Welcome to Essential Physiotherapy

Hi, and welcome to Essential Physiotherapy. I am the owner Lesley Coffey and I am so excited to offer my advanced clinical skills to Mid and South Canterbury.

I am originally from Belfast in Northern Ireland where I trained as a Physiotherapist. The calling of New Zealand (aka Middle Earth) brought me here in 2008 to Havelock North. Two years later I moved to Ashburton. I have a 5 year old son Ryan, a beautiful 3 year old daughter Iris, a 13 year old dog and three cats to keep me on my toes!

I’ve worked in private practice for over 15 years and love the variety and challenges that each day brings. From sports injuries, to post-operative rehabilitation, back pain to knee pain no two injuries are the same. Working alongside my wonderful patients to develop their goals of treatment and getting them back to what they love doing makes going to work a pleasure. I have worked two seasons as the physio for the Hawkes Bay Tui’s Women’s rugby team, the Havelock North Premier rugby team and a season with the Southbridge Senior rugby team. The thrill of pitch side treatment is something I think every physio loves!

I trained as a Clinical Pilates instructor in 2012, completed 300 Hour Power Yoga, 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training and Pregnancy Yoga certification in 2021. I own Inverted Fitness Studio where I teach pole fitness and yoga. Pole Fitness not only keeps me fit, strong and flexible but the self love and confidence I have developed from this beautiful sport is better than anything else I have tried. I love watching my students transforming into confident and empowered women who can take on the world. My yoga practice has really taught me what my body and mind are capable off, but integrating yoga into my physiotherapy practice has given tremendous benefit to my patients.

In 2016, my physio studies took me in a new direction that has opened up a new world for me…Pelvic Health. The more I learn and treat, the more my passion for this special area grows. I’ve completed all my advanced training in Pelvic Floor, including Children’s Pelvic Health & Male Pelvic Health - this has taken my skill set to a whole new level! Our bodies are amazing creations and they go through a lot. But so often we get consumed in family, work and hobbies that we forget to take care of ourselves. I believe every person should understand their body, and the changes it goes through at different stages of life. I have created my practice to allow both women and men to seek treatment for things they thought were ‘just part of life’.

Please take a look around the website, and if you have any questions or would like to make an appointment, get in touch.

I’ve been on a huge learning journey for the past 3 years. And I mean huge. The passion and love for what I do drives me to find out all I can to help my patients. My training so far includes:

• Advanced training in

  • Pelvic Organ Prolapse

  • Pessary Support

  • Stress Urinary Incontinence

  • Pelvic Pain

  • Bowel and Colorectal

  • Over Active Bladder

  • Trauma informed Physiotherapy

  • Birth Choices

  • Diastasis Rectus

  • Children’s Pelvic Health

• Real Time Ultrasound

• Explain Pain/Persistant Pain

• Male Pelvic Health including Prostate Cancer Rehab

• Bladder Pain Syndrome

• The Female Athlete

• 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training (plus 300 hour Power Yoga training)

• 200 Pregnancy and Post-natal Yoga Teacher Training

• 20 hour Mum & Baby Yoga training

• 50 hour Children’s Yoga

• Currently studying towards:

  • Level 3 and 4 Personal Training

  • Hormones and Menopause certification

  • Endometriosis Coaching Certification

• Visceral Manipulation

• 2x Advanced pregnancy and post natal coaching certifications

Admin and practice manager

Aimee Fawcett joined the team in July 2023. She is the reason your appointments get booked, the clinic is open and even keeping Lesley well hydrated with her cups of tea. She’s the backbone of the place!

Hi, I'm Aimee and you will find me sitting behind the front desk at Essential Physio or answering the phone when you call.

My journey has taken me from working primarily with children in outdoor adventure settings, through supporting people with intellectual disabilities and then people in residential care settings living with dementia to live empowered and fulfilling lives, and finally to here.

Admin support has always been part of my roles and as a busy mum it fits well now more than ever.

I look forward to meeting you and having a good old natter while you wait for your appointment.

Our Mission

Is to offer a unique and exceptional physiotherapy service to the Ashburton, Mid & South Canterbury area. We will listen through an individualised assessment, provide easy-to-follow education and develop a treatment plan alongside the patient to work towards their health/fitness/healing goals. We have a special focus on Women’s Health during Pregnancy, Post-natal and Menopause.

Our Vision

Our vision is to develop a warm, friendly and inviting clinic where patients can feel comfortable and confident to discuss their symptoms without feeling embarrassed. We want to empower patients with knowledge about their bodies and help provide them with the tools they need to be successful with their treatment outcomes. The body cannot be treated in isolation from the mind (and vice versa) therefore we will continue to expand our knowledge through the best professional development resources and strive to use evidence based practice which will allow us to offer a holistic and completely personalised treatment plan including not just the body, but the mind, beliefs and values of our patients. Also to provide education to the public regarding all aspects of physiotherapy.