Geoff Fox – Coach, trainer and therapist

As a young man, I had always been a competitive sportsman playing football and rugby along with a keen interest in a variety of martial arts including Karate and AiKiDo. Whilst still in my twenties, I was introduced to Kung Fu and then Tai Chi and what I saw and experienced in those early classes changed my life.

This path led to becoming interested in healing others and in 1993 I studied Reflexology using a soft gentle touch and internal energy in a style known as Morrell Reflexology.

Continuing the interest in healing others I have now qualified in Bowen Technique as well as more recently Sports Massage – I firmly believe in combining the best of modern and traditional knowledge.

My love of sport and training continues and I am now the proud owner of a Personal Training certificate. It is great to be able to help others and pass on my knowledge and experience.

Experience and Qualifications from a wide range of related disciplines:

• Level 3 Personal Training, including Nutrition and Anatomy and Physiology
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• Sports Massage (Deep Tissue) Level 3 – having studied at St Marys University, I am currently moving forward on to the Level 4 course which deals with soft tissue injuries and trigger points.
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• Experienced bodywork healer through the application of Reflexology (Morrell technique which is a soft touch energetic version) and Bowen Technique.
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• Registered with the British Register of Complementary Practitioners (BRCP).
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• Qualified Tai Chi and Chinese Yoga (Kai Men) instructor, having first starting studying in 1989. Also, trained in Kung Fu, Chi Shu (throwing martial art), Meditation (Mindfulness) and Tui Na (Chinese Massage).
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• CRB checked
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• First Aid
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• Life experience – including ups and downs with my own health, learning what works and what does not from my own personal experience. I have always been active, being a regular at various gyms for over 25 years, studied Tai Chi and Kung Fu for a similar period and benefited myself from being coached by some excellent personal trainers.

I bring together all of this knowledge and experience to provide a unique take on fitness, health and wellbeing. For example, the sports massage helps improve my knowledge and ability as a personal trainer and visa versa. The Tai Chi and Chinese Yoga gives me experience of a wide range of brilliant stretching techniques and routines which can be incorporated into any exercise routine, whilst the internal energy (chi) aspect can be incorporated into the massage - combining the best knowledge of East and West.

Prior to launching Foxy’s Fit for Five with my wife Ali, I was operating as a Director of Development having been active at a senior level in the housing and regeneration industry for over 35 years, where I learnt general business skills and applied great leadership and communication at all levels.

My last employer topped the prestigious Great Places to Work in 2016 best workplace (medium size category) through its ability to have a very high level of employee satisfaction resulting from a fun, innovative working and learning environment. This experience can be transferred to my role when training and coaching others, leading to a highly motivated client who enjoys being active as well as undertaking regular training.

I have a passion for encouraging the body to heal itself and to motivate people to be healthier, making gradual changes and improvements so that they can be the best they can be!

Ali Fox – Reflexology/Bowen Technique/Hot Stone Massage

‘I believe that complementary therapies can help people find a balance in their life and general well-being.’

I have always held an avid interest in health and wellbeing.  In 2003 following a divorce, I met Geoff (now my husband of five years) who told me that he was a qualified reflexologist and that if I would like to try the therapy, he would carry out a treatment. I had heard of reflexology, but didn’t know a great deal about it.  I was juggling a stressful job with bringing up two children at the time and one day when a headache hit and Geoff offered his reflexology services, I jumped at the chance.  Well, I was blown away and so was the headache!  If you haven’t tried this therapy you haven’t lived. I had to find out more, so embarked on training to become a reflexologist.  This was helped enormously by Geoff, who had trained in 1993.  He had been lucky enough to be trained in the ‘Morrell’ style which is a very light touch using energy work, so was able to give me lots of useful tips so that I could develop my own style.

After reflexology, I went on to study anatomy and physiology and further therapies.  Geoff and I trained together to become Bowen practitioners as we thought it would be great to study a therapy together.

A wholesome diet, gentle regular exercise and the use of complementary treatments can all help to balance our bodies and promote general well-being.  Everything we do in our daily lives affects our bodies. For example, an uncomfortable working environment can cause stress, tiredness and related conditions, such as anxiety and depression. At home, lack of exercise and poor diet plus too much sedentary activity (watching TV, reading, using computers) may cause similar problems.

Making small changes in diet and exercise or everyday activity levels can have a major impact on your health and wellbeing.  Everyday issues often stop us from making those changes.  I understand what it’s like to have a stressful job and the affects this can have on a person.  When I was in my thirties (which seems like not so long ago, but probably isn’t), I had a very busy and stressful job with a large mobile phone company.  Bearing in mind that I had always been interested in health and wellbeing, guess what was my first early morning office ritual was?.  A brisk walk around the block to clear my head and a vitamin packed juice?  No, I used to arrive at the office, grab a strong black coffee and a Mars bar from the vending machine and crack on!!  Suffice to say, my sugar high resulted in a major low later in the day which would often result in a migraine type headache. So, what I’m trying to say is, ‘I know how difficult it is to follow a healthy life style and keep on track, we are all human and we all have a story – those little niggles (or large niggles) that stop us from staying on track.  When we do make little changes and manage to stick with them, we feel great because our body is functioning to it’s full capacity i.e.  plenty of nutrients are getting through to our muscles, our circulatory system is working well due to our extra activity, etc.

Regular treatments can help to alleviate the adverse effects caused by the negative factors of everyday living i.e. stress. When the body is stressed it must work harder than usual in order to remain balanced. Hence, stressed people tend to over-use conventional relaxation methods such as drinking and smoking in order to be calm. However, too much alcohol or nicotine can have an adverse effect on the body in the long run whereas a holistic treatment such as reflexology, Bowen or massage can help to induce deep relaxation, helping to remove the pent-up tension of the stress response, without damaging the body.

With skills, caring, experience and professionalism, I will help you to destress and feel better.

Don't forget - If you do as you've always done, you'll get what you've always got.  So if you haven’t tried a treatment before, why not give it a go?  Maybe you’ll feel like I did when I had my first reflexology treatment.

My personal saying is 'Do it now'.  So go on .......... call 07973508177 to make sure you secure your session.

Qualifications:

• Level 2 Award in Encouraging a Healthy Weight and Healthy Eating (RSPH) St Mary’s University, London
• Level 4 Award in Nutrition (RSPH) St Mary’s University, London
• Level 4 Certificate in Nutrition for Physical Activity and Sport (RSPH) St Mary’s University, London
• Certificate in Hot Rocks Stone Therapy (Hive Training Academy)
• Accredited Practitioner of The Bowen Technique (European College of Bowen Studies)
• Diploma in Holistic Massage (ITEC)
• Anatomy and Physiology (ITEC)
• Level 3 Certificate in Reflexology (Vocational Training Charitable Trust)
• Diploma in Life Coaching (Newcastle College)