CONTACT US
| e | office@lotusmassage.co.nz |
| t | +64 6 876 8818 |
| f | +64 6 876 8818 |
StaffGlenda Palmer - DirectorDip Tch(NZ), Dip Rec & Sport (NZ), Dip MT (Calif, USA & NZ), Feldenkrais® Pract (NZFG), RMT(MNZ)
In the United States Glenda trained in several forms of massage therapy at the Twin Lakes College of the Healing Arts, Santa Cruz, California, where she graduated in 1986. Glenda is involved in all aspects of the training programme - teaching, curriculum preparation, administration, staff and student support. Alison Grace - DirectorB.A. Educ (VUW), Dip Tch, Dip MT (LHC), RMT(MNZ)
Her more recent interest in massage and body work led to her completing the LHC Diploma in Therapeutic Massage in 1999, and the NZATMP National Diploma in Therapeutic Massage in 2000. Alison brings her teaching and administrative experience to the Lotus, where she is a full time Director of the college, dividing her time between teaching the Muscular Anatomy and Theory of Massage, and administration, assessment, moderation and student support. Lizzie Gilbertson - HOD NaturopathyDip TCH, BNM, Reg. Med Herbalist, Dip Naturopathy
Lizzie's first mentor was Des Eggleton, who at that time was the only qualified medical herbalist in New Zealand, and through him discovered a passion for herbs and Bach flowers. After his passing, Suzanne Woods became her mentor for many years and provided invaluable inspiration for her work. She explored a number of healing modalities over the years and after moving to Hawke's Bay in the early 80s, became a Registered Medical Herbalist and has been practising in the Bay for 24 years. During this time she also was involved in part time Primary School Teaching, running workshops on women's health, Bach flowers, homoeopathic and herbal First Aid and raising a family. She has visited India many times over the past ten years and incorporates Sathya Sai Baba's Education for Human Values into her own teaching practise. Has recently completed the Rongoa Maori module, and has spent a week at the Schumacher College UK completing the Earth Pilgrim course. Lizzie is Head of Department for Naturopathy and also primarily tutors in year one and three classes. Cathy Allan - ManagerMSc, Dip MT (LHC), RMT (MNZ)
Cathy is the Lotus Manager and a tutor in the Diploma of Therapeutic Massage, and tutors evening classes for the public in Swedish and sports massage. She also teaches botany and research to the Naturopathy students. Cathy initiated Monthly Monday Massage Meetings at Lotus for qualified local therapeutic and relaxation massage practitioners - these occur on the first Monday of every month and we welcome new attendees. Grace Trerise - RegistrarLauren Hastie - Office AdministratorTutorsAlan BlacktoppFeldenkrais® Practitioner (NZFG)
He also teaches Movement Integration and practitioner self-care to Diploma and Certificate students.
Alan provides Feldenkrais® lessons as support to the Massage and Year three Naturopathy Diploma students to assist in looking after their physical well being.
Alan has served on the advisory committee since 1997 and has his Feldenkrais® clinical practice in Taradale, Hawke’s Bay.
Ali EveryL.C.E.C.H  Ali Every is a qualified Homeopath who was registered with the United Kingdom Homeopathic Medical Association before emigrating to Hawkes Bay, New Zealand in January 2006.Ali studied at The London College of Homeopathy and then passed her Licentiate to Practice at the South East College of Homeopathy, studying for a total of four years. She practised and taught in London for 10 years. The mother of four young children, Ali specialises in women's and children's health. She has also worked with people of all ages with physical and learning disabilities and has run seminars on these issues as well as on vaccination and acute homeopathic treatments. She began tutoring at Lotus in Homeopathic Acute Prescribing and Tissue Salts in July 2007 to Year 2 Naturopathy students. She practices from a clinic based in Havelock North, Hawkes Bay. Anna TaiwhatiEN, Dip Nat & Herbs (LHC), Dip TM (LHC), Cert Reflex & Hbt (LHC).
