Mark Gill Testimonial

The NSRT qualification appealed to me for a few reasons:
1) as an athlete who has spent a fair bit of time on the plinth, I realised that a better understanding of my anatomy and how my muscles work would help me both solve my injuries and realise my sporting aspirations
2) as a person who has worked one career I wanted to add to my skills  so that I would have more freedom in terms of how and where I might  earn a living
3) it would allow me to contribute to the world and actually help  people live a more pain-free life

The course itself was excellent.  The content has been deliberately structured to allow students to explore a wide range of techniques  while at the same time allowing students enough time to develop a high  level of competency with each technique.  Topics are frequently  revisited as the instructors always bring real world examples from  their own clinical practice and work with the students to explore  their knowledge and thereby collectively develop a treatment plan.   Any student completing this course has a great toolkit with which to  work, plenty of knowledge and a lot of hands-on experience.  Upon  completion of the course a student will have the competence and  confidence to set up their own practice if they so wish.

The instructors professional knowledge and experience is second to  none. This is evidenced by their close relationship to a lot of   Ireland's top athletes.  The course soon becomes more than just a  course; it develops a club atmosphere as the instructors' interest in  their students extends beyond the class.  Students soon become not  only colleagues but friends.

Did the course met my goals?
1) With the help of this course I have unravelled the puzzling dodgy  knee and painful lower back that were holding me back as a cyclist.  I  am now back competing in domestic races having retired twice from  frustration. I have not only managed to solve my injuries but the  knowledge gained has taken me completely off the back foot and firmly  planted me on the front foot.  Now I understand how elite athletes  functional control is fundamental to their 'talent'.  The potential of  this knowledge in terms of my own ability really excites me.
2) While I have remained with the soap opera of my current job in financial markets, the skills I have learned have allowed me to work  as a masseur at domestic and international bike races.  My trip to the  Tour de L'Ain with a professional Irish team is a highlight.  This is  a highly ranked stage race through the Jura mountains in France in  which 11 teams from that year's Tour de France raced.  To be working  on the front-lines of such a big race with top level cyclists is  clearly a massive insight and a huge amount of fun for any cycling  nut.  I also work with On Your Bike, an Irish cycling holiday  operator.  This job allows me to travel to cycling hot-spots to work  as a masseur, soigneur and guide for our clients.
3) Being able to help not only family but friends, athletes and work colleagues is a great privilege.  Anyone who has experienced pain understands the great relief when it is taken away.  The sense of appreciation for your knowledge and efforts is very rewarding.

This is a fabulous course with super instructors.  All one needs is a healthy interest and a natural curiosity, the instructors provide all  the rest.

Mark Gill

Course Graduate