Let's get to know: Terese Mudgway

Where did you grow up?

Whangarei, New Zealand. Always with plenty of land around, loads of animals, gardens, space and close to the ocean. Outdoors was the name of the game. Whether it was on the farm, by the beach or on the ocean, we were always out doing ’stuff’. Home-grown vegetables, an orchard with trees to climb and fruit to pluck and enjoy as we sat in the trees from which it hung.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

It went through various incarnations – world champion equestrian, Chiropractor, CEO, entrepreneur.

Where do you live and who with?

Brisbane with a healthy wedge of time in Sydney. Brisbane with James and Ripple (Portuguese water dog) and when in Sydney with my sister and nephew.

Favourite time of day?

Morning, especially early when the sun is coming up, and as I write this I am in the middle of Europe enjoying the long evenings and I have to say, I love this time of the day too. The first and last light of the day is a magical time and seems to kiss mother nature with another magical veil of elegance. Everything seems peaceful and quiet whilst everyone is still asleep or have turned in for the day.

How has Kinesiology transformed your life – personally and professionally?

It’s given me a career of purpose and passion. It took me from surviving to thriving, whilst having the ability to create a life that works for me free from the normal constraints of working for someone else and having a 9-5 job. Having my own business and being master of my own destiny was always in my plan since childhood and I’ve created just that. I am financially secure and abundant, I work the hours I want, I get to create change and new opportunities and take holidays whenever it works for me!

What has Kinesiology helped you overcome?

Back pain. Literally. When I began studying Kinesiology I had severe back pain. So much so that I couldn’t sit in a chair. Through my studies not only did I work on my classmates, but they also worked on me. I’ve never had back pain again since. It has also helped me overcome insecurities, doubt and past trauma. I walk my talk so I have regular Kinesiology sessions and it helps me work through and overcome any block, barrier or issue I have dealt with since studying.

What were the best things your parents taught you?

Manners and respect. How to cook and appreciation for good food. Love what you do. Quality over quantity. Kindness to people and animals. Contribution, curiosity and hospitality. Family and friendships are a foundational pillar.

How did you know you were falling out of love with your marketing career?

When I sat at a boardroom table discussing the bandwidth of a colour on the front of packaging and I asked myself, “Is this what my life is about? Surely there has to be something more meaningful I could be doing?"

How did you discover Kinesiology?

Through my father. A chiropractor who had also studied Applied Kinesiology so you could say I was lucky enough to be born into it.

How long have you been practicing and teaching PKP Kinesiology?

20-plus years.

Why did you start The Nidana Collective?

Because Sarah [Gilmour-Mayne] presented me with a vision, a possibility and a doorway to be part of something bigger than myself. The promise of connection and community appealed to me, as well as the idea of making a far greater positive impact in both the Kinesiology industry and humanity as a whole.

Why do you teach PKP Kinesiology, and not one of the other strains that have emerged over the years?

When I chose to study Kinesiology I did my research to ensure the quality of the qualification I chose was the best in the industry. It has stood the test of time and to this day it remains the most comprehensive, integritous and professional Kinesiology qualification available. Its foundations are solidly anchored in the science and research of Applied Kinesiology and it continues to evolve.

In what ways can Kinesiologists empower clients that more traditional therapists can’t?

It works in a different model than the western medicine model of sickness. Kinesiology is preventative. We call it a do ‘with’ rather than a do ’to’ model. Putting the client in the driver’s seat of their own health and wellbeing in a holistic sense. We give clients the access and the tools to the innate healing abilities of their own body and mind. New perspectives, new understandings, new knowledge, new options, new ways of seeing and thinking about things – empowering them in the bigger picture of what could be possible for themselves and their lives beyond what they currently see, understand and believe they’ve inherited.

What shifts have you seen take place in your clients over the years?

Where do I begin? Babies born, marriages saved, marriages created, purposes fulfilled, millions made, health transformed, destructive habits eradicated, old traumas healed, potential realised, families reunited.

Finish this sentence: Kinesiology is… a source of infinite possibility for any or all who choose to embrace it and integrate it into their lives.

What do you love about being a Kinesiologist?

Fulfilment, meaning, purpose, fun, master of my destiny, contribution, success, my clients, my colleagues, travel, speaking, creating, connecting, the list goes on.

What do you hope for the Kinesiology profession?

That it becomes a cornerstone for the health, wellbeing and fulfilment in life for individuals and families. Why would you do life without Kinesiology?

What do your students walk away with when they graduate?

A new perspective, a new reality, friendships, awareness, insight, purpose, meaning, a whole gambit of tools, a reality of who and how they see themselves, possibilities beyond what they could have imagined.

How do you support them beyond graduation?

We build such beautiful relationships throughout the journey and it doesn’t end at graduation. We love that we continue to be part of their lives and always make ourselves available. There are also the practical things we offer too, including a Mentoring Program and ongoing professional development courses.

How would you describe your attitude to life?

Gratitude; Cup half-full; Two of my favourite quotes from George Bernard Shaw sum it up. The first is: “Life isn’t about finding yourself, it is about creating yourself”.

The second is: “This is the true joy in life, being used for a purpose recognised by yourself as a mighty one. Being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it what I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.”