Our Team
Our dedicated team of health professionals provide multidisciplinary health care services and education to individuals, families and communities. We value professionalism and excellence, and our team are all members of their respective professional association and are committed to continuing their professional development in addition to compulsary requirements.
Together our team are passionate about inspiring, equipping and supporting you to live your healthiest and best life.
Click on the photos below to meet our team.
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Dr Kristy Buist – Founding DirectorB. App. Sc. (Osteo). M. Ost. Member OA
Dr Kristy Buist – Director Body of Life (Osteopath)
Dr Kristy Buist is a Founding Director at Body of Life Health Centre – she is not currently taking new patients.
She has always genuinely wanted to help people live their healthiest life, and this led to her discovery and love of Osteopathy. Kristy has extensive experience treating elite athletes from various sporting codes and loves to see her clients perform their best at all times.
She is well known for her diagnostic skills, guiding her clients with the best management plan and her strong hands! Kristy will ask the tough questions and enquire about obstacles because she sees the potential in each of her clients to live a healthy and fulfilling life. She loves to educate and inform you so that know how to move forward.
Kristy seems to have more hours in each day and days in the week than the rest of us! She is a mother of two energetic boys, has completed a Functional Nutritional course at Changing Habits, trains at Cross Fit regularly and still manages to socialise, cook from scratch at home and run the business.
She really is a superstar!
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Dr Kirsten Hannan (Osteopath)B.App. Sc. (Osteo). M. Ost Member OA
Kirsten is a fantastic addition to the team at Body of Life, with over 15 years of clinical practice experience spanning Singapore and Australia. She graduated from the University of Western Sydney in 2004 with a Masters of Osteopathy.
Kirsten offers osteopathic health care for the whole family and is passionate about helping people. She believes that educating you about why you (or your little ones) have pain, why it’s happening where it is and why now, is integral to finding immediate relief and lasting recovery. With skilled, hands-on assessment and treatment and a caring attitude, she is here to help you.
Kirsten has a particular interest in pregnancy and postpartum care and working with babies and children of all ages. She is also a registered International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), integrating the very best of bodywork and evidence-based lactation care and support to help mums overcome any obstacles and reach their breastfeeding goals, whatever they may be.
In her spare time, Kirsten loves pilates and swimming, but her main exercise comes in the form of kid-wrangling! She loves spending time with her family, along with reading and listening to podcasts.
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Dr Durkashini Jegatheesan (Osteopath)BSc (Clinical Sci) MHSc (Osteopathy)
As an Osteopath, Durka love’s treating holistically and collaboratively working with patients to better manage their pain and restore their function so that they can return to their daily activities. She adopts a predominantly structural approach when treating clients but has a passion for treating head, neck and TMJ. This stems from her prior background as a Dental Therapist and Hygienist.
The one thing she wishes all of her patients knew is that Osteopathy uses a holistic approach and that sometimes areas of concern may not always be the source of pain.
Durka enjoys going for a run and attending the gym and her favorite TV shows would be The Good Doctor and Suits. Basically anything medical, action, drama or comedy based and her favorite music would be RnB, hip hop and pop. Durka is also a movie buff – loves going to the cinema and baking – cakes, desserts, anything sweet really!
In her spare time she is focused on her 2 very active boys (aged 3yrs and 5 yrs old) otherwise, she loves catching up with friends over a coffee/lunch.
Her ideal getaway is somewhere where she can put her feet up and read a book, but she also loves exploring new cities on foot. To date The Maldives and Peru (Trekking through the Amazon rainforest were by far her favorite destinations) followed closely by Amsterdam where she lived for 6 months.
Her favorite quote is: “It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver” – Mahatma Gandi
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Dr Mark Deaves (Osteopath)B.App. Sc. (Osteo). M. Ost Member OA
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Dr Stacey Lapham (Osteopath)B.HSc. B.App. Sc. (Osteo). M. Ost Member OA
Stacey graduated from the University of Western Sydney with a Masters of Osteopathy in 2006 and since then has gained registration as an Osteopath in both Australia and the UK.
Stacey has practised in multidisciplinary clinics across Sydney and London over the past decade. While in London Stacey tutored in Anatomy in the wet labs of London’s St George’s University Hospital working with cross-sectional cadaveric specimens, gaining invaluable knowledge of the connections of the human body.
