She's the epitome of a cliche, and a rather incredible one at that. Those entrusted with our health and wellbeing should most certainly be glowing and possessed of an inner calm. The fresh-faced Olivia van Lierop is all these things and more, having spent much of the past decade practising therapeutic and sports massage.
Appealing to her growing wanderlust and an eagerness to build on her skills, Olivia spent seven years based everywhere but New Zealand, stepping into the superyacht crewing world and assisting on the water-borne playgrounds of the mega-rich as a private massage therapist and, later, yoga instructor.
From Florida to the Bahamas through the Panama Canal and into Mexico and Costa Rica, boat life was never dull, especially when Van Lierop was required to set up exclusive mini-spas on board new boats. Her work even required travel across the Baltic Sea, through Sweden, Finland and Russia.
Eight years administering daily massages, running floating spas and guiding yacht guests through yoga poses on sundecks encouraged Van Lierop to set up a practice of her own in Ponsonby, a boutique massage sanctuary and yoga studio called Enrich Therapeutic Massage. She seems not to be acquainted with stress, so drop the bourbon, cigarettes or whatever vice you harbour and take heed of her healthy life essentials.
