I first was introduced to Be Activated (then Muscle Activation) in 2011 by Douglas Heel, on a level 1 course in Durban, South Africa. I signed up for the course not really knowing what it was about, and I had no idea how it would influence my life from there onwards.
To say that Doug got under my skin on the first day, would be an understatement! He refused to answer my many questions, and the answers he provided made no scientific sense. He really annoyed me and made me question why I ever signed up for this course. What he showed us seemed too good to be true and I struggled to buy into the concept.
He pulled me up for a demonstration. Really hurt me on the bed, and then got me up to walk. People made all sorts of clever medical comments, about how I was walking with a different gait, etc. Then one lady suggested that I looked taller. I found that very odd. Doug, however, went on to explain how I was indeed taller (which I did not believe for a second). I left day one of the course angry and irritated.
The next morning, I ran into my 2-year-old daughter’s bedroom, to give her a kiss before leaving for day two. Suddenly something hit me…. from above. I fell flat on my back in the passage seeing stars for a while. When I came to my senses, I realized that I have hit my head on the door frame. Take note that this was the same room I have been running into for the last 3 years?? Doug likes to say I got the sense knocked into me that day. I don’t know about that, but it definitely got me thinking!
Arriving at the course, I was the joke of the day, with a red bruise across my forehead. Halfway through day 2, I suddenly noticed that I have been sitting, for hours, with minimal pain in my back. This got my attention, as I have suffered from severe, permanent back pain for 10 years prior to that. I have had minimal improvement, with various conventional interventions, over the years. Yet here I was, suddenly with 70% less pain, after just one day, on a very strange course. This REALLY got my attention!
This incredible change I felt in my own body set me on a journey for the next 4-5 years. I could not deny the massive change in my own symptoms, and the fascinating results I saw with my client’s. Results that far surpassed what I have seen in my conventional physiotherapy practice before. Â
I struggled for years to try and piece this puzzle together. What do we actually influence with activations? How does it all work? How do I explain it to my clients? I did this for a long time on my own as I knew no other therapists that used this approach. At the time there were also no further courses available to attend in South Africa. This was before the time of social media.
I was. continuously encouraged by the incredible results that I kept seeing with clients. Often life-changing results. Results that drove me to find some of the answers I needed.Â
I eventually found ways to explain what I was doing in a way that was acceptable to me and my clients. I got to a point where I used activations on all my clients every day. And the more I used activations to influence others’ lives the more. It influenced mine. Doing the work made me excited and energised like never before.
One of the conclusions that I came to, was that we do not always have to understand it all. The human body is incredible in its design and we still have a lot to learn.
As my interest grew, I decided to contacted Douglas Heel, sharing my dream. Doug offered me the opportunity to train under him and learn to train others. Today am very fortunate to teach his Level 1 course in South Africa and Australia. If you told me on day 1 of my first level 1 that one day, I would teach this course, I would have never believed you. Life is funny that way.
Be Activated is my passion. I love sharing this passion with others and seeing the look on their faces when their bodies respond in ways, they never thought possible. I share my experiences to help others along, and to help them find their own way. I have no doubt that I have found what I am supposed to do.