Sierra Sparksman - Sparkle Fitness

20/11/2025

6 months on...
Here are the xrays from my latest clinic visit at the hospital today. All healing up well and looking good, apprently!

But unfortunately still another 6 months before the Dr's will even think about taking the wire out.

Still a long way to go but I'm make small steps forward each day.

19/11/2025

If you’re in your late 30s or 40s and your running or triathlon training suddenly feels different… you’re not imagining it.

Your body is shifting, your hormones are shifting, and the way you recover, adapt and perform starts to change too.

I work with so many women who say things like:

“Why am I more tired from the same run?”
“Why does my pace feel harder?”
“Why am I waking at 2am before long run day?”
“Why does strength training suddenly matter more?”

And the truth is — these aren’t failures.
They’re normal signs your body is transitioning into perimenopause… often years before your cycle changes.

When you understand what’s happening, you can train smarter — not harder.

The carousel walks you through 6 changes most women don’t expect, but they’re the exact changes that start showing up in training first.

This stage isn’t the end of performance.
It’s actually a window of opportunity to build strength, protect your bones, support your energy, and set yourself up for another decade of running well.

If you want help adjusting your training to match the season your body is in — I’d love to support you.

Send me a DM or click the link in my bio.
You don’t have to figure this out alone.

17/11/2025

Today we pause to recognise World Prematurity Day 💜
A day to raise awareness, offer support, and celebrate the strength of every preterm baby and family around the world.

15/11/2025

Over the last 6 months I've definitely thought, whispered and cried out - “I feel like my body’s failing me.”

When I broke both knees and ended up in a wheelchair, it felt like everything I knew about my body had been stripped away.
I couldn’t train.
I couldn’t run.
I could barely move.
And for a moment, I truly wondered if I’d ever run again.

But here’s what I learned:
I needed time off, I needed time to recover and there is always something I can do.

My comeback didn’t start with running or lifting or anything impressive.
It started with tricep dips in my wheelchair, using light bands, tiny movements that felt almost laughable…
but they were mine.
They were something.
They were a way forward.

And that’s what I remind the women I work with, whether they’re injured, exhausted, overwhelmed or feeling like they’re at rock bottom:

Movement isn’t just physical - it’s emotional.
It’s about reconnecting with your body, learning to trust it again, and giving it what it truly needs…patience, breath, compassion and the smallest possible first step.

At Sparkle Fitness, I support women through every season — from injury to postpartum to rebuilding confidence after setbacks — with movement that feels safe, accessible and supportive.

If you’re navigating a tough season and need guidance that honours where your body is right now, reach out.
You’re not stuck. You’re not failing.
And you’re absolutely not alone. 💛

14/11/2025

Kia ora wahine! I’m Sierra, your local MumSafe™ Trainer here in Karori, Wellington!

Here’s a little peek into who I am beyond the gym:
💪 My favourite way to move: Kick boxing (but at the moment - anything!)
☕ My morning must-have: not coffee! I need breakfast, I can't skip it.
🎶 A song that always gets me motivated: Eye of the Tiger
💗 What I love most about training women: the variety!
🌸 A fun fact about me: I've been to the Ironman World Champs in Kona, Hawaii

As a MumSafe™ Trainer, I’m passionate about helping women move safely, rebuild confidence and feel strong at every stage of their lives - from pregnancy to postnatal recovery and beyond.

If you’re ready to reconnect with your body in a safe, supportive space, come say hi, I’d love to meet you!

Comment an interesting fact about yourself! ⤵️

12/11/2025

Ever felt that “uh oh” moment — when your pelvic floor doesn’t quite do what it used to? 😳

Maybe it’s a little leak when you sneeze, jump, or laugh too hard.
Or that heavy feeling that makes you second-guess getting back to exercise.

You are not alone — and it’s not something you have to just live with.

