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Heart Works

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Heart Works

HeartWorks provides personalized cardiac rehabilitation & fitness in Wellington, NZ. We’re here to support your health journey.

Our expert team offers supervised exercise tailored to your cardiac needs, helping you recover with confidence.

26/05/2026

A thoughtful reflection from one of our clients — highlighting the importance of support, clinical oversight, and individualised care throughout the rehabilitation journey.

Recovery after a cardiac event is rarely straightforward. There are often uncertainties, setbacks, and “hiccups” along the way, which is why ongoing monitoring, guidance, and reassurance can make such a meaningful difference.

This client reflected on the value of having a team who not only followed their progress closely, but also recognised important changes. But beyond the clinical side, this feedback also speaks to the environment created through cardiac rehabilitation: one built on encouragement, consistency, and helping people feel supported as they rebuild confidence in themselves and their health.

We’re incredibly grateful for reflections like these and proud to support people through every stage of their recovery journey.

25/05/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our second HeartWorks Education Evening of 2026.

The theme for the evening was Living with Your Diagnosis (Beyond the First Year) — focusing on the realities of long-term heart health, ongoing recovery, and adapting to life after a cardiac event or diagnosis.

We were fortunate to hear from three experienced speakers across nutrition, vestibular rehabilitation, and cardiology:
• Emelia Ives spoke about the reality of long-term behaviour change and the importance of building sustainable habits that support health over time — especially when motivation, energy, and routine can shift after a cardiac event or diagnosis.
• Vanessa Simpson provided insight into vertigo, dizziness, and balance disorders, helping attendees better understand symptoms that can often feel confusing or unsettling, and why understanding them matters.
• Alexander Sasse discussed what ongoing cardiac care may look like beyond the first year — including follow-up care, medications, monitoring, and the importance of individuals continuing to stay engaged with their long-term health.

One of the biggest themes throughout the evening was that recovery and heart health management do not stop after rehabilitation or a procedure. Education, confidence, movement, and ongoing support all play an important role in helping people continue to live well long-term.

These evenings are designed to provide more than just information. They create a space for people to continue learning, ask questions, share experiences, and feel supported throughout their recovery journey.

A big thank you again to everyone who attended and contributed to such an engaged and thoughtful evening ❤️

20/05/2026

Loneliness and social isolation are not just emotional experiences — they are recognised health risk factors.

A 2025 npj Cardiovascular Health review of over 529,000 people with heart failure found that loneliness and social isolation are strongly associated with poorer health outcomes. These effects extend beyond heart failure and are also seen in conditions such as diabetes and cancer.

Why does this matter? Because recovery is not driven by physical health alone — social connection is a key part of overall wellbeing and long-term outcomes. Engaging in group rehabilitation and supportive community environments can improve consistency, confidence, and engagement in recovery. It helps people stay connected, feel supported, and continue building progress over time.

This is what we see every day at Heartworks — rehabilitation is not just exercise, it’s connection. Moving alongside others, sharing experiences, and rebuilding confidence as a community. When people feel supported and connected, recovery is stronger and more sustainable.

18/05/2026

Heart Attack vs Cardiac Arrest ❤️

The terms heart attack and cardiac arrest are often used interchangeably — but medically, they are very different conditions.

A heart attack (myocardial infarction) occurs when blood flow to part of the heart muscle becomes blocked, reducing oxygen supply to the myocardium. Symptoms can include chest discomfort, shortness of breath, nausea, sweating, or pain radiating into the arm or jaw. During a heart attack, the heart usually continues beating.

A cardiac arrest, however, is an electrical problem. It occurs when the heart suddenly stops pumping effectively due to a severe rhythm disturbance, causing an immediate loss of consciousness and absence of a pulse. Without urgent CPR and defibrillation, cardiac arrest is rapidly fatal.

Importantly, a heart attack can sometimes trigger a cardiac arrest, but the two are not the same condition. Understanding this distinction matters. Early recognition of symptoms, rapid emergency response, and access to appropriate treatment significantly influence outcomes in both situations.

Awareness improves response. And response saves lives.

17/05/2026

Recovery is part of the training process too.

Exercise creates stress on the body — but it’s during recovery that adaptation actually occurs. Without adequate recovery, performance can decline, fatigue can accumulate, and the risk of injury or chronic “wear and tear” increases.

This is why balancing training with rest and recovery is so important. Recovery allows muscles to repair, the nervous system to reset, and the body to adapt to the work being done.

Importantly, recovery does not always mean doing nothing. Active recovery — such as light movement, walking, mobility work, or low-intensity exercise — can help promote circulation, reduce stiffness, and support the recovery process without adding excessive strain.

Progress is not built from training alone. It comes from the combination of appropriate challenge, consistency, and recovery over time. Sometimes training smarter means recognising when the body needs recovery just as much as it needs intensity.

14/05/2026

This May, the Heartworks team has been taking part in the Heart Foundation NZ MyMarathon — committing to move with purpose while supporting life-saving heart research here in New Zealand.

