies are remarkable and when given the chance through nourishing, moving and connecting back to nature, we at Wild Wellness believe you can begin to invite balance and healing back into the body.
We look forward to sharing our passion for Nutrition, wellness, and Yoga with you.
Let us honor our mistakes by allowing them to teach us. Let us consider our failings to be gifts and share them humbly with others. Let the cracks in our facades let in light and air so that new life can grow Through Them - Molly Gordon
