Kate graduated in 2003 with a BSc (Hons) degree in Podiatry from the Durham school of Podiatric Medicine . This incorporated all problems pertaining to the lower limbs, including general footcare, verruca treatment, nail surgery, diabetic footcare and lower limb biomechanical assessments with the prescription of insoles and casted orthotics.

After graduation Kate managed her own Podiatry department within a multidisciplinary clinic working alongside physiotherapists, acupuncturists and masseurs. This helped her build on her knowledge of sports injuries and health problems whilst developing her skills in lower limb biomechanical assessments.

Since September 2004 Kate has set up her own business; providing a modern approach to foot health, with treatment to match.

At present Kate works three days in clinic and travels for the remainder of the week to businesses such as Tommee Tippee and Asda, and to Durham school providing care for the pupils at a convenient time and place.

Kate will be at Lombard Physiotherapy each Friday afternoon to carry out a clinic offering biomechanical assessments and prescription insoles and casted orthotics.

Ian has been a personal trainer in Newcastle for 4 years, and can regularly be seen putting people through their paces in gyms and locations around the city. Ian has a passion for all things related to exercise and wellbeing.

Having always been involved with exercise and specifically weight training and running, Ian found that his own occasional lower back pain and postural problems could be helped and avoided through regular Pilates exercise.

Ian gained his Personal trainer qualifications through Northern Fitness & Education, and his Pilates certification through Absorb Fitness. In addition Ian has attained qualifications through other

vocational training organisations and is qualified in Ante/post natal exercise prescription, core stability exercise prescription and most recently Indian head massage therapy.

Graham S .Smith is a Chartered Physiotherapist who specialises in Fascial Therapy. This includes Myofascial and Viscerofascial techniques. This holistic approach is very gentle but extremely profound in its results, as it deals with the specific cause of the problem .Although Fascial Therapy can be used for all musculoskeletal problems it is particularly useful for chronic symptoms eg old whiplash injuries that have failed to respond to other treatments. Graham has lectured both nationally and internationally on Fascial Therapy and is involved in continued research on the subject.

Lissa Foley is an experienced level 2 Instructor of Pilates and Yoga, who teaches both classes and private one to one sessions. As well as being a fully qualified Personal Trainer with London Central YMCA Lissa also holds qualifications with EFI Sports Medicine in Gravity Personal Training and Gravity Group.

Lissa has a true passion in teaching and is continually adding to her repertoire of qualifications, at present Lissa is studying Level 3 Pilates and expanding on her Yoga studies with The British Wheel of Yoga.

Jo Richardson first began training as a Massage Therapist at Newcastle College in 1996 after 10 successful years as a retail entrepreneur. She quickly found her niche as a Complementary Therapist qualifying in subsequent years as an Aromatherapist, Indian Head Massage Therapist, Acupuncturist and Sports Therapist. It was as a freelance professional Sports Therapist for several private physiotherapy clinics and sports teams in the North East that she developed her skills in Deep Tissue Remedial Massage Therapy. Several months intensive training with the British School of Manual Medicine in 2000 introduced her to a wide range of Osteopathic techniques that she incorporates into her treatments. Her graduation as a Chartered Physiotherapist from Northumbria University in 2005 has added to her repertoire, providing her with a sound background of applied anatomy and movement. .

A fully qualified lecturer, she has taught Massage and Sports Therapy as lecturer/course leader at New College Durham. Indeed many of her students have gone on to become leading practitioners in their own right. Her special interest is in spinal disorders and she uses her knowledge of Traditional Chinese Medicine, meridian lines and trigger points to facilitate myofascial release and the reduction of pain. She hopes to study Tui Na Chinese Medical Massage in 2007. Massage sessions with Jo last an hour and techniques are tailored to meet the individual needs of the client whether 8 or 80 to provide a unique treatment

David graduated with a BSc Hons degree in Sports and Exercise Development and a Sports Massage Therapy Diploma, from Sunderland University in 2004. To gain experience after qualifying, David spent six months working in a sporting holiday resort in Greece as a Sports Massage Practitioner.

On his return he found work in the private physiotherapy sector working along-side chartered physiotherapists. This gave him the opportunity to develop his knowledge further, by working with a caseload of clients which covered a broad spectrum of musculoskeletal conditions. He has also worked for various health and sport clubs, including local rugby and football teams. He regularly attends various sporting events to offer post-event sports massage. A large proportion of David’s clients are “non-athletes” who simply benefit from deep tissue massage to relieve postural stresses of the working day.

David is currently working as an associate lecturer at Gateshead College as well as working as a Sports Massage Practitioner. Massage sessions with David last an hour and techniques are tailored to meet the individual needs of the client.

Vika De Giorgi was born in the USSR. Being naturally strong and supple, she enjoyed gymnastics and acrobatics at a young age. As a teenager she grew up in Moscow, and began weightlifting training with Russian athletes who introduced her to the use of kettlebells.

In 1995 she qualified as an aerobics instructor in the UK, then went to on to complete further professional fitness qualifications (aqua, skipping, step, pre + post natal, core and circuit fitness), allowing her to teach a wider variety of aerobics classes for the Newcastle City Council, as well as private gyms.

In 1999, she took time out to have a family and in 2004 she commenced an Applied Sports Science with Coaching honours degree at the University of Northumbria. During the next 3 years she studied nutrition, kinesiology, cellular and gross anatomy, and biomechanical motion analysis, which is very useful in coaching applications.

Vika has over 15 years experience of working within the fitness industry. She is a competitive athlete who’s infectious nature leaves her clients feeling full of confidence in their ability to achieve their physical goals.

For more information about Vika’s bespoke fitness training services, please visit www.vikafitness.com