“The familiar hum of the office computer filled the silence as I booted it up. A wave of restlessness washed over me. “I don’t want to do this anymore,” the thought echoed in my mind. Without hesitation, I drafted my resignation letter, each keystroke a beat in the rhythm of a changing life. Apprehension flickered as I placed it on my boss’s desk, but it was quickly eclipsed by a surge of relief. This was goodbye to the old, a hello to the new. Six weeks later, I found myself on a new path entirely, immersed in the world of Chinese medicine.“
Barbara Ellis spent nearly five years as a Speech and Language Therapist at a special needs college in Northumberland, UK. But one day, a seemingly routine opportunity for further certification sparked a life-altering decision. Given the freedom to choose her own course, Barbara embarked on a deep dive, ultimately discovering Tuina massage.
This branch of Chinese medicine, practised both on bare skin and through clothing, ignited a new passion within her. Ten days of intense training transformed her. Returning home on a Sunday, she was practically glowing. When friends remarked on her radiant appearance, she explained it wasn’t a holiday, but a transformative training course. The experience left her exhilarated, and she couldn’t wait to share every detail.
Energised by her experience, she arrived at work the next day with a newfound resolve. Surprisingly, she tendered her resignation. It wasn’t due to dissatisfaction with her job, but rather a consequence of the remarkable results she’d achieved in a short time through Tuina massage.
A profound sense of well-being washed over her. It felt like a homecoming – her spirit had finally discovered Tuina massage, the therapy it craved. The revelation ignited a passion within her. The confines of her old job no longer held appeal. Now, her path was clear: to delve deeper into the wisdom of Chinese medicine.
Barbara remembers a childhood filled with love, both given and received. From a young age, she gravitated towards helping others – friends, strangers, especially those younger. This innate nurturing instinct, though not fully understood then, bloomed into a powerful desire during her own path to well-being.
Barbara followed a conventional path – job, marriage, children, and a degree. Yet, for fourteen years, a shadow loomed. Recurring back problems plagued her, leading to multiple hospitalisations. The solution, when it came, was drastic: surgery to remove part of a herniated disc in her lower back.
Now, fast forward to 20 years later, and she found herself once again sitting in another consultant’s office this time looking at the MRI images of her spine.
“Barbara, have you ever had an impact injury, one where you were in an accident or had a severe fall that created an impact through your spine?” the consultant asked.
It took her a few moments to recollect that, on her honeymoon she fell on a marble staircase in Paris, and came down hard on the base of her spine: her coccyx, which sent a shockwave up through her spine, forcing the air out of her lungs. For a few moments she could not breathe, she could not move, she could not speak, then the pain hit.
She recalled the incident to the consultant.
“Barbara, do you not think this is something that you should have told your medical team all those years ago when you first had back pain?”
“Well no, I never gave it a thought, it was after all something I had never been asked, so I did not make the connection”.
The doctor’s words struck her like a bolt of lightning. At a mere 21, she hadn’t grasped the long-term consequences. How could she have missed the connection? This was the culprit behind the chronic pain plaguing her back, chest, and now her neck. The herniated disc surgery, the lingering nerve damage – all stemmed from this one, unseen cause. A wave of realisation washed over her. “Wow,” she thought, “why didn’t I ever connect the dots? “Why was I so disconnected from my own body?” The irony wasn’t lost on her – a healthcare professional, yet a stranger to her own physical needs. “Why was I so disconnected from my own body?”
Dismay washed over her. Disconnected from her own body for so long, a stark realisation dawned: how could she care for something she barely understood? This self-doubt fuelled a newfound appreciation for Chinese medicine, a philosophy that resonated deeply. Unlike her previous medical experiences, this approach embraced the entire body, a holistic path to well-being that offered a glimmer of hope.
Barbara’s awakening extended beyond her own health. The compartmentalised approach of Western medicine struck a chord. Here, specialists address isolated issues – bones to orthopaedics, nerves to neurologists. A stark contrast to the holistic philosophy of Chinese medicine, where the entire body is seen as an interconnected system. This resonated deeply with her desire for a more unified approach to well-being.
A profound understanding dawned on Barbara: everything was interconnected. This epiphany sparked a fervent search for a solution to her chronic pain, leading her down a path of exploration through various alternative therapies. Yet, nothing resonated quite like Tuina massage and the holistic philosophy of Chinese medicine. This discovery was what propelled her to resign.
Barbara’s newfound passion led her into a world of exploration. Acupuncture and Qigong, essential components of Chinese medicine, became her next focus. Determined to learn from the source, she embarked on a life-changing journey to China, where she received first hand instruction from Qigong masters. This wasn’t just a casual pursuit; Barbara’s dedication culminated in a diploma in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, a qualification that also certified her as a Tuina massage therapist.
