Massage
Our talented massage therapists are all about providing the right massage to suit your needs
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Hands On / Clinical Director - Massage & Lymphatic Therapist
Director
Massage & Lymphatics Therapist
Background
Hans Lutters is a highly respected Massage and Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) Therapist, recognised for his clinical expertise, leadership, and commitment to advancing care in his field. Originally from the Netherlands, Hans gained his foundational qualifications in Massage Therapy and MLD before relocating to Christchurch, New Zealand in 2007. Soon after, he established Hands On Clinic, a thriving centre for lymphatic and massage therapy.
Working alongside a trusted multidisciplinary team at the Sports Clinic in Christchurch, Hans and his team collaborate with podiatrists, physiotherapists, doctors, and chiropractors to deliver integrated, patient-centred care. With over two decades of clinical experience, he specialises in the treatment of primary and secondary lymphoedema, lipoedema, and chronic pain, applying a broad range of therapeutic skills to improve patient outcomes.
Hans is a member of the Massage Association of New Zealand (MANZ) and an associate member of the Australasian Lymphology Association (ALA). He is an accredited provider for High Performance Sport New Zealand (HPSNZ) and a long-standing member of the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) Core Health team, having proudly served as a massage therapist at every Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games since 2014. This includes:
· 2014 Commonwealth Games – Glasgow
· 2016 Olympic Games – Rio de Janeiro
· 2018 Commonwealth Games – Gold Coast
· 2021 Olympic Games – Tokyo
· 2022 Commonwealth Games – Birmingham
· 2024 Olympic Games – Paris
Initially trained in the Vodder method in the Netherlands, Hans furthered his expertise in New Zealand and Australia, completing additional training in Casley Smith and Vodder techniques. He is a qualified Level 1 & 2 Vodder therapist and is set to achieve his Level 3 Vodder qualification in September 2025. His treatment approach incorporates Combined Decongestive Therapy (CDT), Kinesio taping, compression therapy, specialist bandaging, and patient education.
Recognising the limited training opportunities in MLD for massage therapists in New Zealand, Hans launched the Hands On Lymphatic Drainage Level 1 & 2 training courses in 2009. Drawing on over 20 years of practice and research, these courses equip health practitioners and physical wellness professionals with consistent, evidence-informed techniques, empowering them to assess and treat clients effectively. Hans’ dedication to professional education has raised the standard of MLD practice nationwide, benefitting countless patients and communities.
Whether working with elite athletes or those seeking relief from long-term illness, his focus remains the same: improving quality of life, promoting recovery, and sharing the benefits of MLD and massage therapy through both treatment and education.
Hands On / Massage & Lymphatic Therapist
Massage & Lymphatic Therapist
Background
Josh is a knowledgeable and experienced massage and lymphatics therapist with a witty, upbeat personality that makes clients feel comfortable and engaged. After graduating from Otago Polytechnic in 2011 with a Diploma in Personal Training, he spent years in gyms helping people improve how they move.
Eager to expand his skills, Josh completed a Massage Therapy Diploma in 2016, adding a hands-on treatment approach to complement his movement expertise. In 2019, he further specialised by completing the Hands On Level I and II MLD courses, equipping him to support clients with both muscular and lymphatic needs.
Josh’s holistic perspective, blending movement knowledge with massage therapy, allows him to create effective, tailored treatments that help clients move, feel, and function better in everyday life.
Beyond the clinic, Josh enjoys cooking (and eating), travelling, and life with his young family.
Hands On / Massage & Lymphatic Therapist
Massage & Lymphatic Therapist
Background
Shannon is a professional and knowledgeable massage and lymphatics therapist, valued for her caring, calm, and kind approach. Dedicated to supporting her clients’ wellbeing, she combines her expertise with a genuine warmth that puts people at ease from the moment they meet her.
In 2017, she graduated with Distinction in a Diploma of Remedial Massage Therapy, building a strong foundation in advanced massage techniques. Her passion for helping others is also shaped by her personal experience supporting her mother through a cancer journey, giving her a deep understanding of the physical and emotional challenges that can come with illness and recovery.
A keen gym-goer and running enthusiast, Shannon’s active lifestyle brings valuable insight into movement, performance, and recovery. She has completed several half marathons and understands first-hand the demands of training, making her especially attuned to the needs of active clients.
Outside the clinic, Shannon is a proud and busy mum of three little ones yet still finds time to keep up her running and enjoy an active, healthy lifestyle.
Hands On / Massage & Lymphatic Therapist
Massage & Lymphatic Therapist
Background
Wendy is a professional and knowledgeable massage and lymphatics therapist, valued for her punctuality, thorough treatments, and dedication to her clients. With extensive experience in both massage therapy and lymphatic drainage, she delivers tailored treatments that promote recovery, improve mobility, and enhance overall wellbeing.
