When I left school, I was too young to study Shiatsu, which I really wanted to do,  so I chose Beauty Therapy instead, mostly because it was free and I wouldn’t have to travel far, and I was 16 and didn’t know what else to do with myself. It was a great course and brilliant for my naïve and slightly lost junior self; helping me become independent, get out of my introverted comfort zone and grow up.

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Despite my naivety, I had the sense to choose a course that would set me on the right path for the direction I wanted my life to travel in – holistic health and wellbeing. That was in 1991 and the word holistic was still viewed as deeply alternative and "way out there". Beauty therapy was a nice respectable not too weird occupation, very suitable and safe for a young girl. To my surprise, I found that I loved massage, bodywork and working with my clients. 

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​After college, I did lots of normal things - dated, lost a parent, got married, had children,  got divorced,  went to work,  became a manager, learnt to juggle a neuro-spicy family,  hit the menopause, survived, got my children to adulthood and then my eldest said “Mum, are you ever going to finish your studies?” and I thought “Yeah, yes I am.” And here we are.

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The conclusion of that ramble being that life is a journey and I have experienced its ups and downs which allows me to relate to others, care deeply, and listen without judgement.

 

I am allowed to practice as an advanced Shiatsu Student. Fully insured and a member of the Shiatsu society. My work is regularly assessed by my tutors. I may ask if I can write up your treatment as an anonymous case study. I have 85 to do in this final year. I have completed over 150 treatments so far.

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