Barbara’s newfound passion blossomed into a successful clinic. Integrating other Chinese therapies with Tuina massage, she also offered a holistic approach to well-being through Qiong healing and driven by a desire to help others experience the transformative power she herself had discovered.
But her training wasn’t over. A chance encounter with a colleague introduced her to Havening Techniques. Intrigued by its potential, she enrolled in the training, and it became a turning point. Havening Techniques, which combined elements of touch, eye movements, and psychology, offered a way to help people release trauma and alleviate physical and emotional pain. This new skill became a lifeline when Covid struck. Since in-person sessions were no longer possible, Havening’s remote-friendly nature allowed her to continue supporting clients online.
Her passion for helping others only grew, and she went on to study further techniques, becoming a Six Step Belief Change Practitioner as well. Now, by combining Havening with these new methods, Barbara has developed a comprehensive coaching program. It empowers people to understand their thought patterns, their reactions, and the steps needed to achieve their life goals.
Just when it seemed Barbara had found her perfect harmony, fate intervened. A new path unfolded, leading her back to her Scottish roots. There, amidst rolling hills, she and her family embarked on a surprising adventure – a farm teeming with life. Alpacas, fluffy hens, and curious sheep became her new companions, and life living in a tiny home, courtesy of The Lone Traveller.
Barbara’s vision unfolded – a vibrant eco-centre where visitors could immerse themselves in farm life, reconnect with nature, and experience all she had come to cherish. Tiny homes awaited, ready to welcome guests eager for a unique escape. However, unforeseen forces threatened to disrupt this idyllic dream. Winter floods and spring droughts swirled on the horizon, casting a shadow over the family’s meticulously crafted plans.
Living simply in her tiny home fostered a profound shift in perspective. She grasped the truth – a great life wasn’t defined by material possessions. This realisation echoed her journey with Chinese medicine – just as she’d treated her body holistically, she now saw the profound connection between humanity and nature. Their well-being was intricately intertwined.
Nestled amidst the trees, embraced by the windswept land, Barbara found solace. The gentle presence of the alpacas and other creatures mirrored the nurturing spirit she felt from nature itself. It was a return to a simpler state, a reconnection that filled her with a sense of childlike wonder. In the quiet moments, surrounded by this natural embrace, a profound truth resonated: there was a deeper meaning to life, a connection far greater than we often realise.
An insightful shift occurred within Barbara. True wealth, she grasped, wasn’t confined to bank accounts or the things we possess. It was all around her, woven into the very fabric of nature. Happiness, she realised, blossoms from a deeper understanding – the interconnectedness of all things. We are not separate from the stars or the earth; we are threads in the grand tapestry of existence, a unified whole.
And when you embrace this existence in the way it is, you have tapped into the wealth of the universe. And even though in the eyes of the world, it may appear like not having much, in its truest sense, it’s having more than one could ask for.
Barbara emphasises the importance of collective responsibility. Humanity, she argues, must strive for unity and harmonious coexistence. We are all interconnected – people with each other, and people with the natural world. The wind, soil, water, trees, and even the sky – these are not mere backdrops, but vital parts of the intricate web of life. We have a moral imperative to care for our environment, for it sustains us as much as we sustain it. Ultimately, existence belongs to all of us, and we, in turn, belong to it.
To witness this unity, this oneness, is to experience heaven manifest on earth.
Barbara’s journey led her to a profound truth: her body was an integral part of the natural world. The key to healing, she understood, lay in rekindling this forgotten connection. By tuning into the rhythms of nature, she discovered a powerful force for well-being.
Barbara now makes a conscious effort to nurture her connection with the natural world, finding solace in its rhythms. But she also recognises the vital role of human connection. Love, she believes, remains the most powerful chord, binding us to each other and to all of existence. After all, where love thrives, life flourishes.
It’s been nearly two decades since Barbara walked out of her office, a life-altering decision that propelled her on an extraordinary journey. Now, with a life many would envy, she declares with a twinkle in her eye, “I’m only getting started!”
And having witnessed her spirit first hand, I can tell you, Barbara Ellis has a voice and a charisma that can transport you into a world, where you too can say, “help me see what you’ve seen Barbara”, and she’ll gladly do that! Because she has found her one thing; a heart full of love.
Today, Barbara Ellis utilises her vast experience, and helps people dealing with chronic pain. Her vision is to not only help individuals recover and lead a normal life, but also go beyond, to living a life where they feel empowered to deal with challenges with as much strength and resilience, like a mountain in a storm. Unwavering, unaffected, still!
Say Hi to Barbara, Goodbye to Chronic Pain, And a Welcome to Regaining Your Vitality!
* Diagnostic payment will be refunded with a 6 session treatment plan
