My Story
Justine is a highly experienced remedial massage therapist with more than three decades in the health and wellness fields. She has worked in close collaboration with physiotherapists, treating elite athletes — including Olympians and professional football players — as well as performers, high-profile clients, and people of all ages.
Her career began in sports massage within a VFL club environment, developing clinical skills alongside physiotherapists. She subsequently refined her therapeutic and relaxation expertise in leading Australian wellness destinations, including Aurora Spa, Chuan Spa at The Langham, Spa Wumurdaylin on Hamilton Island, Hepburn Bathhouse, and internationally on Royal Caribbean cruise ships.
Prior to relocating to Phillip Island, Justine spent six years at Renew Physiotherapy, where she was introduced to contemporary pain neuroscience and pain reprocessing approaches. This experience led to her specialised focus on chronic pain.
Justine’s business, Brainy Bodies, is a practice dedicated to neuro-informed bodywork and movement. Her clinical approach recognises pain as a multifactorial experience influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors, rather than purely structural causes. She integrates skilled hands-on therapy with education to help clients retrain maladaptive pain responses and restore confident movement, resulting in less pain.
Her guiding principle: Retrain the brain. Reduce the pain.
Justine specialises in treating chronic musculoskeletal pain, post-surgical pain, stress-related tension, and trauma-associated pain patterns.
Her work focuses on reducing muscle guarding and hypervigilance, persistent hypertonicity, and protective/pain avoidance patterns that can maintain pain long after tissue healing has occurred.
Her treatments draw on a broad range of advanced techniques, including:
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Myofascial Trigger Point Therapy
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Myofascial Release
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Cupping Therapy
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Acupressure
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Stretching and Joint Mobilisation
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Sports Massage
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Reflexology
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Dermoneuromodulation (DNM developed by Diane Jacobs, Physiotherapist)
Reflexology: From Ancient Traditions to Modern Practice
Justine also offers Reflexology for the feet and hands, having studied the Ingham method of Reflexology in 2008.
Reflexology has ancient roots in Egypt, China, and India, with modern reflexology largely developed by American physiotherapist Eunice Ingham (1889–1974). Before Ingham, Dr. William Fitzgerald pioneered Zone Therapy in the early 1900s, discovering that pressure on certain areas of the hands, feet, and face could influence corresponding body parts.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Ayurvedic medicine also recognize the connection between the feet and overall health. TCM associates foot reflexology with energy meridians and Qi flow, similar to acupuncture, while Western reflexology is based on body zones.
Recent studies highlight the benefits of reflexology:
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2014: Reflexology reduced anxiety in heart surgery patients.
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2017 & 2019: Reflexology reduced nausea, vomiting, and fatigue in chemotherapy patients.
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2020: Reflexology lowered heart rate in people with high blood pressure.
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2023: fMRI study showed brain activation beyond foot sensation areas after reflexology.
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2023: Reflexology improved neural pathways in stroke patients during fMRI scans.
Reflexology can be customized with light or firm pressure, depending on client preference. It’s an incredibly relaxing experience for your feet or hands!
Neuro-informed dance for women over 50
Justine teaches neuro-informed dance classes for women over 50, creating a safe, supportive, and enjoyable dance space, with mental and physical benefits, including better balance, mobility, confidence, and increased strength to hips, back and legs.
Classes are held at PICAL (Phillip Island Community and Learning) Cowes.
For more information, please click on the following link:
https://linktr.ee/brainybodies
Justine’s Google Testimonials:
Michelle P.
What a beautiful, welcoming space Justine holds for you.
I had made an appointment for a massage and walked away having learnt more about my body and muscular system than I’d ever been taught.
Highly recommend.
Nancy M.
I’ve been seeing Justine Inifer for over 6 years - she’s the best massage therapist I’ve ever seen. Her technique is strong, precise, and always tailored to what I need, from deep tissue to pregnancy massage. She has a deep understanding of anatomy and always finds the root of the problem, not just the symptoms. She’s highly skilled, professional, and genuinely cares. I always leave feeling better.