Hi, My Name's Katie
In 1996, I started my journey as a fitness instructor, and by ’99 I was successfully managing health clubs. But, I soon realised that I wanted to motivate and inspire people instead of drowning in paperwork.
That’s when I decided to pave my own way and Re-activ8 was born in 2004.
In 2008 I was one of only 3 coaches worldwide selected to work with international athletes at the Beijing Olympic Games.
Coaching was always my vocation.
Being an athlete myself and having had numerous injuries I wanted to be able to help people achieve and maintain optimal physical fitness.
I started out as a ‘body mechanic’ just looking at physical components and trying to fix them. I specialised in Injury Rehabilitation, Posture Correction, and Strength & Conditioning, not only for sports but also for daily activities.
Over the years, however, through my own experiences, and from working with hundreds of clients, I realised that our physical health is greatly affected by our mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. As a result, Re-activ8 evolved into the Holistic Health Coaching business that it is today.
Re-activ8 has grown as I’ve grown; It’s a testament to my own health and happiness journey.
This is my story
I was a council estate kid, born and raised in Burnage, Manchester.
My two passions in life, like most of the people I know from my childhood, were music and sport. We were tough kids; we played on the streets and made our own entertainment from nothing.
I was a typical ‘tomboy’, always kicking about with the lads, climbing trees, and dancing to the latest cool tunes coming from the ‘Madchester’ scene.
My dad was a boxer in the army. So, by the age of 5, I had boxing gloves and a gumshield! But really, I was a sensitive, shy girl, with a tough outer shell.
In my teenage years and into my 20s I competed in track & field events and played football. Initially, from the age of 12, I played for Manchester United and then in later years, I signed for Manchester City.
Now in my late forties, I still enjoy playing football at a competitive level in The Greater Manchester Women’s Premier League.
A Passion For People
In my twenties, I fell in love - with travel.
I gave up my management job and any desire to conform, to embark on a year-long adventure through Asia, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and Canada.
I love exploring new places and meeting new people. The uncertainty of unfamiliarity, of getting lost and finding my own way satisfies my childlike sense of adventure.
Uncertainty without fear is the essence of adventure.
Throughout my travels, including a 9-month exploration of South America, I’ve been fortunate to connect with people from all over the world. And I’ve realised that as different as our cultures and customs may be we’re essentially all the same. We all have the same basic human needs but we’re shaped by our individual experiences.
Diversity and our unique perspectives fascinate me; I love to hear people’s stories!
My Healing Journey
In my early thirties, despite being physically strong and as health conscious as ever I started to get sick. I had joint pains, skin problems, digestive issues, allergic reactions and a myriad of other health complaints which saw me making regular hospital visits. My liver readings were all over the place and my white blood cell count was sky-high. This was an indication that my immune system was in overdrive and attacking my own body!
It was during this time that I met Paul Chek. I was being taught by Paul at his institute in California when he explained to me how my emotional stress was manifesting as physical problems. I’d experienced a lot of loss and grief in a relatively short period of time and I was beginning to show signs of being ‘burnt out’.
My own life experiences were starting to manifest in pain, physical pain that hadn’t been caused by injury but had developed due to an accumulation of stress that the tough kid in me didn’t want to acknowledge, or know how to process.
Paul’s insight ultimately transformed my life and the philosophy of my business.
Practicing What I Preach
I got worse before I got better.
For a long time I was reluctant to really delve into what makes me tick and to fully process the experiences that had shaped me.
I was so depleted that I picked up parasite infections in South America and my health deteriorated further.
Doctors suggested that my symptoms could have been due to Lymphoma, Tuberculosis, and even HIV! The testing procedures and worry did nothing but increase my stress levels. Thankfully, all of those tests were negative, and deep down I knew that I had to address the underlying causes of the symptoms that my body was showing.
You are not responsible for the programming you picked up in childhood. However, as an adult you are 100% responsible for fixing it.
I began my journey to heal and truly understand myself, a path that I’m still on as an inquisitive lifelong learner.
Eventually, I regained my health without medication or surgery. Instead, I learnt how to balance myself physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. I knew then, that a whole health approach was the only real way to help people to achieve optimal health and happiness.
The Path Of Progress is Rarely Linear
I hit a few emotional bumps in the road as I entered my 40’s, but these challenges have only served to make me better equipped to understand the human condition that we all share.
Making Progress
I now use my academic knowledge alongside the wisdom gained from my personal experiences, and from coaching people from all walks of life, to empower my clients to lead their own healthier, happier lives.
As I approach my fifties, I’m continuing to evolve as a person and as a coach as I take Re-activ8 into the world of Online Learning.
Qualifications
- C.H.E.K Integrated Movement Science Practitioner Level 3
- C.H.E.K Holistic Lifestyle Coach Level 2
- A.C.S.M Exercise Physiologist
- A.C.S.M/ A.C.S Certified Cancer Exercise Trainer
- F.H.T /IIHHT Sports Therapist
- NLP Practitioner
- Certified Breathwork Instructor
