Introduction  “Do not look at me. Take what is in my hand.”  Rumi

Michael (Mike) Inman was born, and educated in the UK and trained in Osteopathy for 5 years at the London School of Osteopathy, gaining a BSc (hons) degree in Osteopathy and registration with the General Osteopathic Council in the UK.   Wanting a change and further adventure, Mike emigrated to New Zealand in 2008 to take advantage of a job offer and the great outdoor lifestyle and sports culture available here in NZ. However, during his time in the UK, Mike was very fortunate also to be able to study Traditional Acupuncture both in London, and then later in China at a teaching hospital there. Mike is very grateful for all his time spent living in London (and elsewhere) which gave him tremendous opportunities to intensively study and train in both these (and other, e.g. Chinese medical herbalism, naturopathy, shiatsu, qigong, etc) healing disciplines (both Acupuncture and Osteopathy) ending up with a double qualification and two professional registrations (one in Osteopathy, one in Acupuncture).  Now established (from 2010) in Christchurch (also known locally as Chch), Mike works as an Osteopath and Acupuncturist entirely from his own busy Osteopathy clinic in Avonside, Linwood, Christchurch.

Outside of work as an Osteopath, Naturopath and Acupuncturist, Mike is a Family man and tries to be the best possible Dad he can be.  You may notice a slightly shorter working week during school holidays.  Yes, there are still (some) Osteopathy appointments available - but on a restricted number of days, due to Mike's parenting and childcare time. And it’s always a good idea to book a few days ahead, especially if you want an After-Hours osteopath appointment, or weekend appointment.  Just trying your luck ‘on the day’ can lead to disappointment  -  although we try to keep some appointment times free. However, it can be a good idea to book a day or two in advance. Please use the online booking diary.  Mike can often be seen at the local beach, walking his two Labradoodles - and Mike enjoys a healthy outdoor lifestyle, and considers South Island NZ one of the best places in the world to live and bring up his family. Mike is keen on sport and outdoor activity, but these days spends an increasing amount of his personal training time, on his dedicated Iyengar Yoga practice, or core-strength and flexibility.

Mike also teaches Mindfulness-Based Pain-Management courses, at once or twice a year at the Risingholme Community Center in Opawa.
Please enquire and book for these by using the  Risingholme website or phoning  03 332 7359.

''You could travel from your outer man into your inner man.
By a journey of that sort, Earth became a place where you find gold.''
from "That Journeys are good'  by Rumi

 

Although showing great empathy...

It is not really possible to 'heal' one part alone, at least without some appreciation of all the 'other' parts of the person.  According to traditional acupuncture (and osteopathic principles also) it’s not really possible to separate mental from physical health. Mike always remembers from his school days in England, and old saying from his old Latin teacher (Mike had to endure a classical, rather conservative education at an English public school, which admittedly did have some merits, and perhaps has been sadly lost)...  'Mens sana in corpore sano' which translates as 'healthy mind in a healthy body'.  The ancients it seems perfectly understood this (as have all healing traditions in every culture!). How sad that this obvious fact seems to have been lost or forgotten in modern biomedicine!

Mike's training, of course, is in Osteopathy and Acupuncture, not formally in Counselling or Client-centered therapy. However, Mike trained for one year (the Integration year) in a professional psychosynthesis psychotherapy counselling pathway (Psychosynthesis Counselling) training here in NZ.  Please see Psychosynthesis South Pacific   Mike's reasons for choosing this training is that with chronic pain and many health conditions there is frequently 'stress' and 'emotional charge' or dysregulation held in the tissues.  The body and nervous systmen seem to store and retain events, memories and 'life-patterns' which may undermine wellbeing.  Mental-emotional stress drains emergy, damages health and delays full recovery.  The Body never lies - it always tells the truth. In that, at least it is honest. And the path to healing must involve 'mental-emotional' spiritual as well as physcial health. All expereinced doctors, and certainly patients, understand this. Stress-related illness is where poor health outcomes are exacerbated, even created from life-stress and unfavourable mental-emotional reactions, life-events, over-work, sleep-deprivation, exhaustion, fatigue, lack of support, connection, etc. Osteopaths such as John Upledger talked about 'tissue-memory' and the US/Scottish Osteopath John Martin Littlejohn said that 'the body is the graveyard of emotion'.   

Having said all this - please however respect professional boundaries and clinic times and (other people's) appointments. 
Please understand that phoning Mike unnecessarily will inevitably interrupt another patient's treatment.  
These days it can certainly be difficult to get to talk to a 'real' person - but Mike does this during YOUR appointment time. 
Please keep any phone enquiry as brief as possible: just tell Mike the day you want to come for your appointment. 
For counselling, if you're desperate to talk to 'a real person' try 1737 as a free call or text.

Although Mike trained as an osteopath, not a specialist exercise physiologist, Mike tries to be a 'personal trainer' osteopath, as much as possible and will often suggest core-strength, pilates, or specific rehabilitation exercise to improve your recovery time, and return to your best possible function, from any type of chronic pain or injury.  Despite what you may be presently going through in terms of pain, stress, or reduced function, Mike sees his role as an Osteopath as including pain education and rehabilitation, and sees the larger role of Osteopathy (or acupuncture) as far more than just hands-on treatment.

Mike tries to focus a treatment and recovery plan on best outcomes (e.g. return to work, little or no pain) and as an Osteopath Mike will always discourage dependency on frequent or prolonged osteopathy or acupuncture treatment.  Although it may be a good idea to book in, and make an appointment, to see me (or another osteopath) to discuss your requirements, please always try to book online to make your appointment. You are also welcome to book for a FREE 15 minute phone consulation  to discuss ANY health issues, concerns, or questions you may have about Acupuncture or Osteopathy Treatment.

Please click HERE to make your Osteopathy / Acupuncture appointment  -  or Free 15 minute phone consulation.

If you do have an inquiry, you can also email: mikeinmanosteopath at gmail dot com

Accreditation
BSc (hons) Osteopathy (UK)
Diploma in Acupuncture (London, UK)
Diploma in Acupuncture (China)
Post-graduate certificate in Chinese herbal medicine (UK)
Certificate in Psychosynthesis Integration (NZ)

Memberships and Registrations
Registered with the Osteopathic Council NZ
Registered with the Chinese Medical Council NZ
Member of the Institute of Classical Osteopathy (UK)
Member of Acupuncture NZ
Registered in Western Medical Acupuncture Osteopathic Council NZ

Complementary skills
Integration certificate (Foundation year) in
Psychosynthesis counselling training
Cranial therapist and cranial osteopath
Naturopath and Herbalist
Remedial exercise — pilates, Tai Chi and yoga
Mindfulness-based pain-management trainer
For details see Pain Management

Experience  Mike has over 30 years' clinical experience in acupuncture and musculoskeletal medicine.
Although perhaps not directly related to osteopathy, here are some links for a (younger) Mike doing (teaching) Tai Chi with friends in England
Mike doing Tai Chi form and pushing hands in Richmond park (London)
Mike + Friends doing the Tai Chi Yang Style Long form & pushing hands (sparring)
Mike doing Tai Chi (long form) in Richmond park (London)

 

 

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