Anna's journey at Lotus began in 2001, studying the Diploma in Therapeutic Massage, graduating with distinction. She returned in 2006 to study the Diploma in Naturopathy & Herbal Medicine, graduating with distinction in 2008. She completed her Certificate in Homeobotanical Therapies in 2009 via the Naturopathic College, New Plymouth. Anna practices massage & naturopathy part-time from home. She is currently focused on raising her 2 young boys and ensuring the health & wellbeing of her extended whanau. Anna teaches Clinical Practice to Year 2 Naturopathy students, and will assist students enrolled in Traditional Practices through SPCNT. Cathy CaldwellDip. Comp. Health, Dip Nat & herbal Medicine (LHC), Adv. Cert in Adult Teaching, Cert Reflex., Cert Aroma.  In 1996 Cathy’s journey into Natural Therapies found her at Palmerston North UCOL. After graduating with a Dip. in Complementary Health, Cathy ran successful Massage and Reflexology clinics for 10 years, working alongside like-minded therapists of all health and healing practices.
This led to the formation of the Manawatu Holistic Health Network, set up to address the communities health needs. An opportunity presented itself to train as an adult educator and Cathy taught part-time for 6 years·at UCOL, as a facilitator of complementary health practices. Cathy’s passion for Reflexology naturally progressed into the Reflexology NZ Council for 3 years as part of the membership committee. In 2006, a location change found her at Lotus Holistic Centre in Hastings, completing a Diploma in Naturopathic & herbal Medicine, while also tutoring Reflexology and Aromatherapy Certificate programmes. Post-graduation in 2009, Cathy is a foundation member of “Healing Naturally” a self-empowerment, health and healing centre operating in Bayview, Napier - see http://www.healingnaturally.co.nz/ Christine ZalewskiHD, HbT, CI hons, FMHI, Reg Natural Medicine Practitioner  After receiving her Diploma in Professional Herbal Medicine in 1987, Christine went ·on to receive a Certificate in Iridology with honours and a Certificate in Homeobotanical· Therapy. With these skills Christine ran a Natural Health Clinic in Wellington for 8 years before moving to Hawkes Bay where her clinic was resumed and still operates today.Christine also researched in the field of Vibrational Medicine, covering Radionics, Magnetic Healing, Colour Healing, Auric/Chakra/Subtle Body Healing and Energy Balancing. ·Chris is also an internationally published author. Christine has taught Iridology at Lotus since 2002 and is a part time administrative assistant. Debby PhillipsLLB (Hons) (UK), Barrister-at-Law (UK) 
Debby has tutored in Business for several years and specialises in Business Planning and Start-Up. She undertakes the Research and Development for the businesses she owns with her husband and is currently undertaking her Masters Degree in Law (specialising in Environmental Law). Debby tutors the Year 3 Naturopathy students in Business Management. Di ClaytonDip Hort, Dip Psych  Di has a diploma in Horticulture and grew organic vegetables, mainly strawberries and garlic for a number of years while her children were small.In 2001 she graduated from EIT with a Diploma in Psychotherapy. Since then she has been mainly working for Dove Hawkes Bay where she co-facilitates men's stopping violence programmes, women's managing anger programmes and youth programmes in schools. ·She also works with individual clients·and does assessments.
Di teaches Communication to the Naturopathy students.
Geoff and Jan Speeden
As well as having a shop·at Millstream, they supply a number of outlets, have an online shop, and for a number of years now they have completely supported themselves from their work with herbs. Jane Alexander
Jane first taught Pathology at Lotus from 2003 until 2007, and again from 2010. In 2011 she will also teach Differential Diagnosis to Year 3 Naturopathy students. She is interested in optimising wellness wherever the individual is at in their life journey. She is married with three daughters, currently torturing herself with piano exams, belongs to two book clubs and loves wine and good food! Katie BarnbyDip Nat (LHC), Dip Herb (LHC)
Since then, she has raised her seven children on her own and gradually got involved in extensive personal research into natural therapies. In 2001 she did her first formal training at Lotus Holistic Centre (Certificate in Reflexology) and went on to do many more certificates, eventually graduating as a naturopath in 2009. Katie has worked in the health industry for the past four years at Health 2000, where she now has her practice. Katie teaches Diet and Nutrition to Year 1 and 2 Naturopathy students. Mary AllanDip. Herb. Med., Registered Medical Herbalist (MNZAMH)
