OUR TEAM
Facilitator & KaHuna Bodyworker
NADINE MARTENS
Meet Nadine, a passionate body therapist with a deep love and curiosity for life and the human experience.
With over 15 years of experience in holistic bodywork, Nadine’s journey into healing began in 2004 in Germany with the study of Shin Tai Bodywork, sparking a lifelong commitment to personal growth. Since moving to Australia in 2007, Nadine has completed all seven levels of Ka Huna Massage, Level 1 and 2 Heartworks Lomi Lomi and ili ili hot stone massage training, which she has facilitated in Brisbane since 2020. Currently, Nadine is studying Visionary Cranio Sacral Therapy.
“After completing my first KaHuna training, I knew I had arrived home. This form of bodywork provides a space for wholehearted connectedness, a space to return to the essence of who we truly are, inviting įoy and creativity to blossom. It is a deep honouring of the body and soul…I call myself lucky to have had many amazing teachers along the way who have guided and supported my desire for self-inquiry and growth in such a profound way that I can now share open-heartedly with others.”
Nadine is passionate about creating and holding space for people to open up to the possibility of deep transformation, providing an experience that becomes a heartfelt prayer of reverence and connection. She feels privileged and honoured to be able to witness clients and students stepping through limitations into more freedom in their bodies, hearts and minds.
With a long interest in Daoist training methods for self-cultivation, Nadine has been training under the lineage of the Ba Men Daxuan tradition in recent years.
Nadine is the mother of three beautiful children. She is caring, calm, and down-to-earth. She runs her own Hawaiian Bodywork home clinic in Brisbane and works as part of a team at the Kahuna Hub on the Sunshine Coast.
Nadine joined our team at High Spirits Retreat in 2022 as a co-facilitator and chef de cuisine.
Welcome to a journey of self-care and deep connection with Nadine. Aloha
Facilitator and Holistic Healing Practitioner
DANI CULLEN
Dani Cullen is a highly experienced holistic practitioner and the founder of INASOUL, renowned for her work in Lomi Lomi and Kahuna massage at High Spirits. With nearly 20 years of experience, Dani has built a reputation in the Apollo Bay community for her deep reverence for nature and her nurturing, playful spirit. Her holistic approach is rooted in trust, love, and gentle guidance, helping clients on their journey of self-healing.
Dani’s extensive educational background includes a Bachelor of Science from Deakin University and an Advanced Diploma of Health Sciences in Holistic Kinesiology from The Kinesiology College for Energetic Sciences. She has completed Ka Huna Level 7 and Specialised Facilitators Training, as well as Lomi Lomi Facilitator training at Mettes Institute of Bodywork and Personal Development. Dani is also a certified Usui Shiki Ryoho Reiki Practitioner and has trained in Pleiadian Lightwork and Full Sensory Perception through Dolphin Star Temple Mystery School. Additionally, she has pursued multi-instrumental sound healing at Sound Healing Bali and modern Qigong with Nicole Lee Qigong.
Her rich blend of skills and experience enhances her ability to connect deeply with clients, guiding them towards holistic well-being. Dani’s holistic practice and vibrant, supportive approach foster a healing environment that promotes wellness and self-discovery.
Facilitator
AHREN (REN)
Ahren (Ren) is a gifted and Intuitive Bodyworker & Facilitator who honours the connection between the physical, energetic, psycho-emotional & spiritual aspects of the embodied experience.He weaves ancient wisdom with modern healing modalities to provide a safe space for clients and students to cultivate & integrate their awesomeness into their lives.
The core of his offerings flow from over two decades of dedicated personal inquiry and professional practice.In his twenties, he was blessed to spend 7 years immersed in the practice and study of Ka Huna Bodywork at High Spirits and he is deeply grateful for the incredible foundations he was able to develop in the early years of his journey.
After developing firm roots in Hawaiian Style Bodywork, he has continued his explorations in the healing arts. He is a qualified Zenthai Shiatsu Therapist, and has studied various other healing modalities such as Mayan Abdominal Therapy and Emotional Anatomy.
In the past decade he has been exploring his interest in Orthobionomy & Craniosacral Therapies, and most recently has begun dabbling in Da Xuan Daoist Cultivation practices.
Ren is a passionate & gifted facilitator who believes that the best bodyworkers are the ones who have done the work on themselves. Based on what he has seen, he is convinced that it is through developing foundations of good technique & proficiency in practice, that the magic of the healing process anchors into the therapeutic context.