That’s exactly why I’m running a FREE Postpartum Return to Exercise class next Wednesday, 19th November at 9:30am at St Ninian’s Church, Karori.

✨ This gentle 60-minute session is designed to help you:
- Reconnect with your core and pelvic floor safely
- Understand how to move with confidence again
- Learn what exercises are actually right for your stage of recovery
- Ask all those “is this normal?” questions in a supportive space
… and enjoy a light morning tea afterwards ☕ (because mums deserve that too!)

You’ll be guided by me — Sierra — a Level 2 MumSafe™ Certified Trainer, which means I’m qualified to help women safely return to exercise after pregnancy and birth.

Whether you’re 6 weeks or 12 months postpartum, this is your starting point to feeling strong, capable, and confident again. 💛

Babies are welcome! Register here - https://www.sparklefitness.co.nz/booking-calendar/free-postnatal-exercise-class

The Village NZ

12/11/2025

How great is this! 😀

Rotorua’s first adaptive triathlon drew more than three times the number of expected participants.

11/11/2025

Preparing for pregnancy isn’t just about trying, it’s about creating the healthiest, most receptive environment for conception.

Here are 5 simple, evidence-based habits that support fertility and balance:

1️⃣ Move gently and consistently – 150 minutes of moderate exercise weekly helps regulate hormones and improve circulation.
2️⃣ Prioritise rest and quality sleep – recovery allows your body to heal and restore hormone function.
3️⃣ Nourish your body with whole foods – balanced nutrition supports egg and s***m quality.
4️⃣ Manage stress through breath or mindfulness – calming your nervous system signals safety to your body.
5️⃣ Stay connected and supported – emotional wellbeing is just as important as physical health.

This insight comes from our recent MumSafe™ training on Fertility, IVF & Exercise with Exercise Physiologist Anna Louise of Balance Bodies Lifestyle Clinic and The Women’s Health Collective.

I help women prepare their bodies with safe, supportive movement — so you can feel confident, strong and ready for what’s next. 🌸

Send me a DM.

11/11/2025

First tri of the season for Wellington coming up!

The countdown is on! ⏰

Just a few weeks until we hit the sand at Scorching Bay for the Barefoot Triathlon.

Choose your distance, round up your crew, and make it a day to remember.
All abilities welcome, all smiles guaranteed 😄

🌊 barefoottriathlonseries.co.nz

10/11/2025

Trying to conceive?
Your body doesn’t need punishment or pressure, it needs support.

Gentle, consistent movement can do more than you think. It helps regulate hormones, reduce stress, boost circulation and create a healthy environment for conception, naturally or through IVF.

The key? Moderation.
👉 150 minutes of moderate movement each week
👉 2–3 light to moderate strength sessions
👉 Activities that feel nourishing, not exhausting...like walking, yoga, or Pilates.

When you move gently, you’re telling your body,
“I’m safe. I’m ready.”

I support women preparing for pregnancy with safe, evidence-based exercise that honours every stage of the journey.

If you’re walking this path and want movement that feels safe, supported, and aligned with where you are right now, send me a DM. Together, we’ll focus on strength that supports your body, not stresses it.

09/11/2025

From our past MumSafe™ training with Amy Stuth, I learned that the way we breathe shapes how our body feels every day.

When we breathe through our mouth, we tend to take in too much air.

That might sound like a good thing, but it actually makes oxygen harder for your body to use, leaving you tired or restless even when you’ve done nothing “wrong.”

Breathing through the nose slows everything down. It keeps oxygen and carbon dioxide in balance, increases nitric oxide (a natural circulation booster) and tells your body, “You’re safe. You can relax.”

✨ Try this: close your mouth and take five gentle breaths through your nose.
Feel your ribs expand, your shoulders drop and your whole system start to calm.

I take a whole-body approach and work alongside trusted practitioners to help mums rebuild from the inside out... one breath at a time.

Send a DM to get more info about my classes or 1-1 sessions.