Gentle Japanese Acupuncture, Physical Therapy & Shiatsu — CMCNZ Registered
Yoshi Sugiyama brings a genuinely unique style of treatment to Premier Wellness — very gentle, Japanese-style acupuncture combined in the same session with hands-on physical therapy and traditional shiatsu massage.
A distinct style of treatment, unique within our team
Yoshi's treatment style is genuinely different from anything else on our team. Rather than needling one area and stepping out, he stays with you for the full appointment — moving between very gentle Japanese-style acupuncture, hands-on physical therapy, and traditional shiatsu massage, all within the same session.
He works across your whole body, not just the area that's bothering you — looking for the underlying cause, not just the symptom.
Yoshi deliberately trained in Japanese-style acupuncture rather than Chinese-style methods, because Japanese technique uses shallower needling and gentler, minimally painful stimulation — a genuinely comfortable experience, even for people who are nervous about needles.
He pairs this with over seven years' clinical experience as a licensed physical therapist in Japan, plus training in shiatsu massage, McKenzie mechanical diagnosis and therapy, cupping and traditional bloodletting — giving him a broad hands-on toolkit to draw from in every appointment.
ACC covers up to 12 acupuncture, physical therapy or massage treatments with Yoshi over 12 weeks. If it's a new injury, your initial claim needs to be lodged by one of Premier Wellness's ACC-registered osteopaths or physiotherapists first — but if you already have an existing ACC claim, you can bring it straight to Yoshi without starting a new one. He sees patients at both Premier Wellness Glenfield, North Shore and Premier Wellness Orewa, Hibiscus Coast.
Yoshi doesn't split your time between different rooms or different practitioners. From the moment you sit down, he's working on you personally, for the full session — reading your posture, pulse and movement, then combining traditional acupuncture with hands-on physical therapy and shiatsu massage to treat your whole body, not just the presenting complaint.
Whether you see Yoshi at Glenfield on the North Shore or Orewa on the Hibiscus Coast, he treats the whole person, not just the symptom — combining Eastern diagnostics with evidence-based Western assessment for each individual and their goals.
Chronic and acute back and neck pain, treated with a combination of acupuncture, hands-on therapy and massage.
Joint pain and restricted movement, assessed through posture, gait and whole-body movement analysis.
Correcting distortions through the pelvis, spine and cranium to support better long-term movement and function.
Supporting stress, anxiety and sleep quality through calming, whole-body Eastern and Western treatment.
Treatment aimed at supporting the body's natural resilience and recovery, alongside diet and lifestyle guidance.
A whole-body approach addressing energy, sleep, diet and stress alongside hands-on treatment.
Not sure if Yoshi is the right fit? Call us and we'll help you find out.
Book online Call 09 444 3231Premier Wellness holds a 5.0★ Google rating across both clinics. Below is a small selection specifically about Yoshi's acupuncture, physical therapy and shiatsu treatment, summarised from genuine Google reviews.
One patient, undergoing treatment for stage 4 ovarian cancer with lymph node involvement, has been seeing Yoshi weekly for a combination of acupuncture, physical therapy and massage. Within a month, mobility that had been severely limited by swelling in the groin improved enough to allow her to walk properly again, alongside relief from chemotherapy-related back pain and other symptoms.
Another Glenfield patient says Yoshi has given them a new lease of life, praising his skill, passion and integrity — and thanking the whole Premier Wellness North Shore team.
Patients regularly highlight how thoroughly Yoshi explains what's going on with their body before treatment starts — leaving them with a clear plan, not just a session.
After months of sciatica and lower back pain from a disc bulge that made sitting or lying down painful, one Orewa patient credits regular sessions with Yoshi for acupuncture, massage and physical therapy — alongside osteopathic care — with steady, continued improvement from the very first visit.
One patient calls their treatment with Yoshi fantastic, professional and friendly, highlighting how he listened to every concern and went well beyond expectations during recovery — describing it as some of the best money spent on full-body, holistic care.
Recommended to Yoshi by word of mouth, one patient describes his attention to detail and refined care as reflecting the best of Japanese hospitality, with his precise technique delivering noticeable results after just one treatment.
Booking is described as effortless with plenty of availability, and patients note the whole Premier Wellness Orewa team is helpful and kind alongside Yoshi's own treatment.
Yoshi is dual-trained as an acupuncturist and physical therapist, with over 15 years across both Japanese and New Zealand healthcare settings. He is CMCNZ registered, and his treatment can be included as part of ACC-funded care coordinated with our registered osteopaths and physiotherapists.