Mary has also been an active committee member of the NZAMH (New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists) for several years and has been chief Editor for the NZAMH professional journal "Avena" since 2008. Since her formal training in herbal medicine, she has worked in clinic; on the shop floor in a herbal dispensary and health store and in community health settings where she excelled at speaking on relevant topics of concern. Over the years, Mary's natural health interests have extended into other modalities: she has spent a lot of time learning, exploring, musing and experiencing Reiki, Bowen Technique, Bach Flower Remedies, Yoga and Astrology to name a few. In her spare time, Mary gets her kicks working with her brother and a team of pyrotechnicians creating large pyrotechnic displays. She also spends at least three months per year travelling throughout New Zealand and Australia with a circus as lighting op and roadie. During this time she visits local botanic gardens and explores indigenous plant life and bush whenever she can. Mary will teach herbal medicine and work in the Lotus Holistic Centre Dispensary from 2011. Moana HutanaDip Nat & Herbs (LHC), Dip TM (LHC)
My name is Moana I have been a student at the Lotus Holistic Centre since 1999. I consider myself to still be a student through the many experiences that I have been privileged to share when treating people with holistic medicine and body therapies. I have been a practising Massage therapist since 2000 and I currently work as a Medicinal Herbalist in the Lotus dispensary and Naturopath to the clients who bless my growth as a Holistic Natural Practitioner. My passion is to share knowledge with people of the abundant natural resources that increase vitality and health for us all, and to always honour, respect and take care of these. I enjoy my many roles, firstly with in my own whānau, our community, and within the Lotus Holistic Centre, particularly supporting clients and students in realizing their own potential with their many gifts and talents. I have joined the Advisory Committee in 2010. Nic ParkesDip. Pharm; ·Dip. Bowen Therapy; Cert. Organic Growing
In 2001, after returning from England, she completed a Cert in Organic Growing at Christchurch Polytech. Her personal quest to beat dis-ease really opened her eyes to what·we are doing to ourselves and the planet and so study of sustainable agriculture, biodynamics and permaculture design were the order of the day.
In 2004 she trained as a Bowtech Bowen Therapist and is very passionate about the contribution this therapy can make to 21st century health and well being. The homoeopathic etc remedies all augment the work of the Bowen Therapy.
She shares 15 acres with her partner and the ‘menagerie’, and their goal is to become as self-sufficient and sustainable as possible, using permaculture principles. Thelma MetcalfeND, Reg Med Herb
 After graduating in 1987 from South Pacific College of Natural Therapeutics, Thelma set up a clinic in Upper Hutt, then the Wairarapa, where she practised for a number of years. ·Part of this time was spent planning, developing and running workshops on natural health subjects for various tertiary education establishments.Thelma’s natural health interests extend to treating animals, particularly horses. During the 1990’s she travelled in a horse drawn caravan collecting, making and selling a range of gypsy herbal remedies. Thelma moved to Central Hawkes Bay in the late 1990’s and worked in the manufacturing then quality assurance areas of a local Herbal Pharmaceutical Manufacturing company before joining the staff at Lotus. To extend her knowledge in health science Thelma is studying for the Bachelor of Health Science (Complementary Medicine). Thelma’s other interests include ‘the arts’, especially music and she performs regularly in the popular local band “Cool Green Capsicums”. Thelma taught Herbal Medicine to the naturopathy students since 2003 and managed the herbal dispensary. From 2011 Thelma will tutor part time in the Manufacturing and Dispensing of herbs in Herbal Medicine 2. Tina CumminsDTM (LHC), Cert Reflex (LHC)
Tina tutors the Sports Massage Module of the Diploma in Therapeutic Massage, and the weekend Sports Massage module in the Certificate in Massage Modalities. Drawing on her own passion for learning, Tina’s goal is to switch learners on to the use of massage in sports and raise awareness of the benefit it can bring to athletic performance. A keen interest in the musculoskeletal system and its influence on wellbeing led her to study the Diploma in Therapeutic Massage at LHC, where she graduated with Distinction. Many of her clients are active sports people who use soft tissue therapy (massage, myofascial release, trigger point work etc) to aid their performance, maintain biomechanical balance, or alleviate pain and muscle tension. She has worked on both pro and amateur status athletes and is a current provider to the NZ Academy of Sport. Tina has massaged members of the NZ Maori Rugby team, Hurricanes rugby team, ironman competitors, triathletes, cyclists and swimmers. Her work-life experience spans farming, forestry and local Government, where she has worked in research, human resources, and health and safety and ergonomics. She has a special interest in posture and biomechanics and the relationship this has with the musculoskeletal system. Check out www.massageworks.weebly.com. Tina has a keen personal interest in maintaining fitness for wellbeing and when not working with her clients can be found tramping in the local Kaweka Forest, cycling the Hawkes Bay roads, on Te Mata Peak, training at the gym or growing nutrient dense organic veges. Trina Bergloff-HowesBSc, Dip TM, Lic.H, Dip Bowen Therpy.
