The Physical

  • Most people try to improve their lives while swimming against the current. They push harder, use more discipline, force more motivation, and try to fix problems that don't need to exist.

    Sleep changes the current itself.

    When sleep improves, you can begin to feel like you’re swimming with the current. Many things that once felt difficult begin to feel natural, even easy, and problems you once needed to solve can seem to disappear effortlessly.

    That's why we begin here.

    Together, we look at all of the factors that could be affecting your sleep, including your:

    • Habits & Behaviours

    • Life Circumstances

    • Sleep Environment

    • Social Environment

    • Decision Processes

    • Mindset & Beliefs

    • Identity

    Allowing us to create the best conditions possible for restorative sleep to occur.

  • The world of nutrition can be daunting, confusing and overwhelming. In many cases, the more you learn, the more conflicting information you encounter.

    Together, we'll explore nutrition in a way that goes beyond calories, macros and meal plans. Rather than viewing food purely as fuel, we begin to consider how our food choices interact with our biology, environment, performance, recovery and overall wellbeing.

    A broader perspective on nutrition

    We explore topics such as:

    • How our beliefs and perceptions shape our relationship with food and supplements.

    • Food as information. How what we eat can influence biological processes and communicate environmental cues to the body.

    • The potential impact of seasonality, locality and food sourcing.

    • Why whole foods naturally contain nutrients in complementary ratios, and what may be lost when foods become heavily processed or altered.

    • Simple ways to interpret ingredient lists and develop principles that help you make confident food choices.

    Working with the body, not against it

    A key aim is to help you better understand your body's own feedback systems, rather than becoming entirely dependent on tests, trends or external opinions.

    This may include learning to recognise:

    • Immediate feedback, such as energy levels, mood, hunger, cravings and physical sensations.

    • Mid-term feedback, such as digestion and bowel regularity.

    • Longer-term feedback, such as changes in skin quality, hair health and nail strength.

    As appropriate, we may remove foods and habits that place unnecessary stress on the body. This often helps create greater clarity around how different foods, environments and behaviours affect you personally.

    Imagine trying to hear one conversation in a crowded room. Before you can identify the message, you first need to reduce the background noise. The body can operate in a similar way. By removing unnecessary stressors, we create the conditions to better understand what it is communicating.

    From there, we focus on introducing foods and practices that support performance, recovery, resilience and mental clarity.

    Other aspects we consider

    • Building eating habits that support more stable blood glucose throughout the day.

    • Prioritising nutrient density rather than focusing solely on calories and macronutrients.

    • Reassessing our relationship with supplements, including why we take them and whether underlying causes have been addressed.

    • Designing our kitchens and food environments to make desired behaviours easier and less desirable behaviours harder.

    • Considering how the environment in which we eat may influence digestion, absorption and overall eating behaviours.

  • This topic goes far too deep for me to describe adequately here, but to slightly scratch the surface, you must understand that our skin is covered in cells that detect light 24/7. That means, our body is aware of the light spectrum, even though our eyes cannot perceive it.

    Windows filter light, distorting the natural spectrum we evolved with, suncream does the same, and not to mention the impacts of this artificial light environment which surrounds most of us constantly.

    Though our eyes cannot see it, our body is experiencing this effect.

    When considering how we used to live (being predominantly outdoors and bathed in natural, full spectrum light from morning till night) to shifting to an almost entirely indoor life (with distorted light spectrums and bathed in artificial light), we can begin to see that this is one of the biggest evolutionary mismatches we experience, and it is constant.

    This topic is under-discussed, and the research is buried, yet very present, and somewhat undeniable.

    To briefly summarise, there are broad two issues:

    1. Inadequate sunlight and natural (unfiltered) light

    2. Excessive amounts of artificial light

    Here we begin to consider:

    • Our light environment while training, how this impacts our actual training potential as well as recovery

    • Our light environment while eating, how this affects digestion, nutrient uptake and blood glucose regulation

    • Ways to maximise our light environment throughout the day, how this affects our health as a whole, as well as the regulation of our dopamine & therefore the decisions we make

    • Ways to minimise our artificial light exposure, how this improves our circadian rhythm, health and energy, as well as reducing unwanted behaviours such as impulsivity, restlessness and a sense of seeking more external stimulation

    • Our nighttime light environment, how this affects our sleep and our health overall

    • Leveraging the power of sunlight, sunset and sunrise for recovery, injury prevention & healing, energy levels as well as improving biological harmony with our environment, ultimately improving our overall health

    • Your unique skin type and sun light requirements based on the levels of melanin in your skin

    • Reconsidering your relationship to and perspective of the sun as a whole, as well as our sunlight behaviours and habits.

  • Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) are a fundamental part of our environment. They are produced naturally by the Earth and the Sun, as well as artificially through human technology such as electrical systems, mobile phones, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

    Our biology has always existed within the earth’s electromagnetic environment. Modern life has also introduced a much greater number of artificial electromagnetic sources into our surroundings, often exposing us continuously throughout the day and night.

    We consider this as part of the wider environmental picture when looking at health.

    We consider:

    1. Opportunities to spend more time within natural environment

    2. Opportunities to decrease unecessary exposure to artificial EMFs

  • This field is particularly fascinating to me, and it is emerging, so it is not yet being widely considered with regards to it's possibilities for athletic performance.

    This area is captivating because it impacts the physical, mental and spiritual aspects of life all at once. Benefits include:

    Physically:

    • Better Wind and Stamina: When your body learns to breathe predominantly through it's nose, it is able to improve it's ability to use oxygen. With this improvement, you may notice you feel less breathless than you used to during training and performance.

    • Better Balance and Posture: Your tongue connects to a deep line of tissue that runs all the way down to your toes. Keeping your tongue pressed to the roof of your mouth acts as an internal stabiliser, straightening your neck and spine, and bringing you into better alignment, allowing you to move with better form.

    • Unblocked Airway: Proper jaw habits naturally widen your throat and airways, making it physically easier to breathe effectively, and pull in large gulps of air when you are physically challenged.

    • Less Liklihood of Jaw and Neck Pain: Heavy lifting and intense sports can make athletes clench their teeth. Relaxing and massaging the jaw muscles gets rid of tight knots, tension headaches, and jaw clicking.

    Mentally:

    • Increased Calm and Fast Recovery: Relaxing your jaw, and improving throat posture can allow you to enter a parasympathetic state (feeling calm & relaxed). There are so many benefits to this state, but to name a few, it can improve working memory, decision-making, and cognitive flexibility, as well as keeping the brain balanced in calm alpha / theta frequencies while allowing the body to react at high speeds during performance. It also allows your body to enter rest & recovery mode more often, increasing the body's repair time.

    • Deeper Sleep and Reduced Brain Fog: Restoring natural facial structure can improve / resolve sleep apnoea. Using tape to support nasal breathing at night can also reduce snoring, tossing & turning and improve oxygenation and deep sleep through the night. As a result sleep quality can improve, meaning your recovery improves, and you can experience benfits such as a sharper mind, faster reflexes and more energy

    • Coolness Under Pressure: When you stop clenching your face and jaw during high-stress moments, your brain can stay calm, helping you make better decisions in the middle of a game or match.

    Spiritually:

    • The Body Records Our Experiences. Stress, fear, and emotional burdens can become reflected in our posture, movement, and physical tension. As these patterns are released, space is created for new ways of feeling, thinking, and being.

    • Energetic Harmony: Slumped or imbalanced posture and mouth-breathing can make your energetic state feel heavier and more sluggish. Improving our posture and breathing can lead to energetic lightness, and more positive emotions. The more positive our emotional state, the more positive things we are going to attract.

    • Mental Clarity: Improved oxygenation, improved mood, a body that functions smoothly all contribute to the mental clarity that is required to conscious direct your thoughts towards what you want in your life. When our systems are sluggish or out of alignment, it can be physically more challenging to experience this mental clarity.

    Because this area involves adaptation of the bones and bodily structures, starting promptly is something I encourage in order to begin accumulating the compounding effect that a change like this can have.

    While I have an understanding of this area, it is likely we will consult a trusted specialist for 1:1 support here. Two reasons:

    1. They are the first to know about the emerging research and improvements in approaches

    2. They can give you a highly personalised plan based on all of the detials of your unique body

    Ideally I would be present throughout your meetings so I have all of the details, and can support implementation. However, this can be discussed case by case.

