Michael Lahood
to inspire a life of movement.
Project Move is an on-going personal project centered around photographing athletes, sportspeople, creatives, makers and everyday people expressing the word "move" in whatever shape or form that may be and how movement goes hand in hand with moments of reflection.
As an ex-trainer and aspiring athlete I have seen incredible results from people who move. But with mental health issues increasing globally I want to focus on the tremendous calm which results from regular activity.
Movement calms the mind, and activity leads to stillness.
Each subject will feature three stills that best reflect the moment of stillness, the movement and a detail.
A simple question is then asked:
"What does movement mean to you?"
1. Cirrus Tan - Bouldering
Cirrus has been climbing since she was 13. Her school in Christchurch had a wall which she had a go at one lunch time - quickly discovering she wasn't afraid of heights. She got asked to join the club and the competitions came next. What kept her coming back is that with climbing everyone can solve the problem themselves based on your height, strength and everything in between. learning what position your body has to be in, what speed you have to climb and the timing of everything is what she loves to figure out.
"For me movement is about feeling free on the wall. Free of expectations and worries - I'm just focused on every move and getting as far as I can one hold at a time"
2. Alicia Hoskin - Kayak (part 1)
Alicia is a professional Olympic kayaker and 2x gold medalist in the K4-500 and K2-500 from the Paris Olympics and also competed at the Tokyo Olympics. However recently whenever Alicia was paddling, she was getting a dead arm. Her artery was being squashed by her cervical rib resulting in terrible nerve pain. This escalated to the point where she couldn't do anything with her arm. Alicia has undergone surgery to remove her cervical rib, first rib, scalene muscle and the subclavian muscle - all with the hopes of opening the space up for optimal blood flow. She doesn't know if she will be able to train at an Olympic level again - but for now her goal is to get out on the water and move again.
"During this stage, movement looks very different, but the principle stays the same - it's what connects me to me. When I feel my heartbeat, the breath in my lungs, or my muscles contract - even if, for now, it's the smallest movement - it connects me to my wider world and to who I am. Whether it's going for a walk on the beach with my partner or doing my rehab in the gym while I cheer the other girls on as they do a hard session, it doesn't really matter what it is. Movement is my connection, in multiple forms"
3. Bri Stephenson - Heptathlon
Growing up Bri played pretty much every sport you could, netball and athletics being the main two. In her second to last year of high school she managed to represent New Zealand in both. However this took a turn when Bri tore her ACL, MCL and Meniscus - resulting in a full knee reconstruction at the age of 16. After that injury Bri made the hard decision to quit netball and put all her focus towards athletics. She moved to Auckland and continued her sprinting and long jumping until 2022, when she then tore her Meniscus again, needing a second surgery. Shifting focus, in 2023 Bri started steering her training towards Heptathlon to share the load around the body rather than just spiring and jumping. She now trains for the Commonwealth Games in 2026 and hasn’t looked back since.
"My sports psych and I talk about what are the optimal ingredients in a day, to live our best day. Movement is definitely one of those key ingredients for me. It’s been a part of my life for a very long time and it’s given me so much - the people I’ve met, the places I’ve been and the connections I’ve made. Where I’m at right now is sort of the pinacle of it, but it’s so much more than a physical outlet for me. From spiritual to mental, it’s become a part of who I am”.
4. Jess - Powerlifting
Jess is a mum and it’s a very important part of who she is and a very big driver of what she does in the gym. It’s important for Jess to show her daughter that women can be strong, and that strong doesn’t have to look or present a certain type of way. Jess has been a competitive powerlifter for three years, and has found the sport has brought her not only a sense of community and purpose, but is now a huge tool for helping manage ADHD. Jess is also a Personal Trainer and Strength Coach who wants to help more women step in to powerlifting and discover the depth of their strength. Jess lives by the mantra that she isn’t going to sacrifice her life for her kids, she’s going to make her life better, so that her kids lives are better and continuing to move and grow within the gym space is a huge part of that.