Trina tutors Anatomy and Physiology, Relaxation Massage, Health and Wellness and Pathology at Lotus and also has her own private practice treating clients with massage, reflexology, hypnotherapy and Bowen Therapy. Viv SmithDip Nat (LHC), Dip Herb (LHC)
After studying part-time at the Lotus Holistic Centre in 2001/2002, Viv went on to the Diploma in Naturopathy and Herbal Medicine, graduating in 2006 with commendation.
Since graduation she has worked in a health store and is currently in a pharmacy, while continuing her clinics specialising in weight-loss, gut disturbances and C.V. disease. |
The founder and Director of the Lotus Holistic Centre, Glenda has been teaching massage in Hawkes Bay since 1987, as well as running a successful part-time clinical practice. Originally from Hastings, she spent ten years teaching in schools in New Zealand, the Fiji Islands and India where she developed an interest in holistic options to health and healing as practised in traditional village settings.
Alison has been involved in education for over 30 years, in the fields of early childhood, primary and tertiary teaching. She brought up her two daughters in and around Wellington, and for three years in London, before moving to Hawke's Bay to take up farming.
Lizzie became involved in healing modalities in 1975 when she traveled to Manila in the Philippines to see the Psychic surgeons and then on to England to see Harry Edwards, a world renowned spiritual healer. She came back to New Zealand in 1976 and graduated from the South Pacific College of Natural Therapeutics in 1981 going on to run a clinic in Whangaparaoa.
Cathy has a background in botanical research, and worked for Department of Conservation in Hawkes Bay and Southland after completing her Masters degree in forest ecology at Lincoln University in 1997. She has recently re-trained in therapeutic massage. She has a passion for research and hopes to apply her research skills to natural therapies in the future.
Alan comes from a farming background and more recently has studied movement, psychology and massage. He completed an internationally certified training in the Feldenkrais® Method in 1995 and an internship in USA. He established his Hawke’s Bay clinical practice at the Lotus Holistic Centre in 1997 and had a vital role in program development in the early years of Lotus and as a central figure on the advisory committee.
Anna has a background in Health. She is a hospital-trained Enrolled Nurse, graduating from Waipukurau Hospital in 1990. She has worked at Waipukurau Hospital & various resthomes until 2007.
Geoff and Jan live in Pukehou and together they run Millstream Gardens. Over the last 25 years they have done many things here, including running a specialist, mail-order herb nursery, growing and selling organic veges, and making a range of herbal ointments and skincare products. Check out 
Jane works as a lifestyle clinic nurse within a medical practice. She has a Masters in Nursing and is working towards a Masters in Nutrition, and she is currently a nurse practitioner candidate and will be able to prescribe. She is also a board member of the Hawke's Bay Primary Health Organisation (and she teaches Pathology to Year 2 Naturopathy students at Lotus!).
Katie has come from a Christian background and in 1986 gained a diploma in Leadership and Development from Faith Bible College in Tauranga.
Mary has been deeply involved with all aspects of herbal medicine for over 15 years. Through her life journey and indepth studies she has gained a thorough understanding of safe therapeutic intervention with herbal and nutritional medicine. She has worked in a variety of herbal dispensaries and has been involved in improving systems management to promote safety in practice and accurate record keeping. She lived an alternative lifestyle for many years where gardening and wild-crafting of native and naturalised herbs carried as much significance as text-book learning. In the past she has undertaken independent ethnobotanical research as well as travelling to Northern India to gain some insight into Ayurvedic medicine.
Kia ora,
Nic has worked as a pharmacist, in both hospital and retail, for 22 years. 10 of which were in England. There has always been a holistic bent to that work and she believes the reason for her being a pharmacist is to help those people who do not want to rely on the drugs that their doctors prescribe. Over the years she has spent a lot of time studying homoeopathy, herbal medicine, bach flowers and supplementation.
After leaving the United States in early 2003, Trina came to Hastings, New Zealand and attended the Lotus Holistic Centre, receiving a Diploma in Therapeutic Massage and a Certificate in Reflexology. Prior to that, while in the United States, Trina received an Associate of Arts degree from Bellevue Community College and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Washington and has also completed training in Hypnotherapy and Bowen Therapy.
Viv has a background in office and retail business. She was drawn to Naturopathy after treating her children with homeopathic and natural therapies over the last 19 years.