    It is my belief that when you get to the elite level of sport, it genuinely the details that become the differentiators. In this case, this is a big detail, and I truly think it holds a genuine competetive advantag.

  • In the modern day lifestyle, it can be difficult to escape toxins within our environment.

    Our body never evolved to deal with so many toxins and such chronic exposure.

    Science is only scratching the surface of the effects these toxins have on our cognitive function and physical health. It goes without saying that adding stress to an athletes system is no way to improve performance.

    Firstly, I would like to clarify the two broad types of stress we experience.

    1. Hormetic Stress: Temporary stress that leads to adaptation and resilience, beneficial long-term.

    2. Maladaptive Stress: Temporary or chronic stress that leads to negative outcomes for health or cognitive functioning, detrimental long-term.

    What you must understand is that there is no type of stress (e.g. exercise) that is always 'good' or 'bad'. It is always about the state of the body that is experiencing the stress.

    In a simple sense, we can consider stress like water in a bucket. The water represents stress, the bucket represents our bodies capacity to cope with stress. We empty the water from the bucket while we recover and sleep. All the time the water remains within the bucket, we adapt and grow from the stress. If the water begins to spill out of the bucket, it begins to overload us, and it can become harmful.

    It is important you understand that if the bucket is full, it doesn't matter how 'good' the stress source usually is (e.g. exercise), if your bucket is full, it will overflow.

    I say this here because toxins add water to our bucket. Because of our modern lifestyle, it is like a constant steady flow of water. This means we have less room in our bucket to handle other stressors and adapt.

    Together, we work to control the controllables. There is no fear-mongering around things we cannot control. We consider toxin exposure within, but not limited to:

    • Personal care products

    • Home cleaning products

    • Kitchen storage and cookware

    • Food, supplements and packaging

    • Air and water

    • Personal habits (e.g. smoking, vaping)

    • Environmental toxins (e.g. mould in the home)

    • Furnishings in the home & clothing

    We are not looking to change everything here, and I am certainly not here to force you to change anything. More so, we are looking to create awareness and begin making changes that chip away at the stress load our bodies have to deal with.

  • Our oral health has a two way relationship with our bodies. It both indicates to us the state of our health, but also impacts the state of our health.

    Together, we consider:

    • Health of your gums, teeth and tongue

    • Your oral microbiome

    • Inflammation levels in the mouth

    • Your dental history

    • Any dental work that could be currently affecting you (e.g. implants, root canals, fillings etc)

    • The efficacy of your current oral care routine

    • Hidden toxins within your oral care routine and how to minimise these

    A new form of dentistry is emerging, commonly known as biological dentistry. It honours this principle, and treats the mouth as an important part of our wider health, rather than in isolation.

    It is likely that within our work together, we will seek a biological dentist that can ensure all bases are covered, and make any recommendations that may be required.

  • Whilst I am not a qualified fitness professional, I have a strong interest in this area and am continuously learning from those who study the field closely.

    Here, my role is not to plan or dictate your training, nor is it to diagnose you or any issues you may have within your body.

    My role here is simply to introduce you to new perspectives, new ways of thinking and new techniques. As well as this, it is to aid you in recognising potential previously undiscovered gaps, and point you in the direction of people who do things differently, but in the ways that seem to be emerging.

    A big part of my philosophy is that doing things differently is what separates you from the rest.

    Together, what we consider includes, but is not limited to:

    • Your mobility levels

    • Movement variety

    • Alternative ways to train

    • Details of training & whole body connection

    • Recovery behaviours and perspective

    • Movement levels throughout the day

    • Daily habits and behaviours (such as sitting positions, activities of daily living etc.

    People of influence in this area include, but are not limited to, Dr Keith Barr, Dr Kelly Starrett, Tim S Grover, Nsima Inyang, Derek Williamson, Liz Gleadle, Mike Guevara.

  • We consider your current and previous health status, and any medications you are on.

    If you have any current or chronic conditions, from pain to a diagnosed condition, we begin to explore ways to address root causes together.

    While I have a background in nursing, I will not be acting as a a medical professional in this area.

    My role here is to spark new perspectives, advocate for you with healthcare professionals as necessary, support you in learning more about your body, and helping you find alternative professionals as necessary.