In 2021, she graduated with Excellence in a Diploma of Remedial Massage Therapy and has since completed Level I and II Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) training, combining her skills to provide a comprehensive, client-focused approach.
Her approach is shaped by a wealth of life experience, giving her a genuine understanding of the different challenges people face on their health and wellness journeys. A former competitive swimmer, Wendy developed an early appreciation for the benefits of hands-on care and found remedial massage to be the most effective for recovery and performance.
Wendy is also a proud mother of two young men who excel both academically and in sport. Outside the clinic, she enjoys rowing and travelling, embracing an active and outdoors lifestyle.
Hands On / Massage & Lymphatic Therapist
Massage & Lymphatic Therapist
Background
Alana is a highly skilled and knowledgeable massage and lymphatics therapist, dedicated to helping clients feel their best. With a calm and friendly nature, she quickly puts people at ease, creating a comfortable space where clients can relax and benefit fully from her expertise.
Her professional approach is backed by extensive training in massage and lymphatic therapy, allowing her to tailor each treatment to meet individual needs – whether that’s reducing swelling, supporting recovery, or promoting overall wellbeing. Clients value not only her technical skills but also her genuine care and warm, approachable manner.
Outside the clinic, Alana is a busy mum of three active teenagers, cheering them on at hockey, rugby, and rowing events. Her understanding of active lifestyles and the demands they place on the body gives her a unique insight into supporting both everyday wellness and athletic performance.
With Alana, you can expect exceptional care, professional expertise, and a truly personalised experience that supports your health and wellbeing.
Hands On / Massage & Lymphatic Therapist
Massage & Lymphatics Therapist
Background
Kelsey is a remedial massage and lymphatic therapist with a focus on musculoskeletal pain management and breast cancer–related lymphoedema. Her interest in massage began in 2018 following spinal surgery, which inspired her to help others move more freely and live without pain. She works with a broad range of clients, providing neuromuscular therapy, dry needling, cupping, and manual lymphatic drainage.
Her professional experience includes both clinical practice and on-site sports massage, including work with athletes in the NRL, NZRL, Christchurch Marathon, Tactix Netball, and Rams Basketball.
Outside of work, Kelsey enjoys exploring the outdoors and maintaining an active, balanced lifestyle through hiking, yoga, and kite surfing.
Hands On / Massage & Lymphatic Therapist
Massage & Lymphatics Therapist
Background
Katy is a dedicated and outgoing massage and lymphatics therapist whose warm personality and sense of humour instantly put clients at ease. She loves the variety her work brings, from supporting athletes to perform at their peak to helping lymphatics clients improve comfort, mobility, and quality of life.
With a passion for both performance and recovery, Katy tailors her treatments to meet each client’s individual needs, whether that’s optimising athletic performance, assisting with post-event recovery, or providing specialised lymphatic care. Her approachable nature and genuine care create a positive and motivating experience in every session.
Outside of work, Katy is highly social and enjoys the good life, spending time with friends and family and making the most of every moment.
Hands On / Massage & Lymphatic Therapist
Massage & Lymphatic Therapist
Background
Elisia prides herself on creating a relaxing and therapeutic experience for her clients, with the goal of helping people achieve comfort and balance in their everyday lives. She completed her Diploma in Wellness and Relaxation Massage in 2021, quickly building a reputation for her caring approach and effective treatments.
Her career began in Auckland, where she established her own business within a Chiropractic Clinic. There, she worked closely with clients to complement their chiropractic care, supporting a wide range of people – from aspiring marathon runners to busy office workers. In 2022, her skills took her to Europe, where she gained work experience alongside the physio team for an America’s Cup sailing crew, helping elite athletes maintain peak condition during demanding training schedules.
Since moving to Christchurch, Elisia has expanded her expertise, completing her Remedial Massage Diploma. She is passionate about helping clients perform at their best in all aspects of life, empowering them through massage to restore both body and mind to a state of equilibrium.
Outside the clinic, Elisia loves being out in nature, reading, and exploring new places.
Hands On / Massage & Lymphatic Therapist
Massage & Lymphatics Therapist
Background
Anna is a professional and knowledgeable massage and lymphatic therapist, known for her empathy, thoroughness, and unwavering dedication to her clients. She takes the time to truly listen, assess each individual’s needs, and tailor each treatment to ensure the best possible results, whether supporting recovery, managing lymphatic conditions, or promoting overall wellbeing.
Having personally undergone treatment for breast cancer, Anna brings a deep and compassionate understanding to her work. This lived experience gives her a unique perspective and empathy when working with clients recovering from surgery, managing lymphoedema, or navigating the emotional and physical challenges of treatment. Her blend of personal insight and professional skill allows her to provide both exceptional care and genuine emotional support.
