As an holistic therapist my views and beliefs are sometimes met by strangers with a healthy dose of skepticism, a fair bit of eyebrow raising and occasionally a 'full on belly laugh'. That is until they get to know me better or learn about my personal journey.

From the early 80's I was a serious over-achiever and workaholic who was naive enough to believe that was something to be proud of. I set up and ran my own successful graphic design and marketing company, burned the candle at both ends and judged anyone else who couldn't work through the night, party like a demon and still be 'bright as a button' at a 7.30am breakfast meeting to be... well frankly 'lame'. I believe I often shamefully coined the phrase 'lead-foot' aimed at well adjusted people who worked 9-5, went to bed before midnight and only danced the night away at weekends.

After 25 years of behaving like 'wonder woman on speed' my body started giving me gentle warning signs to change my life. These I of course ignored and continued on my quest as turbo charged multi tasker... "What on earth are you doing here?" said my producer when I turned up on set to direct a music promo for a dance track on a building site 5 hours after a general anaesthetic... "Don't be so ridiculous, why wouldn't I be?". I can look back at that with great humour now and realise completely it was of course 'I' that was being ridiculous.

It will come as no surprise to the 'wise ones' reading this that eventually I was literally 'stopped in my tracks' and forced to look at the unbalanced and unsustainable life I was living.

Having ignored several years of aches, pains and various health inconveniences I finally had to wake up to the news that I was not indispensable, indestructible or indeed immortal. One day in early 2000 I literally took to my bed, didn't get out of it much for close to 3 weeks and acknowledged (at last!) that I was seriously unwell. At close to 6 stone, unable to walk, use my arms unaided with only enough energy to 'shallow breath' I gave in and went to seek medical help.

The prognosis was not good. My specialist diagnosed chronic psoriatic arthritis and sjorgens syndrome - two (so called) incurable dis-eases (auto immune dis-ease) and advised me that if I 'did nothing' at worst I would fade away in agonising pain or at best be in a wheelchair in 6 months. He was extremely understanding of my preference for holistic and complementary medicine but insisted they 'were not strong enough' and the problems were too severe to consider anything other than orthodox intervention which included Steroids, Anti-inflammatories, Methyltrexate (chemo) and heavy duty pain killers. Once they had stopped working (which they always do) Cortisone injections and various further toxic medications along with more drugs to combat the side effects of long term treatment.

He is a marvelous doctor and I have great respect for his skills as an orthodox practitioner, however the 'lose-lose' scenario he had presented me with was, I decided, a 'win-win' opportunity. As I had nothing to lose, I decided to 'put my money where my mouth is' and put my faith in my 'inner physician'. I'd always enjoyed exceptional good health and vitality and this was a chance to see if my belief in natural medicine was well founded. At the time I genuinely believed I could feel my lifeforce literally 'fading away' and my instinct was that the chemo and other toxic drugs would 'kill me off' - albeit after a short time of being pain free and able to walk/live some kind of life.

Much to the horror and dismay of my partner at the time (he and some close friends feared I had some form of cancer and were relieved that a specialist had offered me treatment and was positive about improvements to my health) I went straight to see a trusted friend, the respected and renowned acupuncturist and practitioner in Chinese Medicine, Maura Bright at The Bright Practice. She agreed and supported my views and sent me to see the Kinesiologist Alexandra Rehlinger at her practice at Third Space Medicine.

A wonderful 86 year old friend I met at the Hydrotherapy pool called Lilian (ex land army girl, Frank Sinatra fan, tap dancer, arthritis sufferer and survivor of two hip operations) coined the phrase "Arthritis doesn't kill you but it takes your life away". Kinesiology literally 'gave me my life back'. Within 6 months of seeing Alexsandra I was walking without sticks, had put on weight and could feel my strength and vitality returning.

Now, years later I have studied and qualified myself as a professional Kinesiologist, live a wonderful and balanced life which includes the gym and swimming (first time I tried doggy paddle at the hydro pool I defied the laws of physics and went backwards - so weak the pool filter blew me around like a leaf!). I still consider myself a 'work in progress' and OK, I probably won't be joining an all women 750 mile cycling marathon of Cuba or climb Skafel Pike any time soon... but as I've done those things already... who cares! I am happier, more grateful and content than I've ever been in my life. I have never taken any kind of pharmacuetical drug or undergone any type of orthodox treatment and I am truly thankful I did 'listen' (finally!) to the voice of my 'inner physician'.

I would like to dedicate 'my little story' to those who have helped me on my own personal journey to healing and recommend them wholeheartedly to anyone who wants to consider a potential natural path to health, wellbeing and recovery.

Maura Bright (Harley Street, London)

Alexsandra Rehlinger (Third Space Medicine, Soho, London)

Vanessa Edwards (Southorpe, Lincs)

Elizabeth Hughes (Greenrose Health Centre, Stanway, Essex)

Alan Sales (Institute of Cyberkinetics, South Croydon, Surrey)

This extraordinary man sadly and unexpectedly passed away in early July 2009. He was an innovative and unique pioneer of Kinesiology and is a great loss to the worldwide community of holistic practitioners. He is irreplaceable, will never be forgotten and will remain an inspiration to my work and life always. In love, light and healing, Blessed be.