Stacey was an elite athlete for over 25 years winning multiple State, National and International titles in Athletics, Cross Country and Touch football over her sporting career. It was through her love of sport and her own injuries that lead her to study the human body. Through this, and her knowledge and experience as an Osteopath she came to recognise the connection between mind and body and the important relationship they play in accurately diagnosing and treating conditions.
Stacey believes in getting to the root cause of the problem. Her thorough consultations and holistic approach to treatments help patients to understand the cause of their problem, and how to manage this for long term benefits.
With her caring nature, Stacey has been dedicated to providing her patients with Osteopathic care and has developed a great level of rapport with her patients over the years.
Stacey enjoys treating all conditions including work-related postural pain, sports-related injuries, neck and back pain, joint pain and headaches. Stacey uses a wide range of techniques to help her patients return to good health and improve their quality of life. She also practices trigger point dry needling and is a certified mat Pilates instructor.
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Alex Boakes (Chiropractor)B.Chiro.Sc.M.Chiro (Macquarie University)
Alex is an enthusiastic and committed chiropractor who completed his Bachelor of Chiropractic Science and his postgraduate Master of Chiropractic at Macquarie University.
At Macquarie, he was fortunate to be mentored by many of the most respected chiropractors in Australia. As a practising chiropractor, Alex continues his professional development at every opportunity. Alex provides his patients with high quality care, which includes needling, soft tissue work, adjustments, and rehabilitation as part of his treatments and is particularly interested in treating people with sports injuries and prevention of further injuries.
Alex has always resided on the Northern Beaches, is a keen sportsman and a great fan of sporting participation and involvement for people of all ages. With his own sporting experience in rugby league, rugby union, soccer and basketball, Alex has a deep understanding of the impact of sporting injuries on one’s everyday life. Most importantly, Alex knows the long term benefits of chiropractic care in the treatment of sporting injuries and the maintenance of a healthy body functioning at an optimal level.
Alex’s motivation to become a chiropractor stems from his own experience with a significant sporting injury to his lower back. After seeking treatment, without success, from a range of health professionals, Alex ‘discovered’ chiropractic. With excellent chiropractic care, Alex was able to return to competitive sport with his body moving optimally. He was inspired by the positive outcomes and the great benefits of chiropractic. It is these benefits that Alex seeks to provide to his own patients so that they can enjoy optimal health and well-being.
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Natasha Grabham (Psychologist)MSoc Hlth(Psych) PG Dip(Psych) BSc(Psych) Assoc. MAPS
Natasha Grabham (Psychologist) – Body of Life
Natasha is a warm and caring therapist who focuses on the whole-human experience and through an integrative approach, she draws from evidence-based modalities, while holding a developmental lens and openness to creativity and innovation for the best possible experience for her clients.
“My wish for my clients is that they can experience a safe and welcoming space to work on their goals, at their pace. Some people move through therapy quickly and have very clearly articulated goals, where others find the therapeutic relationship restorative for long-standing or complex difficulties, while others have some challenges in knowing what they want from therapy”.
Whatever the reason/need is for someone reaching out, Natasha is an experienced and well-rounded clinician who draws value in walking alongside and in support of others on their journey.
“I thoroughly enjoy the opportunity to truly connect, to challenge, to be real and to hold hope. It is a privilege to sit in uncertainty and discomfort with someone and work towards greater quality of life. It is also so rewarding to see someone get movement where they have felt stuck, feel heard on the unspoken, or to witness the growth of empowerment and capacity”.
Natasha’s work in psychology has seen her support defence personnel, veterans, emergency service workers and their families, as well as the general community, children and adolescents and their parents. She works with individuals and couples and has a specialty in occupational trauma, but also works with depression, anxiety and stress, loss & grief, self-esteem, personality disorders, interpersonal issues, and older age psychology. Natasha has experience in private practice and psychiatric settings, having previously managed the allied health department at a psychiatric hospital based in Sydney.
Today, in addition to her private practice work at Body of Life, she works as the Director of Programs and heads up the senior clinician team for a health and wellbeing non-for-profit for first responders and their families.
