About Me
Hi, I’m Raelene
A Tassie original, born and bred, I’ve lived on the East Coast for 10 years.
Since 2005, I’ve combined empathy and sensitivity (gained from the “school of hard knocks”) with practical and evidence-based skills. I assist and empower my clients to reach their health and wellness potential, and work with them on long and short-term issues.
By addressing physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and social health, I help clients achieve a vital life. A vitality built from a foundation of healthy thoughts, optimal breathing, hydration, nutrition, sleep and movement. As a qualified naturopath and manufacturing herbalist, I use herbs, food and flower essences as my medicine. I simply use these to stimulate your body’s innate vital force, so that it can rebalance naturally, while also working collaboratively with your medical care team when required.
I am a qualified Practitioner of Corrective Holistic Exercise Kinesiology (CHEK Level 2) and Personal Trainer, so I can also incorporate breathwork and movement coaching into my offering.
Herbalism is my passion. It wasn’t until I started studying naturopathy (in particular the herbal subjects) that I realised my life experiences had led me to this point. I joined the dots, and found my purpose. I’m so grateful to now have the opportunity to follow my passion and purpose, and to help others.
IT TAKES A VILLAGE
What you mightn’t know…
I love a challenge. In my 30’s I took up Taiko (Japanese drumming), and appeared with my group on Australia’s Got Talent. We made it to the semi-finals, where I ruptured my achilles on live TV and spent the next 12 weeks in a moon boot. Totally worth it.
At 42 years of age, I took up surfing, my most favourite activity EVER.
I’m now having a crack at mountain-biking on the local trails, doing my best to not sustain a concussion (again). I just stick to the green trails at the moment, and I’ve ordered a whiz bang full-face bike-helmet, just to be sure.
Recently, for my 54th birthday, I was gifted a surf-skate (never skated before). That should be interesting. Stay tuned to hear about my shredding (hopefully not the knees and elbows). I’m waiting for the new helmet to arrive before I hit the skate park.
I love gardening and I dream of self-sufficiency. My partner and I are in the process of building a permaculture/biodynamic veggie and fruit garden, complete with a spiral herb bed.
I love cooking with chocolate. It’s a health food.
My Story
Once upon a time I was addicted to the gym. After my second son was born, I bounced straight back into it. I weighed 53Kg and looked fit and athletic. I thought I ate well - I was careful with my nutrition. But I wasn’t healthy. My body hurt when I exercised, and it hurt even more when I didn’t. I took the usual medical route of specialists, cortisone injections - it felt like I’d tried everything, but nothing helped.
It wasn’t until I found a CHEK practitioner who helped me change my nutrition, and the way I moved and breathed, that I found relief. That wasn’t the end of the healing process, but I’ll save that story for a blog post. I then trained as a CHEK practitioner myself, and began to help clients who were in the same boat.
Inspired by what I’d learnt, I wanted to increase my knowledge and skills, and I graduated as a naturopath in 2017. Once I started treating clients using naturopathy, I realised that I had some heavy-duty power tools in my toolbox!
The learning wasn’t over, however, and it was time for me to uplevel. It seems we’re always learning (would you agree?). The last 10 years have been the most stressful and challenging of my life, and the lessons hard-learned. (Another subject for a blog post one day, if I’m brave enough.)
So, finally here I am, out the other side. My toolbox is open, ready to help you level up, and I’m ready to gently encourage you to bust through those roadblocks that keep holding you back.
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Qualifications
Advanced Diploma (Naturopathy)
Corrective Holistic Exercise Kinesiology (CHEK) Practitioner Level 2
CHEK Holistic Lifestyle Coach Level 1
Cert IV Fitness (Personal Training)
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Additional Experience
I’ve been fortunate to have wonderul mentors in the field of herbal medicine manufacturing, including Sandra Parker and Linda Bates.
In 2019 I was presented with an invaluable opportunity: a position as Tincture Maker with Goulds Natural Medicine. I was privileged to work for almost 3 years under the tutelage of the senior Goulds naturopaths, and alongside the highly-respected Greg Whitten.
Professional Association Memberships
CHEK Institute
Naturopaths & Herbalists Association of Australia
