Rachel Ah Kit is owner of a multi-room clinic, Bodyworks Massage Therapy in Christchurch. She opened the clinic in 2010 and continues to practice full time. Her clinical focus is working with people in pain to help them gain confidence to live a quality life, even with pain.

Rachel holds a Diploma of Massage Therapy from the Canterbury College of Natural Medicine, and a Bachelor of Business Studies from Massey University. She received a Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences, endorsed in Pain and Pain Management, from the University of Otago in 2020. This programme emphasises both practical skills and theoretical knowledge from an evidence-based perspective within the biopsychosocial framework endorsed by the International Association for the Study of Pain.

Rachel is about to complete her Master of Health Sciences by thesis, also through the University of Otago, Health Sciences division. Her research focus is understanding the beliefs New Zealand massage therapists hold towards low back pain and integrating movement into their clinical practice. This research will provide insight into how massage therapists compare with other health professionals with regards to low back pain, an issue that affects the majority of the population at some time in their life.

Rachel was also the editor of the Massage Aotearoa New Zealand member magazine for three years. She has been a member of Massage Aotearoa New Zealand for 14 years and is also a member of the New Zealand Pain Society and the International Association for the Study of Pain.