We’re proud to spotlight Carina Viljoen, Founder of Body Restoration and Co-Chair of Te Rōpū Kaitiaki/The Executive Committee.
Carina launched Body Restoration in 2023 with a clear vision: to expand the clinical and structured approach to remedial massage in Hawke's Bay. Starting as a solo practitioner and growing into a multi-location team, she has focused on a model of care that emphasizes assessment, critical thinking, and close collaboration with other health professionals.
An L6 therapist currently completing her Level 7 Degree, Carina brings this "action-first" clinical lens to her leadership. Since joining the board in 2025, she has championed the credibility of our profession, ensuring it remains inclusive, evidence-based, and forward-thinking. From her work with the local "MT Collective" to her role as Co-Chair, Carina’s leadership serves as a vital bridge between high-level governance and the daily reality of practitioners nationwide.
Inspired by Carina’s story? The future of our profession is built by those who show up. If you’re passionate about strengthening our industry’s voice and national identity, we encourage you to get involved with MANZ projects or Governance.
Email: admin@massagenewzealand.org.nz
"I’ve always been deeply fascinated by the body and how it works. Before massage therapy, I worked as a veterinary nurse, which gave me a strong clinical foundation and strengthened my interest in anatomy, physiology, and pathology. I loved understanding systems, problem-solving, and seeing how small changes could create big outcomes. I reached a point where I felt I had achieved everything I could in that career, and I knew I was ready for something that would challenge me again. I wanted to stay in a clinical space, but I also wanted more autonomy, more depth, and the ability to build something of my own.
I was introduced to remedial massage through a family friend and shadowed her for a day. Watching her work, seeing the changes she created and the feedback from clients was incredibly inspiring. She approached massage with a clinical lens, and that really resonated with me. It wasn’t just relaxation; it was assessment, reasoning, and individualised treatment planning.
Massage therapy felt like the perfect fit. It allows me to explore the science of touch, biomechanics, and movement while genuinely improving people’s quality of life. Being able to bring that level of care to Hawke’s Bay and build a practice around it has been incredibly rewarding."
"I began training in 2022 at EIT in Hawke’s Bay, where I completed my Level 5 Diploma in Relaxation and Wellness. Following that completed my Level 6 Diploma in Remedial Massage Therapy at SIT and I am currently completing my Level 7 this year."
"While all of the values are important, professionalism resonates most strongly with me. Professionalism, to me, is the foundation of credibility. It’s about competence, ongoing education, integrity, respect, emotional intelligence, and maintaining appropriate, client-centred care at all times. It’s how we hold ourselves accountable and continue striving for excellence in our work.
I’ve built my clinic around core principles of professionalism and to me it extends beyond the treatment room, it includes working interprofessionally with physiotherapists and other health professionals, as well as fostering respectful, supportive relationships with fellow massage therapists. In a profession that is still developing its national identity and recognition, professionalism is one of the strongest tools we have to elevate standards and build trust within the wider healthcare community."
"Yes, I genuinely do think it’s important to join. If we want massage therapy to be recognised as a credible, supportive part of the healthcare landscape, we need to stand together. A professional association gives us a shared voice, shared standards, and the structure to actually move the profession forward, not just talk about it.
It’s easy to want things like stronger recognition, better professional identity, or greater integration within healthcare, but those things don’t happen without people getting involved. We need boots on the ground! Therapists who are willing to show up, contribute, and be part of the bigger picture. A professional association isn’t just a name; it’s built by the members who participate in it.
I joined Massage Aotearoa New Zealand while I was still studying because I could see how important a collective organisation is in an underregulated industry. I’ve seen/been through similar struggles in my veterinary nursing career, they are also not a regulated profession, and I didn’t want to just hope things would improve. I wanted to be part of helping shape that change. Becoming involved at committee level has only reinforced how much work happens behind the scenes and how much potential there is when people collaborate.
For me, joining isn’t just about membership. It’s about being part of building something stronger for the future of our profession, one to be proud of!"
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