About our Whakatane Physio practice
Body in Motion Whakatane is located at 52 Boon Street, Whakatane. Our experienced Whakatane physiotherapist has specialty interests in manual therapy, sports rehabilitation, exercise strengthening, acupuncture, and pilates.
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Karen HanlenPrincipal, Physiotherapist
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Jackie MillsPhysiotherapist
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Miles SaittaPhysiotherapist
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Alida SheatherPhysiotherapist
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Wendy MextedReceptionist
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Gina SteinbergReceptionist
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Rachel ChristieOccupational Therapist
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Juliette HornePsychologist

Karen Hanlen
BHSc Physiotherapy
PG Cert Western Acupuncture
Certified Pilates Instructor (Back in Motion Level 1-3 Mat)
Karen graduated from AUT in 2003 and returned to work in her hometown of Whakatane for the BOP DHB. She then travelled abroad to the UK for her big OE, combining travel and work in various private and military practices as well as the NHS. On return home she returned to work as a musculoskeletal physio at Whakatane Hopsital, where she completed her Post Grad Cert in Western Acupuncture and gained her pilates instructor certification. Karen also spent several years competing at an elite level in the sport of mountain biking for Specialized NZ, and represented NZ in numerous World Cup and Championship campaigns, as well as the 2012 London Olympics and 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. Karen has a strong passion in sports strength conditioning and rehabilitation, as well as manual therapy, pilates and acupuncture.

Jackie Mills
Bachelor of Kinesiology (BKIN), Master of Science in Physiotherapy (MScPT)
Jackie graduated from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada in 2013 with a Masters of Science in Physiotherapy (MScPT) degree. Upon graduating, she worked in Halifax for a few years in both private practice and community-based care. During her time there, she gained valuable experience working with a wide range of conditions, injuries and functional levels. In 2015, Jackie decided to make the move to New Zealand and is happy to have called Whakatane home for the last three years.
Jackie has completed several post graduate courses including, but not limited to the prevention and treatment of running injuries, concussion treatment and management, orthopaedic manual and manipulative therapy (upper quadrant) and acupuncture. She also has experience working with respiratory conditions and ran the community Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program in Whakatane for the last two years. Jackie is a firm believer in continuing education and is dedicated to becoming a more efficient and effective clinician through professional growth and development. Jackie employs a combination of manual therapy, exercise prescription, modalities and education to assist each client in their return to optimal health and function. Her treatment philosophy is that every injury happens for a reason and so she searches for the cause of the problem, rather than a quick fix.
Aside from work, you are most likely to find Jackie outside. She enjoys running, hiking, playing soccer, camping and getting out on the water (in her Canadian canoe of course).

Miles Saitta
Bachelor of Physiotherapy with distinction
Originally born in Italy, Miles spent part of his childhood growing up in England, Australia and moved to New Zealand in 2003 where he did a majority of his schooling in Whakatane.
Miles took a gap year doing personal training in Northern England in 2013 and then returned to New Zealand in 2014 to study the bachelor of physiotherapy in Otago, graduating in 2018. Most recently, working for Lower Hutt hospital rotating through a raft of wards including; outpatients musculoskeletal, orthopedics ward, burns and plastic surgery, general surgery, medical, pediatrics and rehab. He moved to Whakatane November 2019 where he worked locally throughout the inpatients ward at the Hospital.
Outside of work, Miles enjoys surfing, fishing, tramping and travelling to new places and eating good food!

Alida Sheather
Bachelor of Health science and Physiotherapy, Gate way pilates reformer certified
Alida’s educational journey started at Trident high school graduating in 2013, she then went on to complete her degree at AUT university and worked for 3 years before going on maternity leave. During her time in Auckland and Tauranga, Alida has gained a wide variety of knowledge and experience in private practice, along with community and contract work; including on and off field Acute sport teams management, Neurological rehabilitation, Musculoskeletal rehabilitation, reformer based pilates and acute/chronic back patient management.
Outside of work, Alida enjoys paddleboarding, tramping, fishing, working in her vegetable garden and spending time with family.

Wendy Mexted
Wendy has worked at Body In Motion Whakatane since March 2019. She has lived in Whakatane most of her life and worked for a variety of local companies and organisations. Wendy is enjoying rejoining her team members that she worked alongside at Whakatane Hospital and meeting up again with clients from many of the different places she has worked at. Loves hiking, travel, golf and catching up with her son and daughter and their families (just to name a few of her favourite things!)

Gina Steinberg
Gina is originally from South Africa and moved to sunny Whakatane in November 2019 with her husband and two children. On weekends you will find her spending time in her garden or cycling with the family.

Rachel Christie
BHSc (Occupational Therapy)
Rachel qualified in 1995 at AUT and has worked in a variety of settings in the Bay of Plenty with the DHB and private providers in the UK. Rachel is passionate about Community Rehabilitation and facilitating the rehabilitation journey to support people to achieve their optimal level of involvement in their chosen everyday activities.
Outside of work, you’ll find Rachel enjoying trail walking/running, mountain biking, gardening, making art, reading, kiwi monitoring and predator trapping for the Kiwi Trust and getting involved in the kids sport.

Juliette Horne
B Design (Vis Com), Grad Dip Arts (Psych), PG Dip Science (Health Psych), MSc (Hons), PG Dip (Health Psych)
Juliette trained as a Health Psychologist as the University of Auckland and has worked predominantly in rehabilitation. Juliette has expertise in pain management, neurological rehabilitation, and general rehabilitation. She likes to work with a strengths-based approach to psychology which acknowledges that everyone has skills which serve them and focuses on growing resilience.
Outside of work Juliette competes in Powerlifting and enjoys spending time getting out in nature.