We're only halfway and so far, the Heartworks community has:
✔ Raised $1,343.50 for the Heart Foundation NZ
✔ Covered over 347km through walking, jogging, and running throughout May

A huge thank you to everyone who has contributed so far — whether through fundraising, movement, encouragement, or support behind the scenes.

At Heartworks, we see firsthand the impact that cardiovascular disease has on individuals, families, workplaces, and communities. It remains the leading cause of death in New Zealand, but it is also an area where prevention, education, exercise, rehabilitation, and research can make a meaningful difference. That’s one of the reasons this challenge resonates so strongly with us.

MyMarathon is not about speed or performance. It reflects many of the same principles we focus on in cardiac rehabilitation every day: consistency, gradual progress, building confidence, and creating sustainable long-term habits. Small efforts, repeated consistently over time, can have a significant impact on long-term health outcomes.

We’ve loved seeing people come together around a shared goal while supporting a cause that affects so many New Zealanders.

And there’s still time to get involved. Whether you walk, jog, run, donate, or simply support someone participating — every step counts, every dollar helps, and every bit of support matters ❤️

https://www.mymarathon.co.nz/fundraisers/heartworks/mymarathon-2026

13/05/2026

🏃‍♂️ HeartWorks MyMarathon Update ❤️

So far this May, the Heartworks community has:
✔ Raised $1,343.50 for the Heart Foundation NZ
✔ Covered over 347km through walking, jogging, and running

A huge thank you to everyone involved so far. This challenge is about consistency, confidence, and long-term heart health — not perfection.

📅 Reminder: Our next HeartWorks Education Evening is on Thursday 22 May at 5:30pm.

https://mailchi.mp/heartworks/join-us-this-may-mymarathon-for-heart-health-17473181

12/05/2026

Ultra-processed foods & heart health: looking beyond convenience

Ultra-processed foods are increasingly part of modern diets — but their impact on cardiometabolic health is becoming harder to ignore. A recent scientific advisory from the American Heart Association highlights that higher intake of ultra-processed foods is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, poorer lipid profiles, and adverse metabolic outcomes.

These foods are often energy-dense, highly palatable, and designed for convenience, but tend to be lower in fibre and higher in added sugars, sodium, and unhealthy fats — a combination that can influence blood pressure, cholesterol, and overall cardiovascular risk over time.

Importantly, the message is not about complete avoidance, but awareness and balance. Shifting towards more minimally processed, whole food options — such as vegetables, fruit, whole grains, legumes, and quality protein sources — supports a dietary pattern consistently associated with better heart health outcomes.

From a clinical perspective, small, sustainable changes in food quality can have a meaningful impact when maintained over time. The goal is not perfection — but a gradual move towards patterns that better support long-term cardiovascular health.

https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001365

10/05/2026

Who is Heartworks for?

Heartworks is for anyone recovering from a cardiac event or living with an ongoing heart condition.

For those who want more than just exercise — they want expert guidance, structure, and reassurance while they rebuild.
For those who feel uncertain about returning to movement and want to do it safely.
For those who value being monitored, supported, and understood throughout their recovery.
And for those who know that recovery is not something to rush — but something to rebuild, step by step.

At Heartworks, we believe cardiac rehabilitation is not only about improving physical capacity — it’s about restoring confidence, independence, and trust in your body again. That’s why our approach is clinically-led, combining exercise physiology, cardiology guidance, sports science, and real-time monitoring within a supportive group environment. Because recovery should never feel like something you do alone.

We don’t just help people “get back to exercise.” We help them become stronger, more confident Cardiac Champions — ready to live fully again.

If you’re ready to take the next step in your recovery, we’re here to guide you through it.

07/05/2026

“I now see my time at Heartworks as an investment.”

A simple reflection — but one that speaks to something deeper than just attending sessions.

Over time, many people begin to see cardiac rehabilitation not as something they have to do, but as something they choose to invest in — their health, their confidence, and their future.
Small, consistent efforts build over time — often leading to outcomes far beyond what was expected at the start.

05/05/2026

Training smart — not just training hard!

Exercise is often associated with pushing limits, discomfort, and feeling “worked.” But effective training is not about punishment — it’s about applying the right level of challenge.
Well-prescribed exercise should feel appropriate to the individual. It should be challenging enough to stimulate adaptation, but not so overwhelming that it compromises technique, confidence, or consistency.

Progress comes from this balance. Too little challenge, and the body has no reason to adapt. Too much, and the risk of fatigue, injury, or disengagement increases.The goal is not to finish every session exhausted. It’s to leave knowing the body has been challenged in a way that is repeatable, progressive, and sustainable.

Training smart means understanding that effort is relative. What feels challenging for one person will look very different for another — and that’s exactly how it should be.
When exercise is matched to an individual’s capacity, it builds not just strength and fitness, but confidence in movement.

Because long-term progress is not built on extremes — it’s built on consistency.

Address

202 Thorndon Quay
Wellington
6011

Opening Hours

Monday	9:30am - 5pm
Tuesday	9:30am - 7pm
Wednesday	9:30am - 7pm
Thursday	9:30am - 7pm

Website

https://www.heartworks.nz/

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