Osteopathy has always been a theme through mine and my families life. My sister saw an osteopath when she was a baby, I did as a child and I’m sure my parents did multiple times over the course of their adult life. Well if asking me for treatment or advice is anything to go by.
How I Discovered Osteopathy
I was very fortunate that after a levels everything just clicked for me. I left school as most people with little idea where to go in Life so decided to enrol myself Ina. Sports science course something totally different to the traditional subjects. It instantly clicked, I liked knowing how things work and is there a better thing to understand than the body that we live in. After a year of this course I looked in where I could take my studies further. Physio, osteopathy, more sports science.
Eventually I decided to go multiple Osteo open days, not really informing my parents apart from the long trip i had to take to Swansea which I eventually ended up at, south wales was a home away from home as my dads side of the family were from there.
Training at Swansea
The training was HARD. I didn’t realise how much detail we would be going into how the body operated on all levels. The drop out rate in th first year was around 10% in my cohort and we even had a couple drop out in the first week.
I’ll never forget having to religiously learn origin, insertion action and innovation of each muscle. You can probably still test me now they are cemented in my brain.
I was never particularly academic but I finally understood what people meant when they said if it’s something you enjoy it won’t feel like a chore to learn and that was exactly the case. The main reason I loved it so much is that the theory I was learning wasn’t wasted it was applied to something, helping people in the clinic.
My First Patients
I can’t remember my first patient in private practice I probably was too busy making sure I came across well and did everything perfectly!
One thing I remember is about my 3rd patient who came to see me at my own practice. The fact someone took a gamble on somebody new and put there trust in me was amazing. And I cherish that with every patient.
This one patient of mine was also at the time of starting their own business in accounting and she’s now my accountant. We’ve known each other for around 8 years now which is crazy and have seen each other through all aspects of life. The opportunity to connect with so may different people is what I love about my job.
How I Approach Treatment
My job is to help with crisis management and guiding you out of that crisis when nothing else has seemed to help. Then following that my job is to set you up with all the tools you need to not need me.
By all means if you want to come see me please do I love catching up with you all. But you shouldn’t need me. My practice is about creating long lasting results which encourage you to make long term changes to your health.
Why I Do This Work
The people. The people are everything to me. I love helping your grandma pick up her great grandchildren, your mum from taking on a marathon, your brother post knee surgery. Seeing how we can impact people’s lives with such simple but effective changes will never cease to amaze me.
Starting AG Osteopathy
I first started working at a big practice in Brixton London whilst starting up my own clinic in Tunbridge wells. I learnt so much in Brixton and how I wanted to practice and support other upcoming osteopaths.
Osteopathy is a big part of the community in Tunbridge wells, but I would say as a clinic we are a lot more sports medicine focused. Bringing in the most up to date evidence and techniques to help you where you want to be.
The scariest part was wondering if anyone was going to come see me. As I mentioned above I’m so grateful for those first few patients for taking the jump with me.
Life Outside the Clinic
The simple things keep me grounded, beer on a Friday after a busy week with my wife Kirsty and dog mango. Seeing friends for some sports we’ve all decided to recently just pick up whether that be running, padel, cycling, golf etc etc.
How Osteopathy Has Changed the Way I Train
I used to think training and exercises had to have a goal. Over the years I’ve learnt that you don’t need to work towards something and that’s certainly not how my brain operates. I train strength and body so that if someone asks me if I want to go to do something I don’t have to worry about my body failing me. I train 2 strength and week and 3 cardio. I can go play golf with no back pain, run with no knee pain and not be out of breath when cycling. To me that’s what looking after your body is about. Being able to do everything you want to do without it breaking you down.
Something You Might Not Expect
I’m actually a massive introvert outside of work. I love connecting with my patients and getting to know them. But outside of work I like putting all my focus in to my small group of friends and family.