Outside the clinic, Anna finds joy and balance in the outdoors. She enjoys New Zealand’s beautiful landscapes through tramping, skiing, horse-riding and being out on the water, passions that keep her active and connected to nature.
Hands On / Massage & Lymphatic Therapist
Massage & Lymphatics Therapist
Background
Simon is a dedicated massage and lymphatics therapist with a strong focus on movement, quality of life, recovery, and sports performance. His treatments are tailored to support clients at all levels, from everyday mobility, pain relief and lymphatic care to injury prevention and athletic performance.
With expertise across a wide range of massage therapy modalities, Simon helps clients manage pain, reduce stress, improve mobility, and support lymphatic health. As a passionate and experienced runner, Simon understands the physical demands of training and competition first-hand. This insight allows him to work effectively with active clients and athletes, offering targeted massage therapy that aids recovery, reduces injury risk, and optimises performance.
Since graduating from SIT in 2024, Simon has brought both his clinical expertise and a warm, client-centred approach to the Hands On team. He combines professional knowledge with personal experience to help each client achieve their goals, always tailoring his care to individual needs.
Outside of work, Simon enjoys distance running, staying active and continually expanding his knowledge as part of his commitment to lifelong learning and professional development.
Massage Therapist
Massage & Lymphatics Therapist
Background
Kirstie is a professional and knowledgeable massage and lymphatics therapist, known for her kindness, dedication, and warm personality. She is the newest addition to our team, bringing fresh energy, a calm presence, and a genuine passion for helping others.
Her journey into massage was inspired by her mother’s recovery from stage 4 bowel cancer, an experience that gave her a deep appreciation for how wellness practices can support both the mind and body. After a successful career in the corporate world, Kirstie decided to follow her passion for health and wellbeing and is now completing her Level 6 Diploma in Remedial Massage, alongside Hands On Level I and II MLD training, with both courses expected to be completed by December 2025.
Kirstie is committed to using her growing expertise to support clients in recovery, improve mobility, and promote overall balance. Outside the clinic, she enjoys yoga, endurance running, and snowboarding, embracing an active lifestyle that reflects her belief in living well
Our team works with a variety of athletes in their practice, from weekend warriors to elite athletes. Their experience and knowledge will help you gain the optimal results in your sport. We also have accredited Academy of Sport providers – ask them if you qualify.
All our Massage Therapists have extensive post-graduate training. During your appointment, they will discuss the technique they feel is the most appropriate for you. It may vary from Deep Tissue, Relaxation, Lymphatic Drainage, Dry Needling, to other most used styles of massage.
Hans Lutters (photo left) is the director and owner of Sports Clinic Massage and has been providing massage services at the last 3 Olympic games in Rio, Tokyo and Paris to our amazing Kiwi athletes. You can book to see Hans and his team and receive the same great services as our Olympic athletes.
You can choose from a number of different types of massage, from soft and relaxing to targeted and deep tissue.
See our styles of massage for more styles and information:
Sports Massage Designed to support all athletes in competition, training and off-season phases. Specific techniques are utilized to maximize performance. |
Deep Tissue Massage Deep tissue massage releases tension in the body through applying slow deep pressure to the deeper layers of muscles. |
Lymphatic Drainage Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) is a gentle, non-invasive technique that has a powerful effect on the body. The skin is stretched and torqued in a specific manner, based on scientific, physiological principles that have proven to encourage lymph flow. Lymphatic Drainage is commonly used on (lymph)oedema and chronic pain. |
Myofascial Release The therapist uses gentle sustained pressure to release fascia (surrounds the muscle) to help improve flexibility, reduce pain and increase circulation. |
Pregnancy Massage Pregnancy massage is aimed at relaxing the pregnant woman and promoting health by applying light to moderate pressure to areas of discomfort. (usually in the side-lying position). |
Relaxation/Swedish A relaxation massage uses light to moderate strokes to release tension, and stress, to balance the mind body and soul. |
Trigger Point Therapy Trigger point therapy involves applying pressure to tender areas in the muscle (knots) in order to relieve pain and dysfunction which is often felt by other parts of the body. |
Neuromuscular Therapy (NMT) NMT is a holistic form of massage that aims to restore the body’s correct postural balance to help alleviate the area of soft tissue pain. Injuries and chronic pain may be prevented with this technique. |
You will be asked to get changed to your underwear while the therapist is out of the room. If you have concerns about this then you can be massaged through clothing, although it can be limiting.
Our appointments range from 30 mins, 60 mins and 90 minutes. If you are new to getting a massage, then we advise you to arrive 5-10 minutes early to fill out our forms
Unfortunately, massage is not an accredited modality with ACC so the full cost of the appointment is met by the client. Additionally, some health insurance policies will cover massage while others may not, so check your policy.
30 minutes $65
60 minutes $95
90 minutes $125