He is honoured by the invitation to join the team at High Spirits and share in the emergent journey once again.
LAWRENCE MITCHELL
Facilitator
Passionate about helping people leaders unlock their full potential, Lawrence’s journey has led him through diverse roles in large public corporations, medium-sized private enterprises, fast-growth startups, and small businesses across the UK, America, and Asia. He brings an entrepreneurial spirit to the table, relishing the opportunity to assist business owners and visionaries in turning their concepts into reality.
Lawrence was Chief Marketing Officer for 9 years for a division of the RELX Group, and was part of the Leadership Team that saw the business transform from a declining, trade magazine business into a $4bn data, analytics and software business. It was whilst working for the RELX Group in London that Lawrence developed an interest in holistic wellbeing, initially from a self leadership perspective, and then through a recognition that the only way to successfully and sustainably transform a business was by supporting people to build resilience to better cope with the inevitable pressures, challenges and change.
In 2014, Lawrence took on the role of Chief Wellbeing Officer and developed the award winning ‘Living Well Programme’ that has since gone on to impact the lives of 13k employees working in 50 locations around the world.
Since moving to Australia in 2016, Lawrence’s focus has been on three areas: Leadership Development, Wellbeing at Work and Holistic Marketing.
Support Team & Facilitator
Chrissy Seymour
Chrissy is grateful to be part of the support team at High Spirits Retreats, where she continues her journey with Kahuna and Lomi Lomi. She brings a grounded, nurturing energy to the space - whether it’s through preparing heartfelt meals, offering support, or simply being present with care and intention. It’s an honour for her to walk alongside others on their path while continuing to grow on her own.
Support Team & Facilitator
Kayla Kayo Takekawa
Kayla is passionate about exploring the connection between mind and body.
She has over a decade of experience in the holistic health industry, and is trained in multiple modalities including Remedial massage, Ayurvedic consultation & treatments, Zen thai shiatsu, Reiki, and Kahuna.
With her strong interest in exploring and learning different ways of healing the nervous system, she is currently studying Craniosacral therapy to enrich the depth and potency of her offering.
She has been working as a senior therapist and trainer at Gaia Retreat & Spa in the Byron Bay hinterland since 2016 offering healing and relaxation to clients and staff alike.
She enjoys expressing her creativity not only in her Kahuna sessions, but also by creating wholesome and yummy meals to nourish those who are fortunate enough to receive her meals.
JACQUE SMITH
Facilitator
I am Jacque, Kahuna Bodyworker, Facilitator and Teacher and I am blessed to call High Spirits Retreat my spiritual home.
One of my biggest passions is supporting others to see and feel the magic and power that is within. Kahuna is much more than just a massage, it is a soul to soul dance where I meet you, breathe with you, connect deeply with your body and listen to the messages within. Through bringing touch, breath and awareness to all parts of you; body, mind, heart and soul; I am your guide as you heal yourself one touch, one breathe, one heartbeat at a time.
I look forward to meeting you and sharing with you on your journey of personal discovery at Mette’s Institute.
NEIKAH VERLINDEN
Facilitator
Neikah Verlinden, driven by a profound passion for inspiring optimal mental, emotional, and physical health, as well as fostering radical transformation in the human experience, is a born health enthusiast. Early on, Neikah recognized the importance of an holistic and robust approach to well-being as the foundation for a happy and fulfilling life.
With a lifelong dedication to studying and practicing bodywork, movement, vibrational healing, breath work and nutrition, Neikah offers a comprehensive approach in her role as a Heartworks Lomi Lomi and KaHuna bodyworker, facilitator, and trainer.
Her deep affection for KaHuna bodywork, with it’s ritualistic and transformative processes, enables Neikah to guide clients and students on journey’s of self-discovery and personal mastery.
Currently serving as a facilitator at High Spirits Retreat Centre for Mette’s Institute of Personal Development and Bodywork, Neikah seamlessly integrates all her acquired knowledge into an expanded practice.
In Neikah’s words, “I like to think of KaHuna Bodywork as journey…from the moment you start contemplating a KaHuna session, your session has begun. Similarly, the moment you consider training in KaHuna Bodywork, your training journey has commenced”.
Hygge [hu-guh] noun
A Danish idea which means to be happy and feel cosy. Also known as the Art of Happiness.