Michael learnt Tai Chi and Qi Gong with Mark Long in Hastings from the mid 90’s
When working in the Northwest he studied Shiatsu at the School of Shiatsu Liverpool from 2002 to 2004 and then at the Shiatsu College Hastings from 2004 to graduation in November 2005.

As a student Michael started an interest in working with disability clients. He met Hannah and Adrian Stone who had just opened a disabled friendly holiday centre at Las Piedras, in the mountains of the Axarquia region of Andalusia. As a student Michael started working with the clients of Las Piedras, during holiday breaks in Spain.

By graduation Michael had gained experience of working with disabled clients some with quite rare conditions. Shortly after graduating he gained further experience working as a volunteer at a disabled children’s centre in Romania.

In early 2006 Michael gave up the day job and moved to the coastal resort of Nerja where the mountains meet the sea on the coast of Axarquia.  He continues to work with clients at Las Piedras, as well as local residents and visitors.

He is now a member of APSE the Spanish Shiatsu Association, and has conducted workshops and published an article on wheelchair treatments for the ASPE journal and Shiatsu Society UK Journal
Michael has also taken part in specialist workshops for Barefoot Shiatsu, Seiki and Qi Gong.

At the beginning of 2007 he spent a month studying Thai Massage at the Thai Massage School of Chiang Mai and returned to Thailand for the winter of 2007 to study Thai Herbal Massage and to develop herbal based treatments. During this second he trip took the opportunity of attending a 10 day silent retreat at Wat Suan Mokkh meditation centre in Surat Thani Province in Southern Thailand.

Schools
School of Shiatsu Liverpool 2002-2004                  
Shiatsu College Hastings    2004- 2005                  www.shiatsucollege.co.uk
TMC  Chiang Mai                January  2007              www.tmcschool.com
Nerve Touch  Chiang Mai   December 2007           www.nervetouch.com
Wat Suan Mokkh                 January 2008               www.suanmokkh.org   

Teachers
Mark Long                           Tai Chi, Qi Gong       www.energeticchi.com
Liz Eames                            Shiatsu
Carola Beresford-Cooke      Chakras in Shiatsu
Annie Cryar                          Shiatsu, Qi Gong
Paul Lundberg                     Seiki, Qi Gong
Maria Serrano                      Barefoot Shiatsu
Chris Jarmey                       Qi Gong
Lek Chaiya                          Thai Herbal Massage
Jack Chaiya                         Traditional Thai Massage
Kelly                                      Yoga www.kumari-yoga.org

 Michael has worked on clients with the following conditions

• Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Cerebral Palsy (CP)
• Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)
• Spina Bifida (SB)
•  Friedreich’s Ataxia
• Muscular Dystrophy (MD)
•  Spinal and brain injuries.
• Polio
• Thalidomide

Professional Skills (Therapy)
Michael has devised specialised treatments for disabled clients utilising, Shiatsu, Acupressure, Seiki, and Thai Herbal Massage techniques 
He has developed treatments that can take place at the clients option in their own wheelchair, or alternatively on a futon mat or massage table.
Long term work with clients involves the teaching of self-therapy exercises for breathing and circulation.

Long term Benefit
After several treatments on a client with the muscle condition SMA, we developed breathing exercises and visualisation techniques. The client reported "better connections throughout my body, which lead to improved circulation, breathing and helped with general wellbeing and sleeping”

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