Bays resident Saskia Davies has been practicing Body Therapies and Yoga for 20 years. She first trained in South Africa, then the UK and more recently New Zealand. Saskia teaches yoga to mature adults, seniors and children.
Saskia was born in South Africa. After meeting her Kiwi husband Bruce in South Africa they moved over to the UK where they lived happily for 15 years, travelling the world, studying and then getting married and having three amazing children. Saskia and Bruce now live with their family in the Bays, together with their cats, bunnies and a black Labrador puppy. She answered these questions for Channel’s Aidan Bennett, about her passion for body therapies and yoga.
AIDAN BENNETT: How did you get into the business?
SASKIA DAVIES: My whole life I have had an affinity with helping people to heal. I am very interested in the human body and how we interact with nature and energy. I enjoy helping people to feel and be the best they can be.
AB: What type of massage do you practise?
SD: I practice a variety of different treatments, combining these therapies if need be during a session, depending on what people need. I have trained in holistic massage, reflexology, abdominal massage and Foundation for Cranial Osteopathy.
AB: Tell us more about yoga?
SD: I love to teach yoga as it creates good feelings of wellness, happiness and a lightness in the body and mind. Having trained in Iyengar-based pregnancy yoga, I then went onto study with Donna Farhi and Jo Phee, learning a deeper understanding about movement and also studying Yin yoga based on traditional Chinese medicine.
AB: How did you get into the wellness Industry?
SD: Once I decided to pursue health and began to understand the human body, an amazing incredible world opened up, offering so many options for wellness. I have worked in a prison medical department in the UK, in a clinic where we trained doctors to become acupuncturists and also in an ostepathic clinic for many years. Since moving to New Zealand I have my own practice and also facilitate wellness retreats with my husband.
AB: You must get satisfaction from improving people's lives?
SD: Yes I love to help people to find their "chi" (balance/lifeforce). To also help people to create healing within their bodies and minds. We all have the ability to feel at home within our bodies and to live our best lives to the fullest. With the right support we can achieve this.
AB: What brought you to New Zealand?
SD: My husband Bruce is originally from New Zealand and we wanted to bring our children up in a safe environment surrounded by nature with lots of opportunity.
AB: What do you like about living in the Bays?
SD: I love the freedom of being close to so many beautful bays and beaches. I like that it is multicultural and there is a fantastic community.
AB: Do you have a favourite go-to spot on the Shore?
SD: It is difficult to choose. I love all the bays and walks, especially Okura bush walk and Milford to Takapuna Beach walk.
AB: Do you miss South Africa at all?
SD: Yes, I miss my family, the bush and the wildlife.
AB: I understand you also have an interest in heatlhy food?
SD: I believe that what we put into our bodies determines how we feel and how our bodies work. We don't put diesel into a petrol car, so why put the wrong kinds of foods into your body? Our bodies thrive on nutrient dense food tha is not processed and is real whole foods.
AB: Do you have a local favourite café or eatery?
SD: The food at Yaruki in Browns Bay is simply delicious, light and tasty. It is always very fresh. I also like eating at SiP Kitchen, raw wholesome divine food.
AB: If you could go on holiday anywhere in the world, where would you go?
SD: I would go to New York, to see the museums, galleries and interesting architecture. I would like to walk the streets discovering interesting cafes and shops in a melting pot of different cultures.
AB: Complete the following… At the end of the week I like nothing more than…
SD: A long hot bath and snuggling up with my wonderful family.
Saskia Davies – Email: saskia@mychi.co.nz
