Meet Debbie
Osteopath | Yoga Teacher
ACC Registered Osteopath
Osteopath Council of NZ
Master of Osteopathy
1st Class Honours
Master's Thesis
Surfing Injuries in NZ
Bachelor of Applied Science
Human Biology
Diploma in Sports Science
Otago University
Purna Yoga Teacher
Usui Reiki Practitioner
Debbie's Journey to Osteopathy
Debbie's journey began here in Tauranga & Mount Maunganui, where she had an active childhood enjoying the beach & playing many different sports. At 19 a wakeboarding injury resulted in knee surgery. Shortly after surgery Debbie moved to Queenstown & with some intensive rehabilitation, she learnt to snowboard 6 weeks later. Debbie fell in love with the flow state that she felt on her board & spent the next five years pushing her body to its absolute limits while snowboarding & travelling the world.
While working as a snowboard instructor Debbie completed a Sports Science Diploma. Her other passions, the ocean & surfing, took Debbie to Raglan where she worked as a surf instructor, personal trainer & developed surf fitness classes.
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A few years later while working on Superyachts & surfing through Indonesia, Debbie was exposed to the poverty of local people working with hunched backs in rice fields. It was here that Debbie really contemplated that she wanted to do something more meaningful … "I wanted to really help people …"
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Shortly later, Debbie saw a surfer who she'd helped with an exercise program a few years prior while he waited for back surgery. He told her with a big smile, that he had followed her program & hadn't ended up needing surgery. Here he was, years later, still working as a builder & surfing pain-free! This ignited something deep within her soul. Debbie realised this was her calling, her dharma... to help people ease pain & heal so they can enjoy their daily activities, live their dreams & follow their passions.​
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Debbie's Osteopath journey began...​
A Mother Was Born
"My partner and I settled in Papamoa with my teenage stepson in 2019. Later that year my beautiful son was born. A new chapter of my life began – motherhood. It was magical. I evolved. It was raw. I was sleep-deprived. I learnt. And I loved it.
Finding the balance and flow through these early years of mum life was not always easy. I had to dig deep. Drawing on my osteopathic knowledge, combined with my yoga, breathing & meditation practices, gave me strength & wisdom I felt blessed to have.
Supporting other Mums in my osteopathy practice is a true honour. Women give so much of themselves to their little ones, through pregnancy, birth, postpartum, breastfeeding and nurturing their children. It's a real pleasure to create this healing space for others to receive some nourishment for themselves."
Debbie's Expertise
Osteopathy for Surfing
Masters Research Thesis
Inspired by her own surfing journey of over 20 years, Debbie completed her research thesis on surfing injuries in New Zealand. Over 1500 Kiwi surfers participated which gave great results with three publications in international medical journals (links below). This research work gave Debbie a wealth of knowledge to bring to surfers; not only to recover from surfing injuries but prevent injuries & improve surfing performance through osteopathy.
Sports Science - Osteopathy for athletes & active people
Sports Diploma - Otago University
The combination of Debbie's sports studies with her experience as a surf & snowboard instructor, personal trainer & yoga teacher has enhanced her bio-mechanical assessments & exercise prescription with everyday clients through to elite athletes. Other topics covered in Debbie's sports diploma included sports nutrition, coaching & psychology for peak performance, which have complimented Debbie's osteopathic practice when caring for active people & athletes whether at social, amateur, elite or professional levels.
Breathing & Stress Release through Osteopathy
Find your calm.
Breath awareness is a powerful way to change how your body & mind reacts to everyday stress. The benefits include reducing effects of chronic stress & trauma, balancing hormones & improves healing. Science has shown the breath can reduce the sympathetic nervous system's response to stress (the fight or flight mode) and activate the parasympathetic nervous system's rest & digest mode. Debbie has explored many different breathing techniques including Wim Hoff & advanced yoga techniques of pranayama. Debbie's clients often benefit from individualised simple breathing techniques to support their wellbeing & blend into their lifestyles.
Yoga & Meditation
Debbie's yoga journey began in her early 20s as she recovered from knee surgery & was pushing her body to its limits snowboarding. Along her travels, Debbie experienced a variety of teachings that developed her practice beyond the asanas (physical postures) & she soon discovered the meditative state that yoga brought to her mind & soul.
Debbie completed her yoga teachers training in 2011 & has taught many group yoga classes. Attending a Vipassana 10 day silent meditation course further deepened Debbie's meditation practice & her understanding of the complex, yet simple function of our mind. Basic mediation & yoga are often incorporated into Debbie's osteopathy treatments.​
Purna Yoga Teacher
