Hello, I'm Jo Giles.
 

After graduating from university in Media and Performing Arts, I moved to London and spent numerous years working within a myriad of industries in a variety of different roles. Although I gained valuable life / work experience, learnt many things, met lots of great people it really was a case of working to live. I always knew deep down there was something I was ‘put on this earth to be doing’ - a job that I loved, that would be rewarding and I’d excel at. In the end, it was a conversation with a random stranger and her subsequent suggestion that I needed to 'retrain' that got me on the right track.

 

Shortly after this enlightening encounter, I took a weekend ‘taster’ course in Tactile Therapies to determine if my interest in Massage and Reflexology extended beyond being a good amateur. It did. I immediately signed up for the ITEC Diploma in Holistic Massage and qualified in 2003, this was subsequently followed by courses in Reflexology, Pre-natal & Chinese Reflexology, Indian Head Massage, La Stone Massage, and Seated Acupressure Massage, all while working full-time. Although it became evident that I had finally found a true vocation in being a therapist, I didn't feel the right time to give up the security of being a full time employee to go self employed and was content to keep my complementary therapies as a little sideline. It also gave me the opportunity to build up my skills and experience.

 

Then, in late 2008, the universe decided to shake things up for me; My role at The Times was made redundant and found myself at a crossroads; I could either take the safe route and find another job in the same industry or take a leap of faith and go for a career transition.

 

Following some excellent Redundancy Outplacement counselling, I some time out to travel, and then in January 2009, enrolled at the prestigious Christine Blundell Makeup Academy (CBMA) on their Film & Television Make-up Artist Course.

Training as a professional make-up artist had always been an ambition of mine but due to the expense and time commitment, it had previously been out of reach.

On completing the course, I began working as make-up artist in the film industry, which I loved, but unfortunately, the only make-up jobs available to a recent graduate were either unpaid, expenses only or had very low renumeration, so I joined a Complementary Therapy Agency to supplement my income.

 

Before I knew it, Massage and Reflexology bookings were filling up my diary and I discovered how fulfilling, rewarding, interesting and enjoyable the life of a  therapist was. Before long, it was clear that I had to make a choice - Therapist or Make up artist, and it was actually an easy decision as I now realised that Holistic Therapy & Wellbeing was the industry where I truly belonged.

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Since 2010,  I have been part of the Google wellbeing team delivering massage, reflexology and Reiki,working in the Kings Cross, Victoria and Covent Garden offices. I also run a private practice from my residence and for pregnant clients, can offer a home visit service. 

 

As well as performing hands on therapies, I also teach.

I always had a feeling that I might end up teaching and because I have experienced both excellent and poor teaching/course facilitation over the years, it was important to me that I had appropriate teacher training and instruction before I took this next step.

 

In 2011, I passed the City & Guilds PTTLS Award (Teaching Adults in the Lifelong learning sector). The course was incredibly thorough and equipped me with the necessary teacher training to enable me to design and facilitate courses properly.

 

Since 2014, I have been facilitating Reiki Courses monthly from my home in North London. Since opening my doors, I have been blessed with fantastic students, met so many wonderful people and been enriched by the knowledge that Reiki is being passed on to benefit more and more people and the world as a whole, in so many different ways. 

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My work brings me incredible job satisfaction, no day is ever the same, no-one has exactly the same needs and every minute of my working hour is about enhancing wellbeing. For me, it doesn't get better than that, so I feel fortunate and happy that I have found my life's purpose and able to make my living in this way, and hope to continue doing what I do, for many years to come.

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MY QUALIFICATIONS & TRAINING TO DATE.

 

1995 BA (Hons) Media & Performing Arts - De Montfort University

2003 ITEC Diploma Holistic Massage & Anatomy and Physiology - Morley College

2003 ITEC Diploma Indian Head Massage -Morley College

2003 Diploma in La Stone Massage - La Stone

2003 Diploma in Seated Acupressure Massage - Morley College

2004 Diploma in Reflexology, Morley College (International Federation of Reflexology)

2006 Reflexology for Pregnancy (CPD course) City Lit

2007 Chinese Reflexology (CPD course) City Lit

2008 Diploma in Traditional Thai Massage, Koh Chang, Thailand

2009 Certificate in Film and Television Make-up, CBMA

(Christine Blundell Make-Up Academy)

2011 PTTLS Adult Teacher Training Award, City & Guilds at City Lit

2011 Advanced Massage skills (CPD course) Acredited Massage

2011 Reiki First Level (Reiki Master Janice Leonard)

2011 Reiki Second Level (Reiki Master Janice Leonard)

2012 Reiki Third Master Level (Reiki Master Janice Leonard)

2013 Reiki Master Teacher - City Lit (Reiki Master Monalina Singh)

2014 Maternity Reflexology (CPD course) Sally Earlham

2015 Advanced Sports Stretching (CPD course) Jing Massage Academy

2017 Systematic Kinesiology Foundation - The Academy of Systematic Kinesiology

2018 Systematic Kinesiology Practitioner - The Academy of Systematic Kinesiology

2020 Natural Facelift Massage Facial Rejuvenation Diploma -

London Centre of Indian Champissage (trained by Mary Dalgleish)

2021 Reflexology for Menopause (CPD course) Sally Earlham

2021  ITEC  Aromatherapy -Richdales College

2024 Facial cupping - London School of Massage

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Professional Membership and Insurance with The Federation of Holistic Therapists