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HOW CAN I HELP YOU?

Exercise and movement therapy is a powerful tool to help you recover and get your life back. I specialise in working with people who have had (or are having) abdominal surgery for any reason, in particular stoma surgery and hernias.

 

I take a gentle, intuitive approach, combining clinical Pilates, strength training, biomechanics and movement coaching.

 

Too often we are told to avoid abdominal exercises and lifting after abdominal, hernia or stoma surgery, but we need a more individual and less restrictive approach. I am passionate about supporting you with evidence informed practice and person centred cared.

 

You can work with me a on a long term basis (weekly, monthly or whatever suits) a short term 'block' of sessions or a one-off for some advice.

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I'm flexible and can provide solution to suit you, your health and your budget.​

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I also offer monthly classes and online content via my stoma specific website The Ostomy Studio.

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MY PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

I have almost three decades of experience as an exercise professional and I can't imagine doing anything else. A lifetime after starting my career as a personal trainer in a corporate fitness facility in London, I still love what I do and bring endless energy and empathy to my work.

 

I'm deeply passionate about having a healthy relationship with physical activity and learning to exercise intuitively and appropriately.

 

I now work more clinically and specialise in training and coaching people who have a diagnosis of cancer or those who, like me, have undergone abdominal surgery including stoma surgery.

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I keep up-to-date with my training and thinking, and weave together a unique range of movement based modalities  including cancer rehabilitation, biomechanics, movement coaching and clinical Pilates.

 

With decades of knowledge and experience I offer a truly caring, holistic and individualised service to my clients.

 

My training approach is based on clinical Pilates and I have trained with APPI (Australian Physiotherapy and Pilates Institute) to become a certified instructor.

 

​My passion is in working with people who are at their most vulnerable and unwell.. and using exercise to rebuild confidence and health.

 

I have been working in an increasingly clinical role with nurses and people with bowel conditions over the last few years. I have developed the industry-leading training course (me+™recovery) for ConvaTec (www.convatec.co.uk) to educate nurses about exercise, movement and recovery for their patients. I have trained thousands of nurses around the world and over 300 NHS and private nurses in the UK.​

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I am currently recognised as one of the worlds' leading practitioners in abdominal rehabilitation and recovery after stoma surgery, and am currently leading the EXPASS project where we are writing the worlds' first ever clinical guidelines on exercise after stoma surgery.

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This work led me to write and publish my first book  The Bowel Cancer Recovery Toolkit.

 

I have also conducted research and published clinical research papers in peer reviewed medical journals – British Journal of Nursing and Gastrointestinal Nursing in 2016 and 2017.

 

​I love presenting and teaching, and regularly speak at medical conferences and workshops around the world about stoma rehabilitation, bowel cancer, hernia and exercise in this specialist population.​

QUALIFICATIONS

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QUALIFICATIONS

  • BSc and MSc Sport and Exercise Science Degrees

  • APPI Clinical Pilates Certified Instructor 

  • BASES Certified Exercise Practitioner

  • Diploma Biomechanics Coaching including Low Back Pain

  • CanRehab Cancer Exercise Rehabilitation Instructor

  • Pink Ribbon Breast Cancer Rehabilitation

  • UKA Coach in Running Fitness

  • RSA Exercise To Music

  • Chair Based Exercise

  • British Cycling Breeze Ride Leader

  • Sports and Outdoor First Aid, CPR and AED

  • Fully insured 

  • Twitter

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