“Movement is something I’m very grateful to be able to do. Through my job I see a lot of people who can’t move in a lot of different ways - It’s a reminder that I’m lucky, I’m privileged, I’m capable, I’m strong and even when I spend too much time stuck in my head worrying about life and the world - I can move. I’m grounded, and back in my body again”.
5. Julian David - Speed Climbing
Julian loved climbing trees at school, until he fell out of one. His teacher said "what are you up to, we have a climbing wall here at school". Julian met Rob who became his climbing coach. Rob was inspired by the 2020 Tokyo Olympics to build New Zealand’s first and only speed wall and that’s how Julian got into Speed Climbing specifically. Since then he has won youth worlds in 2023 at the age of 18, and then made the finals of the 2024 Paris Olympics. LA Olympics is next on the horizon for Julian.
“I think movement is one of the most important things we can do. As a kid I remember watching the Olympics and thinking, I want to do that. I didn’t even know what sport for. I played everything - football, swimming, cycling, running - it’s all movement and it helped me get to where I am now. Personally when I think about the ability to climb at a high level, it all stems from the movement I’ve always done my whole life - movement is the foundation of everything I do, and will be for the rest of my life”.
6. Cat Boesley - Hip Hop Dancer
Cat started dancing at the age of seven with Ballet. As Cat grew older she took an interest in multiple forms of dance from tap and jazz, to Kpop and hip hop - which ultimately lead her to studying a dance degree at university and then earned her masters. Cat is now the co-founder of Kinetic Studio with her team - an awesome space that she is super proud of. Cat now just focuses her time on dancing for herself, with friends and to have fun as she also navigates life as a new mom.
“Movement is at the core of who we are. For me, that movement is dance. Dancing has always been exactly what I need - it’s my creative outlet, my fitness (since I can’t stand the gym), and the thing that brings me back to myself. It’s freeing, fun, challenging, and it sits at the center of everything I do and how I show up with people. We’re built to move. That’s why I think it matters so much.”
7. Abby Mccarthy - Triathlete
After more than 10 years in the fitness industry as a personal trainer and movement coach, Abby recently completed her Bachelor’s degree in Physiotherapy with honours and now combines clinical knowledge with years of experience to help people move well, perform better, and live with less pain. With a background in CrossFit, surf boat rowing, HYROX, and running, she has more recently developed a strong passion for triathlon and endurance performance. Abby is also the founder of Juicebox Run Club and is currently training towards Ironman New Zealand 2027.
"Movement, to me, is stepping willingly into discomfort. Road Cycling scares me. It’s new, unpredictable and vulnerable. But that’s exactly why movement matters. I’m fortunate to have a strong and able body that I can confidently put myself into these scenarios knowing the result will be so worth it. Movement empowers me, gives me clarity, freedom, and time to think. In an industry where I’m constantly giving energy to others, movement is how I take it back. It’s how I reset, recharge, and return to myself."
8. Alicia Hoskin (PT2) - Sprint Kayaker
When Alicia and I first shot together, the plan was to shoot her progression from rehab through to one of her first sessions back in the boat. Thank you so much Alicia for trusting me to document your journey within Project Move. Here’s what Alicia had to say for her part two answer to “what does movement mean to you”?
“After not being able to move for a period of time, I am just being reminded of how much genuine joy I get from movement, especially when I can be out on the water! Not only does it give me time and space to step away from phones, laptops, and the busyness of life but it also gives me time to be present, breathe fresh air, feel the water, and get the endorphins. I just love it.”
9. Kiana Pohe - sevens
Sport and a whānau who never put limits on what she could dream of. From a young age, Kiana was driven and highly competitive, she was the kid begging her mum to train on Christmas Day. That work ethic and relentless drive have shaped who she is today. Growing up, she dreamed of becoming an Olympian. Like many athletes, Kiana faced setbacks. Injuries, uncertainty and the loss of her nan to cancer tested her, shaping not only the athlete she was becoming, but the person too. “The future is there to fear.” Words from her sports psychologist that challenged Kiana to ask herself: How far are you willing to go to reach your full potential? She realised fear could either hold her back or become fuel. Kiana has since stepped away from the track to pursue a career in Rugby, after representing New Zealand dev 7s in Fiji earlier this year. She now has her sights set on debuting for FPC at the end of this month.