Natasha is a member of AAPI and holds registration as a Psychologist through AHPRA. She is a Medicare and DVA (Dept Vet Affairs) treatment provider and a contractor for Open Arms (veteran counselling service). She welcomes enquiries at natasha@bodyoflife.com.au or contact the clinic on 9453 3046.
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Danielle Hui (Massage Therapist)Diploma Remedial Massage, Member ATMS
Danielle Hui (Massage Therapist)
Danielle absolutely loves being a Remedial Massage Therapist and believes her role is to assist and ‘educate’ clients to be fully aware of the need to care for ones well-being holistically (mentally, psychologically, physically).
Danielle encourages clients to learn to let go & relax during a therapy session and by doing this knows that they will gain the most from it. She loves meeting new clients and learning about them, understanding them, respecting them and helping them.
Danielle’s favourite ways to exercise include dancing, swimming and beach walking whilst listening to the surf. She is not into reality TV at all but loves her music and you will often find her listening to an eclectic mix of Pop, Fusion, Jazz, Blues or Indy! She also loves loves singing, reading, meditating, watching a movie or catching up with friends.
Danielle wants her clients to know that she loves, believes in and is passionate & genuinely cares about her job and her favourite quote’s reflect this : Never say never…
Life is an adventure, dare it…Life is a journey not a destination…Decision in a heartbeat… Learn from yesterday, live for today…Remember we are all but travellers here…Find happiness in making others happy…Be eager in your desires but humbly patient in the accomplishments…
Her ideal getaway would be travelling along the coast of Australia or flying or cruising to any awesome destination!
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Jo-Anne McAllister (Practice Manager)
Jo-Anne McAllister – Practice Manager
Her idea of travel would be anywhere as long as there is the sun, a beach and good food and her favourite quote is “The trouble with people at the moment is not that we aim high and fail but we aim low and succeed”.
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Kaitlin Rushton (Massage Therapist)Diploma Remedial Massage, Member ATMS
Kaitlin Rushton (Massage Therapist)
Kaitlin is a skilled and qualified remedial massage therapist, holding a Bachelor’s degree in exercise and sports science from Charles Sturt University. She is currently furthering her studies with a post-graduate degree in sports injury rehabilitation at ACU.
With a passion for sport, Kaitlin has been actively involved in hockey, AFL, basketball, softball and cricket. Her firsthand experience in these sports fuels her commitment to helping other recover from sports injuries through her remedial massage therapy. Kaitlin has a keen interest in assisting individuals in regaining their health and returning to their optimal performance levels, whether in sports or everyday tasks.
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Josephine Zhou (TCM)Dr of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Josephine holds a Bachelor degree of Health Science (in Traditional Chinese Medicine) from the University Technology of Sydney (UTS). Prior to becoming a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner, she has experienced firsthand how difficult it was to find the right doctor and get sound advice and real help for different health issues. This set her on a path of discovering the importance of holistic health care, and also instilled a passion to be able to help others in practical ways.
During her bachelor course in UTS, Josephine also had training experience at the Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital where Chinese medicine and Western medicine is integrated for patient care in a hospital setting.
As a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner, Josephine applies individualised treatment methods, introduces modified lifestyle and dietary adjustments for restoring the body to a homeostasis state. Her treatment method aims more in optimising the body’s functions in preserving and cultivating health, besides managing signs and symptoms.
Josephine is interested in women’s health, where there are important seasons that should be cared for with love and professional advice. Menarche (first menstruation) in a woman’s early years is the first chance to reset the scale weight at the balance level. The next important season is pregnancy, in preparation of a pregnancy and postpartum health restoration. Menopause management is also an important season for maintaining good health in the golden years.
Josephine’s skillset includes acupuncture, cosmetic acupuncture, cupping and herbal medicine.
Body of Life Health Centre is a provider of excellence in health services and education,
servicing the Northern Beaches and North Shore.
We exist to equip you to live your healthiest and best life. We are a multidisciplinary team of health practitioners that provide a range of services to you, your family and the local community.
Our services include Osteopathy, Chiropractic, Physiotherapy, Dry Needling, Massage, Acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nutrition, Psychology and Health & Wellness Coaching.
We inspire, equip, educate and support you to make the changes you need to feel your best!