This is a reflective blog about me! I’ve found it to be a warming experience, looking back over my journey, seeing how I have developed into the person I am today and thought it was a nice way for you to find out a little more about me and how I arrived here. I would recommend it if you’ve not given this a go, it’s a great way to realise and reflect on your accomplishments and I believe it helps to focus the mind on where you want to go next.
My Journey
After studying Nutrition in 2008 at university and completing a Sports Nutrition post graduate diploma with the International Olympics Committee, I was ready to start my nutrition career. I undertook work experience at Bisham Abbey with the Badminton England Nutritionist for a short period and spent time buried in nutrition software providing analysis and dietary plans to local sports enthusiasts. I feverishly applied for nutrition work but was unable to secure a job due to my limited relevant work experience, which was a huge blow, but the need for money prevailed.
I decided to take a part time job in sports development (and some other less glamorous work) and spent time considering my next steps. I found a Sports and Remedial Massage school based in Oxford, and immediately knew it was something I wanted to do as it complemented the sports nutrition and enabled me to qualify and be ready for employment immediately. With a frustrating slap of irony, I developed an RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury) soon after I qualified, due to the intensive massage practice and hours of badminton I was playing at the time. This coupled with my youthful lack of confidence lead me to again detour down another career path.
I started working in retail and was scouted to join an internal management programme for a well-known brand, which provided the structured guidance and development I was looking for at the time. I continued to massage and provide dietary assessments to friends and family ‘on the side’ and I loved being able to continue with this work as I found it so rewarding and sociable.
Fast forward to 2015, I realised the world of retail was giving me grey hairs and I found myself retraining in HR, with my new found understanding of people management coupled with my desire to keep learning and developing. I enjoyed making a positive difference in this line of work, aiming to help employees and the business get the most out of their working relationship.
It’s during this time in HR that I looked back and realised the journey I had been on as a young person lacking confidence and direction, feeling unsure of my future. Nevertheless, I was always driven to wanting to progress and learn and find my way to a career that I felt was rewarding. In 2016 I decided I wanted to bring my massage work out of hibernation and challenged myself to see what I could accomplish.
I’m pleased to say I’ve not looked back since, I have completed countless hours of courses, voluntary massage work and attended sports events to provide pre and post massage support. I’ve also gained a great network of fellow complimentary therapy professionals and have established mentors in massage, osteopathy and physiotherapy who have helped me build my business and experience.
Thank you for reading about my journey and I look forward to helping you on yours!