“My movement is shaped by my whānau, setbacks, loss, resilience and an unwavering desire to improve. Sport is not who I am, it’s what I do. Movement gives me purpose. It is a vital part of my hauora and something I will never take for granted. To move is a privilege.”
10. Molly Spark - godzone
Molly has found her love and passion in the outdoors. She was brought up on a farm and spends almost all of her (spare) time in the mountains - hiking, running, mountain biking and hunting. At the young age of ten Molly’s dad competed in multiple Godzones, a multi-day adventure race set in the South Island of New Zealand. Since then Molly always had her sights set on being the youngest female to ever complete a Godzone which she achieved at the age of 18. She has since been hooked on expedition length racing and has completed 7 expedition races and many smaller events so far. Her highlight was the 2025 Godzone and arguably the toughest race in history and her first ever world champs in South Africa at 19 yrs old.
“Movement to me means the freedom of stepping away from your everyday life. It strips you back to the basics of survival and creates this calm sense of freedom. The mountains make me feel so small, because the nature around you is so large - it makes me feel ALIVE. My mind is quiet and it puts your daily worries and busyness into perspective”.
11. penny mouat - Trail Runner
Penny’s trail running journey all started with her Dad and golden retriever in the Port Hills. Despite performing to a high level at netball - over the years, the mountains kept calling. Trail running is where she can push her limits, and finds that trail running is the best way to see the country, and wider world.
“Movement for me means being able to manipulate the idea of power and stillness. To me, it’s a game changer being able to switch between the two. Trail running allows for a natural rhythm to flow throughout my life. In tough moments, during races or training, my perspective is clear, as this rhythm can be ramped up or down. I love being able to smash goals - finding a limit or barrier, and being able to push through it. I’m very competitive and I’m always looking for that next step. Movement allows me to think in this way. It’s a space where I can absolutely let go.“
12. Kiri shibahara - Climbing
Kiri began climbing in Wellington when she was 11. These days she is based in Ōtautahi Christchurch, just a short drive from the Castle Hill Basin, a wonderland of towering limestone boulders. The shapes and grandeur of the boulders inspire her to spend many months “projecting” boulder problems - learning the intricacies of positions and putting together individual movements until the whole climb comes together.
“Movement is about the feeling of flow and focus that keeps me coming back to climbing. It’s about the community that shares my psych. And it’s about connecting deeply with beautiful places.”
13. Natalie Peoples - Adventurer
Natalie is a vet, but doesn’t like to be described as one. She rather describes herself as a crazy, chaotic person who loves to get outside - especially when she can take others with her, or inspire others to get outside themselves. She’s not very good at choosing one thing, so she likes to give anything and everything a go - surfing, trail running, hiking, mountain biking, mountaineering, skiing, snowboarding, climbing, riding horses - anything you could imagine that takes place outside she has either done it, or wants to do it.
“Movement is such a broad term, and can be used in so many different ways. The ability to be able to go out and do things, whatever that may be - move my body and say yes to every opportunity that is presented to me is such a privilege. Inspiring others, and making them realize how amazing the outdoors are is everything to me and that is all because of the movement I do.”
14. Oskar Wolf - Climber
Oskar loves being able to push himself, encourage others, and share a truly beautiful sport. He became obsessed with rock climbing at 10 years old after his first visit to Hangdog in Lower Hutt. He started climbing with the Dynomites climbing club, and began competing that same year. From there the passion for competition climbing only grew, and some years in, he discovered outdoor climbing. Its complexity drew him in immediately — outdoor climbing is intricate, and the attention to fine detail needed to succeed on climbs at your limit is mesmerising.
“Movement is how I stay present. Life can feel hectic, but when I’m on the wall, all of that melts away. I plan my next moves without worrying about how hard they’ll be — my mind stays locked on what’s directly in front of me, nothing else. Each foot move, each hand move — the focus stays in the moment. Only the things I can control occupy my thoughts.”