Pilates Therapist (Sam Chamberlain - mSc)

I became passionate about Pilates and its benefits after 15 years in the Health and Fitness Industry. After giving birth to twins I discovered I had more habitual postural issues and muscular imbalances than I thought! It made me realise, after having trained people for years, that my own training left many questions unanswered as to why people’s movement patterns developed issues which needed addressing. Here began a fascinating new journey into the world of Pilates.

I qualified in 1989 and in the past 20 years have gained several qualifications in the Health and Fitness industry, including GP Referral, Remedial Pilates; Ante & Post Natal Pilates, Pilates for the Older Adult, Exercise for the Older Adults, Advanced Stretching Techniques and Postural Stability.

Before concentrating on Pilates I spent many years working in London both delivering and managing a large health related programme for adults. I also worked at the Royal Free and University College Hospital working in conjunction with physiotherapists focussed upon prevention and rehabilitation. With a young family I moved out of London to gain more clinical experience and worked for the NHS as a Senior Cardiac Therapist with the Cardiac Rehabilitation team at Watford General Hospital.

My passion for functional and preventative musculo-skeletal health using Pilates principles was not being fulfilled so I decided to set up my own Pilates Therapy Clinic. It became evident after talking to people I had taught over the years, what a difference improved movement had made to their lives. As I gained more understanding of Pilates I realised how much more these principles could help people who realised they should do something, but were unsure of what to do. People told me that sometimes they felt scared they were doing it “right” if they had a long term mobility issue, or just felt they were too old. My ethos is that it is never too late to help improve your functional ability. I enjoy giving people the understanding of what they are doing and how this will help their movement patterns and therefore increase their quality of life whether in your 20’s or 80’s!

I practise locally from the Functional Therapy Centre in Berkhamsted. I am a member of REPS (Register of Exercise Professionals) and am registered at the highest level - Advanced Instructor Level 4. I am also First Aid qualified and have my own Public Liability Insurance.

Qualifications:.
PEA Certificate in Exercise and Health Studies
MSc Exercise & Health Behaviour
YMCA Certificate for Resistance/Circuit Training for the Older Person
British Association for Cardiac Rehabilitation Phase 4 Cardiac Rehab
Postural Stability Instructors Course
Pilates for Seniors & Pregnancy
Backcare & Pilates
Remedial Pilates
YMCA GP Exercise Referral

Contact Sam on: 07968 062791
or send an e-mail via the Contact us page.

Massage Therapist (Laura Rayner)
During my career in Human Resource Management, I suffered with continuously stiff shoulders and neck problems which led to poor posture creating further discomfort. I received many therapeutic treatments but benefited most from regular deep massage which allowed me to continue with my job and greatly improved my posture and overall health. I became interested in how posture and health were closely linked and how they could dramatically affect quality of life and the ability to carry out day to day activities.

On leaving the City, I decided to pursue my interest to help others improve their quality of life through massage treatment and qualified with the London College of Massage in 2005. I set up my own massage business a few months later and now run a successful practise built entirely through personal recommendation. I am committed to my own ongoing professional development in order to optimise my support of clients and their goals. Since starting my practise I have attended many advanced technique workshops and achieved post graduate qualifications in advanced massage techniques and remedial massage.

I continue to offer therapeutic massage and specialise in deep tissue and remedial massage and this is where my true passion lies. My aim is to help clients find a better quality of life by overcoming both immediate and long term muscle injury, aches, stiffness and immobility, often resulting in pain and poor posture which can create a self perpetuating problem.

My aim is to provide each client with a treatment that is tailored to suit their specific requirements and I do this by taking the time to listen to clients and understand their lifestyles, their concerns and looking at their muscle and skeletal structure. I work with clients to release muscles through massage, stretching and body movement techniques, sometimes with the client's active involvement, achieving their goal of comfortable movement and effective muscle function.

I practise locally from the Functional Therapy Centre in Berkhamsted. I am a member of the Complementary Therapists Association and fully covered by Public Liability Insurance.

Qualifications:
Diploma in Therapeutic Massage
Diploma in Remedial Massage

Contact Laura on: 07900 207126
or send an e-mail via the Contact us page.