ABOUT

From burning buildings to breaking waves - this is the story of finding presence through motion.

I started skating when I was 6, and surfing when I was 11. I'm a veteran, a medically retired firefighter and rescue technician, a husband, and a dad.

I've run towards burning buildings and flooded rivers. I've been in situations I never want to experience again. And after 18 years of that, my nervous system decided it had enough.

I was diagnosed with PTSD — and like a lot of people who've been through it, I had to find my way back to myself.

The ocean did that for me.

Surfing did that for me.

And then — a skateboard did too.

That experience changed the way I see coaching. It showed me how strongly the body and nervous system respond under pressure, and how much that affects learning, not just recovery.

That’s what led me to build a different approach to surf coaching — one that focuses on helping people feel safe first, so movement and technique can actually stick.

From there, surfskate training became a core part of what I do.

"The same thing that makes surfing and skating so healing — the focus, the commitment, the full-body presence — is also what shuts people down when they're learning. It's not a skill problem. It's a nervous system problem. That insight changed the way I coach forever."

Meika is a Sunshine Coast native and owner of Arah Kinetic Movement Therapy, a clinical pilates and wellness studio attached to Surfskate Noosa. She brings together her passions for movement, holistic health, and the ocean in both her life and her work. Her journey into pilates began after a car accident that left her with whiplash. Alongside this, she experienced other injuries over time and discovered how powerful movement and pilates could be in supporting recovery and rebuilding strength. Through her own healing journey, she experienced the transformative benefits of pilates — not only physically, but also in reconnecting with her body and building resilience. Inspired by this experience, Meika went on to complete a Diploma of Contemporary Pilates, gaining extensive knowledge across Reformer, Cadillac, Wunda Chair, and Mat Pilates.

Alongside pilates, Meika is a qualified naturopath with a strong background in herbal medicine, nutrition, and holistic therapies. She is also an exercise physiologist in the making, currently in her fourth and final year of study, further expanding her ability to support clients in rehabilitation, movement, and overall wellbeing.

Outside the studio, Meika is a keen surfer and ocean lover who feels most at home in the water. When she’s not teaching or studying, you’ll often find her at the beach or spending time with her dogs, embracing the relaxed coastal lifestyle she loves.