stuart ford

I have spent most of my life involved in health and fitness, learning both conventional and alternative methods, and gaining a broad understanding of how the body works and how to gain results through training, teaching and healing.

Teaching as a personal trainer and martial arts instructor for over 12 years and treating my own injuries and postural imbalances as well as my members, lead me to question many of the more conventional techniques on offer in today's health system, most of which seem more concerned with treating the symptoms rather than the cause, or simply lacking the commitment or time needed for such complex presentations.

After becoming qualified in body massage in 2006, I still focused more on fitness and martial arts instruction. I began though to specialise in corrective exercise, as I realised that most of the clients I worked with, could not move forward in their training until certain postural issues from long-term lifestyle habits and old injuries were addressed. This then led me back towards healing, with a qualification in sports massage.

However, massage and joint mobilisation on their own, are only the first step and more for addressing transient functional impairment and implementing pain management. Short-term relief is common, but malalignment and habitual imbalance, will often cause symptoms to return. Exercise also has it's limitations, especially when attempted too early in the injury timeline, and focusing on the wrong type may even exacerbate an issue!

Spending time to understand what has happened to the body's structure and function when an injury or defect has occurred, leads to more targeted treatment and better prescribed exercises, which are designed to reset correct functional patterns and musculoskeletal balance within the body.

It must be understood though that one treatment fixes do not exist for chronic problems, which have usually arisen from serious trauma or a lifetime of bad habits. But what can be achieved is a long-term improvement within a practical timeframe, based on commitment to self-help and a relative amount of sessions. And the more you put into the treatment the faster the results. Effective treatment is never a one sided venture, but a partnership of therapist and patient, both working towards a common goal. 

But we are not just talking about rehabilitation from a chronic physical issue here, because the same style of treatment and training can be administered in varying amounts to improve general health and fitness as well. My underlying goal is always to improve functionality and capability, to whatever level is required and in what ever direction an individual would like to follow. To do this, I ask the body what it can't do and why, and how can we encourage positive change to reach freedom in movement and reach its full potential.

So my style and approach has evolved to benefit all, whether in need of rehabilitation or enhanced physical performance, as long as there is a will, there is a way and I would like to share what I have learned to help you reach your goals.

Stuart Ford