Hana, the incredible wellness destination conceived by former pharmacist Sara Higgins, was one of the country’s very first venues to offer infrared saunas, red light therapy, and contrast therapy — with Higgins calling on her extensive expertise and personal learnings to bring a unique offering to Aucklanders. Now, it seems everyone has cottoned on to the incredible benefits of these treatments, with infrared saunas and ice baths popping up everywhere you look — but no one does it quite like Hana, and their new Parnell locale promises to take self-care to new heights.
Hana’s serene new spot, over two years in the making, offers a welcome respite for those seeking rejuvenation, balance, and a ritualistic escape from the daily grind. Taking the decision to open the doors to a second venue is hardly surprising, given the incredible success of their first location and the overwhelmingly positive response to the unique blend of healing services on offer. And as more people learn of the undeniable benefits of holistic wellness practices, Hana’s fanbase — and clientele, only grows.
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Alongside infrared saunas, red light therapy, ice baths, and massage therapy, Hana’s new outpost will be offering a personalised service to support client’s specific health goals, with tailored programmes designed by highly experienced naturopaths and nutritionists to address client’s specific health goals. With a career background as a pharmacist, with nutritional and environmental medicine training, Higgins is perfectly placed to bring a more health-focused slant to Hana’s beauty and wellness offering. “I love that we are expanding treatments to create bespoke wellness pathways to support our clientele,” Higgins tells me, “From fertility to pregnancy, sports injuries, skin concerns, nutrition and immunity, everyone’s health needs are unique.”
The space itself, as has become a given when the door reads Hana, is stunning, serene, and thoughtfully-designed. Collaborating with Pennant & Triumph, Higgins conceived the new Parnell location to cultivate calm, reflecting the elevated ambience of Hana’s Grey Lynn flagship. Here, a signature palette of travertine and rendered plaster is complimented in treatment rooms by sage green Japanese textured tiles, and brass fixtures, with soft lighting casting the space an enchanting glow.
In terms of the benefits of the treatments on offer, we asked Sara to break down everything you need to know.
Red Light therapy, celebrated for its rejuvenating properties, has become a favourite among clients seeking to enhance their skin’s appearance and overall health. Full-body Photobiomodulation therapy pods utilise red and near-infrared light to optimise mitochondrial function, the powerhouse of cells. Enhanced mitochondrial performance translates to increased energy and a reduced risk of disease. Scientifically backed, this treatment also repairs sun damage, reduces wrinkles, speeds muscle recovery, heals scars and stretch marks, reduces inflammation, boosts testosterone levels, and enhances collagen production.
Contrast therapy, which combines a hot sauna with a two-minute ice bath immersion, offers numerous benefits such as reducing inflammation and boosting metabolism. In the Parnell location, one of the contrast rooms features a traditional sauna with elevated heat settings, allowing clients to experience a more pronounced contrast between hot and cold.
Hana also provides healing therapeutic and pregnancy massages to reduce tension and promote recovery and overall wellbeing. These treatments utilise techniques tailored to individual needs to alleviate muscle soreness, improve circulation, and enhance relaxation. By targeting specific areas of tension and stress, Hana’s skilled therapists help clients achieve a state of deep physical and mental rejuvenation, contributing to a holistic approach to health and wellness.
While traditional saunas elevate the air temperature to high levels, infrared saunas heat the body directly, with only about 20 percent of the heat warming the air. Instead, infrared waves penetrate deeply into the body, promoting deep heating that activates sweat glands and facilitates toxin elimination.
Post-sweat, clients can enjoy showers with filtered water—a crucial step post-sauna—and conclude their spa ritual with premium beauty collections and luxury towels.
Hana Parnell also offers a dry bar — a new addition to the studio, giving clients the tools to freshen up post-treatment. And as found at Hana Grey Lynn, the new space will continue to showcase a highly curated selection of health, beauty, and ritual products to shop pre, or post treatment.
What Sara Higgins has created in Hana Parnell is a sanctuary for calm amidst the busyness of modern life. Inspiring a moment of self-care and respite, this new wellness destination is the perfect antidote to daily stressors, harnessing the potent power of light, temperature, and touch to rejuvenate and restore.
Photography by Hamish Melville
