Jane Harris from Chair
“I have always had a keen interest in health and wellbeing. Growing up on a farm in Central Hawkes Bay, eating mostly off the land. Being very active playing sport and helping Dad on the farm.”
Tell us a bit about you and your journey, prior to Chair at Made
I completed a Diploma in Sport and Allied therapies at NZ College of Massage in Auckland over 25 years ago. I lived in Auckland for a few years, working for the Warriors and a couple of other League teams, then made the big move to the Tron. After working a few seasons with the Chiefs and Waikato Rugby teams, I started my own little massage clinic at Contours Women’s Gym and developed an interest in working with people with postural issues.
Over 17 years ago we took a risk and bought a house at Fairfield which is now a busy remedial massage clinic with an amazing team of therapists. Over the years the clinic has added different therapies like facials and back scrubs to compliment that well-being feeling.
What has changed the most since you started working in the wellness industry?
People have become more sedentary in their lives, with their faces in their phones or bent over a computer desk creating a pattern in their bodies of poor posture and tight, sore muscles. We live in a fast-paced life now with not a lot of down time, which can cause muscles to stay in a constant tense state. Unfortunately, we’re so accustomed now and people don’t always recognise this or the related health issues developing. It’s nice to see people beginning to see the importance of massage as less of a luxury and more for its health benefits.
What services do you specialise in at Chair and who is your team made up of?
We have created a tranquil space with two treatment rooms on the mezzanine floor of Made, providing chair massage, deep tissue oil massage with body scrub and hot towels, pregnancy massage, hot stone massage and facials using plant-based organic products. Avisha, Keshni and Santana are my fabulous therapists leading the Made space. Their extensive range of knowledge and warm hospitality makes a great combo for a top-notch treatment.
What do you love most about what you do?
Definitely the connections made from clients I have been able to treat over the years. Massage is a very personal thing and it’s a privilege to be trusted to be able to help relieve their muscle tension. Also the many therapists I have worked with. We have had a lot of therapists from overseas work at the clinic from osteopaths to physiotherapists and enjoyed learning about their culture and techniques.
What’s one misconception about massage therapy that you’d love to change?
NO PAIN NO GAIN! Your massage treatment shouldn’t be painful! An experienced therapist has the skills to recognise whether a muscle will be able to soften under an elbow, pressure point of a thumb or a friction of their fingers. You need to sweet-talk the superficial muscles to be able to get to the depth. Then, you experience the good pain that comes with a softened muscle.
What’s your favorite way to unwind after work?
I live with hubby and our four children on a small lifestyle block in Whatawhata. The unwind time I get is sitting in the paddock with the pet sheep and goat - just giving them a brush or feeding the goat a honey sandwich, watching my three-legged dog running around the paddock in a frenzy, smelling the rabbits.
What is your favourite thing to eat at Made?
The miso cookie from Happy Bellies at The Larder
Favourite place to shop at Made?
I’m really enjoying Chelsea Winter's plant based cook book at the moment so I have been stocking up my pantry at Bare Refill! I love to have a good chat with the friendly staff at Soul Bowl.
What’s on your Made wishlist at the moment?
Spending a day browsing on the Mezzanine Floor - choosing my next outfit at Rumor and Found, checking out the dried flower bouquet at What’s Up Buttercup, chatting with Alicia to design a pair of earrings at Agape, choosing which colour of Merino socks to get from Nooan and enjoying a lazy lunch on the deck at Reggies.
