Chika received her neuromuscular therapy training from New Zealand College of Massage. With Shiatsu massage being a part of her Japanese upbringing and her father being an acupuncturist, she developed an interest in anatomy from an early age, aided by a life-size replica skeleton in her lounge.
Upon relocating to Wellington for her massage therapy studies, Chika was taken aback by how active the locals were but was also dismayed to discover that many believed massages had to hurt to be effective, subscribing to a "no pain, no gain" mentality. In contrast, Chika's approach is that massages should never be painful. Any discomfort experienced by the client during treatment should have a clear reason, such as breaking up scar tissue as an example. To tailor her massage techniques to each client's needs, Chika uses trigger points, acupressure points, myofascial release, deep tissue, and joint mobilisation techniques. She believes that effective communication is crucial in achieving the best results for her clients and creates a conducive environment for them to provide feedback on their experiences.
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