Yoshi has over 15 years of experience in healthcare and finds real fulfilment in working directly with patients one-on-one. During his career as a physiotherapist in Japan, he realised that while he could address muscles, joints and nerves, true healing also needed attention to the mind, internal organs and endocrine system — which is what led him to study Eastern medicine.
He deliberately chose to train in Japanese-style acupuncture and massage rather than Chinese-style methods, valuing the shallower needling and gentler, minimally painful stimulation. Alongside this, he became a credentialed McKenzie therapist specialising in world-renowned treatment for lower back pain, and completed further training in cupping therapy, bloodletting and cosmetic acupuncture.
Yoshi worked for over five years in a general hospital and elderly care facility in Japan, and a further two years at a day service centre for the elderly, before moving to New Zealand — where he has spent two and a half years supporting elderly residents in a Hamilton retirement village, receiving a Staff Appreciation Award for his care and commitment. He now focuses on building his acupuncture practice within New Zealand's healthcare sector.
Outside the clinic, Yoshi loves being in nature — surfing, trekking, snorkelling and spearfishing fill his days off, and he's explored over 20 countries. He practises meditation and yoga daily and has a strong personal interest in nutrition, currently self-studying precision (personalised) nutrition.
I injured my right shoulder at work and had been struggling with pain and limited mobility for weeks. I felt relief immediately after the first treatment, and after a few sessions my range of motion improved. The explanations are thorough, and the precise, whole-body approach gives a great sense of reassurance. Yoshi truly understands the root of the pain and helps restore balance to both body and mind.
Five years ago I had severe lower back pain, to the point I thought about quitting my job. Yoshi treated my whole body, not just the painful area — pointing out posture, diet and even stress from my lifestyle. It was my first time trying acupuncture and I was anxious, but the treatment was completely painless. I'm now living with renewed vitality and a clear goal to stay healthy.
Available at Premier Wellness Glenfield and Orewa. ACC-funded — up to 12 treatments over 12 weeks. Book online 24/7.
Book an appointment onlineCall us on 09 444 3231 · info@premierwellness.co.nz
Yoshi sees patients in-person at both Premier Wellness clinics. Book online 24/7 or call the clinic to check his availability.
Premier Wellness Glenfield
Premier Wellness Orewa
Yoshi trained in Japanese-style acupuncture, which uses shallower needling and gentler, minimally painful stimulation compared with Chinese-style methods. He combines it, in the same appointment, with hands-on physical therapy and traditional shiatsu massage — a whole-body approach that's unique within our team.
Yes. Every appointment blends gentle Japanese acupuncture, hands-on physical therapy and traditional shiatsu massage. Yoshi stays with you for the whole session and works across your whole body rather than treating a single area in isolation.
Most patients describe Yoshi's technique as close to painless. He uses gentle Japanese-style needling — shallower and softer than Chinese-style acupuncture — and adjusts every session to your comfort level, even if it's your first time.
Yoshi treats back and neck pain, hip, knee and ankle pain, stress, anxiety and sleep issues, posture-related problems, chronic fatigue, and supports general immune and whole-body wellbeing through combined acupuncture, physical therapy and massage.
No GP referral is needed to book with Yoshi. If it's a new ACC injury, your initial claim must be lodged by one of Premier Wellness's ACC-registered osteopaths or physiotherapists — but if you already have an existing ACC claim, you can bring it straight to your appointment with Yoshi. Simply book online or call the clinic on 09 444 3231.
ACC covers up to 12 treatments over 12 weeks. For a new injury, one of our ACC-registered osteopaths or physiotherapists needs to lodge the initial claim before Yoshi can treat you under it. If you already hold an existing ACC claim, you can use it with Yoshi directly, with no need to start a new one.
Yoshi sees patients at both Premier Wellness Glenfield (North Shore) and Premier Wellness Orewa (Hibiscus Coast). Book online 24/7 to see his live availability at each location.
Premier Wellness holds a 5.0★ Google rating at both Glenfield and Orewa, with many reviews mentioning Yoshi's acupuncture, physical therapy and shiatsu treatment directly. A selection is featured further up this page.
Whichever is more convenient — the treatment is the same at both. Choose Glenfield if you're on Auckland's North Shore (Takapuna, Albany, Birkenhead) or Orewa if you're on the Hibiscus Coast (Whangaparaoa, Silverdale, Red Beach). Both locations show Yoshi's live availability when you book online.
