19 years of age. No education. No job. No prospects. That was me, and something had to change. Either I carried on aimlessly or I put in the effort and moved on. I remember the actual day. Out came the trainers that had only ever been used for casual wear and off I went for a run in the park less than 500m from my house at the time. I don’t mind admitting now that I couldn’t get as far as the park gates. At the time Iwas shocked and embarrassed. Change isn’t easy. Breaking habits is hard. Roll on 4 years and I was happily completing ‘double’ marathons X-country. 52 miles of truly epic running. My outlook on education had changed too. I now had paid for, and completed, 5 O’ levels and had embarked on a degree course. And, I was employed, 2 years working at an exclusive leisure facility in Manchester, (where I took my initial ‘health study’ programmes), and then into the armed forces. Fourteen years, mostly as a physical training instructor. I continued to study, more diplomas, more courses. I left the forces and was able to work in professional sport and then in my own private practice. Today, many years later, I have my 2nd Degree, even more diplomas and certificates and courses under my belt. The difference now is that I am a lot more discerning about the educational roads I travel. No quick fixes. No gimmicks. It has to be tried and tested. It has to be ethical, and it has to fall into my belief system (we all have our biases).

For the past 6 months I have been privileged to be mentored by England Rugby World Cup physiotherapist Dave O’Sullivan. I believe you never stop learning. He has shown me how to separate the wheat from the chaff, sharing the things that have worked for him in elite sport. Change is rarely easy. Breaking habits can be hard. Moving away from your comfort zone is progression. My work habits are evolving. I offer a solid background of experience and a refreshing way of implementing a treatment plan that will help you to once again be able to do the things you love, be that gardening, running or anything else, and do them with painless easy movement.