Meet Sarah
Hi, I’m Sarah McAllum, a certified Feldenkrais® practitioner and movement coach based in Napier, New Zealand.
I came to this work the hard way—through pain. I had two serious car accidents in my teens and twenties that left me with chronic back pain and a deep twist through my spine and pelvis. My posture changed, my energy dipped and I always felt like something was just off in my body.
I tried everything—physio, chiropractors, yoga—but the relief never lasted. Eventually, I was told, “This is just how it is now.” But I was too young to accept that as the end of the story.
Then I discovered the Feldenkrais Method®. Through gentle, mindful movement things started to shift. I stopped fighting my body and started working with it. In under two years, the pain was gone. My posture improved. I felt taller, lighter, stronger—and more myself than I had in years.
From Corporate to Curious Mover
Before all this, I worked in the corporate world—high-functioning, fast-paced and constantly under pressure. I was successful on paper, but behind the scenes, I was managing stress, pain and a growing sense that I wasn’t thriving.
The more I explored movement, the more I realised that what I’d been taught to ignore—my body’s signals, discomfort, the need for rest—was exactly what I needed to start listening to. I didn’t just want to cope anymore. I wanted to feel good.
Feldenkrais® gave me tools to do that. And I knew I had to share them.
So, I left the office and retrained—first completing the 800-hour Feldenkrais Professional Training Program finishing in 2010, then adding hundreds more hours of postgraduate study with some of the world's most experienced Feldenkrais trainers and further study in anatomy, neuroscience and movement.
What it's like to work with me
My approach is grounded in a simple but powerful idea:
“What I’m after isn’t flexible bodies, but flexible minds.”
— Moshe Feldenkrais
This work isn’t about pushing, stretching or trying harder. It’s about learning. Tuning in. Reorganising movement at the level of your nervous system. I work with:
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Neuroscience & nervous system awareness – The Feldenkrais® Method rewires movement at its source: your brain. It blends neuroscience, movement science, and mindful awareness to create lasting change.
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Individualised, gentle learning – No one-size-fits-all approach here. I begin by listening to your story, concerns and daily life. Then, I tune into how you move and work together to shift habits that cause discomfort or tension
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Practical tools for long-term ease – Forget temporary fixes. I equip you with simple tools and movement practices so you can self-care effectively, ease pain and move with confidence long after our time together ends.
I call what I do Movement with Meaning—because how you move shapes how you feel, how you think and how you live. When you move better, you feel better. And when you feel better, you do better in every part of life.
Through group classes, one-to-one sessions and workshops, I help you shift habits that cause pain, improve mobility and reconnect with yourself.
Let’s Work Together
If you're ready to move into ease, resilience and more confidence in your body—I’d love to work with you.
👉 Book in a chat, or explore a class, workshop or individual session today.